The Lioness's Lair

The Lioness's Lair http://rnuguid.multiply.com/ <table> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" valign="middle"> <img src="http://images.rnuguid.multiply.com/image/1/photos/3/600x600/1.gif?enctoken=UmFuZG9tSVa2fSNcEUmocQMJ4GN4JYWQcGd.2zvCHPF2Rh90EzUBmsav,xMfnxx,%27%20/"></td> <td rowspan="2" valign="top"> Before I put up the now popular "<a href="http://thegeekettespeaketh.pinoyweb.net/">The Geekette Speaketh</a>" I used to have another website that showed all my writing projects and other such stuff. So I decided to use my multiply account to host my prose and poetry. Not that I write much poetry.Nowadays, I've found myself wanting to go back to my roots: Photography. So this is where it all comes full circle. I'm trying to go back to doing art photography. I'd like to dip into product photos again. Nudes. Wildlife. Landscapes. Portraiture. I'd like to push the limits and delve in the dangerous. You only live once after all. Other links: <ul> <li>Gadgetry and General Technology : <a href="http://thegeekettespeaketh.pinoyweb.net">The Geekette Speaketh</a></li> <li>Web Technologies, Agile Methodology, Software Development : <a href="http://fairtradetech.pinoyweb.net">Fair Trade Technology</a></li> <li>Literature : <a href="http://crew.pinoyweb.net">Creative Writing SIG</a></li> </ul></td> <td align="center"> <div style="width: 176px; text-align: center;"> <embed src="http://twitter.com/flash/twitter_badge.swf" flashvars="color1=10027008&type=user&id=2951901" quality="high" name="twitter_badge" allowscriptaccess="always" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer' /" align="middle" height="176" width="176"> <a style="font-size: 10px; color: rgb(153, 0, 0); text-decoration: none;" href="http://twitter.com/rcdiugun">follow rcdiugun at http://twitter.com</a></div> <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/"> <img src="http://images.rnuguid.multiply.com/image/1/photos/3/600x600/3.gif?enctoken=UmFuZG9tSVa2fSNcEUmocQMJ4GN4JYWQcGd.2zvCHPGm7mZCwMSB0DdnU6Ysz9yT" alt="Official NaNoWriMo 2005 Participant" border="0"></a></td></tr></tbody></table> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://embed.technorati.com/embed/b4wesbfby8.js"></script> Tue, 12 Aug 2008 07:26:56 -0000 Mon, 13 Aug 2007 09:04:13 -0000 The Lioness's Lair http://images.rnuguid.multiply.com/logo http://rnuguid.multiply.com 100 100 My Aeropress! <a href="http://tinyurl.com/38np74">The Aeropress photo stream</a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/headgeekette/1101486929/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1143/1101486929_e8a95e7d6a_m.jpg" alt="The Aeropress Box" height="240" width="180"></a> My best friend, Art, gave this for my birthday!  I've been using it ever since!  Follow the link to the flickr photo set.  Directions on how I used it are on each photo as well. http://rnuguid.multiply.com/journal/item/124/My_Aeropress Mon, 13 Aug 2007 09:04:13 -0000 Why I Haven't Been Updating Things have been busy busy busy lately! <ul><li>ABS-CBN projects is finally wrapping up! <a href="http://software.orangeandbronze.com">Orange and Bronze</a> will be celebrating tonight.  Since everyone is going to be there I'm sure it's going to be a helluva wild night. (<a href="http://mikhailberis.multiply.com/journal/item/147?mark_read=mikhailberis:journal:147">Dean, I do hope you'll be well enough to attend</a>. It just won't be the same with you, me and Garry.)</li><li>Updating materials while conducting the Pointwest Java Boot Camp.</li><li>Preparing to help out <a href="http://advocrazy.com/">Rommel Feria</a> with <a href="https://jedi.dev.java.net/">JEDI</a> (Java Education and Development Initiative).</li></ul>Learned so many things about car maintenance too!  Besides the usual check up of gas, tire pressure, windshield cleaner, etc., I also learned how to change a tire, test the heating plugs, check for tubing leaks.  Since I always end up talking to our mechanic and observing how he does stufff, in the event of a breakdown I'd think I'd have a better chance of fixing Art's car than Art does. LOL! I also learned that duct tape can fix anything.  Plus my friends are astounded by the new wallet I made out of the stuf... http://rnuguid.multiply.com/journal/item/123/Why_I_Havent_Been_Updating Thu, 28 Jun 2007 21:09:40 -0000 Management Lessons After MaPalad.Org (Introduction) Personal thoughts on what I learned by observation. Open minds and logic http://rnuguid.multiply.com/links/item/17/Management_Lessons_After_MaPalad.Org_Introduction Sun, 6 May 2007 14:17:48 -0000 Signed up for another seminar! I reserved a slot to attend Jo Avila's product photography seminar. Yes, I'm excited!  I've been wanting to do this for a long time now. :D http://rnuguid.multiply.com/journal/item/122/Signed_up_for_another_seminar Fri, 20 Apr 2007 14:57:06 -0000 Jo Avila's Photography Seminars Jo Avila has finally put up a website where you can find out what and when are his latest photography seminars http://rnuguid.multiply.com/links/item/16/Jo_Avilas_Photography_Seminars Wed, 21 Feb 2007 05:50:15 -0000 Change Those Names! If you own a digital camera, does it have a feature where you can change the default name of the image it saves to? If so, I'd suggest you make good use of it. Just before your shoot change the settings to something you can understand later on.  Example, I can only change the first two characters of the filename on my camera.  So at the beginning of the day I usually set it to A1.  If I go to several events in a single day, I'd usually go from A1 to A2 to A3 and so forth.  Sometimes it takes a while before I finally remember to burn the images to a CD (end of the week, usually). So the next day I set it to B1. Basically, the first character denotes the day and the second character the event of that day.  Once I get to burn it at the end of the week, I set it back to A1. Of course, if you can change more than just the first two characters, then you can simply set the prefix to a particular date or even a more understandable shorthand of the event you're attending.... http://rnuguid.multiply.com/journal/item/120/Change_Those_Names Fri, 16 Feb 2007 10:25:07 -0000 Photography Seminars by Jo Avila Hi! I will be giving photography seminars for the months of February to March 2007. =========================================================== There will be a Basic Food Styling and Food Photography Seminar at my studio on 18 February 2007 from 1pm to 6pm. Learn the basics of food styling. This is a hands on course that will allow you to food style two dishes (pasta and salad). A guided photo session afterwards will allow you to photograph your creation. The seminar only has nine (9) slots available. The seminar fee of P3, 500.00/participant is already inclusive of ingredients, handouts and a certificate of attendance. Participants are required to bring a basic food styling kit, aprons and their own cameras. Basic food styling kits may be ordered in advance for P1, 500.00 or you may assemble one on your own. The resource person for the food styling component of the seminar is Pixie Sevilla. =========================================================== There wil... http://rnuguid.multiply.com/journal/item/119/Photography_Seminars_by_Jo_Avila Wed, 14 Feb 2007 08:35:07 -0000 Results of the Makeshift Bounce Card This was a shot without a flash. Dark, isn't it? <img class="alignmiddle" src="http://images.rnuguid.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/RcmbWQoKCqYAAGEP-ns1/P2070791.JPG?et=iu8NJbydRdwJbnFu9W3bPQ" border="0"> This is a shot of the same spot with the flash pointing straight on. <img class="alignmiddle" src="http://images.rnuguid.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/RcmbgQoKCqYAAGKPCt81/P2070792.JPG?et=Q1SOroYtKoFkSdt2XymYHg" border="0"> Same shot. Flash pointing towards the ceiling. <img class="alignmiddle" src="http://images.rnuguid.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/Rcmb1AoKCqYAAGZbJ3k1/P2070793.JPG?et=OnHgdqWd7nw5q2V4UAjj6g" border="0"> Last shot. Flash still pointing at the ceiling but now with the CD case bounce card. <img class="alignmiddle" src="http://images.rnuguid.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/RcmcLgoKCqYAAG9cG801/P2070800.JPG?et=v7DqA%2BkbfO%2B5aI2dvf7zTA" border="0"> Frankly, I kinda like the last shot. What do you think? http://rnuguid.multiply.com/journal/item/118/Results_of_the_Makeshift_Bounce_Card Wed, 7 Feb 2007 09:32:58 -0000 My Zenobia C I <a href="/photos/hi-res/upload/RciBwgoKCqYAABkjcRM1"></a><a href="/photos/hi-res/upload/RciBwgoKCqYAABkjcRM1"><img class="alignleft" src="http://images.rnuguid.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/RciBwgoKCqYAABkjcRM1/P2060775.jpg?et=TXA5%2CYNKH3af4toUeegzJg" border="0"></a>It's not the best of photos, but it will do for now. This was given to me by Albert Yan a couple of years back. It's an early Zenobia C I. It is a 6x4 folding camera. It was made around 1952. And Albert is going to kill me for not using it as much as he expects me to. (Sowwee!!!) But today I took it out from it's plastic<a href="../photos/hi-res/upload/RciBwgoKCqYAABkjcRM1"></a> wrapping (See?! I still took great care of it!). From the time I got this I had promised myself to have the lenses cleaned. I still haven't done that. But it doesn't look like the glass was any cloudier than before. And yes, it still works. And yes there's still film inside it. I took it out for two reasons. One is that I got envious of Gen's newly acquired Yashica TLR. That's when I decided that maybe we could hook up and shoot stuff. Oh yeah that<a href="../photos/hi-res/upload/RciBwgoKCqYAABkjcRM1"></a> would be super! <a href="../photos/hi-res/upload/RciKnAoKCqYAAAIdvVg1"><img class="alignright" src="http://images.rnuguid.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/RciKnAoKCqYAAAIdvVg1/DSC00502.JPG?et=FgOz7GeynPe87f59qDUsSw" border="0"></a>Secondly, I decided to try out my new flash. I was talking to Elwin earlier and he suggested using those CD envelopes from CD-R King. I tried it out and... I think I just made myself a better boun... http://rnuguid.multiply.com/journal/item/117/My_Zenobia_C_I Tue, 6 Feb 2007 14:05:02 -0000 DIY flash diffusers After buying the flash yesterday, I found myself in an event with Art Ilano.  Nevermind that I wasn't dressed for the ocassion.  But at least I had my camera with me.  I left the flash in the car though since I still had no idea how to effectively use it.  That said, I took a few shots and soon put my camera back in the bag.  I was getting insecure with all those photographers in the area with their big bad flash guns. Haha! Note:  I'm lousy in event photography.  Hence you won't see photos of the event.  Well... maybe. Anyway, I also met Hans Villarica, Art's editorial assistant.  Turns out he's into photography as well and was suggesting I buy a stofen or a lightsphere. Me:  "You do know how much that thing costs, right?" Hans:  "Yes. I bought one myself." Ah. Lucky him.  But I'm a hobbyist, thus I can't really afford buying a diffuser which I just might rarely use.  And again... do you know how much a sto-fen or a lightsphe... http://rnuguid.multiply.com/journal/item/116/DIY_flash_diffusers Tue, 6 Feb 2007 03:29:08 -0000 My Photoworld Manila 2007 purchase I finally got to go to Photoworld today.  Despite my aching legs (must remember to stretch before jogging next time), I was able to go visit all the shops.  Actually, I almost missed one side.  I was looking for a circular polarizer for my camera but the cokin polas were unavailable.  So the next thing I considered was a new flash. My old Sunpak Auto thyristor had already given up on me, so I decided to might as well get a new strobe unit.  The Olympus flash guns were... expensive. And out of stock as well.  So I decided to follow a friend's advice (many thanks to Jay Camus!) and hunted for a Sunpak flash. My search came up empty.  So I decided to sit down for a while on one of the benches.  (My feet were already killing me by then.  Mental note: when shopping, do not wear heels.)  I was wondering where the shop owners from Hidalgo were.  For some reason, those shops were missing in action.  Then I realize that I hadn't visited ... http://rnuguid.multiply.com/journal/item/115/My_Photoworld_Manila_2007_purchase Mon, 5 Feb 2007 16:09:36 -0000 Who wants to be a guinea pig? I know this isn't about photography.  But I really am need of a guinea pig. I found this wonderful recipe for a really wicked cookie.  If anyone is interested in sampling this, do let me know. Oh right. What does it contain? Espresso powder.  Cocoa powder. Chocolate chips. Chocolate-covered coffee beans. http://rnuguid.multiply.com/journal/item/114/Who_wants_to_be_a_guinea_pig Wed, 31 Jan 2007 10:23:29 -0000 Pyro-Olympics 2007 Taken on the last day of the Pyro-Olympics show held at the Esplanade, SM Mall of Asia (Jan 13, 2007). Photos show the Chinese entry to the event. Taken with an Olympus E-500, f/8, 4sec. Photos were resized and cropped as http://rnuguid.multiply.com/photos/album/8/Pyro-Olympics_2007 Sun, 14 Jan 2007 03:54:54 -0000 Get Them While They're Warm! I've been remiss in my updates on what's been happening with my photo seminar.  Day 02 we learned about composition, what makes a good photograph, framing and to avoid shooting a cow eating grass. Day 03 was about lighting. Gosh!  There was really so much to learn about flash photography and strobes.  I need to get several books from Fully Booked soon. Tomorrow is Day 04 where we get to learn how to use Photoshop for the basic retouching. Finally, at the end of Day 03, I ended up buying a set of WarmCards at Jo Avila's studio. Until Oct 31, the price is pegged at 2,800 pesos.  Using it (specially the gray card) did make a difference on the color of my photos. Hmm. I should get a Spyder during PhotoWorld Manila. :D http://rnuguid.multiply.com/journal/item/113/Get_Them_While_Theyre_Warm Fri, 27 Oct 2006 14:26:18 -0000 Basic Food Styling and Food Photography Seminar Hi! There will be a BASIC FOOD STYLING AND FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY SEMINAR at mystudio on 19 November 2006 from 1pm to 6pm. Learn the basics of foodstyling. This is a hands on course that will allow you to food style twodishes (pasta and salad). A guided photo session afterwards will allow youto photograph your creation. The seminar only has eight slots available. The seminar fee of P3, 500.00/participant is already inclusive ofingredients, handouts and a certificate of attendance. Participants arerequired to bring a basic food styling kit, aprons and their own cameras. Basic food styling kits may be ordered in advance for P1,500.00 or you mayassemble one on your own. The resource person for the food styling component of the seminar is PixieSevilla. The seminars will be held at Unit 114, Gold Building, 15 Annapolis st.,Greenhills, SJ. Please send me an email at pinakamagalingako@hotmail.com if anyone wishes tosign up. Cheers! Jo Avila (0917) 5305133 http://rnuguid.multiply.com/journal/item/109/Basic_Food_Styling_and_Food_Photography_Seminar Thu, 19 Oct 2006 16:07:19 -0000 No Money? No Worry! So you've spent all your hard earned cash on a camera that shoots RAW images.  You need to do your magic now.  Then you realize... you need Photoshop.  Plus some plugin to open that RAW file.  But you need  money to buy the stuff. So, now what do you do? First thing everyone will tell you is, "Try GIMP!"  GIMP is short for the GNU Image Manipulation Program.  It's free (as in free beer).  But alone, GIMP won't be able to open your RAW files. Enter UFRaw.  This other free program can be used by itself or as a plugin to GIMP.  For Nikon users UFRaw has the advantage that it can read the camera's tone curves. Even if you don't own a Nikon, you can still apply a Nikon curve to your images.  Check out this page to see what cameras are supported in UFRaw: <a href="http://ufraw.sourceforge.net/Cameras.html"><a href=http://ufraw.sourceforge.net/Cameras.html>http://ufraw.sourceforge.net/Cameras.html</a></a> http://rnuguid.multiply.com/journal/item/108/No_Money_No_Worry Tue, 17 Oct 2006 15:19:38 -0000 Photography Seminars by Jo Avila Hi! I will be giving photography seminars for the month of November 2006. This will be the last set of photography seminars that I shall be offering for 2006. My photography seminars will be resuming in January 2007. The schedule of the Basic Photography Seminar (weeknight sessions) for October 2006 is as follows: November 7 – Basic Theories and Principles of Photography November 9 – Composition Techniques November 14 – Basic Studio Lighting November 16 – Basic Photoshop November 21 – Advanced Photoshop and Guerilla Shooting Techniques All sessions shall be from 630pm-930pm. There are only fifteen (15) slots available. The seminar fee of P3, 500/participant is the total fee for all five sessions. All participants will receive handouts and a certificate of attendance. ========================================== The schedule of the Basic Photography Seminar (Saturday sessions) for November 2006 is as follows: November 11 – Basic Theories and Principles of Photography November 18 – Composition Techniques... http://rnuguid.multiply.com/journal/item/107/Photography_Seminars_by_Jo_Avila Sun, 15 Oct 2006 11:18:23 -0000 *blink* *blink* For some odd reason, my "Nudes" post just became the most visited item on my multiply blog. To put the rest of the readers at ease, let me qualify my "stare" quote. If I stare at you with great interest... yes, I'm already imagining what your best pose could be (or would have been). If I stare at you with a quizzical look, then there must be something wrong with you. If I give you a blank stare... then I'm either thinking of work or an earth-shattering, world dominating idea.  Or perhaps daydreaming -- fantasizing the many things I can do -- about you.  But definitely not stripping you.  No, sirree!  Maybe wonder if whipped cream, cherries and liquid latex look good on you.  But definitely not stripping you. Just kidding. Seriously, if I stare at you in an interested way, then yes. Birthday suit.  Definitely.  But if you catch me staring at you, then I wasn't really thinking about you naked.  Nope.  If I was, you wouldn't rea... http://rnuguid.multiply.com/journal/item/106/blink_blink Mon, 9 Oct 2006 17:05:52 -0000 Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day What is Pinhole Day? Anyone, anywhere in the world, who makes a pinhole photograph on the last Sunday in April, can scan it and upload it to this website where it will become part of the annual Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day celebration's online http://rnuguid.multiply.com/calendar/item/10009/Worldwide_Pinhole_Photography_Day Sun, 8 Oct 2006 16:23:41 -0000 Nudes While searching for a receipt among the many boxes in my bedroom, I found my book on Nudes by Anna Henly (Camera Craft series. Ava Publishing. ISBN 2-88479-024-1).  It's the very first book I ever had about nude photography. I admit, when I stare at people from a distance I'm mentally stripping the clothes off them.  Yes. You too.  If you're over the age of 21, human and not a relative, at some point in time I will start thinking of you in your birthday suit.  Doesn't matter if your lithe and trim or huge and pudgy. My first foray into nude photography was when I was invited by Eddie Boy Escudero to pose for him.  Well, semi-nude.  I still had a bathrobe and knickers on.  At that time I couldn't tell anyone about it.  But I soon realized that this was Eddie Boy Escudero we're talking about here.  I should be flattered!  And I really was! Then there were the times when I assisted Jo Avila during his FHM shoots a few years back.  From ... http://rnuguid.multiply.com/journal/item/105/Nudes Sun, 8 Oct 2006 16:15:28 -0000 Evanescence - Call Me When You're Sober Evanescence is out with a new song and a new album! It's not much like their past albums though. There are some songs which lack the angst in their previous works. <blockquote>Don't cry to me. If you loved me, you would be here with me. You want me, come find me. Make up your mind. Should I let you fall? Lose it all? So maybe you can remember yourself. Can't keep believing, We're only deceiving ourselves. And I'm sick of the lie. And you're too late. Don't cry to me. If you loved me, you would be here with me. You want me, come find me. Make up your mind. Couldn't take the blame. Sick with shame. Must be exhausting to lose your own game. Selfishly hated, No wonder you're jaded. You can't play the victim this time. And you're too late. Don't cry to me. If you loved me, you would be here with me. You want me, come find me. Make up your mind. You never call me when you're sober. You only want it cause it's over. It's over. How could I have burned paradise... http://rnuguid.multiply.com/video/item/5/Evanescence_-_Call_Me_When_Youre_Sober Sun, 8 Oct 2006 09:43:41 -0000 My First-Second Photography Seminar (Day 01) I attended my second photography seminar yesterday.  This also happened to be my first digital photography class.  I have to admit, I learned a lot more than what I got from my first one.  The wonderful thing about this is that the seminar lets me see the film and digital perspectives side-by-side. While I reviewed reciprocal failure and the makeshift tripod, I also learned exactly how to read a histogram and what really is the difference between the Program ("Professional") mode and the Auto mode in digital photography.  Thanks to Jo, I have an idea on what I need now.  Close up filters from Cokin, Warm Cards and a Spyder for my laptop.  I borrowed Jo's Cokin filters to try out for the meantime.  Oh! And I learned how to clean the sensor! :D Now, my problem is finding out how to do my assignment for next week:  Shoot a Coke bottle while not making it look like a Coke bottle. EEK! http://rnuguid.multiply.com/journal/item/104/My_First-Second_Photography_Seminar_Day_01 Sat, 7 Oct 2006 18:16:11 -0000 PAWS October & November Fundraisers From: whatsuppaws [at] yahoogroups [dot] com On Behalf Of PAWS Sent: Tuesday, October 03, 2006 9:33 AM We would like to announce the following PAWS fundraising activities - our way of celebrating World Animal Day the whole month long and our way of transmitting various messages on adoptions, spay-neuter, responsible pet ownership to the public: <ol><li>PINOY PET SUPERSTAR Photo Contest - Email a high-resolution file photo of your pet to philpaws [at] yahoo [dot] com together with the following details- Name of owner, address, telephone and mobile numbers, Name of Pet, type of pet, breed of pet, age and sex of pet. Theme of the contest is "Pinoy Pet Superstar" so make sure to submit a photo that shows your pet in his/her most glamorous or Hollywood / "pa-star" pose. Deadline of submission of entries is October 18, 2006. Winners will be awarded on October 21 during the Furry Tales main program (see #3 below). Exciting prizes from major sponsor, Pedigree, await the lucky winner - snap those photos... http://rnuguid.multiply.com/journal/item/102/PAWS_October_November_Fundraisers Thu, 5 Oct 2006 04:12:06 -0000 SPUDS! I talked about <a href="http://rnuguid.multiply.com/journal/item/99">setting the white balance using Pringle's lids</a> a few days back and how these lids are now transparent and not translucent. I haven't tried the coffee filter option yet, but I have found another option. The local SPUDS! potato chips that come in a similar pacakging as Pringles have translucent white lids. I bought a small SPUDS! canister and used the lid to adjust my white balance.  What do you know? It works! :D I'm going to try the coffee filter technique soon... when I have my coffee filters, that is. http://rnuguid.multiply.com/journal/item/101/SPUDS Thu, 5 Oct 2006 02:22:53 -0000 Going Back To School Yes. I'm going to take another course again in photography.  I'm taking the Saturday classes starting October 7, 2006 under Jo Avila. If you're interested, there are still slots available for the Saturday class. Feel free to hook up with him and inquire. <a href="http://rnuguid.multiply.com/journal/item/91">Jo Avila's Basic & Advanced Photography Seminars</a> http://rnuguid.multiply.com/journal/item/100/Going_Back_To_School Sun, 1 Oct 2006 11:36:17 -0000 Strobist "Light is a verb" At Strobist, our goal is to promote more effective use of small, shoe-mount flashes. To teach you to use your small strobe to get results like the professionals get. Over 10,000 photographers from around the world have been bitten by the bug, and it's about to happen to you. Why small strobes? Because that's all you really need. http://rnuguid.multiply.com/links/item/15/Strobist Sun, 1 Oct 2006 09:37:12 -0000