The Disney Mafia

It's a conspiracy that has been going on for decades. An organization so fool proof that it has captured everyone's imagination. For people traveling to the US, going to Disney World is almost a pilgrimage. I don't blame them. Here, the abstract concept of magic becomes concrete.

A Taste of Magic

Just a taste of what you're gonna get. Disney is one of those places where most people don't get tired of coming back to. Even the jaded could be converted by this place. I know I was. More after I ransack the shopping strips for the after thanksgiving sale tomorrow.

Play Phone

I know I promised Mickey and the gang but things are going crazy around here. Thanksgivng anyone? I just had people come over tonight for a steak dinner. I am still working on my Disney photos. Please bear with me. In the meantime. Check this one out:
I took this in Memphis while watching a soccer game. These kids were playing with the pay phone, pretending they were calling 911. It was refreshing to hear kids' laughter in the middle of a cold autumn afternoon. That's the thing about kids., you can't buy their smiles and giggles.

Sleepy MIssissippi

I was in Mississippi 2 weeks ago. Part of my South East immersion experience. We drove from Pensacola, FL to New Orleans, Memphis and Mississippi. With my camera in tow I took a lot of pictures. Some of them you have already seen in my past posts.

I am loving this whole experience. I got to see a chunk of this vast world and tried to capture what I could. Having been in Photography Limbo for a few years I am having to relearn what was taught to me in college. That was 10 years ago! I could still smell the sourness of the darkroom. I could feel the touch of film in my hands while I roll it in the canister fully blind. Ahhh...and seeing for the first time how a blank paper leaked of shades of black and gray in a tray of pungent liquid. An artist's adventure (Yeah, I'm calling myself that).

I have been reading materials about this subject lately. In the 10 years that I have been gone I know a lot has changed. The changes passed me by and now I am trying to catch up. My first HDR is in this post. I want this blog to be a documentation of my journey. A collection of images progressing to the point when I call call myself a photographer. For those who know a lot more than I do I encourage you to drop me comments about my images. Critiques are welcome, in fact, I encourage a no holds barred analysis of my images. I am an empty bucket for suggestions. Whether for materials to read, tricks to do or corrections to make, anything that could arm me to create photographic perfection.

Now lets see what we got from sleepy Mississippi. Sleepy in a good way. As a farming state good captures here are not that hard to come by. From the break of dawn...

to the golden peek of the sun.

Until the colors of autumn present themselves.



We all must love the folks of small town. Peace Brotha!


Here's one of them fishing for bait.

I went to a towns called Glen Allen, Arcola and Greenville. All near Lake Washington and the mighty Mississippi river. Home to these ducks.

The sunset could not be ignored either.


And now folks. Here's my first HDR. Not sure if I did everything correct but I sure tried. This image processing is all new to me and anything you can contribute to my growth will be appreciated. We are all brothers the moment we pick that camera. So why don't you teach a young brother here something.

Now I will get back on my reading. Up ahead, I see Mickey and the gang to grace my space.

Pow Wow: An Afternnon with The Indians

I was one with the tribe for an afternoon of drumbeats, dances and indian hospitality.

A Night of Magic

At the end of the day ...



in an enchanted land...



... the sky lights up...



to bid everyone goodnight.

Yin and Yang

Flightless Beauties

No one encounters flamingos on the road. It was a refreshing experience to see these pink flightless birds.

Are you refreshed yet?

A Carnivale Requirement

Masks in one of New Orleans' souvenir shops.

The Polar Bear Encounter

It was a Memphis Autumn afternoon when I decided to be wild in the city of Blues. Being from the Philippines, this is the biggest zoo I've ever been too yet, both in land area and members of the kingdom animalia on display. It was a pain to walk around but each step was well worth the images I was able to capture.

Among everything I saw I spent the most time taking pictures of, you guessed it, the polar bear. There were two of them in their aquarium/cage/coral. It was a joy to see them swim. A big ball of white fur swimming around the tampered cold water. One of the zoo guests said she could watch it all day. The same was true for me. It was a relaxing sight. A wild animal gracefully swimming in the middle of the city. The experience is great but there is always this indescribable feeling when you see a beautiful animal in an artificial environment. If I was polar bear I would be tired of swimming in the same water. My ADD would be in full swing. It's sad to know that the only way for these animals to survive is to have them in captivity. So let us do anything we can to save these animals. In the end, wild life preservation is self preservation.

Now that I have let my sentiments out, lets see my hot shots.



Don't you feel bad about driving to the convenience store yet when you could have walked.


We should start riding bikes y'all.


Plant a tree. Make up for your carbon footprint.



While you're at it spot the the other polar bear in the photo above-the one holding a camera.

This is my favorite image. I hope this helps to urge you to save the planet. Save the polar bears. Save yourself.