For darkness will try to swallow your soul and it will never stop until you give in....

Projections

I am no model, but I love pretending to be one. Believe me I wasn’t always like this. I was always a wallflower (or perhaps, still am) but who doesn’t like to feel pretty and have their picture taken. Before I sound too self-absorbed, let me just say that vanity is almost every girl’s sin.

So anyway when my cousin asked me to “model” for her photography class project, I instantly agreed. Automatically, I asked for the theme and what I needed to bring. She couldn’t explain what it was and she told me, to my amusement, that she was only going to shoot my upper body and just needed a plain white tube top.

On the day of the shoot itself, my cousin finally explained what she was going to do. It was going to be very conceptual; I would have to portray different emotions while being projected with different images.

I should stop blabbering here and just let the pictures speak for themselves.

Would you believe that this was just shot in a bathroom?
Photo by Nerisa Marie Fernandez

This is easily my favorite. I'm with my cousin here, who's the photographer's sister.
Photo by Nerisa Marie Fernandez

A Little Help From A Friend: Lena on The Modern Gabriela Silang


I consider Lena a rare gem. Not only is she a great friend, but she is a fabulous fashion blogger as well. I'm not exaggerating. Go ahead check out her blog. I wanna thank her for not turning my invitation down and for such an incredibly written entry. Haha I was simply amazed the first time I saw these photos and overjoyed when she said "YES" to putting them on my blog. Thanks again, Lena! Hats off to her cousin, Nerisa Marie Fernandez. You nailed it!

Bohemian Gone Vintage: Outdoor Photo Shoot

Outdoor photo shoots are tricky. Let's say your shoot requires more sunlight but then the day turns gloomy and you couldn't find that "moment" where you could just press that shutter and go home. The worst scenario could be getting your subjects soaking wet because of a sudden downpour! But if you are after getting your subjects wet and dirty then make sure to protect your camera.

I was lucky that this first outdoor photo shoot I did for Lena went well. Tin looked absolutely stunning in her mom's dress! The two did a fabulous job and did not require too much directions. If you need models, just give me a heads up and let's discuss what we could do. Hahahaha

So what you need to remember is to prepare, prepare, and prepare.  Trust your instincts and never forget to ask the gods of Olympus to never let it rain on your shoot (optional).

Concept: Bohemian

Location: Fort Santiago, Intramuros

A Proclamation of Gratitude from A Modern Revolutionary

For my 23 years of existence, I wept, cursed, grieved, and even surrendered. But many times I laughed, cared, fought, and loved. All these were lessons to be learned. All these were memories to keep. What truly saved me? FAMILY. FRIENDS. Two F's truly worth FIGHTING for. Some people left but they chose to stay. I was harsh but they remained gentle. They believed and never judged. 

Two words, "THANK YOU." I don't know what good I did in the past to deserve this immense display of love from all of you. I could have gone nuts long ago without your patience and devotion. All I know is that you all are God's gift to me. 

Indeed, I am blessed and will forever be grateful.

To my 23 years on Earth and more!

 

One of Life's Sweetest Moments

An early birthday gift from my two beloved friends at work. Thank you Mother Irene and Lena for making this birthday the sweetest.

Witchikels. Kaboom. Churva. Eklavoo. Choba. Bonggels.

Para sa pegaloo lang maging beckimon kong friendchina na si Arianne-laloo. Bonggang-bonggang thank you-belles lang dahil after our dinner last night eh witchikelles na akech Haggardo Versoza. Award ang chicken biryani kahit Pagoda Cold Wave Lotion tayo eh bonggels pa rin sa chikahan. Sana betchina mo na ang Janno Gibbs ko for your birthday. Kahit natanggal ang churva nung earring eh sana nabigyan mo na ng first aid. Bakla, ang hirap mag gay lingo hahahahahaha  

Salamat dahil sa kabila ng mga Lupita Kashiwara dito eh you managed to cheer me up. Kahit temporary lang yung joy bonggang appreciated ko ang effort mo bakla. Kaya naman effort din ang entry na itech. Pero dahil love kita teh eh gusto kong ako naman ang magpasaya sayo. Haha Bonggels. Bakla, wala na akong maisulat nanonosebleed na talaga aketch hahaha

Maraming salamat, Arianne-belles. :))

Encore to a Wonderful Journey

I could not think of a better way to say how great life has been for me. Meeting new friends is one of the best parts of this journey. For this, I believe this one night only concert was the greatest display of gratitude I could offer to one of the most special people in my life. A friend who never left my side. Someone who would call when I am all alone in a room and would send messages that would keep me warm in times when it felt like winter on a summer evening. And to celebrate our very special bond, I would like to dedicate this song to her. Cheers to a wonderful life! 

"Life Is Wonderful"

Jason Mraz

It takes a crane to build a crane
It takes two floors to make a story
It takes an egg to make a hen
It takes a hen to make an egg
There is no end to what I'm saying


It takes a thought to make a word
And it takes some words to make an action
It takes some work to make it work
It takes some good to make it hurt
It takes some bad for satisfaction


La la la la la la la life is wonderful
Ah la la la la la la life goes full circle
Ah la la la la la la life is wonderful
Al la la la la


It takes a night to make it dawn
And it takes a day to make you yawn brother
And it takes some old to make you young
It takes some cold to know the sun
It takes the one to have the other


And it takes no time to fall in love
But it takes you years to know what love is
It takes some fears to make you trust
It takes those tears to make it rust
It takes the dust to have it polished


Ha la la la la la la life is wonderful 
Ah la la la la la la life goes full circle
Ah la la la la la la life is so full of 
Ah la la la la la la is so rough
Ah la la la la la la life is wonderful
Ah la la la la la la life goes full circle
Ah la la la la la la life is our love
Ah la la la la la


It takes some silence to make sound
It takes a loss before you found it
And it takes a road to go nowhere
It takes a toll to make you care
It takes a hole to make a mountain


Ah la la la la la la life is wonderful
Ah la la la la la la life goes full circle
Ha la la la la la la life is wonderful
Ha la la la la la la life is meaningful
Ha la la la la la life is wonderful
Ha la la la la la life it is...so...wonderful
It is so meaningful
It is so wonderful
It is meaningful
It is wonderful
It is meaningful
It goes full circle
Wonderful
Meaningful
Full circle
Wonderful

Saturday at Sonya's

"Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside." 

- Mark Twain

Not your usual "kikay" kit

What is a "kikay" kit?

"The kikay kit - generally regarded as a woman's secret weapon, her little bag of mojo. The variety it contains is much like her closet: full to the brim with what she'll usually wear everyday, but it  also has options to transform her into a woman much more mysterious and rare."

http://reluctantstylista.com/article/assembling-a-starter-kikay-kit

In this post, I will show you my version of "kikay" kit. As a newbie to the digital photography world, I consider this as a beginner's kit, which includes everything I use when I take photos. 

This Minolta Dynax7000i is my first SLR camera. 
It was a gift from a cousin and I first used it during a photography class in college.

 1. THE CAM



Photography is impossible without a camera. One thing you should consider before buying a camera is BUDGET. For beginners, entry-level digital SLRs are highly recommended. As soon as you feel confident going pro, then you may need to upgrade your equipment.

 2. Tripods, lenses, filters, external flash, flash diffusers....

The list goes on and on but I think the number of accessories you need depends on the project you are working on. 



Filters

In my case, I take photos using different kinds of filters. Therefore, I buy more filters than needed. This could be overwhelming so watch out or you might end up with empty pockets. I suggest you invest in a polarizing filter. It is great for outdoor photography and if you know how to use it well then there is no need for photo editing softwares.

Tripods

Here is a guide on what features to look for when buying a tripod. 

Lenses

The lens that comes with some camera kits is good and flexible enough. However, there is a variety of lenses available. You just need to understand what those lenses could do. For example, prime or fast lenses are great for portraiture and indoor shooting. You would surely get sharp images with enhanced depth of field with these lenses. If you are into landscape photography just like me then go for wide-angle lenses. If you want to get a close-up shot of your subject but does not want to be noticed then get a zoom lens. Branded lenses such as Nikon and Canon may be too expensive so as alternatives you could go for third-party lenses like Tokina, Sigma, etc. 

External Flash


This part could be bloody so I will leave it up to you to study an article I found online. 


Flash Diffusers

Flash diffusers simply soften the harsh light coming from the camera flash. I often use a pop-up flash diffuser for my DSLR.



As a rule, always look for options when you go shopping for photographic accessories and be resourceful. The web is rich in information about everything you need to know so make use of it. Enjoy shooting!

Paham and Jamie (09/24/2011)

Sonnet 116


Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved. 


-William Shakespeare 

Get Instant Photos

Classic photo booth images come alive with the help of Photoshop CS5. For a step-by-step guide on how to do photo strips with your digital images, click here.

Carl and Jamie (09/11/2011)

Pre-wedding photo of Carl and Jamie in infrared. 

To capture "LOVE" in a photo is not easy especially if you do it in infrared. Thanks to Carl and Jamie for making this shoot a very memorable one. 

It brought me such great pressure when Sinag asked me to take photos of the couple. My mind was telling me not to but my heart said otherwise. I did not want to ruin one of Carl and Jamie's precious moments together but Sinag's encouraging words pulled me out of my misery. 

Kahit maputi....

Para sa walang humpay na suporta mula sa isang natatanging kaibigan, si Tessa. Maraming salamat.

Infrared Photography (Sample Shoot)

My first take on infrared (IR) photography was a disaster and so I took a handful of sample shots again this morning using the same subject. To start with, you must need an IR filter for this particular shoot. You must take note, however, that IR filters may not work well with other cameras especially modern digital SLRs. Higher megapixels make your camera less sensitive to IR light. I suggest you check first whether your camera is up for this adventure. You could find some articles about this online.

Let's get started!

• Set your camera to its lowest ISO setting;
• Mount your camera on a tripod, very important tool you must use in IR photography since you will be using slow shutter speeds here;
• Attach the IR filter on your lens. I know, you cannot see a thing but do not fret. Remove the filter and compose your subject. Try adjusting your aperture to reduce depth of field;
• Now, try taking a photo and then check it to see what needs to be adjusted. 
• You could try different shutter speeds to determine if your shot is under or overexposed;
• If you are not satisfied with the results, it's alright. It will really take you and I some time to fully understand the idea of composing and capturing with IR photography. Take your time and keep on shooting.

Here are some sample shots. Very basic and obviously needs improvement. :)

 ISO 200      38 mm      f/5.0     6.0 sec

 Edited version. Colors modified.

Sample Photos

Just recently got the filters I ordered. This is the first step to completing my new project. Check allaboutfilters.wordpress.com for details. 

Photos were taken using a combination of circular close-up +10 and polarizing filters. One thing I discovered during this shoot was that photo tweaking is useless when you know how to use photographic filters. Practice is a must. It is vital that most digital photographers must not purely rely on Photoshop. Life has been easier with the birth of technology but this is not a reason for us to be dependent on what it could do to make things bearable. It is a challenge but a fun one. That is for sure. This practice shoot is something you could start doing at home. If you want to add new photos in your portfolio, set a date and choose a good location. A good location will definitely make your photos stand out.

Taken with a close-up + 10 filter.

(Enhanced depth of field. Manual focusing used for these photos.)

Taken with a close-up + 10 filter and a polarizing filter. (RAW file)

Near Infrared (NIR)

I am in a very inexplicable state now. Yesterday, I felt like I was close enough to having a nervous breakdown and today I am starting to feel the same but in a very good way. So how did this happen? 


INFRARED PHOTOGRAPHY. Photography in which an infrared optical system projects an image directly on infrared film, to provide a record of point-to-point variations in temperature of a scene. (www.answers.com)

To get a glimpse of my concept of heaven, go here.

Hoping to buy an infrared filter the soonest. Can't wait to do insanely beautiful stuff with infrared photography. 

Official Statement (As if someone would dare post something unofficial.)

This is to express my deepest apology to the people I have hurt during our last badminton match. It was really intense that every missed shot was unbearable. Both teams obviously wanted to win but I wanted it more. 

It rained profanity in my head. 

I have been battling with my temper for years. This is something not all my friends are aware of and something many will surely not understand but I am fortunate enough to have few friends who witnessed my transformation and has learned to accept the real and new me. This transformation has made me more aloof, somewhat less affectionate. This made me care less about people. Something that comes handy when people you trust start turning their backs on you.

I am no angel. Something I am definitely not proud of. Like most us, I do curse. Many times. And if this is something most of my coworkers are sensitive about, I apologize. It was not my intention to curse people because they made that game so damn hard to win. It was out of frustration. Total madness towards myself. 

Once again, I apologize. 

Cokin Filters: Working in Pairs

Too much excitement has led me to finish my supposed to be weekend demo shoot earlier than expected. I must admit that this experience has brought me so much joy and I could just sense that I'm back to my old self. Previously, I posted a demo shoot I did using Cokin filters. This time I did the same demo shoot but I paired different color filters hoping for cooler images. It was fun and I stayed up late just to upload them all in my computer and finish the collages.

(Stand by for more photos.)

Working with Clay

Stress is inevitable. However, there are many things one could do to relieve stress. Let me ask you. What do you normally do when things at work get crazy? You look away from the computer, rest your eyes and brain for a minute or two? Or you're the artistic one who does something crafty and display your work on your desk?

AJ and Chris are the best examples on how getting stressed at work could be fun and artsy after all. I admire how these two could do amazing things at work. Just like these clay models they recently finished. I think they have already ran out of clay so no new addition to the display yet but I would like to share their work with you. This might give you inspiration on how you could keep your professional life a little more interesting. I also thought of converting the images into black and white to hide the dusty surface where the clay models rest. :)

Pahiyas 2011

Words are useless for colorful photos such as these: