Holiday Greetings from Dubai

Happy Holidays everyone.
Having lived in the middle east now for over a decade I know very well that far from everyone are celebrating Christmas. But it is hard to believe when you walk out in any of the shopping malls here they have all gone full on Christmas from decorations, large Christmas trees to having Santa’s grotto etc. One of the fun advantages of living in such a multi cultural place as Dubai is that you get to be part of so many different Holiday’s in a year because they are all very heavily celebrated but all in a very good way!
This year it was my daughters first Christmas and she is so easy to photograph she practically smiles all day long so when I put a camera in front of her face she just continues with being her lovely self. I cant ask for a better model.
Since it is our first Christmas as a family I wanted to send a personalized Christmas Card this year to our family and close friends. Here are a few snaps that I have taken of my daughter, in my search of finding our perfect Christmas card. Please let me know which one is your favourite. I think my favorite is the one below, the first one. That one unfortunately did not make it as a Christmas Card because I took it too late so it would not have arrived in time. I have learned this year that I need to be much more organized and start already in October to think of fun Christmas cards ideas to have time to both take and print them in time for me to send them so that they arrive before Christmas.
I wish you all a very Happy Holiday if you are celebrating and a lovely and prosperous New Year!

My though on this one was to have something that represented where we lived now. It was unfortunatelly not the best weather while we took this one.

A bit of fun.

Happy New Year!

Ps. Don’t forget to photograph the New Year fireworks it is great fun and makes for great Photography Wall Art and fun cards.

Dubai here I come!

I have received what I think is the best Christmas present ever! Yes, I know it is a few days early... but I just could not wait with the great news I had to tell you now. We are after 3 and a bit years in Egypt moving back to Dubai. I am so super excited about the move, there will be so many new great opportunities and many photography ideas that needs to be realized.

If you are short on Christmas ideas for your loved ones and you cannot give them a move to another country then here are a few ideas that I have come up with.

For the music lover maybe this cool guitar USB Flash drive? It is a 4GB USB Flash drive so it can come in very handy. Maybe something for my dad? He plays the guitar.. hum not a bad idea. 

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Guitar-4GB-Flash-Drive/dp/B004F1MU6W/ref=sr_1_134?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1292767261&sr=1-134

 or for your fashionable lady friends maybe a handbag USB Flash drive?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004F1V28E/ref=s9_simh_se_p23_d0_i4?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=auto-no-results-center-1&pf_rd_r=0W9CVC06CHYGC2WM5C3F&pf_rd_t=301&pf_rd_p=1263465782&pf_rd_i=USB-minne%20i%20form%20av%20en%20systemkamera%20i%20miniatyr

or this very multi useful Swiss Flash drive? 

http://www.amazon.com/Swiss-Army-SwissFlash-USB-Drive/dp/B001E6T636/ref=sr_1_180?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1292767335&sr=1-180

My personal favorites and for all you photography crazy friends there are a few different options to choose from.

A Nikon 70-200 large thermos.

 A Canon 24-105 Coffee mug.

 or this very cool 4GB USB Flash drive that looks like a miniature DSLR camera.

The photography gifts I found on a swedish website called: http://kaffebrus.com
http://kaffebrus.com/nikon-70-200-stor-termos-objektivmugg-1439.html

Good luck everyone with your Christmas shopping!
Oh yes maybe I should also mention if you are interested in getting someone you know some Wall Art and 2011 Calendars for Christmas please take a look at my collection at Red Bubble. I unfortunately don't think they will arrive on time for Christmas though.
http://www.redbubble.com/people/hshippey

Greeting card

2011 Calendar 

Framed image

Or if you have a golf fanatic friend this golf book is a great gift it has wonderful golf images taken of the Taba Heights Golf Resort by yours truly and on top of that Golf Pro tips on how to play each hole! Take a peek here: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1503591

Sending you lots of Christmas Cheer from a warm Egypt!

Photographing Christmas Decorations

I have just finished looking at my photography of some Christmas decorations. To my annoyance I find a hair in the images! You can see it clearly when looking closely so either a re-shoot is needed or a bit of work in PS. The lesson to learn here is to be very careful when photographing products close up where you can see details you do not want to find dust, hair or other particles that should not be in your image, later on. It is much easier to take care of it before you photograph if you are only aware to look for it.
The lesson for you today and for me to go and set up the studio again and re-photograph the Christmas decorations!

I have attached a few of the images from the shoot, fortunately you can't see the hair in every shot due to its location but if you look closely at the two bottom images you can see it. Long and blond, hum I wonder if it was one of mine.... ;-) 

Maybe a hair-net should be in the camera bag? I actually have a few of them plastic hair covers that you get at hotels in my camera bag just in case of rain or very sandy conditions.... Maybe I now have another use for them as well! Only 8 Days till Christmas have you done all your Christmas shopping yet and sent out all your Christmas cards? For Christmas cards it might be a bit late now unless you are going to hand deliver them. If you haven't mailed them already.