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Hong Kong Wedding & Commercial Photography Photographer » Photography books worth reading.

1. Use both hands and hold the camera STILL.

There you are next to one of the Pyramids in Egypt—a perfect picture opportunity. You hand your camera to another tourist passing by hoping to get a fantastic shot. When you view the picture on your digital camera (after the person has gone) or you get your photos developed, all you see is a big blur! Now you are left with a completely useless picture that could have been something amazing.

Let us say that your photo turned out only slightly blurred and you try to enlarge your photo when you get home from your trip. When you go to pick up the blown up version it looks pretty bad. Even photos that are slightly blurred will never make quality enlarged prints!

The question you may be asking is “should I tell a perfect stranger to make sure he/she holds the camera still?” YES! Do not hesitate—especially when it is a once in a lifetime photo opportunity. Others will understand because they have probably been in a similar situation.

Sometimes it can be difficult to remain steady with a smaller camera because you think you have a better handle on it. Take the time to make sure you are holding it as still as possible.

One more tip for quality enlarged prints—make sure you have enough light on your subject if you want the best color quality. This topic will be expanded in tips 4 & 5.

2. Watch out for too much ceiling!

My family was visiting New York several years ago and wanted to see the statue of Liberty. While there, I handed my camera to someone to get a picture of us(back in the day when I did not have a digital camera) and when I got the pictures developed I had to laugh.

The five of us were cut off at the neck, but there was PLENTY of sky above us. Do not get too much sky unless that is your intention.

3. To check focus, hold the shoot button halfway down.

This goes along with tip 1; make every effort to have a clear photo and you will be much happier with your prints.

4. Make sure light source is behind you, not your subject.

What will happen if you do not follow this advice? In extreme cases, the subjects in your photos will look like dark silhouettes. Take the time to stop and think about where your light source is—you want it to be behind you—ALWAYS.

This tip will also prevent weird-looking shadows on people’s faces. To avoid squinting subjects, count to three before you take the picture—this allows others to close their eyes until just before the photo is taken.

5. Use a fill flash even when it is not automatic.

REMEMBER: Your flash will NOT come on if there is light in the background—learn how to set the flash on your camera and learn how to turn it off. The colors in your photos will be much better if you use a flash and the subjects will also be clearer.

Watch out for too much light—this can make your subjects look washed out.

6. Remember that a flash only carries 7-9 feet

This is a good tip to remember at the next concert or big event you attend. It always makes me laugh when I see a bunch of flashes going off throughout an entire dark performance—those pictures turn out terribly.

7. Shoot your subject at a closer distance

Far away pictures of people are rarely interesting. Do not be afraid to get close-up shots; these are the ones that people typically frame and enjoy looking at the most.

8. Avoid red eye by not shooting in low light.

If you are in low light, use your red-eye reduction if you have one. HOWEVER, if you can avoid this altogether that would be best.

9. Enhance your photo with touches of COLOR

On one particular day when I lived in British Columbia, I wanted to get some photos of the ocean and the sky, but it was kind of a grey day and everything looked the same color. I decided to have my daughter stand in the picture because she had a red coat on and it made such a difference! Adding color to your photos will make them much more interesting.

10. Be prepared to “seize the moment!”

If you come across something spectacular, snap away. The more pictures you take, the more likely it is that one of them will turn out the way you want it too. My children sometimes give me a hard time for this, but I almost always end up with a photo that I am very satisfied with.

Jill Tabatabaei is the founder of thecoloredstone.com where professional nature photography and cards are sold. She received these tips from artistic photographer Anne Stewart, who has been taking pictures professionally for the last 40 years. To see some of Anne’s work, visit: http://www.thecoloredstone.com/naturepictures.html

Many people desire to stop smoking yet feel powerless to do so, given the momentary pleasure or relief they derive from cigarettes. My flexible approach to helping people give up their habit recognizes and respects the various satisfactions smoking can provide and seeks to develop alternative behaviors which offer equal or better short and long-term satisfactions.

I have found hypnotherapy to be a particularly effective method for enabling people to stop smoking quickly and comfortably. This is not surprising as hypnosis is a gentle and creative means to bypass or extend learned limitations of the conscious mind, develop dormant potentials and introduce new understandings and perspectives within a context of security and comfort. In clinical hypnosis an altered state of concentrated attention is gently facilitated, with the client’s attention progressively narrowed and purposefully focused inward, with the aim of altering the psychological and behavioral patterns around their smoking behavior.

It is common knowledge that smoking and other addictions are some of the most difficult problems that health care professionals treat. Popular non-chemical techniques such as acupuncture, behavioral modification programs, aversive conditioning (continuous smoking to the point of nausea, and/or lectures with vivid descriptions of the harmful effects of smoking) have shown little difference in success rates over the long-term. All have worked with a few people while few have provided help for many.

In contrast, treatment programs utilizing hypnosis in a two to four session format have achieved impressive results. Several studies have reported a 60-67% abstinence rate upon six-month and one-year follow-up with individual hypnotherapy. Individual hypnotherapy was also found to be more effective than group hypnosis.

In my own practice I have found hypnotherapy, when utilized within an individualized treatment approach that recognized and incorporates a person’s unique motivations, beliefs, concerns and smoking related behaviors, to be remarkably effective. And should a relapse occur, one refresher session invariably enable the client to resume his or her life as a nonsmoker.

My approach to liberating people from their smoking attachment generally entails a twofold complimentary process. First I gather information regarding a person’s individual and social patterns of behavior around smoking, the benefits they receive from their habit, their reasons for quitting now, etc. Later this information will be utilized in constructing hypnotic suggestions
in accord with each person’s values and beliefs concerning their smoking habit.

Second, during the initial session I teach people a particular self-hypnotic technique for reinforcing the new perspectives they receive in my office, which I recommend they do daily, as it only takes a few minutes. Some comply, others do not. In either case, I have come to expect a 50-70% reduction in a person’s smoking behavior following this initial session. Subsequent office visits, if necessary, given many do quit immediately, further develops and refines the changes that have been achieved previously, utilizing hypnosis and other strategic methods as required.

Most people are nonsmokers within one to three visits. Many note positive changes in other areas of their lives as well. All enjoy the process.

For further inquiries or to book an appoint, call Dr. Bryan on 2575-7707.
» Asian Wedding & Commercial Photography Photographer

Hong Kong has so many hotels that it is hard to pick a favorite. As an event photographer I have been called to shoot jobs in just about all of them, well at least the good ones and here are my picks. As far a shear opulence goes it would have to be the Grand Hyatt in Wan Chai, the ballroom is massive and has hosted more events, weddings and product launches than any other. The Mandarin Oriental, the original, has the cleanest toilets in all of Central, and the loby is a convienent place to meet someone downtown, the Captain’s Bar has probably hosted more business deals than any other bar in Asia. The Conrad’s pool is great with a cool view over the harbour, as well as having the largest painting in the world. The newly renovated Intercontinental in TST has the best Jacuzzi with a stunning view of Hong Kong island’s skyline. The Ritz Carlton has three floors of banquet and function rooms, all below ground, a great place for a function if you want to draw the downtown crowd. And newest on the block the Four Season Hong Kong, this mega hotel is something to be seen. Sitting on the primest piece of Hong Kong real estate it is surely the crown jewel of Hong Kong hotels…

What is going on with Hong Kong’s hotels. The Landmark office block has been turned into the Mandarin Oriental Landmark, the old Mandarin is getting an all glass face lift. The new Four Seasons at IFC is finally open. LKF is getting a new hotel, aptly named LKF Hotel… could this be a sign of the times in Hong Kong. With new economic growth and a greater role of China in the worlds manufacturing, Hong Kong is reaping the benefits. As the gateway to China, Hong Kong’s cosmopolitian advantage is growing along side China’s growing share of world trade. Many businesses source their products in China and many of these businesses have their sourcing offices in Hong Kong. With over 20million visitors to Hong Kong last year, hotel occupancy rates are at their highest levels ever. Hong Kong hoteliers are looking to the continued growth of China market and the race is on to build more rooms…

HOTEL ASIA PACIFIC
is a Hong Kong published magazine that caters to the Hotel and Restraurant business. Aimed at owners and managers in the Asia Pacific region the magazine is a must read for all in the hospitality industry. Insightful imformative and always ahead of the game, Hotel Asia Pacific contact them for your subscription today.

The 5 deadly sins of PHOTOSHOP compositing. In the hands of a skilled user Photoshop can produce awe inspiring work; in the hands of a novice it can produce images of extremely poor quality. Unfortunately, as the popularity of the program grows and people become more and more exposed to these poor images, this lack of quality is becoming accepted as the norm. Here are the things to watch for when creating Photoshop compositions. Read the full article here.

Cudos to Welcome Supermarkets. As of 5th April when you go shopping at Welcome and forget to take your reuseable bag you will be charged $.50 for each plastic bag you use. You will continue to receive $.10 for each $25 you spend, if you bring your own bag. This is fantastic and will surley help tackle Hong Kong’s romance with the plastic bag. I have often said that people in Hong Kong and Asia in general are far to prone to the use of excess packaging. I think Welcome is right on the money with this move and will support them every step of the way. We try our best to always carry a reuseable shopping bag when we go to the grocery store. Now Welcome is getting serious about the environment and we WELCOME IT!!!