EXPERIMENTS WITH LIGHT AND VERSE

Watching the World Go By

2012-02-12T15:21:00.001+08:00

Split-second Serenity. I believe I haven't posted an entry in this segment in a while. Not only have there been ground-shaking developments this past week, but it has probably been one of the longest for me as well. I was busy checking things off my to-do list that I had no time to stop and smell the rain-drenched earth. As I was juggling submitting midterm grades and covering the Regional Chemistry Olympiad yesterday, I came across the scene above. It was a picture-worthy view that I've been admiring from the third floor of our building since the middle of the week, which is why I finally decided to capture it while it was still there (the grass-cutter will surely make short work of it the following week). I brought the camera to my eye, breathed, allowed the world to melt away (albeit for the briefest of moments), and pressed the shutter.

Lab Art from the Rat Lab

2012-02-04T10:14:00.002+08:00

I found myself bored yesterday afternoon. It wasn't a case of not having any work to do (the paper mountain from midterms week still awaited ~~immolation~~ my attention), but more of not wanting to do anything even remotely related to the four-letter word. My brain enforced a strict no-work policy, so off I went to the biochemistry lab, hoping that the mice would be doing something interesting for me to capture. No such luck.

I was going to stow my camera back in its bag when I noticed the rust and stain patterns on the sink surface and decided to look for intriguing textures instead. To aid in the obfuscation, I did a lot more work on these images in post than I usually do. After looking at the finished versions, I was quite pleased with how they seemed familiar yet different at the same time, making the mundane a little bit more captivating.

To ~~complete the cycle of madness~~ come full circle, let me give each of my above images a title. I'd like to call the one above 'Soul Erosion' (Wow, artsy!). ;-)# More ~~of the inanity~~ pictures can be viewed on my G+ account by clicking on this link.

Enjoy.

Light Stew

2012-01-28T09:06:00.000+08:00

No, this post is not about any culinary delight or the making thereof. Although, I must admit that the title is a result of pining for a dish that falls under the stew category. But, I digress. This meandering piece is about adding an LED video light into the mix while shooting pictures using off-camera flash.

This picture is what got the gears in my head spinning.

The photo above was shot in the Forensics exhibit room during one of the chemistry road shows last year. The first stop was laid out to simulate a crime scene with a 'murder victim' to boot. To create a TV-crime atmosphere, the students who ran the room decided to go with an LED video light as a means to put emphasis on the current exhibit as the viewers were being walked through the room; and of course, to add drama. Since the lights inside the room were turned off and there was virtually no ambient contribution, I treated the LED video light like any continuous light source — like a fluorescent lamp without the weird color cast or the sun (albeit scaled way, way down) with an off switch.

And then I got to thinking, why not stick an off-camera hot shoe flash into the mix?

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Okay, so flashing (the kind that doesn't involve nudity) a group of high school students was going to be annoying at best. I opted to wait for a lull in between viewings to shoot the picture below with both light sources now in play. The flash is gridded and held by a VAL on camera right. The short break also provided me with a number of willing subjects.

In this shot, the flash is acting as the key light while the LED video light is acting as fill. Just to be clear, the 'murder victim' isn't really dead nor is her back misshapen. And none of the smiling faces are budding serial killers (as far I know). I was happy to head home with the image above, but as the road show continued I got to thinking again (yeah, I do a lot of that) —

Why not use each light source to illuminate different layers of the scene? And while we're at it, let's use those cool shadows at the back.

In this shot, the LED video light is shining on the students. Not only that, it warms up a bit as it bounces off the student with the yellow shirt. The flash is fired from camera right to light the ~~'murdered' hunchback~~ foreground. The moment I saw it on the back of my camera, I thought it had an edgy movie poster look to it. Given that it was done impromptu and under very limited time, I was ecstatic.

If you believe in an idea (no matter how bizarre it is), it pays to stick with it and see where it takes you, even if you have to scramble around in the dark for a while.

*Click on any of the above images to view it larger in a light box.

My Left Foot Out

2012-01-21T09:48:00.000+08:00

I hesitated too long to post my photography portfolio on this site. I justified procrastinating by convincing myself that there were still a number of questions that needed to be answered to some degree of certainty. Tired with all the backpedaling, I just finally went through the longer-than-anticipated process of selecting my best work so far and posted it here for the world (or more accurately, for my loyal readers) to see.

I have decided that I will sufficiently prepare myself for this new endeavor as best as I can, but also realize that no amount of hyper-preparation will ever make me ready for every conceivable scenario. There's just a ton of lessons that can only be encountered and learned in the field, and they're not just going to go marching up my door and present themselves to me.

Photography Portfolio (2010 onwards)

So, I'm putting my best foot forward and hoping that the world notices.
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*You can view my photography portfolio by clicking on the 'Portfolio' tab under the site title above. If you are interested in commissioning me for a portrait, kindly click on the 'Contact' tab above for details on how to reach me.

On My Father's Shoulders

2012-01-12T21:59:00.000+08:00

I have encountered many pastry recipes that listed a pinch of salt as one of the ingredients. At first, I found this quite peculiar. Why add salt to a mixture that is supposed to come out sweet? But after taking a bite off the first treat that comes out of the oven, I begin to understand the reason for the 'odd' instruction. Sugar is sweet and we expect it to be so; but, who would have thought that it is the few grains of salt that give the sweetness something to contrast with, essentially adding a layer of flavor to what would otherwise be saccharine monotony.

I would like to believe that the same can be said of physical strength. Sinew and power are only truly underscored when they are used to perform the most gentle of acts. As a young child, I would constantly bear witness to my father's daily feats of strength: moving heavy furniture around the house, swinging my book-laden school bag into the trunk of the car, and carrying my younger brother to bed when he would fall asleep on the living room couch while watching TV. When one is little, it would seem that there is nothing that one's father couldn't do. I remember 'flying' out of the theater, while precariously perched on his shoulders, after we watched Superman. Not once did I ever consider the possibility that I would fall.

Last Sunday, January 8, my father celebrated his 64th birthday. His step is a lot less sprightly and his once mighty shoulders have drooped with age. I find myself battling with the thought that there will come a time that he will have to lean on me for support. And if the cruel fates should conspire, I will be the one carrying him off to bed. I dearly hope not. Yet, at the same time, I am thankful for having had the chance to sit atop his shoulders that day at the theater because in that very moment I learned the true meaning of strength.

Happy birthday, Pops.

The Daybreak Diaries (2)

2012-01-04T05:18:00.000+08:00

Like a Ship without a Rudder

I spent most of my life doing what other people expected me to do. When I was younger, I would accept the word of elders (and even peers) as irrefutably right because this was what good young boys did. I would get anxious at the slightest hint of disappointment that I developed an 'apology reflex' – I would say sorry even if none of it was my fault (you would know this if you bumped me on the street then). I stowed my dreams and hopes away to protect them from thoughtlessly being picked upon by others –

Is this your idea? This is clearly not the way you think.

That course of action is too impractical.

You, an artist? You're just pulling my leg, right?

This is just a phase. You'll get your head straight on in no time.

Do you really think you have what it takes to do what you're setting out to do?

I realized almost too late that living your life according to the not-so-subtle prodding of societal 'norm' set me up for that one fateful day when I would look myself in the mirror and not recognize the person in front of me. It is a daunting realization to have. Here you are too far along the course of your life following a map that people, who claim to know better, have thoughtlessly scribbled on. Wresting back control of your life and knowing all too well how much more difficult it is going to be to plot your own route and stay on it is downright frightening. I found myself disheartened on numerous occasions because I would choose the status quo over life-altering change.

Fortunately, it is a choice that is offered to us more than once. We are given many opportunities to take the wheel and seize control of our life. Yet, we are only given so many chances. Seemingly, each turning point follows a pattern for me: a long-awaited moment of insight followed by a brief period of clarity and serenity, and finally the everyday struggle that is the rest of my life. One would think that struggle would be too harsh a word, but in my experience, it is quite apt. And I believe that it is at this point that we get tempted to relinquish control. But, we have to stick with it.

It is true that the day-to-day labor of setting your heading and avoiding the cliffs and rocks along the way is a task that requires you to be fully present (I believe the word toil was coined to encapsulate the experience). Yet, I also believe that when you find yourself where you ought to be, the pains and aches of all that toil will all melt away.

If you find yourself too far away from the course that you initially charted, know that you can always turn back, but you would have to turn... now.

Glam Is Just a Four-letter Word

2011-12-31T11:04:00.000+08:00

Like most Filipinos, I was born, baptized and welcomed into some form of Christian faith. As a man, a mostly unspoken 'macho' code was passed on to me – Don't cry in public (pretend to yawn). Treat women as you would your mother or your sister (lie to them to get out of something). Don't pluck your eyebrows (say you had a shaving accident). The list goes on and on. In my upbringing, sex and sexuality were not regular dinner table fare. I remember watching 'Ghost' with my Lola and finding myself staring at the ceiling when the film's lead characters were getting creative with pottery.

I thought I had outgrown the awkward elocutionary maneuverings around the... ahem, proverbial bush. But, I was wrong. Having gotten myself into photography, I found myself being drawn towards portraiture. I've spent the past three years in semi-serious pursuit of the craft. I've thankfully gotten to the point where I am confident enough to finally have people book me for sessions.

Admittedly, most of my subjects are women and with that I was introduced to the ~~minefield~~ landscape of glamour photography. The sexual and sensual aspect of glamour intimidated me at first. I found myself being transported to that uncomfortable moment in my childhood when my Lola asked me what I was staring at on the ceiling while Patrick and Demi were making something that sorta looked like a vase. The seven-year old Catholic boy, the happily married man and the artist coming into his own were debating the pros and cons of adding and developing this element into my photographic repertoire.

So, why the internal dispute? What is glamour photography after all? Well, there are far better answers from noted authorities on the subject, but allow me to elaborate on three points that I believe were vital to my understanding of the genre.

Glamour, although it has been wrongly associated with it, is not porn. We can debate the difference between nude and naked all we want, but it all hinges on intent and context. If the intent is to show the sensuality and allure of the subject, then I say glamour. If the intent is to arouse and trivialize sex, then it is porn.

From the point of view of feminism, I will to have to quote from an article written on the subject by Carol Dyhouse because I believe she perfectly put things in perspective —

'Does glamour empower women, or turn them into objects? It is important to remember that women practise glamour, they are not simply the object of the male gaze. And, historically, glamorous women were just as likely to be seen as dangerous to men as victims themselves. Glamour can represent self-assertion, sexual confidence, playfulness, pleasure and delight. But in the end, nothing empowers women so much as a good education and a well-paid job.'

Lastly, if I may offer my own take on glamour it would be this - A glamour photo is first and foremost about the subject. As most subjects are women, the image should not only celebrate beauty, but the sensuality of the woman in the image as well. The subject bares her vision of how it is for her to show the aforementioned qualities and my job is to translate it into an image that measures up to her view.

It was a drawn-out process of deliberation, but I've finally made the decision to pursue it. I gather that most people will misunderstand my intentions and misinterpret my actions. I understand that I have drawn a line in the sand where I now have to openly confront small-minded critique of any work that I'm going to put out there. In the course of undertaking this endeavor, I took the time to talk to the people who matter most to me in my life: my wife, select family members and my closest friends. And I assuredly have their full support, so I couldn't really care less for misguided and uneducated guiltmongering about sexuality (Yes, you don't have to tell me again because I already know that I am going to burn in hell. We can continue the lively discussion there.)

In fact, proof of this support is when my best friend, Maricel, agreed to be one of my subjects in building my glamour portfolio (hers are the pictures that are interspersed throughout this article). She and I developed concepts for the shoot. My wife helped me refine those concepts and supplied makeup and accessories on top of an encouraging smile. My good friend, Queenie, lent some articles of clothing and did the makeup for the shoot. The Baricuatros, Farley, Dia, Cacing and Komodo, welcomed us into their home and did not only offer us a beautiful and versatile location, but a hearty meal as well. And last but not least, a number of friends from work (Ailenn, Jinky and Sharajen) were present during the shoot and did not only provide great company, but helped me carry and move my gear as well.

And before I end this lengthy post, I would like to reiterate that in the end I am a portrait photographer. My mission has always been to create intimate and meaningful pictures of my subjects. If I had to call it anything just for the sake of classification, I wouldn't call it glamour, but rather intimate portraiture.

As 2012 rolls in, I look forward to not just making more beautiful images, but those that give my subjects a beautiful self-image as well. Happy New Year everyone!

The Daybreak Diaries (1)

2011-12-29T10:06:00.001+08:00

The dawn lost its promise of hope. I hadn't slept a wink, but I so desperately wanted to unshackle myself from the pile of pillows and blankets that were strewn on the bed. Without warning, a cold indifference seeps through the covers and into my skin. And just like that, I lie frozen in a constrictive cocoon as the rest of the world goes on with their lives.

Depression affects more people than most would believe. And even those who are afflicted are often trapped in a limbo of denial. All too often, it is left undiagnosed and dismissed as the product of an individual's overly developed sense of drama.

As a result of the social stigma attached to depression, many people choose to suffer in silence. On most days it requires less effort to smile and say 'I'm okay.' rather than have to unburden yourself on someone – a person who may genuinely care for you, but will fumble around with the how (because at this point you don't even know what would help) or a person who may have just asked 'How are you?' for the sake of being polite.

All too often one shuns the opportunity to stand up and share the turmoil that is brewing inside when you know that yours will be the only voice that will stir the comfortable silence. However, I have realized that it takes but one soul to stand up and speak, so that the rest can be heard. I do not claim to understand depression in any professional capacity. What I share here are all culled from my personal experience with it – the crippling melancholy, the grueling daily struggle and the occasional small victory.

I do not pretend to have any answers. I am merely sharing accounts of everyday battles in a war that I have to wage until I draw my last breath. I am not even sure what I hope to achieve, but I strongly believe that this debilitating disease loses a part of its hold on you when you open up about it.

These are my daybreak diaries.

Watching the World Go By

2011-12-24T23:07:00.000+08:00

Christmas Is All Around Me

Grown-up Christmas List

2011-12-21T22:05:00.000+08:00

I shot this with my old Canon 350D. It has defied both time and shutter count as it is still pretty much ~~truckin'~~ clickin'. Truth be told, unless I closely scrutinize the images in my catalog, I could never immediately distinguish between the images that were shot with the aforementioned antique and the ones that were shot with the newer body.

I mention this because all too often people replace perfectly working gear for newer models just because they have the means to do so. It's their money, so why should I tell them how to spend it, right? I'm not really telling people how to spend their money. I'm just making a case for spending it wisely. I stick to this rule of thumb of sorts when upgrading my gear —

If your skill becomes limited by the equipment that you have, then it is time to seriously consider an upgrade. If not, then upgrade your skill.

Trust me, you don't want to be the guy with really expensive basketball shoes sitting on the bench the whole game.

39

2011-12-17T08:42:00.000+08:00

Most walk these halls

Leaving only the dust of their feet —

Delible footprints from vacuous souls.

A few rise above the din

Of footfalls and empty proclamations,

Making their imprint last

Beyond what custodians can sweep

And time diminish.

Watching the World Go By

2011-12-11T10:00:00.001+08:00

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The Blood Moon

Flash on, Flash off

2011-12-03T19:32:00.001+08:00

Answers From a Song

I shot the above picture (of Rachel) while documenting the department's last road show at the St. Dominic Savio School in Cordova. The crowds and the changing ambient light conditions always make it a challenge to shoot pictures during the event.

I was making pictures of the demonstrations in the Forensic Chemistry room and found myself wracking my brain on how best to balance ambient light with flash (which was necessary in the darkened room). There was blue cellophane over the fluorescent lamps to create a believable atmosphere of a TV crime lab. The classroom designated for the exhibit had bright pink curtains with the afternoon sun shining right behind them. And every time I bounced my flash off the low white ceiling, the mint green color of the walls would dominate the scene.

What to do?

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Enter Katy Perry's Hot n Cold.

I should probably explain myself before I continue. When ruminating, I am very much inclined to play songs in my head. It's usually just a small sample of the entire song (my brain tends to create mash-ups with other songs on the fly). I find that the repeating internal soundtrack helps me focus my thoughts more.

Okay, so in this particular scenario the looping sample was – 'Cause you're hot then you're cold...

And then it struck me, warm pink and cool blue.

Rachel was in between demos and she was right where the two light sources mixed. So, it was just a matter of adjusting my settings and asking her for a quick picture. Two quick clicks and I had my personal pick for picture of the day.

The internal 'audio player' doesn't remember as many songs as it used to nor does it update its playlist more frequently. But as Bert Lance once said, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it. "

Watching the World Go By

2011-11-30T00:35:00.001+08:00

Keeping Pace. Life is a journey. All too often we rush through it, thinking that it is a race. We meet people along the way. Some stay, most go. At some point, we decide to run the race with a partner. For some, this synchrony will last for a good while; but for those who are lucky enough, this will last until the crossing comes to a close. And even then, fewer of those who are in running pairs that endure the test of time and trial are blessed with the insight of slowing down to fully enjoy the voyage that unfolds.

Happy 35th wedding anniversary to my parents, Jimmy and Joy!

The Observer Effect

2011-11-28T05:31:00.001+08:00

The observer effect (and allow me to borrow the definition from physics) is the change brought upon by the very act of observation on the phenomenon being studied. This influence is not only prevalent when one is studying the very small, but scales quite nicely into the macroscopic world as well.

In photography, there is also the question of candidness. When a subject is unaware that her picture is being taken, one can argue the point, that the resulting image is genuinely candid. Whereas another could question its authenticity by presupposing that the subject of the photograph could very well be an actress who is very good at having her day-to-day activities 'candidly' captured. I, on the other hand, would like to propose that from the moment we became aware that we existed on this world, surrounded by all sorts of people and objects, that all our actions have been altered in some way by the knowledge that at any given time there is the possibility that we are being observed.

And it's not just the case of adapting a public demeanor because even when you are 'alone', you find yourself performing actions that seemingly require an audience (e.g. singing in the shower). My inference therefore is that none of our actions are truly ever candid because if you are reading this in a less-than-private place, you are probably looking over your shoulder to see if someone is standing behind you.

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*A larger version of the above picture can be viewed here.

BTS: Dreaming of a White Christmas

2011-11-19T09:29:00.001+08:00

As promised, here's a behind-the-scenes account of how I came up with the image that I entered into the MPEX photo contest for the month of November.

Internal Dialogue:

Me 1: Shapes and Textures? (while browsing the web page with the contest details)

Me too: Fine, I think I can come up with something decent.

Me 1: ...as inspired by the seasons of fall and winter?

Me too: Crap.

So, how did I go about creating an image inspired by seasons that I can only imagine about?

Well, I went through hunting for storm clouds, straining my calf muscles and finally scrounging for fall-en leaves. If you happened to chance upon me inside the university while doing any of the aforementioned activities, I assure you that I pose no immediate danger to you and others (to myself maybe).

In the end, surprisingly, I resorted to using ~~the dark arts~~ chemistry.

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I decided to do a contrast between the warm colors of fall and the cool colors of winter. I easily found leaves of suitable color and shape to represent fall. However, I was a bit stumped as to how to recreate snow and frost; that is until I thought of just simulating its texture and appearance by recrystallizing a supersaturated solution of sodium acetate. I won't bother you with the process and the science behind it, but if you're interested here's a page that discusses and demonstrates it clearly.

I decided to put my supersaturated solution in a petri dish to introduce a circle as a framing element in the image.

I proceeded to recrystallize my supersaturated solution and positioned the leaf on top. I lit this shot from the side with a single off-camera flash to bring out the detail in both the leaf and the crystal.

I could tell that I was on the right track, but the picture looked too sterile for me. So, I tried suspending it on piece of bond paper taped to two stools and lit the setup from the bottom.

This led to some very surprising results. I was able to introduce a number of shapes into the composition, but in the end, I couldn't shake the feeling that it looked like a flag. I gathered that the crystal, already white in color, could act as a diffuser; so, I proceeded to just shoot the light through it. A shot that was made possible with the help of hand model/VAL extraordinaire, Queenie. Thanks, P're. :-)#

I anticipated some diffusion, but what I viewed through the LCD at the back of my camera was just astonishing. Although I was fascinated with how the glow gave it a magical appeal, I noted that too many highlights were blown and opted to dial down the power of the light source down a notch. I decided to tweak white balance, tone, contrast and color in post to get the look I wanted. I also rotated the image to have it appear like a globe nestled in a person's hand, which resulted in the image that you see below.

I do hope to win, but the whole process of conceptualizing, sticking with and executing ideas was in its own way a prize.

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Once again, if you believe that I should have a shot at winning, please vote for my entry entitled Snow Globe on the contest page.

Many, many thanks.

Dreaming of a White Christmas

2011-11-18T04:55:00.001+08:00

The above photo is my entry to MPEX's photo contest for November, themed Shapes and Textures as inspired by those very elements of the fall and winter seasons. I am very much aware that in the Philippines we only have two seasons, one is sweltering the other is torrential. I'll write a follow-up to this post to explain the reason for going with the image shown and the process behind its creation.

For now, I would like to kindly ask you to vote for this image (up to five times a day) starting from Nov. 19 to Nov. 29, 2011. But, only if you believe that it deserves your vote and a shot at winning, as only the top 20 pictures (by popular vote) get considered for final judging for the top three prizes. :-)#

The contest page can be viewed here. Click on the View Entries tab and search for my entry by using the search box on the page that opens. The title of my submission is Snow Globe. I would be grateful if you could help me get more votes by sharing this post through social networking.

Many thanks.

Watching the World Go By

2011-11-14T07:15:00.001+08:00

Liquid Dreams

A Light in the Dark

2011-11-10T05:27:00.000+08:00

Just last week, my good friend, Queenie, wrote a short piece on finding kindred spirits on one's journey through life. I only hope that we all could be so lucky to find these people who can empathize with our plight and give us the strength to persevere through the darkest of days. I, for one, am grateful to be blessed to have such people in my life.

Thank you, P're, for being one. And happy birthday. :-)#

Watching the World Go By

2011-11-08T05:59:00.000+08:00

Stop the World Because I Want to Get Off

*Click on the image above to view it larger on black.

Come as You Are

2011-11-04T22:58:00.002+08:00

I have written a piece on how I perceive a portrait to be and the process behind its creation. Most of my insights on portraiture are more of the old school than of the new. This doesn't mean that I don't appreciate the new styles and techniques that have emerged, but let's just say that I am more of a get-it-right-in-camera kind of photographer. If I can achieve the look that I need with the right clothes (or the lack thereof), a little makeup and flattering light, then I am more than happy to call it a day.

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I am all for learning new skills, but I have long realized that, with limited time and resources; I can't possibly manage to pursue everything I want to learn. I have to be selective and specialize. Thus, I strive to come up with a close approximation of the finished image even before I press the shutter. I have to admit that after I make the picture, I do polish it up in post. However, my post-processing skills are limited to adjusting tone, contrast and color. I will only retouch an image (which is something that I can do to a serviceable degree) if a particular unwanted element distracts from the overall aesthetic. I have long realized that these little 'imperfections' lend a particular character to a portrait and apparently there are many people out there who want a memorable picture of themselves and their loved ones sans Photoshop goggles.

I wrote a short account of how I made pictures of friends who had recently come home for short visits. Eugene was gracious enough to let me use some of the photos we shot that morning for this post. He came up with the concept; I just helped him realize it. He was clear about making these more as intimate and personal portraits rather than 'beefcake-type' photos. I asked him to trust me.

I dearly hope his trust is well-founded.

Watching the World Go By

2011-10-31T05:00:00.000+08:00

Swimming with the Fishes. There is something vaguely cruel about fish in an aquarium (or any caged animal for that matter). I am in no way inferring on the capacity of fish to realize that it was deluded into thinking that the tepid water and the regular supply of food is the only world that it should (or will) ever know. But now that I think about it, things aren't that different on the other side of the glass.

*Thanks to Gary for helping me make this shot by offering to hold the flash for me.

Shooting Friends

2011-10-29T09:07:00.001+08:00

Social networking services have severely diluted the word friend. Personally, I do not only find it grammatically uncouth to use it as a verb, but I am also mildly disturbed as to how it is thrown into the same stew of words as acquaintance and associate.

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Sure, one is well acquainted with his friends, but this initial acquaintance has grown into an intimate familiarity over time, one that has borne the brunt of past misgivings and present misconducts. And one also associates with his friends, but this association has long evolved into a bond that transcends both distance and time. In a nutshell, when I call you a friend, I am referring to the old school definition of the word.

This means we became friends. And neither one of us (preemptive gasp) friended each other.

Considering all of the above, I highly relish the opportunity to shoot my friends, especially if I have not seen them for a while. I was fortunate enough to have two of them, Eugene and Rads, come home for a visit after long stints abroad. The quiet picture of Eugene (top) during sunrise was shot during our overnight stay at Danao. The one of Rads (bottom) was made when she came to the department for a visit.

Any discerning photographer will tell you that your relationship to the subject will show through the pictures you make of them. I hope the images above let my friends know how much I treasure them.

Take care guys, until next time.

Watching the World Go By

2011-10-18T09:24:00.001+08:00

Slivers

Un-broken

2011-10-15T08:10:00.000+08:00

Today, my wife and I celebrate six years of marriage (and in less than two weeks, twelve years as a couple). I am deeply thankful for having Susan come into my life, as she made me believe that I am deserving and capable of love even during my darkest moments.

This short snippet of verse that I wrote doesn’t begin to express my gratitude and love for her, but I am hoping that it’s a start.

Un-broken

Hopeless, fragile, small, shadow of a man
Praying
Lost in a sea of intentions
Hoping
Flailing, grasping… finding where hope began
Breathing
Breaking free from the past’s dungeon

Happy anniversay, ‘ga. May the years ahead still find us happily holding each other’s hand.

Watching the World Go By

2011-10-05T05:42:00.000+08:00

A Trail of Wishes

First Steps (Winners)

2011-10-04T05:22:00.000+08:00

Congratulations to those who won the contest I sponsored last week and many thanks to all those who participated and showed their support.

The top three DPP 0811 portraits that got the most votes are:

No. 3 — Aying

No. 2 — Joy

No. 1 — Nikki

All three women will be getting an 8R-sized print of their respective pictures. Nikki, having garnered the most votes, will also be getting a portrait package (three hours of shoot time, prints and digital copies of the resulting image files on a DVD).

The second winner of a similar portrait package for leaving a comment on the blog post ‘First Steps’ in response to the question below is Joy.

What is your dream portrait theme?

To which her answer is —

“in a perfect garden view with of balloons (mahangyo rag bubbles.hahah!)..nya lami na clouds..ms Queenie knows what "lami na cloud" looks like. :))
or sunset :))”

The prizes will be awarded by Friday, Oct. 14, 2011. Whereas an initial meeting and planning for both portrait sessions will be held within the week.

Once again, congrats and many thanks.

Watching the World Go By

2011-10-02T09:20:00.000+08:00

Matthew 19:14

Flash on, Flash off

2011-09-29T08:05:00.001+08:00

#004 The Afterglow

A Sampler (II)

2011-09-29T06:28:00.000+08:00

Nowadays, due to the prevalence of digital cameras, pictures have become ‘expendable’. People take a large number of photos and upload them onto their preferred social networking site to share with family and friends. There’s a large amount of activity about the images for a few days, and then it ultimately peters out.

After a while, cards get formatted, new pictures are taken and old image files are erased. And if one didn’t archive the pictures properly on separate storage media, then all that’s left are the compressed (often poorly) versions of the pictures that have been uploaded to the web. It’s a shame if these distorted and pixelated images are all that remain of your prized memories.

I would like to make a case for a more deliberate attempt at preserving a select moment in your life, so you can have something tangible and enduring to remind you of that very time. Moreover, there should be no need for an ‘occasion’ to make pictures because life is a string of occasions, and I believe each one should be celebrated.

Allow me to elaborate with a few examples:

Let’s say you just finished working on your thesis and you would like a ‘parting shot’ of the ~~hole~~ lab you’ve been living in for the last few months. And let’s say we tweak the ambience a bit, so it doesn’t quite remind you of the place where you nearly lost your marbles repeating the same set of experiments over and over.

There are more examples after the jump.

__________

What if you got a mohawk? … Well, this one speaks for itself. :-)#

It is quite common for people to have a portrait of them made to commemorate reaching a certain age, but how about if we took that a step further? Let’s shoot something with a more classic appeal to it that should stand the passage of time. And while we’re at it, why don’t we do a B&W conversion of that shot and have it printed large for you to keep and show to your future generations.

More non-occasions to come …

A Sampler (I)

2011-09-27T06:05:00.001+08:00

In a few days, the contest that I am sponsoring will come to an end. But, what excites and scares me at the same time is that by its end, I would be embarking on something that I have long pursued — to finally put my photographic talent and skill out there, hoping for someone to commission me to shoot pictures.

Anyone with a camera can take pictures, so how do I differentiate myself from the glut of photographers out there?

If I can be so bold as to identify some of my strengths: I have honed my skill at shooting portraits. I work best with a small group of people to help create memorable and revelatory pictures of a person at a specific time in their lives. I’ve also been known to employ a hot shoe flash (or two) to augment ambient light and create drama in the shot. And most importantly, as a teacher, I realize the significance of continuing to learn even though I think I may have a certain bit of knowledge down pat. But, I consider all this to be secondary to the very essence of the portrait, its subject.

The pictures that follow are a sampling of the work that I have done and could do for you if you choose to avail of my services. :-)#

There are more pictures after the jump.

__________

I’ll post a couple more sampler sets in the next few days. Thanks for reading.

More to come …

Watching the World Go By

2011-09-25T17:11:00.000+08:00

The Art of Doing Nothing

In this day and age, it has become increasingly difficult to purposely do nothing. And I am not just talking about nothing in the productive (especially at work or at school) sense. I am talking about allowing-the-world-to-fill-you-as-you-sit-in-stillness sort of nothing.

The constant motion can discombobulate even the most steadfast of souls (Have we ever asked ourselves what would happen if we stopped moving all of a sudden?) . Often it is this motion that grants us the illusion of being alive, of being relevant, and of having made a significant contribution to the world. We get too caught up in this illusion that we readily pursue the mirage in the horizon over the reality that lies at our feet.

Your life, its relevance and significance, came into being upon its inception. The point is not to prove it, but rather to live it.

__________

Congratulations to all those who braved the Chemist Licensure Examination. If I could offer one piece of advice before you ponder on what to do next, always find time to do nothing.

First Steps

2011-09-21T05:53:00.000+08:00

September is nearing its end. I look back on the pictures that I made for my personal portrait project, DPP 0811. And I can say that I am quite happy with the work that I was able to produce. I, honestly, had more favorites from the previous project that I shot; but across the board, I found that the current batch of images are better thought out, a quality that I was able to consistently maintain. I got more comfortable with the use of multiple lights; but more importantly, found my way in talking to and working with people as well. In retrospect, I wished that I either had more time (August was a hectic month at the university) or for schedules with prospective subjects to simply sync up.

So, what’s next for me?

As some of you already know, I am ~~glacially~~ slowly working my way towards becoming a portrait (for the most part, but I’ll shoot anything at least once) photographer and hopefully quit my day job (which consumes most of my nights as well). To take my first tentative step into pursuing that dream and as a thank-you to all those who gave their time to make pictures with me, I am going to sponsor a contest.

Read on to know more about the mechanics.

__________

Maybe I should make it clear at this stage, that the prizes will not be monetary (teachers are not remembered for their affluence), but will be in kind. Further details will be provided in the contest mechanics, which are as follows:

Review the 29 pictures that I shot for my DPP 0811, which can be accessed here. Select your personal favorites from the set. Vote for your favorite by clicking on the +1 button below the post for each image. If you have already +1’d it at an earlier time, then that will already count as a vote.
After placing your votes, answer the given question in the comment section of this blog post (click on the ‘Post a Comment’ link below) — What is your dream portrait theme?
Participants must complete both tasks (in no. 1 and 2 above) to qualify for the prize. All votes and comments must be in by 11:59 p.m. (UTC + 8) of September 30, 2011 to count.
The three pictures (and their respective subjects, of course) to garner the most +1’s will be declared as winners. Each winner will get an 8R print of their picture from the DPP 0811 series. The picture with the most +1’s will entitle the subject of that photo to a portrait session* with yours truly.
At the end of the contest, I will then randomly select a participant (from the comments below) who will also win a portrait session* with this photographer. If the selected winner is also one of the subjects in the pictures and has won the top prize, then a new winner will be redrawn.

*The details of which will be discussed after the winner is selected. However as a teaser of sorts, this package will cover three hours of the photographer’s time and a number of prints and digital copies of the finished images from the shoot that the recipient will select.

If you have queries regarding this contest, please send me an e-mail via jrlocaylocay@gmail.com. The comment space below will be reserved strictly for answers to the question as detailed in the mechanics.

Good luck.

__________

*Update (Sept. 23):

After having heard initial questions and feedback about the contest I'm sponsoring, I felt I needed to clarify a few things:

If your Google account username does not contain your name (or a part of it), kindly include it in your post so that I can identify you. It would be a shame if you got picked and your username is unknown.
If your +1's are not public (and you're not in my G+ circles), then I may have to verify with you (if you get picked as the winner) which picture/s you had voted on.
After this contest, I am officially offering my services for hire as a photographer to those who need it. I will primarily start with portrait packages for individuals and small groups. I will share the details of these packages at the end of the contest. I will be offering a discount to friends and family for the first month or so.
If you do win, we can definitely use the themes you mentioned as a template for your shoot. However, as I am still starting out, we may have to re-interpret it in a way that is doable. Or we could also think up a brand new theme altogether. Please note that I am only offering my services (and its resulting pictures). You will have to provide the place and your wardrobe, although I can make recommendations based on what I think would be best for your session.

I hope this sufficiently clears things up. Do keep those entries coming. :-)#

Flash on, Flash off

2011-09-18T11:03:00.002+08:00

I started my semi-serious study of photography about five years ago (right about the time I was gifted with my first DSLR). The first few months were a blur. I would shoot anyone and anything; but then for the months after that, I would find my camera staying in its bag for weeks at a time. After that, I became an occasion-al shooter because I would only make pictures during occasions. Two years in, I was seriously considering selling my camera and the assorted related knick knacks I accumulated over that time.

I then stumbled onto the lighting resource nirvana that is Strobist, and it was both a literal and figurative light bulb moment, so to speak. I finally broke free from the creative doldrums that had stalled me for years and the winds from the goddess of inspiration caught my sails and I have not looked back since.

As I have asserted in various posts on this blog, a secondary light source (aside from the ambient) allows one not only to make the most ordinary setting look remarkable, but it offers one additional control over how the final image will come out. And I am admittedly a disciple of the old(er) school of photographers who strive to do most of the work in camera and not have to achieve the look in post.

And so as far as I could remember, since that watershed in my brief history in photography I have always travelled with one or more lights in my bag. If I can light it, I will. If I have to use a flash on-camera, then I strive to do so … responsibly. For a while there, I tried to light every scene that my viewfinder came upon. I have long learned the folly of that conviction.

Over the next three years, I would find myself in moments where I would decide to leave the flash in the bag or to simply switch it off. Because as I had learned, the time it takes me to think about how to light the scene took twice as long for the moment to pass (and only to realize later that it was perfect as it had existed in that ephemeral pocket of time). The pictures that follow are a testament of my recovery from … err, NLSA (non-ambient light source addiction).

*The above photo was shot by J. Pahang

__________

Here are just a few of the insights that I have picked up along the way:

Rather than carry on the inaudible debate with yourself on whether to take the camera out of your bag, take it out of your bag and shoot the picture. It actually takes less time to do so (well, for me at least, because I hate losing debates to myself).

It’s not called golden light for nothing.

There are other can’t-miss moments during a wedding aside from the first kiss.

More to come …

Watching the World By

2011-09-14T06:10:00.001+08:00

The Dark Side

DPP 0811, Day 29 – Megs

2011-09-13T05:18:00.000+08:00

Beneath that handsome exterior lies a quiet confidence, which allows Megs to both blend into a crowd and stand out at the same time.

In this shot, I didn’t want to downplay his looks, but also didn’t want it to be the only quality of his that I wanted to feature. I wanted to evoke his contemplative side, but also wanted to hint at the playful nature beneath it. The strong lines in the chosen setting were used to elicit a sense of masculinity because I wanted the ‘handsome meter’ to point towards rugged and as far away from K-pop-boy-band pretty as possible.

A simple one-light portrait, which is currently my favorite from the ones that I’ve shot for this project so far.

Watching the World Go By

2011-09-12T05:50:00.000+08:00

Galaxies

DPP 0811, Day 28 – Khristian

2011-09-11T06:25:00.000+08:00

In the Philippines, the macho culture is still very much prevalent (thanks in part to beer and liquor commercials). ‘Real’ men do not cry, dance, or know that mauve is actually a shade of purple (and not the same color). I have been in earshot of too many machismo-fueled conversations between male students walking the halls of the university to know that things will not change soon. But, I have faith that the future will be different.

I dream that one day men can both be strong and vulnerable, powerful and graceful, and decisive and intuitive. And from what I know of Khristian, there’s hope for men yet.

DPP 0811, Day 27 – Mjane

2011-09-10T17:22:00.000+08:00

Lately, I’ve been debating with myself over whether to stay true to a working style that I had developed or to trade it in for other trendier alternatives. It took me a while to end the debate (it was with myself after all), but at its conclusion I decided to continue to abide by the process that I had nurtured over the years —

At it’s very core, a portrait should primarily be about its subject. The location, composition and lighting come in second.

I hope that it will not only earn me some form of commercial success (enough to quit my day job), but that it will allow me to draw inspiration and fulfillment from it for the years to come.

The Return of the Outtakes

2011-09-07T11:30:00.000+08:00

I have never been one to do extensive editing (especially retouching) in post. Sure, I process all my pictures as I shoot in a RAW format; but I realized that if I retouched most of the pictures (especially portraits) on top of my usual workflow, then I’d be stuck in front of the computer for days at a time. And I have always stood by my personal tenet to never retouch a person’s portrait to the point where even her own mother wouldn’t be able to recognize her.

My rule has always been simple —

If the picture presents the person in the best possible way that they could be in real life (ex. a little less acne, a little more blush) and provided that any changes I make will only enhance the picture, then why not.

Well I didn’t really have a LOT of time on my hands, but I wanted to exercise my post-processing skills a bit lest they atrophy.

__________

Renee

Bronwyn

Aying

Keep On Shooting

2011-09-05T05:54:00.000+08:00

From USC PE Festival 2011

These three words that call for perseverance and practice seem to come up a lot in my recent conversations about photography. However, I've also come to realize that they can also be a call to focus amidst the chaos and the demands of every day. A message that I believe should reverberate throughout our lives.

__________

*I may have mentioned in a previous post that the pictures that I shoot during events will be hosted on my Picasa page (hence the watermark). The link on the lower right corner of the above image can be clicked to view the pictures in the album.

Watching the World Go By

2011-09-04T18:20:00.002+08:00

Beeline

DPP 0811, Day 26 – Chat

2011-09-04T16:13:00.001+08:00

I try not to put too much stock in first impressions. I only got to know some of the most fascinating people in my life upon closer inspection. Being introverted, I could’ve easily shied away from a tornado of vivacity like Chat. And yet working with her on a number of occasions has allowed me to see other facets of her person; I especially admire the grace with which she handles her duties. Where it takes perseverance to make it through a long (and bad) day at work, it requires a rare optimism to make it to the end of the day with a smile on one’s face.

Watching the World Go By

2011-09-01T22:39:00.000+08:00

They Only Come Out at Night

DPP 0811, Day 25 – Leif

2011-09-01T06:38:00.000+08:00

In my experience in shooting people, no matter how practiced or (on the other end of the spectrum) unskilled the subject is at posing in front of the camera, at some point they’ll ask you the question —

What do you want me to do?

In Leif’s case, he was assisting me while I shot Aying (in the previous post), so the answer ‘Light yourself!’ was not only as good as any, but quite apt for that particular moment in time.

The Outtakes Strike Back

2011-08-30T22:36:00.000+08:00

As my DPP 0811 nearly comes to a close, I am once again presenting a number of pictures that I was able to make along the way. Once again, these images are not necessarily flawed for them not to make the cut, but often one has to weigh a number of factors in selecting picks.

If you’re a music buff, just think of these as B-sides. :-)#

Rachel

__________

Karren

Chen

Claire

DPP 0811, Day 24 – Aying

2011-08-30T07:22:00.000+08:00

Aying to me initially was the young lady with the infectious grin. I rarely see a picture of her not up to her goofball antics. And yet during the exhibit, I saw a different side to her when Ms. Ising put her on crowd control — mostly adamant (Not on the list? Walk through!) and towards the end a bit subdued (sitting quietly in contemplation).

Where it is true that I may not know Aying as well as her family and friends do, I do have a ‘gift’ for catching glimpses of sides of people that they often conceal from the rest of the world. She could’ve been just tired from a day of ~~directing traffic~~ ushering people, but I am quite glad to have made a picture of her that showed her quiet side nonetheless.

DPP 0811, Day 23 – Bronwyn

2011-08-29T11:10:00.000+08:00

Bronwyn, a name of Welsh origin, is uncommon in these parts of the world. It is as if her parents already had an inkling that she was going to be exceptional the moment they gave her that name. And true to form, ‘wyn does not disappoint. I have had the pleasure of hearing her sing and also speak in front of a crowd, and I must say that she does both with an equal measure of confidence. On top of that, she has also taken an interest in photography and has quite the eye.

I suppose our names do play substantial roles in identifying us in more ways than we’d like to think. Hmm, I wonder how I would’ve turned out if my parents named me Conan. :-)#

DPP 0811, Day 22 – Renee

2011-08-28T20:40:00.002+08:00

Renee. I’ve always had an affinity for that name. It’s also why I have this nagging notion that Renée (Zelwegger) doesn’t look like a Renee. For a name that bears its origins from water lilies (Japanese) and rebirth (Latin), she doesn’t seem to do justice to any of the two.

But, I digress.

I had noticed that Renee, who was quite the effervescent hostess at the start of the day’s exhibits, looked a bit glum. And so, I asked if I could make a picture of her in the hope of raising her flagging spirits. She said yes and was all smiles in front of my camera even before I could finish my question. It’s a powerful and wonderful thing this asking people for pictures.

I should definitely do it more often.

DPP 0811, Day 21 – Venz

2011-08-28T18:41:00.000+08:00

To start, let me commend Venz for being the only one with the confidence and daring to actually tell me that he was ready for his shot when he saw me in the hallway with my camera. I was actually waiting for someone to take me on my offer, which I had posted online a few days before, to volunteer themselves for a portrait. If it is any indication, I am sure that this level of ~~kabonggahan~~ fearlessness will get him far.

Watching the World Go By

2011-08-28T17:54:00.000+08:00

Consequences

DPP 0811, Day 20 – Dale

2011-08-26T13:45:00.000+08:00

I use a number of color filters (also called gels) in lighting portraits. I mainly use CTO’s for warming the skin tones or to match the color of the late afternoon sun. From time to time, I also use other filters (such as a Tough Plus Green) to color balance with existing ambient or simply to add colored light to a shot.

Having prepared and worked with various colored solutions in the lab, I’ve always wondered about their use as filters. They’re not as handy as their solid counterparts, but one can actually modify their concentration to alter the wavelength and the intensity of the light transmitted. I got my chance when a couple of third years were preparing fluorescein dye for their exhibit on forensics.

I already had the shot pre-visualized. However, it took a number of tries and tweaks before I got the effect I wanted from the solution. Looking at it now, I think of the other things I could’ve improved, but I believe that’s why one must keep shooting and learn from pictures past.

DPP 0811, Day 19 – Dyonne

2011-08-25T08:22:00.000+08:00

Often in the making of a picture, I have to decide whether to apply a bit of hyper-realism or to stay as faithful as possible to the subject as possible. However, even faithful is a highly subjective term when it comes to photography. An image, for me, is always an amalgam of reality and the photographer’s interpretation of the subject. Not everyone may agree with me, but the picture above is how I will remember Dyonne.

DPP 0811, Day 18 – Daisy

2011-08-23T21:49:00.001+08:00

On my way to shooting Jiji, I happened upon Daisy in her practicum uniform. She’s been teased about it by a number of people in the department because it’s quite a departure from what she normally wears on a washday.

I was going to ask her if she had time for a quick portrait, but thought twice because I didn’t want to oblige her to stay beyond her work hours given that it was already starting to rain. But, as luck would have it, she showed up at the lab where I was shooting Jiji when I was about to wrap up. I asked her on the spot and she agreed to spend a few minutes of her time, which was all I needed since my lights were already set up and I just needed to reconfigure them for the shot I had in mind.

I just hope that this picture means that people won’t be giving her grief about her uniform anymore.

DPP 0811, Day 17 – Jiji

2011-08-23T04:41:00.000+08:00

When I make a portrait of someone, I always remind myself that wherever it may be shot and however I may decide to light it, in the end, it should first tell a story about the person in the picture. I asked to photograph Jiji on a rainy Friday and she readily obliged. Since I had about an hour to prep, I got right down to the task of working out the details.

I wanted the shot to be simple, so I went for an uncluttered background. I wanted to focus on her fascinating eyes, so I had a gridded kicker light accentuate that part of her face. But, I didn’t just want a shot of her eyes, so I brought in another light to create fill. I ended up using three hot shoes flashes to get the shot above, but was happy to have gotten the look that I wanted.

When I showed Jiji the picture from the back of the camera, she said one thing that made my day — Imba. :-)#

DPP 0811, Day 16 – Nestor

2011-08-21T08:26:00.001+08:00

Nestor expressed hesitation over having me shoot him for this project because he had such short hair (he used to sport it longer before classes started), but I told him that one of the very reasons why I asked him to be my subject was because of how his hair was cut. He eventually agreed, but asked to be shot last (and volunteered to assist me with all the pictures that day except his) when there were only a few people left.

For his portrait, I wanted to reveal his introspective side because I believe people rarely see that because he is often so child-like. I’ve seen him grow since his first year in the program and I must say that he has become so much mature over the course of his studies.

Nestor, mature?

Yes, because being mature doesn’t necessarily require one to be serious at the same time. I hope Nestor does not lose this quality as he goes through life. The ability to laugh at one’s mistakes is usually one of the first casualties of ‘adulthood’.

DPP 0811, Day 15 – Claurice

2011-08-20T06:42:00.000+08:00

If you’ve been to the Talamban Campus of USC, you’ve most certainly walked by the Arnoldus Science Building. The structure is nestled at the base of a small hill, which is home to a number of trees.

I ~~dragged~~ convinced Claire (as Claurice is fondly called) to get her photo taken in front of one of the largest trees on that hill. Light was fading fast, so I was struggling to find a balance with available light. I was about to move her to another location when the floodlights (the light behind the tree on the grass) came on, which allowed me to frame and make the picture above. Just in the nick of time too because I didn’t want the subject to think that I made her walk all the way up there for nothing.

I never did agree with the administration cutting off the tops and sides of the trees just so that these lights can ‘beautifully’ illuminate the building at night (when nearly everyone has gone home). At least now, I can say, that although the cost of installing and operating them isn’t justified they’re good for use as kicker lights.

DPP 0811, Day 14 – Rachel

2011-08-19T04:18:00.001+08:00

I have had the wonderful opportunity of working with Rachel before. She can somehow translate my often cryptic instructions into far better poses than I could have ever imagined. And having just told you this, you might be wondering why I went for what appears to be a portrait done in a studio. I did have other great shots of her in an outdoor setting, but none of them had a greater story than the one above.

I’ve shot in a cramped space before, but this picture was made using a space in the ChemSA lounge that was probably a little smaller than my ~~cell~~ cubicle in the department. But, that’s only half of what makes the story behind this picture significant. On top of the claustrophobia-inducing workspace, everything was handheld — from the beauty dish (key light) on upper camera right, to the gridded flash (hair light) on upper camera left (behind the subject), and finally to the black side of a circular reflector that served as the background.

Why did I have to make the shot in the manner described above?

Well, I had four great people willing to go on a limb and help me see one of my ~~crazy~~ ideas through. Thanks to Rachel, Nestor, Joy and Queenie.

DPP 0811, Day 13 – Nikki

2011-08-18T05:31:00.000+08:00

There is a confidence in the way that Nikki poses that could only have been gained from years of performing in front of people. If I must borrow an adjective to describe it, I would have to pick the word fierce. Thank you, Ate Tyra. ;-)#

I have seen her dance a number of times, and she does so with much strength and grace. This further supports my assertion that dancers make excellent subjects. They know exactly how to position their limbs and consequently the shape their bodies will make with each motion.

And this got me thinking that the next project I work on should be of various people in motion. Dynamic portraits, so to speak. If I decide to push through with it, Nikki is already on the list of people I plan to shoot.

Taking Out the Outtakes

2011-08-16T05:59:00.000+08:00

Outtakes, especially in video, after often perceived, albeit inaccurately, as bloopers. By definition, outtakes are simply stills or scenes that didn’t make it to the final edit. In photography, one has to make the hard decision of selecting which image (or images) to present, so it is only natural that only a few images make the cut.

This selection process, of course, is highly subjective. Most of the time, there is nothing technically wrong with the images. It is just that often one has to weigh being technically correct versus being creatively wonderful. The choice is always never easy, but you have to pick one in the end.

I made the above picture of Ising a few months back. I didn’t plan on having a water curtain on the site, so it sort of caught me off guard. I struggled a bit with getting the look I wanted, but was ~~lucky~~ able to get this shot towards the end. I have nits to pick about this image, but I am happy to have gone through the challenge. I now have a better idea on how to deal with these sort of shooting conditions the next time around.

A couple more outtakes from my DPP 0811 after the jump …

__________

I’d love to hear your thoughts on whether or not I made the right choice of leaving these out. :-)#

Paolo

Joy

Lloyd

Ian

The World is My Lab

2011-08-15T06:05:00.000+08:00

Plans.

It seems that everyone either has a number of them or is asking me about mine. Honestly, I try not to plan too much. I’ve since subscribed to living my life on a day-to-day basis. It is not terribly efficient or effective, but it works for me.

However, it seems that my own insights and sentiments regarding my ‘career’ have brought me to a point where I need to make a~~n escape~~ plan of sorts. I’m a little new to this exercise, so a lot of things are still in their initial stages; but, my hopes are high that I will be able to carry them out.

I am yet unsure of where I will be by the end of this semester or of this school year. But, I am certain that I want to put my non-chemistry talents and skills to good use while I’m still here. I believe that I’ve been too afraid all these years, when having survived phenomenal failures should’ve stripped me of that fear.

Seeing my life as becoming too formulaic, I have decided to put the ‘procedures’ down and do some probative research of my own. It’s time to experiment. And this is the inspiration behind the draft of the promo poster that I’ve made for the department. You can click on the image to view a larger version on my Flickr page.

It is still a draft, so your comments are more than welcome and highly appreciated.

DPP 0811, Day 12 – Chen

2011-08-15T05:35:00.000+08:00

Chen is in her first year of the B.S. Chemistry program. She is also her year level’s representative to ChemSA. I’ve had the opportunity to shoot her before. From the brief time that I’ve known this young woman, I can say that she is quite photo-ready. What I mean by this is that she is quite aware of where her good angles are and that she already has a number of poses in her repertoire, whether she’s standing or sitting or whether it’s a full body or a head and shoulders shot. I was quite lucky to have her indulge my request for a photo for my project.

Thanks, Chen, sa uulitin. :-)#

DPP 0811, Day 11 – Karren

2011-08-14T09:37:00.001+08:00

Karren is one of our working scholars. She was unfortunate enough to be on duty yesterday while I was making preparations for the ChemSA shoot. I approached her and asked if I could make a picture of her, and she hesitantly agreed. I could tell that she was quite uncomfortable for a good part of the shoot. I did my very best to put her at ease, but I guess my people skills aren’t at the silver-tongue level yet. I had to shoot quite a number of frames before I made the picture above. I’m certain that it isn’t her best side; but I am hopeful that I will get another chance at shooting her, and maybe then she will be more comfortable in front of the lens.

Thank you, Karren, for your time.

The Unending (?) Lab Affair …

2011-08-13T07:17:00.001+08:00

With my exam-making days nearly behind me, I made time to work on these images from the ChemSA officers shoot. The instrumentation lab ~~was cozily claustrophobic~~ didn’t give me much space to work with, but I found a couple of ways to improvise (thanks in part to my tallest VAL so far).

Claurice

More pictures after the jump …

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James

Annathea

More to come … ?

DPP 0811, Day 10 – (My) Susan

2011-08-13T06:11:00.000+08:00

There are some people who try to please you as a poor excuse for loving you. If we are surrounded by nothing but this sort of people, then our view of reality becomes skewed. We either become self-righteous or self-entitled, neither of which is a good character trait to have. As my younger brother would say, you’d start smelling punch-y because a whole lot of people would want to punch you in the face.

But, I digress.

There are, however, a select few who do accept us for all our frailties, but slowly ~~shove~~ nudge us to better ourselves. It’s not that they want us to turn our bad into good as many of us initially suspect. But, rather it is to grow the good in us such that there comes a point where it will actually blanket and bury the bad. Susan is one of these extraordinarily ~~pushy~~ people in my life. Growth is never an easy process, but I am truly happy to be truly loved.

DPP 0811, Day 9 – (Papa) Jesus

2011-08-11T21:00:00.000+08:00

The last time I shot my Pop for my daily portrait project was the first day of my Lola’s (his mother’s) wake. It was a sad and poignant time. I debated with myself that day about whether I should make that picture at such a delicate time. Although I do not regret having shot that picture, I also wanted to make one that revealed the carefree nature of my Pa. I know it’s not your typical portrait, but that’s exactly why I’ll remember everything about that day when I look at it.

DPP 0811, Day 8 – (Mama) Joy

2011-08-11T07:12:00.000+08:00

I know I started out with the premise that I wasn’t going to shoot anyone I’ve already featured in my previous daily portrait projects. However, if you’ve been following this blog, you know all too well how rarely I get a chance to make a decent picture of my own mother. All too familiar with our shared ‘love’ of travel, this is probably one of the last times we’ll both be in a forested area with a scenic view, so I’m quite happy to have this serene moment preserved.

The Lab Affair Continues …

2011-08-10T08:05:00.001+08:00

I’ve just gotten around to working on the images that I shot for ChemSA and I am proud to present the gems that I unearthed from the shoot. I haven’t worked on all the portraits yet, but I’m releasing this partial update to give the other officers their time in the spotlight.

Venz

More pictures after the jump …

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Jetroh

Rey

Venice

More to come …

DPP 0811, Day 7 – Chandy

2011-08-09T16:43:00.001+08:00

Chandy, or formally Chanda, is Susan’s aunt. Due to a barely-there age difference, they treat each other more like sisters. For me, this picture is a perfect example of the sort of magic that a small flash off the camera can do — the grid on the flash highlights the face of the subject, the shade of the canopy of trees allow me to easily control ambient light without overworking the strobe, and underexposing ambient by about a stop allows me to make my subject pop out of the frame. My sincere thanks to a gracious and graceful subject, and to Mama Gaia for the breathtaking background.

DPP 0811, Day 6 – Jeff

2011-08-09T05:48:00.001+08:00

Jeff is Susan’s uncle. Too young? Let me clarify. He is Susan’s uncle by virtue of marriage to an aunt close to her age. This was shot at The Forest Camp in the town of Valencia. I was actually shooting his wife when we caught him looking on already ‘posed’ like this, so it was just a matter of turning the light around (Susan was kind enough to be my VAL) to make this picture of him. I have come to realize that guys are much easier to pose because there are a few basic poses that will work for most men. Hmm ... does this mean I'll be shooting more men throughout the month? :-)#

DPP 0811, Day 5 – Ian

2011-08-08T17:45:00.000+08:00

Ian, also Susan’s cousin, was assisting me while I was shooting Lloyd (who is featured in the previous post). He was the one who informed me of the balcony overlooking the street below where I ultimately made this picture of him. I wished for more pronounced light trails from the cars below, but 1/5 s with my elbow perched on the ledge was the slowest I was willing to go. In the end, I got enough of the street to show to make the image work, so I was quite happy with how this turned out.

DPP 0811, Day 4 – Lloyd

2011-08-08T06:54:00.001+08:00

I attended a wedding last Friday. I don’t especially like weddings (or any gathering where the head count of attendees exceeds five), so I was quite happy to have shared a table with my wife’s cousin, Lloyd, who kept things lively with his banter. As the reception wound down, I asked him for a quick photo because he looked so dashing in his barong, and I did bring a ‘light’ pack of gear with me. Plus, I was eyeing the piano in the corner the whole night. There were all sorts of artificial lights inside the reception area, so I used a relatively fast shutter speed to minimize their effect on the image; but, not fast enough to remove details from the shadows.

DPP 0811, Day 3 – Paolo

2011-08-07T16:25:00.000+08:00

It would be quite the understatement to say that Paolo is a natural in front of the camera. He’s one of those people who looks good at nearly every angle and seems to have the different degrees of his smile down to a science. I’m glad I was able to find a complementary balance between the ambient and flash exposures; flicking a tiny bit of light on Pao’s face to make it pop without casting a potentially distracting shadow anywhere else.

DPP 0811, Day 2 – Joy

2011-08-04T20:49:00.000+08:00

The young woman in the photo is probably one of the few Joy’s I know who actually does justice to her name. Although she prefers behind-the-scenes work during a shoot, I am happy that I was able to coax her in front of the lens and make this picture of her.

DPP 0811, Day 1 – James

2011-08-04T05:58:00.000+08:00

There are a number of things I’m not really happy with in this photo (all praises for James though) and to think it took me a while to make this shot. But, when I look at it, to me, the good far outweighs the bad, so I decided to start off my DPP for this month with this shot. Because in any endeavor, we all really just need to make that first step.

More to come …

Daily Portrait Project 0811

2011-08-03T09:05:00.000+08:00

I’ve been feeling under the weather (miserable actually) for the past few days, but I’m committed to doing my first shoot for my DPP 0811. As the great philosopher Jon Bon Jovi once said, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead”.

This time around, I’ll adopt a looser interpretation of the word ‘daily’, since I won’t be shooting a portrait each day as my schedule simply would not allow it. Instead, I’ll be shooting twice or thrice a week, but will present a lit portrait for each day of the month.

To up the ante, I am going to present a different lighting theme for each week. For the first week, it’s going to be hard, ‘restricted’ light. I’m going to limit myself to one or two hot shoe flashes that will have either grids or snoots attached.

The picture below (which is one of my favorites) is an example of what restricting light coming from a flash can do for an image.

More to come … hopefully. Wish me luck!

A Lab Affair: Thoughts from the Big Head

2011-07-31T20:20:00.002+08:00

I am often asked this question by people I shoot or either work with on a shoot —

What goes on in that big melon of yours before you take the shot? (Maybe not in those exact words, but you get the picture.)

I probably get asked this a lot because I tend to space out and mutter to myself while I make adjustments to my setup. I try to work as quickly as I can, so as not to bore my subject or drive her crazy with the minute modifications to posing and/or lighting that ‘must’ be made. I try to talk to my subject to keep them occupied, but I have yet to master the skill of maintaining a conversation while working on the shot or vice versa. The reason for my general lack of an ability to multi-task is because there’s a lot of ‘inside’ talk going on in my head. If I didn’t keep it in check, I might unintentionally blurt out parts of my internal monologue, such as —

I’m going to put the light more to your right side because it makes your face look … err, slimmer.

For this peek into ~~the inner workings of a madman~~ what goes on in my head before I make the shot, I will be using a picture from my recent shoot with the ChemSA officers. All of these images (except for the last two) are taken unprocessed from the camera to give you an accurate idea about what I see on my side of the lens.

If you’d like to know what went on in my bulbous head while I shot the picture above, then click on the link below to read more after the jump.

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While the subject is setting her experiment up, I make a quick ‘guess’ about the settings I’ll be working with and take a quick test shot.

Aperture: f/4 — This allows me to keep my lone subject in focus and keep my flash power at a reasonably low power setting, so I can have them recycle quicker, which will allow me to shoot at a reasonably fast pace.
Shutter speed: 1/125 s — I should have no problem with camera shake at this shutter speed, and I should be able to eliminate most of the contribution from ambient light.
ISO: 200 — A reasonable compromise between sensitivity and noise.

When I intend to light a picture, I always start with ambient fill, which will primarily tell me how my shadows will look like. So, after my test shot (which also fired one of the flashes in a beauty dish on the far end of the room), I found that I could work with the above settings, but didn’t like the fact that light from the overhead fluorescent lamps (hummers) were still bleeding into the picture (it’s evident in the area behind her).

I turn the lights off and bring in two flashes.

Flash 1 (key) — 1/4 power in a beauty dish on camera left
Flash 2 (accent) — 1/16 power in a grid on camera right

Okay, to me, it’s a more dramatic shot with the hummers off and the flashes in. But, if I used this image in a brochure, potential enrollees might get the idea that we supply our students with night vision goggles because you’d need a pair to get around a lab that dark. But, being the doofus that I am, I also didn’t see that the glass tube she was heating was completely covered by the pipes in front of me.

In the above picture, I made three changes:

Used a slower shutter speed of 1/30 s to allow the sunlight streaming into the room to show in the picture. As you can see, it’s of a better quality than what you get from hummers. And as I had my elbow propped on the table, I was able to minimize shake from handholding the camera.
Framed the picture in such a way that what she was doing was now clearly visible in the shot.
Brought in a third light as fill (Flash 3 — 1/32 power through a white umbrella) in front of the subject.

But, the subject looked too serious, so I had her look up and smile (which is what you actually see in the first image in this post). It’s not the safest thing to do with glass melting in your hands, but it drives the point home that ~~no one brainwashed me into taking this course~~ chemistry is challenging, yet rewarding.

And because I almost always shoot RAW, I made use of the advantage of being able to develop the image according to my taste and style. I do process my photos, but I only retouch them (and only for portraits) if the perceived ‘blemish’ takes away from the quality of the final image. The image below is a finished version of the first picture in this post.

I had my shot. I was happy with it, but it never hurts to try something while you still have everything set up. So, I moved to the side and got the shot below.

I got another clear keeper and all it took me were a few steps.

So, the next time we work on a shoot and you see me furrow my brow. I’m not fixating on something on your face, but rather listening to the voice in my head. :-)#

More to come ...

Fountain of Youth

2011-07-31T07:18:00.000+08:00

Bubbles of pure joy prove the hardest to find
In the recesses of volatile mem’ry,
Displaced by the perception of importance —
Meaning is newspapered to show the tawdry.

We fall sway to the temptation of being
Faster, stronger and happier than we are;
Yet, it is the present that reveals the one
Reflection that fickle mem’ry cannot mar.

Watching the World Go By

2011-07-27T07:30:00.001+08:00

It’s the End of the World as We Know It — REM

Half-press to Impress

2011-07-26T10:23:00.002+08:00

As I write this post, I am singing its title to the tune of Roxette’s ‘Dressed for Success’. With that being said, I am inviting you to sing along with me as you go through this tip for making better pictures with the camera you already have. Once again, I’m not claiming to be the expert here. I am just imparting to you what I have learned from my meager experience in photography. These techniques have worked for me, so I hope they will work for you as well.

If there’s one thing that most people will readily recognize that’s off about a picture is when the supposed subject of the picture is out of focus. This could be a result of the camera not being able to obtain focus (because it was too dark or the subject is a ghost in a fog) or the camera focused (through no fault of its own) on an area of higher contrast behind the subject (like the rims of the umbrella in the shot below).

To avoid ‘artsy’ (yet blurry) pictures, click on the link below to read more after the jump.

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Most digital cameras, be they point-and-shoot’s or DSLR’s, have a more than capable auto-focusing mechanism. If you’re on an SLR, you’ll have a number of autofocus (AF) points. On a P & S, you’ll have a box (or in more advanced models, a number of boxes). The operation is simple, you put the point or box over your subject, half depress the shutter button and the camera gives you a signal (most often a beep) that it has locked the focus in.

What many people probably don’t know is what happens when you press the shutter button halfway. The camera (with its built-in software and algorithms) will obtain both exposure and focus. Let’s not talk about exposure here as that is a whole different … dragon to contend with. Your camera needs an area of high contrast before it can obtain focus. If you’re taking the picture of a person’s face, a great area to get focus from would be the person’s eyes. If you’re taking the picture of a person in his or her environment, then you would naturally focus on the person (and not on the building behind him).

This is how I would normally obtain focus:

I zoom in either with my lens or my feet to get the framing that I want.
I select the AF point closest to my subject and press the shutter button halfway.
If I can’t place an AF point over my subject, I would move my camera slightly (either up, down, left or right) to get my focus. I just take care not to move either forward or backward while I do this. Once I have it locked in, I recompose my shot.
I then depress the button fully to get the shot.

Other people may go about it differently, but this is what works for me. I hope these tips will help you get pictures that are in focus and are sharp enough to not earn you the ire of your subjects. Or you could argue the case that the shot is intentionally out-of-focus as a means of ‘retouching’ blemishes.

More to come …

Distilled Moments: Crossing Worlds

2011-07-23T22:06:00.000+08:00

In a sea of eyes, I caught yours –
They were smiling and twinkling,
Inviting me to sit with you.
And I did, not even thinking.

Breathing in the soul of your smile,
I breakfast on your luscious voice.
The drawn-out ride ends in a blink.
I hesitate to make the choice

To disembark from this daydream,
To abandon a hope gone dim —
That in the many, many worlds
In all but one, you won’t love him.

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As with most forms of poetry, this syllabic-verse piece is open to many interpretations; but I'm hoping that my friend, Ising, will recognize the message I've specifically written in between the lines for her.

The One Ring

2011-07-21T21:04:00.003+08:00

A ring flash is commonly used in portrait and fashion photography to create a distinct look where the light seems to ‘wrap’ itself around the subject. Aside from the even illumination, the subject is often seen outlined with a soft-shadow halo, which means there are fewer distracting hard shadows in the picture. This look, however, is an acquired taste and can be quite divisive (just like Lady Gaga). People love it or hate it.

As I cannot afford a ring flash, I had to settle for an adapter for my hot shoe flash (more commonly known as a ring flash adapter). And since I couldn’t justify getting an adapter that’s more expensive than the flash I’m putting it on, I had to settle for a no-name alternative (also because my DIY skills end with making cardboard snoots). This simply means it’s not a Ray Flash or an Orbis, but if I should receive one as a gift (Universe, are you listening?), I would weep in gratitude for days.

Having lost my shooting buddy, Kaloy, to the city-state that is Singapore, I mainly have to fend for myself during most of my shoots. I sorely miss having someone assist me especially when I’m shooting my nephew, Jace. I can only imagine how baby and child photographers must feel while they’re trying to wrangle their lights and gear into place, only to find out upon turning around that their subject has now moved out of the shot area. And so I thought that the easiest way to do this without sacrificing the quality of the light would be to use the ring flash adapter and knock back ambient contribution from the overhead CFL’s until it doesn’t register in the image.

This first shot was made with the ring flash adapter used on-camera.

Not your cup of tea? Well, there’s always the option to take it off the camera and see how the light falls on the subject from different angles.

More after the jump …

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In the picture below, I positioned the flash on lower camera right while trying to distract Jace so he wouldn’t try to make a grab for the shiny circular object in front of him.

While the little guy was busy with his water bottle, I held the flash on upper camera left while making this picture. This is by far my favorite from the images I made that day.

In the last image, I placed the flash in front of Jace as he was busy ‘teething’ on his water bottle.

Taking the ring flash adapter off the camera does create a lot of interesting results. Although my hot shoe flash doesn’t have enough juice to allow me to move the ring flash adapter farther away from the subject, the setup did give me a single-strobe option that provides both soft and even light.

More to come …

Watching the World Go By

2011-07-16T08:13:00.000+08:00

Curiosity

Every Day

2011-07-12T19:41:00.000+08:00

For a good part of my life, I navigated the dark and turbulent seas alone. When all one knows is struggle without ebb, it is not only unexpected, but quite uncommon to have someone offer solace and warmth. Yet, even in the safety of this person’s harbor, one gazes upon the brewing tempest in the horizon as if there was a part of us that longed for the unrest . Too many times I’ve forgotten that I don’t have to brave the turmoil of life by myself or that if I found myself at the mercy of the fates, I now have someone in the same boat with me.

Thank you, Ga, for not only reminding me, but showing me just that.

Watching the World Go By

2011-07-09T05:31:00.001+08:00

Daybreak. We must let the waves wash over us incessantly and repeatedly; eroding away layer upon layer of grime before we can glisten for our moment in the sun.

Age is Just a Number

2011-07-05T10:11:00.001+08:00

Today, I turn 34. I’ve heard from a couple of close friends that I should at least write something about this very occasion or even myself (Perish the thought!) . I’ve never been comfortable with self-promotion, so I’ll conveniently divert the topic towards humanity’s preoccupation with age, and time in general.

We give these numbers too much power over our lives.

The years we’ve existed on this earth. The days that lie between a long day and the weekend. The hours we spent waiting for someone to show up. The minutes we wasted nervously pacing in worry over the most inconsequential things. And I could go on and on about how an arbitrary measure of a moment’s passing has taken over the way we live.

I’m not saying that numbers aren’t important. In fact, they are one of the most important tools that have been made available to us. But, they are just that — tools. And in that perspective, we are letting a tool dictate the run of our day.

And all too often we end up waiting. Waiting for the right time, the right moment. We then conveniently cocoon ourselves in the comfort of old reasons and rationalizations. We wait for the New Year to resolve our issues. We wait for the right time to talk to someone. We wait for our next birthday to finally do something about our dreams. The years go by in a blink and we’re still waiting.

I fall into the same trap over and over (as do nearly all of us), but I’ve learned to cope with it by convincing myself that there is no such thing as perfect timing. There is no meter that runs down, reminding us of how long we have left. We jump from one fleeting moment to the next, hoping that we land on our feet. The life that we’ve so neatly measured in occasions and events could very well end in an instant. And just so I don’t forget, I woke up today telling myself —

Happy birthday, Jo. Today a helicopter could fall on your head while you think of how many minutes it might take for the rain to fall. Make the most out of it.

In Profile: The Men of USC Chem

2011-07-04T20:48:00.002+08:00

Let me start this post with a disclaimer: I am not a fashion photographer. I would like to think of myself as a portrait photographer (with a slant towards the editorial at that) with the good fortune of getting to shoot people who are just fashionable. What I would like to capture is a person’s essence in a photograph. The light, the setting, the clothes … well, they all take a backseat to having my subject feel that I have revealed to him and to the world one of the best facets of his person. With that said, allow me to return to regular programming.

I’ve been asked a number of times as to why I don’t have that many picture sets of male subjects on Flickr. Well, to be honest, I know very little about how to best flatter a man in a picture. I’m afraid that having shot mainly women, I might put a guy in a pose that ends up to be feminine. Women have nice, round curves that are easy to mold into a pleasing composition. Men are full of sharp and angular features that require a different set of rules altogether.

You’re a man, so wouldn’t it be easier to work with someone who has the same working parts as you?

You’d think that, but no.

Which is why I am thankful for the opportunity to have worked with James, as he pretty much just poses himself and I just throw a light up and shoot away.

More of and about James after the jump …

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From what I know about James, I can say with certainty that he’s no one-trick pony. He is currently a third-year B.S. Chemistry student. And on top of schoolwork (which can be had in abundance at this point in the program), he currently serves as president of the Chemistry Students’ Association. This guy can dance, play the drums and flash that winning smile in a wink.

He reminds me a bit of my good friend, Brian. Only Brian can’t really dance in the strictest sense of the word, even if his life depended on it. Well, uncoordinated birds of the same feather …

Watching the World Go By

2011-07-01T05:13:00.000+08:00

Of Faith and Coincidence. I am not religious. I have no pretension of piety even if I was born and raised as a Catholic (in the Philippines, no less). I rarely hear mass or participate in other church-related traditions and rituals nowadays. But, I do pray. And to behold creation at its most magnificent is one of the ways by which I commune with the divine every day.

From Man-child to Man, Child

2011-06-30T08:14:00.002+08:00

Happy birthday, bai.

My brother, Jonas, and I strayed from the well-beaten path (What path?!) early in our lives. Thankfully, we were able to forge on and make our way to our current 'ground states'.

It seems to me that a lot of people expect a certain level of ‘maturity’ to suddenly develop when one reaches a certain age. It is as if one is metamorphosed from a slacker to a go-getter overnight. A lot of people may disagree with me, but I've always believed that growing up didn't mean changing our flawed parts for good ones, but rather choosing to hear the almost inaudible voice of good over the deafening din of the bad.

You've come a long way, Jon. I'm proud of you.

In Profile: The Women of USC Chem

2011-06-29T05:51:00.001+08:00

Rachel

Beauty and intelligence in the same person is a rare compound. Rarer still is to find it existing in a solution of confidence and humility. And yet these are qualities that you will readily find in Rachel. She is in her third year of the B.S. Chemistry program and is currently trying to make it through the gauntlet of unknowns and derivations that comes with it.

Rachel further disproves the notion that all chemists (or in this case, chemists-to-be) ~~are frumpy~~ wear white coats.

More pictures of Rachel after the jump …

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The full set can be viewed here: The Amara Update on Flickr

Distilled Moments: Life in Wax

2011-06-28T05:33:00.000+08:00

At first spark, we all are
Tiny, wavering creatures —
Needing hands cupped over
Our beginning fragile glow.

In our youth we blaze on
Carefree, shining in unison
With companions and loves;
Defying the winds that blow.

As the tallow shortens,
We bear the load of purpose
To brighten the path,
The dark, the cold — what lies yon.

As the wick is consumed,
We gleam brightly one last time;
Rekindling not the fire,
But, instead passing it on.

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My mother turned 67 another year older yesterday. This poem is meant to remind her of the many lives she has touched with her light. Happy birthday, Ma.

The Women of USC Chem — The Amara Update

2011-06-25T20:55:00.000+08:00

Ailenn

Click me! — Ailenn’s Profile, The Amara Update on Flickr

More to come…

Watching the World Go By

2011-06-23T09:31:00.000+08:00

Shades of Blue. There is an obscure gradation that separates the recluse from the lonely. The lonely yearn for arms to embrace them. The recluse fans the embers of anticipation, waiting for the day when he is back in the arms of those whom he loves.

The Women of USC Chem — The Amara Update

2011-06-22T07:39:00.000+08:00

Sharajen

Click me! — Sharajen’s Profile, The Amara Update on Flickr

More to come...

Lessons in Pop Culture

2011-06-19T11:24:00.002+08:00

A sampling of life lessons I learned from Jesus, my father (and not one of the divine persons of the Trinity):

It takes a lot of growing up to be able to play again.
Character is not defined by one’s successes, but by one’s flaws and the conviction by which we overcome them every day.
Don’t poke the bear by cutting in front of him on the road.

Happy Father’s Day, Pops!

The Women of USC Chem — The Amara Update

2011-06-17T06:46:00.000+08:00

This series of picture sets are an update to the original ‘In Profile’ articles written for select women in the USC Chemistry Department.

Maricel

Click me! — Maricel’s Profile, The Amara Update on Flickr

Thanks yous:

Location: Amara Clubhouse (Thanks to Cathy for the access)
MUA: Queenie, Face Painter
Voice-activated Light stand/Boom: Queenie, Wielder of the Light

More to come…

Park Life

2011-06-15T10:50:00.003+08:00

The rains have slaked the dry and parched earth. And flora, in celebration, have shown up in their verdant garb. Although the wet season is not as sensual as summer, it is equally alluring. Its brooding skies and fickle rains cover the world in an invigorating sheen of rebirth.

On a day when the sun played hide and seek behind the clouds, I had the privilege of making these pictures of Marlyn. To me, her fresh-faced innocence ensconced in the bosom of nature was in many ways metaphoric — to be old (and here I am referring more to the number of years on this earth) and yet appear ageless.

As always, I am grateful to Marlyn for being a graceful and gracious subject. And, of course, to my good friend Queenie for not only being the arm that wields the light, but for offering her valued insights and ideas as well.

More pictures and a link to the set after the jump…

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The full set can be viewed here.

More to come…

Watching the World Go By

2011-06-11T06:15:00.000+08:00

Finding Picturesque. On the most ordinary of days, I stumbled upon a scene that looked too arranged to be found. It brought me back to my days in kindergarten when arts and crafts consisted mainly of drawing and ~~eating paste~~ coloring. When asked to draw a rural scene, more often than not, nearly everyone would have some version of a bahay kubo on their sketch pad, complete with the requisite sunrise in the background. Well, maybe except for the kid who insisted on drawing a blue duck.

In Summery

2011-06-08T23:36:00.000+08:00

And as fast as that last sliver of golden light disappears over the horizon, the languid and sultry days of summer have come to an end. Although I do welcome the pitter-patter of rain on the roof, I can’t help but pine for the bright, blue skies of the sweltering season past. Admittedly, there’s a certain ethereal quality to the diffused sunlight of an overcast day; but if one wants a pop of color, nothing beats the brilliance of a clear, summer morning.

So, until the cloud curtains part allow me to pay tribute to summertime with the help of a couple of friends: Queenie, for being such a wonderful subject; JHB, for assisting me; and Maricel, for the moral support (and for making sure our stuff didn’t get washed away by the rising tide).

More pictures after the jump…

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The full set can be viewed on Flickr here.

More to come…

A Hole

2011-06-07T07:54:00.001+08:00

I’ve decided to extend my series of articles entitled ‘Five Tips for Making Better Pictures with the Camera You Already Have’ onto what will hopefully be regular posts on road-tested photography tips. These tips like the ones before them will feature information that I believe will improve the quality of pictures that you make by maximizing the best piece of gear you already have — your brain. :-)#

No, I’m not trying to be a smart-ass about the title. Well, okay maybe just a little bit. This isn’t going to be a treatise on holes, but rather the shape these usually come in. And before your mind wanders, allow me to make the argument for including circles in your pictures.

Yes, circles. What were you thinking of anyway?

Circles are strong compositional elements, whether they are found (such as the hole in the floor in the picture above) or implied (as shown in the cluster of flowers in the picture below). Their strength lies in the fact that they tend to enclose the objects found within them, which leads the viewer’s eye inward and effectively establishes the focal point of your image.
The round shape of a circle creates tension with the straight edges of the frame. And also has the potential for creating a picture within a picture, which makes for a layered and far more interesting composition.

Well, whaddya know? There are earthly rewards to being holey after all.

More to come…