Self 2012

I honestly am not used to taking self-portraits. If you have been following my blogs, you will rarely see photos of me. Rarely. But recently, I have been really thinking of giving my photography a slight make-over. I feel that I want my photos to be more of art than just pictures. Though I will always love travel and photographing places and landscape would always have a special place in my heart, I'm now experimenting on more creative portraits and some really inspiring series.

So, I am starting my creative portraits with some of my own. They are nothing great and these have gone through post-processing (overlaying photos and turning them into black and white). Please excuse if you find some poses awkward, I am not a model.

I actually took a gazillion shots and am only posting these as I find them the most presentable.

I am also working on a project, a series inspired by the Weight of Objects. I am naming it "Sentimental Value" and now currently thinking of the first few participants. It is really a lot like the Weight of Objects in concept and I am hoping that it's alright that I make a series of my own just like theirs. I am thinking of ways to make the project more "me" though so it doesn't end up exactly the same as theirs.

Anyway, here are the self photos I took today. Good thing I got a remote trigger a year ago, or the focusing would just have been impossible.

 

  

I miss this.

Hello, D90

Last week, aside from throwing a surprise bridal party for a friend, I also had my first camera, a Nikon D60 fixed at Nikon Service Center in Cebu. It's located at BTC - Banilad Town Center. I heard there are only two Nikon Service Centers in the countr, one in Megamall in Manila and the second one in Cebu.

As expected, my camera's gear motor has to be replaced. It requires about 3-5 weeks before i could get it back. Though it only takes a week to repair, the parts to replace the old one have to be ordered abroad and will arrive in 3-4 weeks.

One thing worth noting is if your camera was purchased under Columbia Tristar. According to the tech guy, if you purchased your camera from them, you get a huge discount for repairs and other services (maybe around 40%-50%). I got mine from Henry's at Hidalgo about two and a half years ago. Not sure if they are under Columbia dealers, so i have a feeling i'm not getting the discount.

By the way, I found out that my camera reached a little over 44,000 shutter fires before it stopped working. That's for usage since September 2009.

I also have long decided to upgrade my gear since I'm starting to accept wedding photography this year. I'm starting with just small intimate weddings, nothing grand. I need more people and equipment to do that and that's too much pressure for me right now. Getting a new camera would allow me to have a backup camera in shooting events.

So here it is, a Nikon D90. I have researched beforehand about what this camera can do and I also know it's no longer a new model. They have actually phased-out this one but there are some still sold so I got it as I feel that it's functions and features would be practical to me. It was a choice between the D90 and the new D5100. I was hesitant about the latter because it doesn't have an AF motor in the body, so I still can't use AF lenses.

Along with the D90, i picked up an AF 50mm, very cheap lens but very happy it autofocuses on the D90.

I am also starting to explore doing videos (glad D90 also has HD video). Now working on a surprise video presentation for Roselle and Nabi's wedding on the last day of March. I hope they like it.

I hope this is the start of a wonderful and lasting photographic journey for you and me. I hope you make more beautiful memories, better-composed images and last longer than my D60 (which i already miss).

The Life of Sea Gypsies

These pictures were taken last 2009. I was on a boat from Dumaguete bound for Cebu. As the boat was docking upon arrival, a lot of these "badjaos" flocked on the sides of the vessel begging for passengers to throw coins to the water so they could dive after them. If they swim fast and catch it, they get to keep it.

after the blue hour

Blue hour, it's that time of the day just after sunset when your photos usually turn blue-ish. I don't like taking pictures during blue hour but i once had an e-session that took a while to wrap up. I realize though that it does give some good silhouettes.

the outdoors

to the moon and back

Here's a photo of the beach, well, mostly sand which i converted to black and white in Photoshop. It does look like the surface of the moon at first glance.

Ngong Ping, HK

+ recently been cleaning up my hard drive and i chanced upon these photos from my HK 2010 trip.

+ this is the same place where you could see the big buddha on top of a mountain

+ this place is so scenic and serene, it's the best place to just be one with nature and appreciate God's creation.
+ the thick fog makes it all so look amazing