Here are some clips (from my iPhone) from my nephew Ashraf's wedding last night. Congrats to Ashraf and his Egyptian bride, Nagat!
Monday, December 31, 2012
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Yoga for Dogs - Doga
Things that make you say "Awww!" or "WTF?!"
Hong Kong's pampered canines may have their own spas complete with jacuzzis and massage, but it can still be difficult for a dog to find inner peace. I never knew you're not allowed to take a dog to the park in Hong Kong. Help is now at hand in the shape of yoga instructor Suzette Ackermann and her yoga class -- for dogs. The curious concept of 'doga', already popular in Japan and the United States, was introduced to Hong Kong a year ago by Suzette Ackermann who is from South Africa.
On Saturday mornings in the city's Sheung Wan district, pet owners massage their dogs before bringing them into postures such as the cobra pose, in which the hind legs are stretched out to the rear, as soothing music plays.She leads the class in tandem with her seven-year-old Pekinese, Snowball, who she says,has been her inspiration. The one-eyed, utterly relaxed animal with fluffy white fur has become a local celebrity through dog yoga, and is often recognized in the street from her TV appearances.
Ackermann and Snowball have been doing yoga together at home for years, but the idea of teaching classes in dog yoga, or "doga", was suggested by a Japanese groomer at Pawette, the "deluxe pet boutique, salon and spa" that organizes the classes with Ackermann. Her class is aimed mainly at the toy dogs popular in overcrowded Hong Kong. Doga has made inroads in pet-loving Japan, as well as in the United States, where teachers Suzi Teitelman and Amy Stevens have both issued doga DVDs. But Ackermann has developed her own routine to suit her clients and their canine friends.
Ackermann has sought advice from a dog acupuncturist and is taking classes in dog massage, while a friend has been inspired by doga to work towards the launch of a dog physiotherapy program. Meanwhile, on the suggestion of her brother, a writer, Ackermann is putting together a book about Snowball and doga -- an illustrated children's story with basic postures for the family and their dog to try at home. There are no immediate plans to extend the concept of doga to other animals, but she said that cats might be a possibility.
Supposedly, teaching yoga to dogs isn't much different than teaching humans. The skeptics may “growl” at this unorthodox form of yoga, but for these fans it's an opportunity to relax and share a little fun with their pets. As Ace Ventura would say - "Alrighty then!"
Hong Kong's pampered canines may have their own spas complete with jacuzzis and massage, but it can still be difficult for a dog to find inner peace. I never knew you're not allowed to take a dog to the park in Hong Kong. Help is now at hand in the shape of yoga instructor Suzette Ackermann and her yoga class -- for dogs. The curious concept of 'doga', already popular in Japan and the United States, was introduced to Hong Kong a year ago by Suzette Ackermann who is from South Africa.
On Saturday mornings in the city's Sheung Wan district, pet owners massage their dogs before bringing them into postures such as the cobra pose, in which the hind legs are stretched out to the rear, as soothing music plays.She leads the class in tandem with her seven-year-old Pekinese, Snowball, who she says,has been her inspiration. The one-eyed, utterly relaxed animal with fluffy white fur has become a local celebrity through dog yoga, and is often recognized in the street from her TV appearances.
Ackermann and Snowball have been doing yoga together at home for years, but the idea of teaching classes in dog yoga, or "doga", was suggested by a Japanese groomer at Pawette, the "deluxe pet boutique, salon and spa" that organizes the classes with Ackermann. Her class is aimed mainly at the toy dogs popular in overcrowded Hong Kong. Doga has made inroads in pet-loving Japan, as well as in the United States, where teachers Suzi Teitelman and Amy Stevens have both issued doga DVDs. But Ackermann has developed her own routine to suit her clients and their canine friends.
Ackermann has sought advice from a dog acupuncturist and is taking classes in dog massage, while a friend has been inspired by doga to work towards the launch of a dog physiotherapy program. Meanwhile, on the suggestion of her brother, a writer, Ackermann is putting together a book about Snowball and doga -- an illustrated children's story with basic postures for the family and their dog to try at home. There are no immediate plans to extend the concept of doga to other animals, but she said that cats might be a possibility.
Supposedly, teaching yoga to dogs isn't much different than teaching humans. The skeptics may “growl” at this unorthodox form of yoga, but for these fans it's an opportunity to relax and share a little fun with their pets. As Ace Ventura would say - "Alrighty then!"
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
From One Sandy to Another
First it was hurricane Sandy that stripped away the boards of Atlantic City's boardwalk and devastated the northeastern US. What followed, the recent killing of 20 innocent children and 6 adults at Sandy Hook elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, dealt a blow to the nation rivaling the worst American experiences. And earlier today, another "Sandy Hook" elementary school was visited by a man carrying what, at first glance, looked to be a high-powered rifle. This Sandy Hook Elementary, however, wasn't in Connecticut, rather, it was in Strasburg, Virginia.
Tacky Christmas Lights
It is a little known fact that Richmond Virginia is the capital of "tacky Christmas lights". Some homeowners are so proud of this that they use thousands of lights on their homes, taking up to two months to decorate. You can actually see some of the houses from space!
Paris may be the city of lights, but at Christmas time, it's got nothing on Richmond.
Each year, some 20,000 visitors flock to homes ablaze with lights -- and Frank Hudak's "Christmas House" is a fan favorite. Frank -- known as "Mr Christmas"-- has been lighting up his home for nearly 40 years -- with each display getting bigger and brighter than the last.
The set-up takes two months of work, four miles of wiring and over 40,000 watts of power to achieve.
Frank says it's a labor of love -- and the best part is seeing the look on people's faces.
Down the road, Rose Phifer presides over her own winter wonderland -- and fans look forward to her legendary showing for months.
Firing up so many lights can get expensive, with electricity bills running in the thousands of dollars.
And when costs became too high several years ago, Rose was nearly forced to cancel her display -- until the town came to the rescue. Enjoy the video:
Monday, April 19, 2010
Updates!
The light house at the Baltimore Inner Harbor....
a beautiful backdrop for Desmond & Michaela.
Well, once again, it's been a while. I'm really an awful blogger! The truth is that as much as I like to write, I would rather be capturing images, working on my websites, and learning new things. The last couple of months have been interesting, both for my photography business (halavision.com) as well as my other Media Consulting business (novabroadcast.com).
I've had a few interesting portrait sessions, one of them at the Watergate for a senior economist at the World Bank, was booked by The League of Arab States to photograph a reception that they held for local ambassadors, working on case study videos for the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), and writing more proposals to gain the business of other nonprofits.
Probably the most exciting (and tasty)...I went to a taste testing with Desmond & Michaela, who are getting married this coming July. The choice of cuisine for their wedding is amazing and I can't wait!
Over this past weekend I had the pleasure of taking some senior photos for a new graduate, Jake Longo, in Mt. Airy, Maryland. Here's a short photo montage featuring Jake:
Oh, I also took this photo of my kids : )
I'll try and write more often since I do have much more to say. Until next time, smile if you want to!
For more photos, info and stuff, visit my website at http://halavision.com, email me at nader@halavision.com, or call me at 571-296-1794
a beautiful backdrop for Desmond & Michaela.
Well, once again, it's been a while. I'm really an awful blogger! The truth is that as much as I like to write, I would rather be capturing images, working on my websites, and learning new things. The last couple of months have been interesting, both for my photography business (halavision.com) as well as my other Media Consulting business (novabroadcast.com).
I've had a few interesting portrait sessions, one of them at the Watergate for a senior economist at the World Bank, was booked by The League of Arab States to photograph a reception that they held for local ambassadors, working on case study videos for the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), and writing more proposals to gain the business of other nonprofits.
Probably the most exciting (and tasty)...I went to a taste testing with Desmond & Michaela, who are getting married this coming July. The choice of cuisine for their wedding is amazing and I can't wait!
Over this past weekend I had the pleasure of taking some senior photos for a new graduate, Jake Longo, in Mt. Airy, Maryland. Here's a short photo montage featuring Jake:
Oh, I also took this photo of my kids : )
I'll try and write more often since I do have much more to say. Until next time, smile if you want to!
For more photos, info and stuff, visit my website at http://halavision.com, email me at nader@halavision.com, or call me at 571-296-1794
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Diffuse Glow
You may have some great photos, portraits that you're proud of, but would still like to give your images a more "professional" look. 
Adobe Photoshop is the most popular software among the pros for doing many corrections and enhancements with images. You can use filters to turn your pictures into amazing art fairly quickly.
In this set of images, I have applied the "diffuse glow" filter, which can give an angelic mood to some portraits.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
What Type of Camera Should I Buy? Part 2
I'd like to say that technology has made it easier to shop these days, and it has if you know what you're looking for. After you've made the choice n buying a digital SLR or DSLR, I would recommend that you do some research online. Some websites that you already go to for other electronic equipment may also review DSLRs as well. For example, www.cnet.com has a pretty good list and review of cameras and price ranges. But once something catches your eye, you should definitely hold it in your hands before purchasing. So jot down a few choices before you go to your local camera store.
Speaking of camera stores....unless you absolutely know what you're going to buy, DO NOT buy from one of those larger one stop shopping appliance and electronic stores. They know nothing about cameras! In most stores, they can't answer your questions even if they pretend to. I can tell you that even after managing a couple Ritz Camera stores, not all camera salespeople know cameras. Go to a professional camera dealer, one that only sells cameras and accessories. And by accessories, I mean darkroom equipment, professional lighting, etc. Where I live (DC Metro area), I like to go to Penn Camera because they are camera and photography enthusiasts. I actually learn something with every visit because their salespeople are interested and knowledgeable. A professional camera dealer will help train you on the use of your new camera. Best Buy can't do that.
Remember that you really do get what you pay for. That includes service and advice. Don't use the retailer for his/her knowledge, wasting their time, just to go home and order your new toy online at a few dollars less. Not only is this unfair to the salesperson that may very well work for commission, but if and when you have an issue with your camera, believe me, you'll take it to that same professional camera store. Buy it from them, get to know the salespeople, and enjoy the added benefit of having a store that knows you and your needs. This has frequently helped me when I desperately needed help with my equipment right before shooting a wedding.
If you already own an SLR or DSLR, think about what you already own. Is what you currently compatible with what you'd like to purchase? For example, I own 12 fairly expensive Nikon Nikor lenses. All the SLR Nikon lenses, even old ones, mount on the newer camera bodies. This is good because I don't necessarily have to buy all new lenses. Of course the older non-digital lenses don't take advantage of all the special features and technology that the new DSLR bodies offer, but they still work. Suffice to say that I'll probably never switch to another brand, but not for that reason alone ( I do like my cameras).
So do your research, learn a little on your own, get the feel for the equipment at your local pro shop, and remember that value is more than getting your camera at the best price.
Nader
Speaking of camera stores....unless you absolutely know what you're going to buy, DO NOT buy from one of those larger one stop shopping appliance and electronic stores. They know nothing about cameras! In most stores, they can't answer your questions even if they pretend to. I can tell you that even after managing a couple Ritz Camera stores, not all camera salespeople know cameras. Go to a professional camera dealer, one that only sells cameras and accessories. And by accessories, I mean darkroom equipment, professional lighting, etc. Where I live (DC Metro area), I like to go to Penn Camera because they are camera and photography enthusiasts. I actually learn something with every visit because their salespeople are interested and knowledgeable. A professional camera dealer will help train you on the use of your new camera. Best Buy can't do that.
Remember that you really do get what you pay for. That includes service and advice. Don't use the retailer for his/her knowledge, wasting their time, just to go home and order your new toy online at a few dollars less. Not only is this unfair to the salesperson that may very well work for commission, but if and when you have an issue with your camera, believe me, you'll take it to that same professional camera store. Buy it from them, get to know the salespeople, and enjoy the added benefit of having a store that knows you and your needs. This has frequently helped me when I desperately needed help with my equipment right before shooting a wedding.
If you already own an SLR or DSLR, think about what you already own. Is what you currently compatible with what you'd like to purchase? For example, I own 12 fairly expensive Nikon Nikor lenses. All the SLR Nikon lenses, even old ones, mount on the newer camera bodies. This is good because I don't necessarily have to buy all new lenses. Of course the older non-digital lenses don't take advantage of all the special features and technology that the new DSLR bodies offer, but they still work. Suffice to say that I'll probably never switch to another brand, but not for that reason alone ( I do like my cameras).
So do your research, learn a little on your own, get the feel for the equipment at your local pro shop, and remember that value is more than getting your camera at the best price.
Nader
Monday, August 10, 2009
What Type of Camera Should I Buy? - Part 1
Aperature, Shutter Speed, ISO, Bracketing, Metering, White Balance..... Scary? We'll deal with the above issues later, let's just get a camera first.
Frequently, I am asked for advice as to what type of camera one should buy for taking great digital pictures. Normally, a decision has already been made to go with an SLR (single lens reflex) that uses interchangeable lenses. My guess is that the interest in the larger SLRs is the desire for a more professional quality in the images taken. I'm not going to dig deep into the other major technical differences between SLRs and compacts; there are many sites on the internet that you can visit for that type of education.
A friend of mine, who works in the granite remodeling business, recently asked me what type of camera he should buy for the purpose of shooting before and after shots of the job sites that he's been on to better showcase his work in a portfolio. The most important consideration in making a recommendation is the portfolio, or the output. It just makes sense to ask "what do you want to do with the photos? Where are they going to be seen? And how will they be used?" Today's smaller compact cameras are great for snapshots, portraits, and even landscapes. But they don't generally have wide angle lenses or low aperature settings which allow the greatest amount of light into the lens. In my friend's case, he needed to shoot wide angle images of kitchens without being able to move far from the subject. That's just one of the reasons why he needed an SLR.
In wedding photography, a professional photographer uses a removable flash that is often held far from the lens and body of the camera. This is to lessen the chances of getting that dreaded red eye in what could have been a beautiful photo. We'll go over that in another session as well, but suffice to say that an SLR will help reduce red eye if used properly.
One of the best things you can do is go to a professional camera retailer and ask to see demos of both types, hold them in your hands, and get a feel for what you're comfortable with. Let the salesperson explain to you the differences and how these cameras work. Plus it's a little difficult to show you what I'm talking about here, without pictures.
I'm sleepy now, so I'll continue within 2 days, goodnight!
In Part 2, we'll discuss the types and costs of SLRs and accessories.
Frequently, I am asked for advice as to what type of camera one should buy for taking great digital pictures. Normally, a decision has already been made to go with an SLR (single lens reflex) that uses interchangeable lenses. My guess is that the interest in the larger SLRs is the desire for a more professional quality in the images taken. I'm not going to dig deep into the other major technical differences between SLRs and compacts; there are many sites on the internet that you can visit for that type of education.
A friend of mine, who works in the granite remodeling business, recently asked me what type of camera he should buy for the purpose of shooting before and after shots of the job sites that he's been on to better showcase his work in a portfolio. The most important consideration in making a recommendation is the portfolio, or the output. It just makes sense to ask "what do you want to do with the photos? Where are they going to be seen? And how will they be used?" Today's smaller compact cameras are great for snapshots, portraits, and even landscapes. But they don't generally have wide angle lenses or low aperature settings which allow the greatest amount of light into the lens. In my friend's case, he needed to shoot wide angle images of kitchens without being able to move far from the subject. That's just one of the reasons why he needed an SLR.
In wedding photography, a professional photographer uses a removable flash that is often held far from the lens and body of the camera. This is to lessen the chances of getting that dreaded red eye in what could have been a beautiful photo. We'll go over that in another session as well, but suffice to say that an SLR will help reduce red eye if used properly.
One of the best things you can do is go to a professional camera retailer and ask to see demos of both types, hold them in your hands, and get a feel for what you're comfortable with. Let the salesperson explain to you the differences and how these cameras work. Plus it's a little difficult to show you what I'm talking about here, without pictures.
I'm sleepy now, so I'll continue within 2 days, goodnight!
In Part 2, we'll discuss the types and costs of SLRs and accessories.
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