This is the most basic way of saying "I'm sorry" to someone in French, and you should use it in most formal situations. The phrase "Je suis" means "I am," and "desole" means "sorry" in the form of an adjective. Write "desole" if you're male and "desolee" if you're female. Regardless of gender, pronounce the entire phrase: zhuh swee day-zoh-lay You should use this phrase when apologizing for something serious, apologizing to strangers, apologizing to elders, or apologizing in a professional or other formal situation. If you need to apologize for something very serious, you should say, "Je suis vraiment desole" (male) or "Je suis vraiment desolee" (female). The term "vraiment" means "truly" or "really." When inserted into the usual apology, you're essentially saying, "I am truly sorry." Pronounce the entire phrase: zhuh swee vray-mohn day-zoh-lay When you're in an informal situation, you can drop the "Je suis" portion of the phrase and simply state, "Desole." Essentially, you're dropping the words "I am" and simply saying "sorry" instead of "I am sorry." As with the formal version of the phrase, you should write "desole" if you're male and "desole" if you're female. Regardless of gender, pronounce the apology:day-zoh-lay Use this phrase when issuing a quick apology to friends or other close peers. Ideally, you should only use it when the offense was relatively minor, and should opt for the formal "e suis desole" after major offenses.

Summary: Say "Je suis desole" in formal situations. Add "vraiment" for serious matters. Offer "desole" in casual situations.

Whether you're feeling grief, disbelief, shock, stress, irritability, apathy, anger, sadness, or any other negative emotion, know that you're not alone, and you're not wrong for feeling that way. These feelings are not a sign of weakness or failure, but a human reaction to what you've just experienced. Grief is a common reaction to experiencing a disaster. Even if there was no loss of life, it is normal to feel grief after losing your home or possessions, much the way you would after losing a loved one. Not everyone reacts or heals in the same way. As much as possible, try to avoid comparing yourself to others around you, whether they're your neighbors, friends, or even family. Do what you need to do, at the pace that feels right for you. Pick one task at a time, and focus on that instead of trying to tackle everything at once. Just because those around you don't seem stressed doesn't mean they aren't. Remember that everyone deals with stress in their own way. Discuss what happened, talk together, and share your anxieties with those closest to you. Allow space for releasing the emotions you feel, whether they're sadness, anger, frustration, helplessness, or something else. Realize that other people feel similarly, and that you're not alone. Don't be afraid to cry; crying is a natural response to a disaster, and is also a great way to release pent-up emotions. Volunteer agencies like the Red Cross and the Salvation Army offer special outreach programs and crisis counselors that can help you work through your experience. You won't be able to heal if you don't take care of yourself physically. Maintain healthy eating and sleeping, and ensure you're drinking plenty of safe water in the days and weeks following the flood. One way to heal is to return to things that are familiar and comfortable. Do laundry, wash the dishes, and watch TV if you can. If you have a temporary place to live, or if your house has been declared safe to live in, start cleaning and go grocery shopping. Go about as many daily tasks as possible and include things that make you happy in your day to day activities. If you do pay attention to the news, make an effort to find positive stories, such as accounts of people in the community coming together to help each other. Spend time with people who are positive, upbeat, and working to change things for the better. While it can be hard to see when you are struggling to cope with a crisis, good things can come from any situation. Take a moment to feel grateful for the positive parts of your experience for example, think of the supportive people in your life, and consider how the flood may have brought your family or your community together. Remember that while things can be replaced, people cannot. Be grateful for your friends, family, and community.

Summary: Remember that your feelings are normal. Heal at your own pace. Talk to others who were affected. Seek professional help from a crisis counselor. Make sure you eat and sleep enough. Re-establish daily routines slowly. Seek out positivity. Practice gratitude.

For instance, in San Antonio, Texas, you might photograph the River Walk, the Alamo, and Texas Hill Country landscapes, because those are pictures that magazines might look for to fill up pages. Every piece of the photo is part of what you're trying to convey, so make sure each part says what you want it to say. For instance, if you're trying to show beauty in the midst of drudgery, a flower in a dirty old tire works well. However, if you're trying to catch a pristine photo of your nephew, you might want the dirty tire out of the frame. Taking photographs from interesting angles and distances can change how the viewer sees the subject. For instance, if you take an aerial shot of your yard from your roof, you might see patterns you didn't know were there. Always be safe when taking photographs. Call in extra help if you are climbing ladders. Alternatively, try taking a shot of something by getting up close and personal. Having the subject take up the whole frame can make the shot more interesting. That is, be on the same level as your subject. If you're photographing a child or a pet, get on your knees to get the best shot. Just like setting is a part of a story, light is an important aspect of any photo. Natural lighting can illuminate photos with a glow that surrounds subjects. However, even if you're in dark conditions, try using lamps and other light sources to create interesting shadows with your subject, such as lighting the subject from the side. If you're taking photos of people, making them laugh will create joyous expressions. When processing your photos, experiment with different filters to make the photo more interesting. However, always be sure to save a copy of the original, so that you can go back to it if you want, especially if a magazine is more interested in a plainer style. Take a little time everyday to go shoot. Walk around your neighborhood, go to the park, or visit a local bar. Always be on the lookout for interesting shots. Remember to ask permission before taking shots in businesses or of people you don't know. That is, don't stop to fiddle with your camera or to look at every shot. Just keep taking photos from different angles so you stay in the moment.
Summary: Focus on the most interesting landscapes and landmarks in your area. Pay attention to the small things. Choose a different perspective. Look your subject in the eye. Make light part of the subject. Make them laugh. Try filters. Practice your shooting. Keep shooting.