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.

 

Using Photoshop: Tips for Beginners, by Alan Shulik

Modern photography has been subject to many developments over the past several decades. Photo manipulation programs, such as Photoshop, have forever changed the face of photography, says Alan Shulik, a talented photographer who recognizes their controversial nature. He also understands, however, that programs like Photoshop can be an extremely useful way to improve the quality and effect of one’s photography.

Below, Alan Shulik provides some helpful tips for photographers new to the Photoshop technology.

Crop Tool

The crop tool, as Alan Shulik knows, can be used to improve the composition of a photograph. Using the Photoshop crop tool can help to correct the composition, easily turning a good picture into a great one. The crop tool often times allows the user to reposition a picture’s focus.

Clone Stamp Tool

Undesirable background distractions, things you may not have wanted in the shot, says Alan Shulik, can be removed using the clone stamp tool. A nature shot, for example, may be better off without the random automobile driving through it. Photoshop provides this tool so the user may effectively remove an unwanted object from a picture.

Photo Filters

Photo filters, says Alan Shulik, allow the user to make adjustments to the colors in a photograph, bringing out the desired brilliance of the picture. When used carefully and effectively, photo filters can help the user turn a good photo into one of professional quality.

Though Alan Shulik doesn’t rely heavily on the Photoshop program, he does understand its many amazing capabilities as a photo manipulation tool. He recommends photographers familiarize themselves with Photoshop software.

 

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 doesn’t recommend relying too much on Photoshop, though it has many capabilities. It’s important to perfect and improve upon your photography skills to get the best results. While Alan Shulik believes that Photoshop is a necessary component of most modern photography, he doesn’t believe that it should be a crutch that replaces actual skill.

 

Alan Shulik: The Difference Between Digital and Film Photography

If you are an amateur or professional photographer, Alan Shulik suspects you probably have a strong opinion on whether or not digital is better than film. Of course, Alan Shulik acknowledges that this is a very difficult subject and highly based on opinion. The real answer is that digital is a better medium for some, and film is better for others. Alan Shulik outlines some of the differences between digital and film photography here:

• 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.