Things have been busy busy busy lately!

• ABS-CBN projects is finally wrapping up! Orange and Bronze will be celebrating tonight.  Since everyone is going to be there I'm sure it's going to be a helluva wild night. (Dean, I do hope you'll be well enough to attend. It just won't be the same with you, me and Garry.)
• Updating materials while conducting the Pointwest Java Boot Camp.
• Preparing to help out Rommel Feria with JEDI (Java Education and Development Initiative).

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 stuff! Gotta shoot that soon.

For the first time in twenty-something years, I've been hanging out with my first cousins.  Haven't done so because of personal stuff between our dads.  But since we're now older and wiser, we've come to learn and say "To heck with their squabbles!  It shouldn't affect the fact that we're still cousins!"  This wouldn't have happened if our favorite cousin, Marie, didn't get married a couple weeks back.

Finally, it's wonderful to get enough time off to hang out with my best friends.  Choppy will be leaving soon for a two-year stint at Singapore's National University Hospital while Art is ... busy ... with a lot of stuff.  Still, it's nice to go out for a beer (Choppy) and watch the movies coming out (Art).

I'm not able to blog as long and often as I want to on all my four blogs.  But at least I'm still able to twitter.  YAY to Smart's cheap GPRS/3G rates!

Oh, and did I mention I'm on number 210 of my 1000 origami crane project?

Personal thoughts on what I learned by observation. Open minds and logic required.

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!

During my friend's party yesterday, me and a couple other people ended up talking about photography.  I mentioned that since I've now crossed over to the digital side, I see no reason why I shouldn't shoot everyday.  I have to admit, it's so much easier to be shooting in digital.

Then again, that doesn't mean everything I learned in my film photography days is of no use to me.  I see a HUGE difference between a beginner who started off with film then moved to digital and one who started off with digital.  Those with a film background make it a point to perfect the shot as much as possible straight off the camera. Those that didn't have a film background tend to depend heavily on photoshop during the post-processing phase.

In my case, I tend to shoot "slide style".  This means I tend to shoot with full-frame in mind, which is the reason why I invariably cut off limbs and foreheads when I shoot using negative films.  But now with the Olympus E500, I don't have to worry much about my "negative film syndrome".

I do have a slight problem with white balances though.  But that's for another post...

I've just talked to a couple of male friends (of course, I won't say who) and it's just my good fortune that they've agreed to pose for a nude (figure study) shoot.  (Separately of course.)  Whee!  Of course, this won't come to fruition until about November or December this year.

This would be the first time I'll be photographing the male figure.  Honestly, I find it harder to look for male nude models than female models.  Though it doesn't mean it's easy to find female nude models either.  I don't blame them really.  I've posed semi-nude for a well-known photographer a few years back and it does take a lot of bravado to get in front of the lens.  And I was still wearing a robe at that time!

The rush is incredible though!  When you see the photos, you can't help but say "Oh my gosh!  That's me!  I can't believe I actually look good!"  And that's what I'd like to show in my nude shoots.  That no matter what shape you're in, there's still some semblance of beauty hidden there somewhere. :)

If you're interested in posing for me, do send me a private message.   It will be treated with utmost confidentiality ... unless you actually want to tell everyone you modelled for a figure study shoot, to which I don't really mind.

I'm thinking of renovating the use of my multiply account into my photography blog.  No more cross posting of my technology posts from The Geekette Speaketh and Fair Trade Technology. The only thing I'll be cross posting would be the recipes and job offers, of course.

Darn! I can't wait to get my hands on that camera. :D

Our group, ph-figurestudy, is planning on a shoot before the end of the year.  We're thinking of holding it at DPI (Pasig City).  I guess everyone's really excited since it's been more than a year since we last did a nude shoot.

Leo (Castillo) even proposed to reserve a date in October already (since he's regularly there).  I just had to mention: "Teka lang Leo! Naka-schedule ka na diyan, wala pa nga tayong model.  Unless you want to go full monty for us? :D"  Hmm. Wait a minute. Leo? Go full monty?  I think I need to retract my statement.  Then again, it isn't called figure study for nothing. :D

1. Nudes
2. Landscapes
3. Animals / Wildlife / Plants

Four Thirds.

After considerable research, I've decided to stick to the Four Thirds standard.  That said, I've got three choices:  Olympus, Panasonic, Leica.  Since the Panasonic DMC-L1 doesn't quite appeal to me and I don't have US$5000 for a nice Leica M8, that would mean I'll be getting an Olympus.

Now, why did I choose Four Thirds?  Lenses. Lenses. Lenses.  Turns out that the flange-back of a four-thirds camera is smaller than the rest of the cameras out there.  So given the right adapter (which can be found on Camera Quest) I could still use my old Nikon lenses on an Olympus.

Coolness!

Now the question is... E-500 or E400? :o

I'm quite excited about finally getting hold of an SLR again.  It has been a long time since I was last able to shoot anything, well, for the sake of shooting.   I'd like to go back to the Zone V Camera Club soon.  In fact, I've already talked to Jay Camus about returning by January 2007.

In the meantime, I plan to make full use of my Sony Ericsson W800i and my mom's Kodak C330 digital camera.  Just because you're not using an SLR, doesn't mean you can't shoot anything "professional" or "artisitic".  Jay Javier proved that point a few years back by taking amazing black and white photos in Binondo, all done with an Olympus mju:II film camera (a point-and-shoot with a beautifully bright f/2.8 lens!).

That said, here are a list of themes I found on the web.  I've only found ten themes that caught my eye, but I'm still missing two more themes to complete my 2007 "shooting schedule".

1. The Alphabet - Looking for objects in the shape of each letter in the alphabet eg... a roof truss in the shape of an "A", a lone skyscraper in the shape of an I.
2. Colors - Shoot objects of a particular color (i.e., Just red or just blue, etc.)
3. A day in the life of ... - I came upon a blog, Ophelia Goes Places, where the topic is about the "everyday life of a hamster's skull".  It's too bad that the owner of the blog didn't continue, but it did pose as an interesting theme to do.
4. Falling - Spending time with intentional vertical motion blur
5. Rain - Taking pictures in the rain always appeals to me, but the results are never how I imagine them to be, so I'm concentrating on getting some interesting "wet shots"
6. Compare and Contrast - Show the beauty of Metro architecture and people, along side the more stereotypical slum imagery. I'm looking for similar shaped structures or poses, from contrasting photographs.
7. Minimalism - Shooting minimalist compositions.
8. 50mm masterpieces - Have you ever spent a day using 50mm all day? It's surprisingly good fun. I've done this before, but I need to do it again.  Actually, it doesn't have to be 50mm.  I could just set the camera to use a particular focal length and stick with it the whole day.
9. Vertical Panoramas - I'm looking for 180 degree vertical panoramic images, ie, subjects of interest on both sides of me. Also, I'm looking at some interesting crops. I selected vertical slim shooting as it's something I've never experimented really with.
10. Song Lyrics - Try to find some interesting lyrics in a song you like and then find a shot that gives life to those lyrics.  I'd like to take this one level up by using the "picture paints a thousand words" adage and let an image speak for a song title.  I'm thinking Matchbox Twenty songs at this point.

If you have any suggestions for theme projects, do let me know. :D  Ooh!  If you're interested and you have the time, you can hook up with me for a 1-day road trip shoot! :D

So you shutterbugs better be there! :D

No, I'm not calling on the soul of our dear departed Crocodile Hunter.  I got this meme from my dear I-AM-NOT-A-GEEK geek friend, mistervader.

1. Your Full Name:
   You already know my full name. ;)
2. Age:
   31
3. Single or Taken:
   It's complicated. But officially, I'm single.
4. Favorite Movie:
   So far it's a clash between "Snakes On A Plane" and "The Emperor's New Groove".
5. Favorite Song:
   Heather Small's "Proud"
6. Favorite Band/Rapper/Artist:
   Matchbox Twenty, Evanescence
7. Dirty or Clean:
   You now there's such a thing as a very clean "dirty". :D
   
8. Tattoos and/or Piercings:
   Piecings: ears.  Curious about henna tatoos though.

HERE COMES THE FUN ... ... ...

1. Do we know each other outside of LiveJournal?
   Oh yes indeedy do!
2. What's your philosophy on life?
   Live like a bear... make the most of the situation.
3. Would you have my back in a fight?
   I'll just be waiting for you at the ringside to tag me.
4. Would you keep a secret from me if you thought it was in my best interest?
   DEFINITELY.
5. What is your favorite memory of us?
   Remember that time when we woke up naked in bed? 
   
6. Would you give me a kidney?
   If I still have one to spare and our physiology turns out to be compatible and I don't carry any diseases that can kill you, sure.
7. Tell me one odd/interesting fact about you:
   Should I start with the butterknife and the frog...?
8. Would you take care of me if I were sick?
   Would you say you were?
9. Can we get together and make a cake?
   What kind of cake would you like to bake? :D
10. Have you heard any rumors of me lately?
    Except for the one where you pole-danced naked in this bar...
11. Do you/have you talk(ed) crap about me?
    No! I would never do that when you aren't present to hear it! >:D
12. Do you think I'm a good person?
    Good person.  Too emotionally high-strung.  But a good person.
13. Would you drive across country with me?
    First, can you drive? Second, whose car? Third, who takes care of the food?
14. Do you think I'm attractive?
    ... Gosh you're right. This IS fun! :D
15. If you could change anything about me, what would you change?
    You wearing heart on sleeve. It's suppose to be behind your breastbone, dear. :)
16. What do you wear to sleep?
    You mean you wear something to sleep?
17. Would you come over for no reason just to hang out?
    I don't even know where you live!  Otherwise I'd be there just when I know you're sleeping like a baby and throw some frogs on your bed.  Or snakes. :D
18. Would you go on a date with me if I asked you?
    Sure!  But I choose where the date should be and you pay for the food. >:)
19. If I only had one day to live, what would we do together?
    Whatever you want to do. Seriously.  :)
    
20. Will you post this so I can fill it out for you? Come on!
    Posted! Your turn!

As for everyone else reading this, I'd love for you to answer the twenty questions as well. You can answer it here under the comments, or just simply post it on your blog and point me to it. :D

I woke up at 4am with a realization that it's been more than six months since that fateful event that changed my whole outlook on relationships. A myriad of things went through my mind. I started writing an email to her. I don't know why. But I needed to get some things off my chest.

I wanted to tell her how I feel after all this time.

I wanted to tell her what transpired in the last two conversations I had that ended the close to five-week emotional rollercoaster.

I wanted to tell her ...

... That the pain never went away.

... That I still cry myself to sleep.

... That I still can't bring down the walls I've built.

... That I'm too frightened to let him know me better.

... That I'm afraid of getting hurt again.

I wrote a lot of things in that rather long email. An email that ended up as a draft.

It's not going to change my situation after all.

I've been wracking my brain on how this dance is done so I can wear my malong. Thank goodness for YouTube. :D

[also on The Geekette Speaketh]

You Are a Pundit Blogger!

Your blog is smart, insightful, and always a quality read.Truly appreciated by many, surpassed by only a few

We went out to buy a styrofoam box at the wet market then headed for Citra Mina to buy some tuna to bring home. We then went to the Tuna Grill and Restaurant on Quirino Street for some lunch.


After which we went to KCC Mall for some last minute shopping. Went back to the hotel for a short nap. Then back to the market to buy a small durian, dropped it off at our hotel then back to KCC for some dinner. When we got back to the hotel we were surprised to find so many police at the wet market. Seemed like there was a gang war and someone threw a bomb there. Don't know what else happened aside from that. When we got into our hotel room, I immediately called my dad to let him know we were ok. Texted some of my friends as well to let them know our state.



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We woke up quite late today. So we just went to KCC Mall again to look around and see there was anything we didn't notice during our past few days stay here. After lunch we went back to the hotel since my medicine was once again making me sleepy. After a short nap we went to the wet market to buy two more malongs, one for Clair and the other for Sacha. I was also able to buy something for Art as well. Still couldn't find anything for Choppy though.

In the morning we went to the wet market next to our hotel to continue our search for some pasalubong and souvenirs. As you can see, I ended up buying several malongs for myself. Afternoon was just spent resting at the hotel before we went out in the evening to watch the fireworks that would signal the end of the city's Tuna Festival.

We spent the whole Monday at KCC Mall. Morning was spent looking around the shops looking for some pasalubong to bring home. I found some malongs but didn't buy them since I figured I could get a better deal somewhere else.


In the afternoon we watched the 1st Tuna Festival Culinary Skills Mini-olympics. Those competing were all students from different high schools. We weren't able to watch the first two competitions (Sashimi preparation and table napkin folding). But we were able to see them compete in table skirting, flower arrangement, and bartending. I'll upload some videos I took when I get home.



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Malongs!I bought seven malongs today. I loved the designs so much I decided to get them all. :D I plan to wear these on special occasions and maybe on some JGL activities. Well, as long as I can bring the car. :D