apixionado

Nudes

2009-05-21T08:33:00.000-07:00

South Cebu Photo Safari

2009-04-28T20:30:00.000-07:00

Last weekend PCC (Photographer's Club of Cebu) went on a photo safari to the south of Cebu. We made a number of stops in a number of towns and filled our memory cards with great images, at least that was the intent.

"Seeing Double"

"Mirror On The Pavement"

Our first stop was the San Fernando Church. While everyone was busy taking photos of the models we invited for the trip, I looked around a searched for interesting perspective of the church. It rained that morning, it was a blessing that there were puddles on the pavement. I took a number of exposures and found 2 of them that had potential. I converted them into HDR images. I think the result are fantastic. But that's just me praising my own work. Hehe!

"Carcar Rotunda"

We then went to Carcar. While the other members went to the town's old church, I overshot driving and ended up in the rotunda. I took a number of shots while trying to find out where the other members were. The ground was starting to dry but I was able to capture another puddle shot.

"Colour Puzzle"

"Mirror Silhouette"

We finally caught up with the rest of the group. There was a museum next to the Carcar church and I noticed the stained glass on its doors and window. I took at least 5 shots to see what speed worked well. I wanted to highlight the colors and keep most of the walls and floor dark. It was almost noon then so I had to set the speed to 1600 to get the desired effect.

We also went inside the church. It was good that the models were there so we made them stand next to the window on the stairs to belfry and do some poses. I think the silhoutte of the model and the railing gives the color texture.

It was a great shoot. In the upcoming posts I will feature the models in their summer best. Get your cool beverage ready, coz the next entry will be hot!

Lola

2009-04-21T07:52:00.000-07:00

Farewell of The Sun

2009-04-16T02:50:00.000-07:00

The land bids adieu to the sun in a spectacular orgy of colors. An earthly feast of visual grandeur that only the night could consume. Dusk is a promise of return. A return just as majestic as the parting.

After a Workshop

2009-04-03T20:39:00.000-07:00

"Floating Fuschia"

"Floating Fuschia Too"

"Gulp"

"Caged"

"Hornbill"

"Curious"

"Disproportion in Colour"

A couple of weeks ago I attended PCC's Basic Photography workshop. The units I took in college are yellowing with age in the obsolete shelf in my head. A refresher was most welcome and I'm sure glad a was able to find time for it. There will be a number of workshops this summer and I am looking forward to attending them all. All these workshops better improve my skills otherwise they will prove to be waste of time in epic proportions.

Anyway, above are some of the shots I took after the workshop. D' Family park in Talamban has a lagoon and a mini zoo. It was a worthwhile Saturday. A few more of workshops and I'll be a legend. Hehehe! Oh pull that brow down! Dreaming is free and this is called "dream abuse".

Juggling

2009-03-16T07:57:00.000-07:00

I browsed through my backlog of Sinulog photos and found this. The people in the background were a little distracting so I thought of processing the image via CS3. I'm still learning the program so I applied previously learned tricks of radial blurring and HDR imaging. A little frame here and watermarks there and voila! I'm so glad the streak of colors came to life.

A Street Named Colon

2009-03-13T09:54:00.000-07:00

Once the heart of the city, Colon St reeks of architechtural decay. Quiapo in Manila is what comes to mind. The old buildings that are usually preserved in old cities stand here begging for restoration. At day break the homeless rise from the pavement that are their beds. Tourists avoid this place but the hardcore travellers will find character in Colon.

"Street Doll"

Where there are street kids there are street dolls. Like their owners they are in need of a good bath and attention. To them a doll is their ticket back to innocense.

"Orient Reflection"

Buildings from its years of glory look down to the puddles that rise after a little rain.

"Bottom Feeder"

Even urban widlife has found refuge in Colon, where there are food carts and barbecue stands there are cats that have no need for human touch.

I regret that I had only an hour to walk the country's oldest street. I'm sure I will be back to capture more of its character.

Cebu Heritage

2009-03-09T08:47:00.000-07:00

"Faking Sunrise"

I had to be up at 4 am for a street photography fun shoot organized by PCC (Photographer's Club of Cebu) last Saturday. I had a great time despite my lack of sleep. I'll post more photos when I get a chance to tinker with them. In the mean time feast your eyes on the photo above.

It's the silhouette of the Cebu Heritage Monument. Done with 5 photographs, auto-stitched and auto-aligned via CS3. Cropped to define the edges and color matched with a photo of a sunset. This photo was taken at 7 in the morning when it was almost impossible to get silhouettes. The details of the monument were evident the original photographs. I used curves to hide the details and bring out the silhouette. I hope I was able to fake sunrise. What do you think?

Deconstructing a Tourist Spot

2009-03-02T06:01:00.000-08:00

Aside from structures older that the rest of us there are a number of things in common that litter the typical tourist spot in the Philippines. Below are a number of them.

"Rooffa"

There are pidgeons/doves (I know they are similar but different). Unlike the ones in Venice, out local fowls of tourist spots are aloof. Food attracts them but do not expect them to land on your head and shoulders while pecking your grains. There are doves/pidgeons, not only once but twice. LOL

"Looking Back"

"Rocker in the Dark"

There are blind musicians to serenade those who need a room. LOL

"Souvenir Menagerie"

"Souvenir Menagerie Too"

"For Lilly Feet"

There are shops that sell items to remember the place by.

Fort of San Pedro

2009-02-26T08:11:00.000-08:00

For a structure dwarfed by modern buildings. Fort of San Pedro surpasses the value of the ones outlining Cebu's skyline. Its walls house points in the country's history, written and otherwise. It's original structure saw the Spaniard's first settlement in a country that will be under their rule for 3 centuries. Wars were fought even after the Spaniards left, and as wars ravaged the land the fort changed role fit for its time. It was once a prison, an American barracks, an informal school; it even served as a hospital. In its later days it was turned into a garden and a zoo.

Today tourists flock to this place where its importance is reiterated by the occasional guides. Its written history can be read and seen in a number of materials hung on stone walls including photographs depicting its days. Locals seem to come here for picnics, dates and photo op's. Fort of San Pedro is small compared to Intramuros in Manila. There is not much to expect if you decide to come to this place. Without knowing what it has gone through one will think that it's a garden inside a triangular stone wall. I would pay to hear those walls talk.

Since they are not selling tickets for talking walls let me show what my lenses have captured.

"History Brief"

"A Rusty Welcome"

"Hinged"

"Peeking Explosion"

"A Fort's Mouth"

For more information about Fort of San Pedro click here.

Floralized

2009-02-23T06:58:00.000-08:00

I dedicated my Sunday to Fort of San Pedro in downtown Cebu. Cebu has been my home for over 2 years yet I have not seen much of downtown. My next posts will most likely feature the City's must sees. You will see what the port is all about in my succeeding entries. I took this chance to feature the flowers that litter the site. Unless you're "The Crow" or the devil, these images are delighting to see.

"Budding Beauty"

"The Color Violet" LOL

"Color Sampler"

"Hot Flashes"

"Petal Pop"

"Micro Bouquet"

"Pink Swirl"

"Pinkquisite"

Do note that these photographs were take on a windy day. Just when you thought stationary objects are the easiest to shoot the wind turn them into kids on speed. All of the following photographs were taken in Speed Priority, WB: either Cloudy or Shade.

What do you know? More Sinulog photos!

2009-02-17T06:51:00.000-08:00

I sure hope these photos are worth the wait. There should be one more entry for the festival after this. Forgive me for indulging myself. I badly need to go out and take photos.

Festival Queens

2009-02-02T06:30:00.001-08:00

They carry the image of the child Jesus in their hands. All eyes are on them as they dance under the sun. For a day they are hailed queens.

Pick your Muse. It will be another year before they once again conquer our streets.

Photographer's Block

2009-01-31T06:30:00.000-08:00

It is imagery blindness. Writers dread a similar phenomenon. An inspiration drought deadlier that the worst weather irregularity.

In a world of vast possibilities and a million possible frames I stand blind. Unable to snap as colors beg for attention. The world passes me by in isolation and disconnect.

I am still here. My vision is on an indefinite leave.

The Could Have Been Entries

2009-01-20T06:23:00.000-08:00

I was to submit these photos in the contest. I just read the revised rules and sadly these pictures are not going to make it. Perhaps they could be in my first solo exhibit. Somebody wake me up from my dream! Let's have a look at them, shall we? Do hit me with a whip if I over indulge, I may like it too much though. LOL

One of the girls in the one of contigents in the festival. You can tell there was a lot of dancing going on. This wan not even taken on the peak of the festival like the rest of this batch.

I took a number of portraits. I just found out that the contest does not want these.

I even snapped this girl sucking on a tube of frozen delight.

Do you think this boy is pissed that I was taking his picture? He seemed happy and gay to me that afternoon.

Now this girl has fierce eyes. I almost said ouch when I took this shot.

More to come later. I just have to sort hundreds of frames from last weeks shoots.

Pit Señor!

2009-01-12T04:40:00.000-08:00

I have been silent in the last few days because of the Sinulog Festival. A very colorful festival which anyone should catch in January when you visit the Philippines.

I am joining a photo contest so I am not posting my best pictures yet. I promise to post my entries after the festival. Wish me luck.

For any information about Sinulog you may click here.

Cebu at Night

2009-01-04T08:23:00.000-08:00

Taken 3o minutes ago I instantly worked on these images as soon as have I saved them in my back up drive. I did say "images". These are 4 photographs stitched together via Photoshop CS3's auto-align layers tool. It may seem to be a regular shot but you could click on the image so you could see it in full size. I could have taken another photo to make it look longer but the moon was not very cooperative tonight. I'm glad the clouds covered it or else I would have ended up with a panoramic image of Cebu City with a big hole of overexposure in the night sky.

I had to climb to the 7th floor of the building via the fire excape. Not a very nice feeling when all you have between you and immediate death are two 15-inch diameter pipes. I guess this photograph is worht the fright.

Withering Addiction

2009-01-03T06:32:00.000-08:00

Spotted during a refuelling stop I used my Sigma 300 mm macro lens. A very reasonably priced lens for what it could do. I realized it focuses faster than the 55mm lens that came with my D40.

Anyway, I thought it's just appropriate create an entry dedicated my my 6th nicotine cold turkey. The longest I have avoided cigarettes is 6 months. The new year is looking brighter for my lungs. Now if I could only stick to quitting.

For Another Year of Enchanting Images

2008-12-28T06:19:00.000-08:00

Ahh...2008 is almost history. An interesting year in so many ways. I have traveled to 4 different countries, made hundreds of exposures and got my own DSLR (finally). This year reconciled me to a passion that I have put to rest for too long. I will treat '08 as my year of enlightenment, my turning point. This year, my heart listened to my eyes. Never ignore the things that make your heart skip a beat. With that in mind, I should be better armed to face 2009. We should all be. Happy new year everyone!

P.S.: I have read Scott Kelby's "The Digital Photography Book". He mentioned that putting the horizon smack center is taking the amateur route. I hope this shot is one of those rule breaking shots that work. What do you think?

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

2008-12-25T01:54:00.000-08:00

Crabby Camouflage

2008-12-22T23:08:00.000-08:00

I took a me a number of shots before I got this one. The water made it a little bit tricky to take. I'm glad I was able to capture the movement of the bubbles though. My shaky hands did not help either.

The Stolen Bride

2008-12-18T21:18:00.000-08:00

New Orleans has its surprises. As I walked around Bourbon St. in the French Quarter I chanced upon a pre-wedding shoot. I was glad the photographers did not mind me taking these shots. I used my 300 mm lens from across the street attempting to be less invasive. I have never photographed a bride before and it was a rare opportunity so I went for it. The angles are not perfect but considering I had not business taking these pictures I think they came out great. I was glad she took notice of me and gave me a couple of glances and even a smile. Who ever this bride is, "Best wishes to you." If anyone of you knows who this stunning bride is, give me a holler so I could personally send her a thank you note.

The Magellan Marker

2008-12-16T01:48:00.000-08:00

On my way home last Sunday, I stopped by the Magellan Marker. The great voyager who met his death in Mactan. It was around 9 at night when I decided to stop by the park where the marker stands to make the spot where Ferdinand Magellan unintentionally ended his great voyage in the hands of Lapu-lapu.

As it was deep into the night I had to shoot with long exposure. Behind the park is a pier, a few boats and tiki towers which look like reproductions of watch towers during those days. Below is part of what to expect behind the park. The boat in the background blurred since the water wasn't still. The moon was almost full if not full and it provided a little luminance to the clouds which would otherwise have been invisible.

The marker stood like a tombstone, it was almost eerie to see it againts the moonlit sky. Built in 1866 it is a perfect representation of a moment in history

Blue Dawn

2008-12-14T20:26:00.001-08:00

With my body clock still in shambles I found myself awake at 4 am a few days ago. Living near the sea is a visual gift for amateur photographers such as myself. Our terrace has a 180° of the sea, being a night person I always miss it when the local fishermen go out to sea. Meaning to smoke I noticed some movements a few meters from shore, realizing what they are I dissed smoking and rushed outside to capture the action. Now that I know, I should wake up earlier more than usual.

The Long Flight Home

2008-12-11T03:37:00.000-08:00

I'm glad its over. I hope you'll enjoy theses pictures more than I dread the jet lag. Let's scrutinize them shall we?

You should always check you camera settings. This was taken at ISO 800, very noisy. I almost slapped myself silly upon viewing this on my laptop. Caught this shot upon lift off in Penscola, FL.

First stop: Hotlanta. At 9 in the morning the smog was highly visible. Nothing a little black and white trick won't solve. If only it could fix the ISO bit.

Arigato Japan! Nothing like the rays of the sun slipping through the clouds to wecome my brown derrier back to Asia.

Upon deplaning this frame happened. I'm glad to be back.

An overnight in Hong Kong and it was time to for the last 2 leagues of my trip. The plane has RP on it's wings, I was really getting closer. By now I have noticed the ISO setting on my D40.

After 3 hours in Manila, the plane hovered abover Laguna De Bay.

And after a journey long enough to put the never ending story to shame i got a view of Marcelo Fernan Bridge. I am home.

Rhett Furball

2008-12-09T05:10:00.000-08:00

I had a chance to take pictures of month old Rhett, a week after we picked him up at the pet store, before I got on the plane. He's such and adorable little fur ball. It was not easy taking pictures of a schnauzer who's yet to learn the word "stay". I'm gonna miss this boy, too bad I could not bring him to Cebu. Oh well, I hope he'd recognize me the next time he sees me. Now check theses out and tell me how adorable he is.

The Long Flight Home

2008-12-06T15:39:00.000-08:00

I just had an American breakfast at the Hong Kong International Airport. I feel like a zombie and will most likely feel this way for a week. Jet lag's a bummer. I will try to go out and take some pictures in the next few days. If you did not hear from me that means I have been slain by zombie hunters. More in transit shots later.

In The Navy

2008-12-02T21:25:00.000-08:00

Exhibiting United State's formidable Naval and Aviation forces the National Naval Aviation Museum boasts of its history and fleet. Here, those who have the affinity to flying objects in their inanimate state are treated to a vast array of planes, choppers, carriers and the occasional space capsule.

My capturing skills have failed me in this expedition. I believe I am more adept to capturing images of living things. As shown by the following images my inexperience surely deserves attention. Despite my failure to deliver "fanstastic" images I hope you would still feast your eyes on these.

O

2008-12-01T21:28:00.000-08:00

A very curious animal. This one kept following me as I was taking its pictures. It acted like a D-lister, attention whore, hollywood starlet on the red carpet. LOL Worked for me. I feel like a certified animal paparazzi. LOL

The Disney Mafia

2008-11-29T20:35:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-27T21:28:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-26T20:35:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-25T09:24:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-23T17:29:00.000-08:00

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

A Night of Magic

2008-11-22T21:13:00.000-08:00

At the end of the day ...

in an enchanted land...

... the sky lights up...

to bid everyone goodnight.

Yin and Yang

2008-11-21T20:25:00.000-08:00

Flightless Beauties

2008-11-20T18:45:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-19T19:26:00.000-08:00

Masks in one of New Orleans' souvenir shops.

The Polar Bear Encounter

2008-11-18T20:57:00.000-08:00

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.

Blue Angels Home Coming Air Show

2008-11-17T19:08:00.000-08:00

I went to see the Blue Angels Homecoming Airshow last Saturday and man, I was blown away. The show started with "Star Spangled Banner" air show style.

Of course the planes were on the ground.

Airborne.

Swirling around.

And around.

And around. Are you dizzy yet?

The there were stunts. Nothing serious, just moving from one aircraft to another.

I sure hope he's able to get insurance for what he does.

Of course everyone was waiting for the Blue Angels. And they were good, except that the jets were too fast I was only able to capture a few. Here's one of them.

And another one.

Allow me to indulge in one of those "spot the photographer" shot.

And then there were the Masters of Mayhem. And man! This is serious stuff. I was blown away.

Now it's your turn.

If I make it to Florida next year. I will never miss this event. You shouldn't too.

Harvest Moon

2008-11-16T21:02:00.000-08:00

Ahh...the moon, no matter how cliché is always a sight to behold.

French Quarter Pidgeon

2008-11-16T09:04:00.000-08:00

The Fog's Embrace

2008-11-13T21:15:00.001-08:00

I thrive at night. Rarely are my eyes peeled before the sun's first breath of gold but they were different this morning.

It's as if the fog tickled my feet and made them yearn for earth. Outside, water was light.

It embraced me. I was her son who moved to a land beyond the ocean.

It was a momentary bliss with an eternal impression.

I was home.

It was hard to let go, for I know that not every morning is the same.

Gallery Window

2008-11-13T09:27:00.000-08:00

Somewhere along Royal St in the New Orleans' French Quarter. I love New Orleans' Art Scene. Reminds me of the streets of Manila.

Pixel Dosage

2008-11-12T11:39:00.000-08:00

I was bitten by the bug when I was in high school. I took photos for the school paper, joined contests and learned how to use the dark room in college. My interest took the back seat when I started working, but deep inside I knew the virus was only in hibernation.

Armed with an new DSLR my pixel dependency is in its full glory. I am an apixionado and this chunk of the cyberspace is the temple of my addiction.

Here's post number 1.

This was taken on the opposite corner of Beale and Second Streets in Memphis.