Life and everythingAs recommended by Institute members

As a CPA, I always over-exert myself with work. Allowing me to gain balance in my life, I take photos during my holidays overseas.

A common problem for taking land-scape photos, especially of sunrises and sunsets, is that it is difficult to capture both highlights and shadows in detail. To help with that, you should first understand that our eyes can perceive an extraordi-nary range of contrast in a scene, a range that’s far greater than any camera’s sensor. We can see a scene’s highlights and shad-

ows in detail but the camera has trouble capturing both ends of that drastic range.

High-dynamic-range (HDR) photog-raphy is a function that adds pictures with ratio from light to dark. Instead of taking just one photo, HDR uses three or more photos taken at different exposures, and combines them together, highlighting the best parts of each photo. The histogram will tell me if I am blowing out the high-lights or blocking the shadows. If either happens, I can adjust the aperture or ISO. In my experience, I set the bracketing, or

the technique of taking several shots of the same subject at different exposures, to “+1”, “0” and “-1”. The camera then varies the shutter speed to obtain this bracket-ing and because HDR photos should be taken using a tripod, the shutter speed is a non-issue.

Using HDR, you can capture the sky’s detail in a sunrise or sunset photo without making the land or any buildings seem dark and vice-versa. Once you get the hang of it, HDR will be a great tool for shooting better photos.

How to shoot landscape photos with high-dynamic-range photography by Tony Wan, Director at Ascenda Cachet CPA Limited and Co-Convenor of the Institute’s Photography Interest Group

Our bodies depend on water to survive. Every cell, tissue and organ in our bodies needs water to function correctly. Water is no doubt the best option for staying hydrated, but other beverages can contribute to our daily water intake as well. Here are some healthy drinks:

Authentic Tea House jasmine green tea is great for drinking during leisure time to refresh yourself. Research has shown that the rich concentration of natural antioxidants in green tea helps prevent and treat cancer, heart problems, high cholesterol levels, rheumatoid arthritis, infection, tooth decay and more.

Aquarius water is an electrolytes replenishment drink with a unique and refreshing citrus taste. It is low in sugar and calories and helps rehydrate the body

and replenish electrolytes lost during sweaty exercise sessions.

ZICO premium coconut water is low in calories and fat, and contains high doses of important vitamins and minerals. This all-natural beverage is effective for rehydrating after light exercise.

It is important to drink even before signs of thirst appear, as thirst is a signal that your body is already on the way to dehydration. Drink more than thirst demands and drink regularly throughout the day. Keep hydrated!

Healthy beverages available everywhere by Tony Chak, Finance Director at Swire Beverages LimitedSaveGrab-and-go

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Lunch time is a great time to take a break and exercise. A regime I practise during my lunch break workout includes running on a treadmill and trying to complete five kilometres within 35 minutes, which means running at an average of nine to 10 kilometres per hour. If this is challeng-ing for someone who does not exercise regularly, I advise beginning with a target that feels com-fortable, such as running two or three kilometres within half an hour. Start at seven kilometres per hour in the first minute and gradually build up to nine or 10 kilometres per hour within the next five to 10 minutes and then keep this pace for the time remaining. Afterwards, make sure

to use the treadmill’s cool-down function to avoid feeling pain in the afternoon.

Since the last quarter, I have started going to yoga classes during my lunch hour. Yoga is a totally differ-ent experience and I enjoy doing the various postures very much. I am currently practising Hatha 1, which is a beginner’s class. Yoga helps improve the body’s core strength, links up breathing to different postures and helps relax both the mind and body after every class. Be sure to finish your breakfast or lunch at least two hours before taking a class.

Charlie Yeung, Financial Controller at the Pure Fitness Group, shares tips for exercising on a busy schedule

Wine has a long history of being served alongside food. In the past, the basic rule, “white wine with fish, red wine with meat,” has rested on the principle of matching the body (weight) of the wine with the weight of the food. To achieve the best match, it is necessary to analyse the basic components of both the wine and food. The main principle is to balance them so that neither the food nor the wine overpowers the other.

The key elements of food and wine pairing to consider include the following:

• Weight – try to match the weight of the food with the weight of the wine

• Flavour intensity – match full flavours together, such as Sauvignon Blanc and asparagus, and mild flavours together like Muscadet and oysters

• Characteristics – the flavour characteristics of some foods and wines are very similar and conse-quently make good combinations, such as pairing spicy dishes with Gewurztraminer or Gruner Veltiner

• Acidity – high acid wines complement fatty foods in the same way that lemon cuts through the greasi-ness of smoked salmon

• Salt – salty foods are enhanced and balanced by a hint of sweetness

• Tannin – the more textured the food, for example fatty duck and chewy steak, the more tannin you need in the wine. Tannin causes your gums to pucker and dry while drinking wine

• Sweetness – the wine should always be sweeter than the food. Sweet food can make dry wine seem over-acidic and tart. The general rule of thumb is to serve a wine at least as sweet or sweeter than the food being served

For dessert lovers, the “Late Harvest” Gewurztraminer Spatlese from Weingut Okonomierat Rebholz is a great choice. It won the Best of Show Award in the Hong Kong International Wine Challenge 2015.

How to match the right wine with food by Kenny Cheung, Chief Executive Officer of Bacchus Trading (Hong Kong) Limited

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