Alan Shulik
Alan Shulik: Photography and Psychology
Alan Shulik
Alan Shulik is a man of many different talents. He has a PhD in clinical psychology and also has a very accomplished career in photography. Many people do not have the brainpower to sustain excellence in two very different careers, but Alan Shulik finds it invigorating. Working in both psychology and photography allows Alan Shulik to take advantage of his unusual brainpower and eye for art.
Website: http://alanshulik.wordpress.com/
Location: Guilford, Connecticut, USA
Phone: 203-915-3988
Alan Shulik: The Benefits of Artistic Society Membership
As an experienced, skilled and talented artist and photographer, Alan Shulik has come to understand and appreciate the value of membership in artistic societies. Artistic societies, as he knows, offer artists the unique opportunity to converse with and learn from others that share their passion for the craft, as well as to exchange ideas and opinions about the future of the art scene.
Alan Shulik has enjoyed membership and/or chairperson positions in multiple artistic societies throughout his career, including Shoreline Arts Alliance, the New Haven Arts Council and the Silvermine Guild of Artists. He shares some of the rewards of society membership below.
Skill Improvement
By joining an art society, says Alan Shulik, the artist is able to learn from like-minded, and in many cases, highly-talented individuals, and to obtain insight into and knowledge of better and more unique ways to pursue one’s craft. Working and conversing with other artists, he believes, has sufficiently challenged him to become a better and more skilled photographer.
Connection-Building
Artistic societies, says Alan Shulik, allow members to establish extensive networks of like-minded professionals and individuals, providing artists the opportunity to improve their standing in the art scene and to make their work more visible and relevant to their peers and to galleries. The connections he has built within these organizations have provided him enormous and numerous benefits.
Enhancing Visibility
Establishing your place in an artistic society, says Alan Shulik, affords you a better opportunity to get your work exposed to an even larger and more appreciative audience, helping to keep you and your art relevant and improving your opportunities for success.
Alan Shulik: Build a Happier, More Satisfying Marriage
An experienced and accomplished clinical psychologist for more than three decades, Alan Shulik has enjoyed the opportunity to work with many couples, particularly married couples, experiencing issues and/or difficulty with maintaining happiness, as well as keeping the spark alive in their relationships. There comes a point in many relationships, as he says, where couples seem to hit what they perceive to be an insurmountable impasse, something they believe can not be overcome.
Alan Shulik understands that solutions do indeed exist for many marriages facing this seemingly overwhelming difficulty. Below, Alan Shulik shares several tips for creating a happier and more enduring partnership.
Treat Your Partner With Respect
Though this may seem simple, being respectful to your partner is often easier said than done, particularly if you are angry or upset. Being nice and respectful, says Alan Shulik, allows you to more effectively keep the communication civilized, and to avoid the intensity or potentially devastating consequences of a bitter, in-house battle.
Some Things Should Slide
Instead of trying to completely change or reform your partner, says Alan Shulik, do your best to work towards compromise, creating middle ground that is able to achieve the most happiness for both parties. Some things you can change, and some things you can’t, making it important to know and be able to tell the difference.
Keep Conversation Flowing
Alan Shulik recommends keeping conversation with your spouse alive and open at all times. Allowing topics or subject matter to stew below the surface, and accepting silence, is never a way to hash out the problems you and your partner mighty have.
Alan Shulik: Shopping for the Right Camera
Successful and accomplished photographer Alan Shulik has had his work prominently and proudly displayed at many exhibitions, and in many publications, throughout his extensive career. As an accomplished artist and photographer, Alan Shulik would probably find it hard to argue the camera to be one of the greatest and most powerful loves of his life, one that has provided him immense joy and satisfaction over what has been a thirty-year-plus career.
The ability to effectively enjoy the art of photography, as he knows, generally starts with the right camera. Below, he provides tips in what to consider when shopping for a camera.
Casual photographers, or those who take pictures only on occasion rather than on a daily basis, says Alan Shulik, should consider cell phone cameras, which make it simple and easy for anyone to snap a shot when and wherever they choose. Those not planning on a professional photography career, he says, don’t need to spend the thousands of dollars on a professional device when their phone will most likely suffice.
Enthusiasts who are fans of the great outdoors, says Alan Shulik, should perhaps consider more of a compact and rugged-type camera, one that can more adequately withstand the elements, are more resistant to damage and easy to store and carry until the moment you have the most desired and amazing shot.
For those attempting to transition into more serious photography, says Alan Shulik, a bridge camera may be the best choice available. Somewhere between a compact and a DSLR-type, these cameras are great for people just beginning to consider professional photography.
Alan Shulik: Design a Better Website
Alan Shulik is a long-time clinical psychologist, maintaining a busy professional schedule that can be both demanding and rewarding. He is also, however, a talented and experienced photographer, which is why he works hard to keep both his name and his work out there and available for view and consumption. One of the best ways that Alan Shulik knows to market both himself and his photos is through a professionally designed website.
As the owner of AlanShulikPhotography.com, Shulik proudly displays the fruits of his labor in the Web, making his portfolio easy to access, view and analyze. If you’re an artist, and are seeking advice for displaying your own work on the web, Alan Shulik provides some helpful tips below.
Keep It Simple
Too much clutter in a website can make it harder to navigate, and often has the ability to destroy a person’s interest in both the site and the subject matter. Alan Shulik encourages artists to keep their sites clean, simple and easy to use, and to avoid complicated designs and/or navigational items.
Make Your Work Prominent
Your work is what you’re seeking to display on your site, so doesn’t it make sense to make the portfolio the center and most visible part of your site? Sure, graphic design helps with some professional sites, but your work should always take center stage, and should never be upstaged by needless and often expensive graphics.
Ease Up on Color Arrays
As stated earlier, says Alan Shulik, the best websites are the simplest. A wide array of color throughout your website only adds to its complexity, and distracts people from the real purpose, which is to demonstrate your work.
Choosing a Doctorate Program, with Alan Shulik
Alan Shulik understands how difficult it can often be to sift through and select the right program for your doctorate-level education. Equipped with a PhD from the California School of Professional Psychology, Alan Shulik knows how overwhelming the PhD decision-making process can be for a young and prospective doctorate student. This is one reason why he seeks to provide several help tips and/or guidelines on things to consider during your PhD selection process.
Look Into the Industry
Many young students already have a healthy knowledge and grasp of the industry they’re seeking to join, simply because they’ve received an undergraduate education that directly pertains to that field. Though this may be the case, says Alan Shulik, it’s still important to look into the educational background of successful industry leaders. The programs these leaders partook in are most likely the best programs available.
Research Program Funding
By now you’re surely aware of the often exorbitant costs linked to higher education, though, says Alan Shulik, many doctoral programs tend to offer a certain degree of funding, allowing students to somewhat mitigate the cost of the PhD venture. Look into programs that not only line up with your academic requirements, but that also provide students with the opportunity for funding.
Location Vs. PhD
Remember, says Alan Shulik, that it’s your PhD that is truly important, and that you’ll often find quality programs that aren’t within your area, or even your state. Never close your mind to the possibility of relocation, he says, as it’s the program, not the area, you’re considering when performing your search.
Alan Shulik: Improve the Quality of Your Pictures
As an accomplished photographer with more than 30 years of experience under his belt, Alan Shulik has consistently demonstrated an unparalleled expertise of the field. Since 1991, much of Shulik’s work has been published and/or featured in art exhibitions, establishing him as one of the most prominent photographic talents in the region.
As a photography expert, Alan Shulik often gets asked by amateur photographers for his advice on ways to improve the quality of their pictures. He provides several easy to follow and simple tips for improving your photographic skills almost immediately.
Close In On the Subject
One of the easiest and fastest ways to improve your photography, says Alan Shulik, is to move closer to the subject. Many photographs fail to stand out simply because the subject matter was too far away at the time of the shot. A few steps forward, he says, is often all it takes to enhance picture quality.
Don’t Be Afraid to Practice
Photography, like anything else, says Alan Shulik, requires practice, and a lot of it, to get good. Always seeks out ways to test and improve on your picture-taking skills, regardless of where you are of what you’re doing. Constant and consistent practice helps you develop stronger familiarity with your camera as well as the most effective photography methods.
Watch For the Light
Always be aware of where the sunlight or natural light is whenever preparing for a shot, says Alan Shulik. Figure out how the particular lighting of an area, room or setting can best be used to enhance the quality of the picture, and avoid positions and places where light is more of a hindrance.
Alan Shulik Provides Tips for More Effective Confidence Projection
As a professional psychologist for over 30 years, Alan Shulik has enjoyed the opportunity to work with a variety of people. Though each person he has helped comes from a unique set of circumstances, and experiences a particular set of issues, problems or setbacks, he says, a common thread tends to connect most of people together: A lack of confidence.
Alan Shulik understands how important confidence, and the projection of confidence, is to a person’s well-being, outlook and success. Though he understands how frustrating and impactful a lack of confidence can be, he also understands how adherence to several key behaviors can help to improve a person’s self-esteem, and work to re-establish the confidence they need to be their best.
Film Yourself Speaking
One way to improve how you communicate and interact with other people, says Alan Shulik, is to both film and study the way you speak. Take the time to record yourself in a speaking situation, and to make note of your facial expressions, gestures and tone during your conversation.
Improve Posture
You may be the most confident person in the world, says Alan Shulik, but without a posture that projects that confidence, you may also be giving everyone the wrong signals about who you are. One way to improve your confidence projection, he says, is to study your posture, and to work towards keeping your head up, back straight and shoulders back as you interact with other people.
Increase Positivity
An optimistic outlook, says Alan Shulik, can help to increase the level of your confidence. A trait generally found in confident people, optimism allows people to see challenges and adversity as potential opportunities rather than insurmountable obstacles.
Photoshop Editing Tips for Beginners: Alan Shulik
One of the most controversial developments in modern photography has been Photoshop and other photo manipulation programs. Alan Shulik says that the introduction of this technology changed the face of photography forever. While there still is quite a bit of controversy about the use of Photoshop and how much is too much, Alan Shulik offers these basic tips for beginners who are looking to start editing their photos using Photoshop:
· Use the crop tool to improve composition. If you have a great shot but the composition is slightly off, Alan Shulik recommends using the crop tool to reposition the focus of your picture. Alan Shulik advises that this can save many pictures from the bin.
· Use the clone stamp tool to remove distractions. If you have an otherwise beautiful nature shot but there is a policeman, car, or another unwanted subject, you can remove it using the clone stamp tool, Alan Shulik says.
· Use photo filters to adjust the warmth or coolness of the colors in your shot. Photo filters can be used to adjust colors so they look more balanced and even, Alan Shulik says. The correct use of photo filters can take an average photo and make it look professional grade.
Alan Shulik: The Difference Between Digital and Film Photography
- If you're a computer buff, you'll like digital. Most people who are very active on their computers will find that digital gives them a lot more to work with. Alan Shulik says that digital media is easier to translate to the online environment, and working with digital photos in Photoshop or other image manipulation programs is far easier if they are already in digital format.
- If you are very focused on color, you may prefer film. Particularly when it comes to capturing skin tone, Alan Shulik says that film generally tends to do a better job. The undertones in digital photographs tend to be far more red.
- If you are focused on ease-of-use, you'll want to go digital. Of course, film based cameras are going to have far more moving parts.
- If you are concerned about the appearance of light in your photos, film is the way to go. Film tends to produce better highlights that are less blown out or overexposed, Alan Shulik says.
Alan Shulik wishes you luck in choosing the right medium for photography.
How to Project Confidence with Alan Shulik
Alan Shulik is a professional psychologist who has worked with a number of different individuals. While every human being is unique, a common theme across many of us is that we lack confidence. Having confidence can help with many aspects of the being, so Alan Shulik recommends that we spend time cultivating and projecting self-confidence. If you are having trouble with your self-confidence, Alan Shulik has these tips to offer:
- Record yourself speaking on video. This may seem awkward, but Alan Shulik assures you it's a great way to figure out how you come across to other people in a speaking situation. Watch your facial movements, tone of voice, and gestures.
- Work on your posture. Even if you are not feeling particularly unconfident, Alan Shulik says that a slouched posture can come across as such to others. If you want to feel more powerful, Alan Shulik suggests standing with your shoulders back, your spine straight, and your head up.
- Be optimistic. People who are generally optimistic about the world tend to have higher levels of self-confidence, Alan Shulik says. Of course, a natural pessimist isn't going to turn into Pollyanna overnight, but trying to look at the bright side of situations and solutions rather than dealing on negativity and problems can do a lot for projecting confidence.
- Relax. Confident people tend to be more relaxed and easy-going through life than those who are not, Alan Shulik says. Of course, there are very stressed out people who also have high amounts of confidence, but relaxing and trying to go with the flow rather than controlling everything in your environment will naturally give you a more serene outlook.
Alan Shulik wishes you luck on your journey to becoming more confident.
How to Read Body Language with Alan Shulik
As a professional psychologist, Alan Shulik has dedicated a great deal of his life to understanding how other people work. Alan Shulik is a professional and respected psychologist who has worked with a number of people of all ages. Over his years working in psychology, Alan Shulik has learned a lot about body language and what it means. If you are wondering how to understand the body language of others better, Alan Shulik has some tips:
- Eye contact. Frequent eye contact indicates that the listener is interested and engaged in the conversation. Conversely, eye contact that is infrequent or fleeting can indicate disinterest or a desire to hide one's true feelings, Alan Shulik says.
- Blinking. While blinking is a natural reaction, Alan Shulik says that if somebody is blinking far too much it can actually mean something else. Someone who is rapidly blinking may be uncomfortable with the situation.
- Slight changes in lip shape. While smiling and frowning basically mean the same thing all around the world, Alan Shulik says that people tend to give away whether they are feeling happy or sad far more often than they might believe. For instance, if somebody has their lip slightly up, it generally means that he or she is in a good mood. If the lips are tipped slightly down, it can indicate a more pessimistic state of mind.
- Crossed arms or crossed legs. Alan Shulik says that this may indicate feeling closed off or defensive. It can also indicate that the person needs privacy.
Alan Shulik says that most communication is nonverbal. Pay attention to body language cues, and you can figure out more about a person than you might expect.
How to Take Better Photos With Alan Shulik
Alan Shulik is a very accomplished photographer. He has had his work in publications and has been in exhibitions since 1991. One of the most frequently asked questions that Alan Shulik encounters is, "How do I take better photographs?" If you have wondered this yourself, Alan Shulik has some tips to help you along the way:
• Get in closer. Most of the time, photographs don't "pop" because the photographer is far too distance from the subject, Alan Shulik says. This can cause a photograph to look very "blah." Next time that you're taking a photo, Alan Shulik advises, get up close to the subject, and see what a difference it makes!
• Practice. This seems obvious, but if you want to get better at anything, Alan Shulik says that you should do it every day. If you want your pictures to turn out consistently better, consistently practice!
• Pay attention to light. If you're not paying attention to where natural light is coming from when you take your shot, Alan Shulik says you're missing out on one of the most important elements of fantastic photography. Make sure that you are aware of where the natural light is coming from and use it to your advantage, Alan Shulik says.
• Ask permission. This is particularly important if you are taking photographs of people from a different culture, Alan Shulik says. In certain cultures, taking photographs of people is not permitted, and one must always respect such differences in culture.
Alan Shulik is a highly-regarded photographer who lives in Connecticut.
Choosing a Camera With Alan Shulik
Alan Shulik is an accomplished photographer who has been featured in publications and galleries. It's safe to say that one of his great loves in life is his camera. Alan Shulik believes that everybody can enjoy photography, but it's important to select the right kind of camera for your budget and needs.
· Are you a very casual photo taker? If all you want to do is take a few pictures every now and then, it's likely that a cell phone camera is all you'll ever need, says Alan Shulik. There's no need to spend thousands of dollars on a high quality camera if you're mostly going to be Instragramming your meals and taking the occasional photo of your child before he goes to school.
· Are you an outdoor enthusiast? A rugged compact camera may be a great choice for you. Many compacts on their own are no better than cell phone cameras, however, if you are out in the wilds constantly or would like to take photos underwater, a rugged compact will allow you to do this without fear of ruining the camera.
· Are you just starting to get into serious photography? Alan Shulik says that a bridge camera may be the right choice for you. A bridge camera is halfway between a compact and a DSLR (which is what the professionals use). This can be a great, budget-conscious choice for those who are thinking they like photography but aren't entirely committed to the cost of the DSLR.
No matter what degree a photographer you are, Alan Shulik believes that everybody can enjoy taking pictures. Whether amateur or professional, Alan Shulik hopes everybody loves photography.