Photography as a Hobby By Dr. Gerald Siu

Fellow practitioners will agree, I am sure, that dentistry is demanding, both physically and mentally. We need to run a professional practice (which is also a business) and coordinate with several levels of personnel. It is stressful and time consuming.

Dentists, like everyone else, need relaxation, distraction, and entertainment in their lives. Photography as a hobby has many benefits. It is fascinating, absorbing and amusing, relieves stress, brings relaxation, and contact with new people, areas of interest and fields of study. It can be very creative, require imagination and help us find beauty in the world. Even looking at photographs seems to induce the same reaction in people as actually seeing beautiful views in the real world. Photography promotes a positive manner, emotional expression, and physical exercise, leading to an increase in health and well-being.

Contrasts of colour, light, shade, and form

Bright colours and sharp focus reveal a wealth of detail, from patterns on the beetle’s back to leaf structure

The range and scope of photography is huge, depending on preferred themes and subjects of interest. Photographers have different characteristics; hence their productions will reflect their styles and personalities. Photographic skills can promote learning and sharing (particularly of memories).

The menacing sky, neon lit HK skyline, its geometric reflection in the harbor and ferry pier detail in the foreground create an elemental composition (air, earth, water)

More than meets the eye? Another colourful and detailed photo. But unlike us, bees and other creatures have ultraviolet vision, which means they can see nectar containing patterns in the flower’s petals

The dramatic contrast of black and white conveys a pleasing sense of symmetry

The setting sun and shadow combine to produce a stunning silhouette with halo effect Finally, the photographer, of whatever level, needs a variety of equipment, which can itself be a subject of interest for the technically minded.