The Pinoy Explorer | Batanes' oldest Ivatan house

When I took these photos last September 17, 2007, it was 3 days after the anniversary of the earthquake and the house was exactly 120 years old. Auntie Ida (Ivatans or locals commonly call elders, auntie) or Florestida Estrella, then 81, owns the house. I do not know if she is still alive. If it were so, she would be 85 by now, and the house is now 124 years old


Read more about this at: Eureka! | Batanes' oldest Ivatan house ~ THE PINOY EXPLORER

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The Pinoy Explorer | Calapan Bay by day and night

Initially, I thought it was just an ordinary daily scene. But then peeping through the grills of the fence that separates the sea and the hotel, I noticed some people gleaning (it was a lowtide). Again, another dramatic scene I always wanted to capture through my lenses. So, I dashed back to my room and grabbed my camera backpack and in minutes, I was shooting the beautiful scenery. Thus for three mornings, what could be better than enjoying morning sun, sniffing the salty sea air, savoring your coffee while admiring this God-given scenery? Lovely, isnt't it?

Read more at: Calapan Bay by day and night ~ THE PINOY EXPLORER

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The Pinoy Explorer | Shooting cascades in Papa-a

It was a refreshing weekend getaway--literally and figuratively. Join me as I journey in one of unknown travel destinations in Mindoro.

Read more at: Shooting cascades in Papa-a ~ THE PINOY EXPLORER

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The Pinoy Explorer: Revisiting Barangay Calima

Barangay calima is just an ordinary village. However there are some things that make it endearing--its people, nature and all that come with it.

Read more at: Revisiting Barangay Calima ~ THE PINOY EXPLORER

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The Pinoy Explorer: A short immersion at Pula's Iraya village

Recently, I extended an official trip in Mindoro to include a one rest day for me. This is the first of a series I blogged about Mindoro. Check out my first experience about communing with Mangyan Iraya tribe at:

A short immersion at Pula's Iraya village ~ THE PINOY EXPLORER

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EXPLORED!: Awesome sunset in Butuan City

It is not very often you get to witness a stunning sunset that gives you goosebumps. For a photography junkie like me, you should never, never, never let it pass just like that. If you are lucky enough to bring with you a camera, that would be heaven, but you will forever be haunted by your conscience if you did not--you know the feeling that makes you uneasy and makes you curse yourself why on earth you did not bring any camera at all!

Read more at:
EXPLORED!: Awesome sunset in Butuan City

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Photography and the art of seeing

In February this year, the members of Lightpainters Photography Club (LPC) had the chance to meet with Virgie Teresita a.k.a. Imago2007 in Flickr.  She is a US-based interior designer who dabbles in photography.  Virgie, has earned the respect of her fellow Flickristas for her photographic work, that is why we invited her to give a short talk for the members.  And I thank her for allowing me to blog about it (though a bit late).  I hope that this post will help any newbie in photography, as well as those who think they are already good at it.


For her, what is photography and how does she make really good photos?

She gave a very simple, yet rousing and thought-provoking discussion.  While I have photography books and reading materials, I tend to go back to my notes from her lecture and follow what she does. 

So I now share to you what I have learned from her. 

• Have the eyes and a heart of a child in you.  Approach any subject with a pair of eyes, without any preconceived notions about the subject.  It is like "magic" that happens without you knowing it. Having a fresh outlook will also help you to compose based on the inherent qualities of the subject and bringing out the best in it.
• Search for the subtle beauty of light, form shadow and pattern.  By doing this, you give the viewer a deeper experience of a simple, yet, interesting subject.  Ihis includes training your eye to see the beautiful subtleties in nature, even on things like a blade of grass or the tip of a leaf.
• Simplify.  Learn how to make your subject stand out and free from other elements.  Simplify your vision and include only what is essential.  She advises using special lenses like 50mm or telephoto lenses to isolate the subject.
•  Control your camera.  The camera cannot control what we want to capture.  One can control the camera by capturing the image you have in mind or anything that has meaning to you.  Thus it is basic that the photographer study the settings and buttons of his/her camera.  Control can be best achieved by your distance to the subject, your perspective and point of view.
• [In landscapes] makes sure you include a hint of a human posture.  This will make an ordinary sunset come alive.
• Find your voice in the photos you produce.  Photos are supposed to express a part of you. Thus, you need to find meaning in what you capture and be able to express what you think and feel.
• Capture what is not done before. There is no harm in copying, but it is always rewarding to be unique in your art.

And to see for yourself, and be inspired of what she is talking about, here are some sample photos by Virgie:




And to see the rest of her photographic work, FOLLOW THIS LINK.

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Winning a photo contest

Winning a photo contest for the first time (well, officially and with a prize for that matter) gives a different high! 

Recently, I won a photo contest by the Foundation for Sustainable Society, Inc. (FSSI) and Concepts Commune, which is in advocacy for the entrepreneurship for the poor. Winning photos are included in the photo exhibit dubbed as "Kabuhayan: Travelling Exhibit on the Entrepreneurship for the Poor".

I was lucky to have three (3) of the six photos I submitted be chosen among the 15 photos which were selected for exhibition.  The rest of the photos were assigned to some photographers.

The exhibit was launched last May 16, 2011 at the Northwing lobby of the House of Representatives.  House Speaker Sonny Belmonte, and Deputy Speaker Erin Tanada, and some Representatives graced the occasion.

Winning a photo contest is something, and exhibiting it too makes it even better!  And, finally, I realized my goal to blend photography with my anti-poverty work and advocacy.  I just hope I would have more opportunities to make use of my photography for my personal advocacy in the future.

And this is my acceptance speech: "I share this win with the Raffia weavers of Brgy. Ilaya in Inabanga, Bohol; the woodcarvers of ELJ Enterprises in Cainta, Rizal and the unknown vendor on wheels."(Smile!)



Here are the rest of the photos that made it to the cut:

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Inkblots' 100 most popular photos

For more than 3 years, I have put my heart into photography. I just wanna share with you my Flickr set of photos which are most popular based on views, comments and faves.

Feel free to share...

Advanced Happy Easter to all!

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Missing cordi

Missing cordi
Originally uploaded by Inkblots™

One of the joys of my work as a social development worker is the opportunity to go to different places, like Benguet in the Cordilleras.

From afar, I could already see the clouds rolling over the mountaintops. It was a sight to behold. So I asked the driver of our vehicle going to Buguias, Benguet to stop so I can capture this once-in-lifetime scene.

The driver obliged and took five minutes to compose (since we were in a hurry).

I set my camera in RAW so that I could manipulate later on if ever the exposure is not good. It came out the exposure was okay but I had to add a digital graduated filter for the sky to bring out the clouds on the mountaintops.

It was worth the 5 minute stopover.

I will go back again in Benguet next week and I hope to take some photos again.

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At home [and at peace] with HDR Photography

When I saw Tony Remington's Photo set on high dynamic range (HDR), my attitude and perception towards HDR has completely changed.  Earlier in my photography, most of the HDRs I saw looks surreal and unreal.  As a beginner, I thought, this is not the kind of photography I would delve into.  It would go for more realistic photos--especially those astounding images of light and shadows. HDR was not just my cup of tea, so to say.

Lately, I saw a link on the stages of photography. Looking at this graphical representation, I thought my photography really sucks!  I am not even on a maturing stage and I am regressing.  I must admit, I ate my own words about HDR (uhmmm...not particularly those who are doing HDR).








But then, sometimes, I get frustrated with getting the appropriate exposure for both the foreground and the background in my landscape photography.  This is true when you see an amazing view and can only live with the available spot or location.  It was either the sky is appropriately exposed and the foreground is underexposed or the foreground is just right but the sky is overexposed.  I thought, in times like this, or when the sun is not at your back,  the only solution is HDR.  This also applies to the so-called "tunnel shots" like this. you cannot make a good exposure of the "tunnel" (which in this case is an arc bridgeway in Intramuros, Manila.


I tried this during my trip to Chocolate Hills in Bohol.  There is no way I could face a sunrise and get a good exposure of the Chocolate Hills, and it was the only time I would get to photograph it, since I have a workshop after breakfast.  Since I had no tripod during that time, I took a single RAW shot, and made three exposures in Olympus Master (the bundle post processing software of my Olympus E-510) -- these exposures are -1, 0, and +1.  Then I had my Photomatix 3.2 do the trick, and edited the colors and white balance in Lightroom 2.0.

So am I into HDR as a signature photography post processing?  The answer is both YES and NO.

YES, because I would love to use HDR only on my landscape and architectural shots.  I would still like to create HDR photos like that of Tony. 

NO, because I tried using it for street photography and still photography.  Sure, the photos look nice, but then HDR is not appropriate for them. If ever I would go into portraits using HDR, I should be as good as Chito Francisco, where most of his HDR post processing for portraits produce outstanding results.

In other words, HDR has its own purposes, and has some limitations, too.  HDR is good for landscape, and architectural shots, where you want to bring out the details and exphasize the architectural design elements like Tony's photos.  Also, if you want to create a surreal photo like the movie "The Lovely Bones", then you are on the go.  I would say, forget it when you are dealing with still photography.  Yes, you may use it to emphasize the "oldness" of the subject like dilapidated trucks and so on.  But sometimes, leaving them as they are makes it more realistic.  

In other words, HDR is not bad per se. HDR is nice to learn.  In fact it is a must for non-pro like me to learn HDR to learn more about shadow and light and exposure, which is the crux of photography.  But making it as your signature photography genre would be limiting you to explore the vast possibilities in photography.

HDR relies heavily on skill on post processing technique.  If you do not have basic photography principles on white balance, lighting and exposure control, and colors, then HDR is not for you either. HDR photography also relies heavily on technology.  Too much reliance on software like Photomatix, Lightroom and Photoshop,  also stunts your photographic learning curve.  Not everything can be solved by HDR.  Not every photo must be "HDR'd".  HDR has a purpose, and you need to discover that yourself.  On this last note, I would say that HDR offers many possibilities too and I might try HDR for portraits, like that of Chito Francisco.

Click here to see my HDR photos.

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By popular demand

Image via Wikipedia
I have been a Flickr user since March 2007 or 3 years and 7 months to be exact. My PRO account expires on November 5, 2010.

So far I have been satisfied with Flickr services, especially when it comes to protecting my photos from being stolen through its privacy and copyright options, and several features that allow me to see how my individual photos fared in the internet, and how they appealed to the viewers. I might renew it again when the time comes.

Compared to other flickr users, this statistics is nothing, but just the same, I just want to share with you several photos based on popularity. : (You may click the image to view the larger size).

Most Interesting:


Most Viewed: 3852 views


Most Favorited: 42 people favorited


Most commented: 101 comments.





Thanks to all those who patronize my photos!

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PAL Photo Contest: Another copyright infringement?

I have gotten tired of commenting on photo contests, which are, allegedly, violating the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.

But then, here is another one brandishing its audacity in the midst of Filipino photographers who are fighting for intellectual property rights.  This is happening despite the fact that they hired a professional photographer, affiliated with the Camera Club of the Philippines.  Later on, they stripped off the "Camera Club of the Philippines" and replaced the tag "advertising and travel photographer" to the commissioned photographer, Bien Bautista, who seemed to have forgotten about the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.  The CCP must have been seething in anger that they have been dragged into this brouhaha.

While the contest rules protect PAL from infringement of intellectual property rights as mentioned in Rule No. 10, it does not take into consideration the intellectual property rights of the photographer in Rule No. 16 which mentions that: (click photo on the left for bigger view).

"By entering the contest and submitting his/her entry/ies, each participant agrees and acknowledges that PAL is permitted to receive the photograph or image entry/ies, and that he/she transfers and turns over to Philippine Airlines the full ownership of the copyright to the photos or images."

Unless, this is a commissioned work, full copyright can be transferred to PAL where the photographer would just have to sign a waiver.  But this is not a commissioned work.  Period.

I am sure, I am not a lone amateur photographer who is against or disappointed with this contest.

The prizes are equally disappointing, despite the fact that they are giving away round-trip tickets to LA, Brisbane, and Hong Kong!  If somebody wins, he or she has to deal with securing a US Visa and Australian Visa, not mentioning the transportation and travel allowance just so one can "enjoy" the prizes.

Good luck to those who can afford to lose their copyrights and fall prey to the seemingly exciting prizes!

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A people's victory

I have been wanting to create a video of my photo documentaries. Last Friday night, I tried to learn more about Olympus Studio 2 software which came as a bundle with my camera, which I haven't used for so long. I was more bent on using Adobe Photoshop CS3 for photo editing.

I came to realize I could actually do time lapse tethered shooting with Olympus Studio 2 and make it into a movie. I tried it for 50 photos inside the house under poor lighting conditions, and I was so excited with the result even with poor quality photos, that I might do a time lapse photography one of these days, if time permits. So, I tried to make the time lapse photos into a movie with Windows Movie Maker but I could not figure out how to set the intervals into 1/16 second or less. So I tried it with Picasa 3, which is a freeware in Google, and it has a function for time lapse.

Back to this video, I wanted to share the inauguration photos without me worrying of my photos landing in the hands of crooks,and of course to share the photos in a way it can be more appreciated. So here it is, trying hard in weaving a story out of the photos, editing and musical scoring.

Needless to say, I am a frustrated film director.

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2010 Earth Hour Pilipinas and Photo/Video Contest

LAST YEAR, my kids and their cousins participated in observing Earth Hour. This year, my family will be participating again!

This year Earth Hour Philippines aims for the participation of over 15 Million Filipinos in over 1000 towns and cities nationwide. Globally, 807 cities, towns and cities in 82 countries across every continent have already signed up. (Source: Earth Hour Pilipinas. )

This year, the Philippines must take Earth Hour seriously, now that we are ravaged by El Niño phenomenon.

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The tale of two photos

Two of my photos are currently on exhibit at Neutral Grounds' "First Anniversary Photo Exhibit" at Philamlife East Side Lobby, Philamlife Building, UN Avenue, Ermita Manila. Exhibit originally runs from July 24-July 31, 2009, but it has been extended until August 7.

These photos happen to have been selected in Neutral Ground as photo of the day. I was never expecting the site administrators to choose it. The site rule allows us only to post one (1) photo a day, so we might as well choose what we think are our best photos.

Choosing from a thousand photo in my stream is a difficult task. Aside from the technicality of the photo, I have always adhered to at least two more criteria which I must follow: (1) that the photo should be able to evoke thoughts and emotions from the viewers, and (2) it must tell a story

Idlip


I took this photo in one of my photo walks with my Flickr group, Flickristasindios sometime in September 2008. This was taken in Plaza Lorenzo infront of Binondo Church in Manila. As always, the plaza is teeming with people willing to be subjects--who would even strike a pose or let go of that smile. Whenever possible, I want my photos to be candid--one that is taken by patiently waiting and capturing them at the right moment. Seeing this sleeping child beside their wares for sale caught my attention. Suddenly, thoughts came rushing to my mind--How many street children do we have now? How many children have to work with their parents to survive? How many are homeless? How many of them do not enjoy the liberty of enjoying their childhood?

Being a father, this image is special and has a personal message to me--What if I am the father of this boy?

Pag-asa


My wife and I thought of bringing the kids out after the new year celebrations. Year 2008 has been quite a sail, and with my late Mom who was at the time still in her sick bed, but we have to give them some enjoyment so we brought them to the Manila Ocean Park. My boys enjoyed the day out, especially Gelo, who is my accidental model in this photo. We have already finished the rounds of seeing the marine life in the giant aquariums, and we decided to slow down a bit and rest our aching feet. My son, Gelo, found a seat in the ongoing exhibit abut Jose Rizal. While looking at him 5-6 meters away, I noticed that the backdrop was the image of Jose Rizal. I immediately grabbed my camera and aimed at him. He smiled back, ready to strike a cutesy pose, but I told him to sit still, and just look at my camera--and I loved the result--fitting for the famous Jose Rizal line: Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan. (The youth is the hope of the motherland.)

Although these photos did not manage to win the Photo of the Week that would eventually qualify them for the Photo of the Month and the Photo of the Year, I am still glad that there is a little recognition of my work as a photographer.

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Enjoying event photography

I know it would be too late if I blog about the much-talked about AKO MISMO advocacy and concert. So I am giving it a different slant, so that it would not appear like it was a long-overdue blog post, which was overtaken by events.

Anyway, now I cherish the fact that I was one of the official photographers of the event! Thanks to a friend who is directly connected to the conceptualization of AKO MISMO, which by the way is not politically motivated but a call for Filipinos to start CHANGE from themselves. I share this advocacy because since my college days in my psychology courses, we have always been inculcating during the homeroom facilitation classes and in counseling. Something like a Rogerian approach to counseling.

I have done events like the fiestas and festivals here and there, but it was my first time to shoot a concert. Anyway, I simply ran out of words to describe. it, but there is nothing more explicit than the photos I took during this event:

The commitment wall:


The people who believe in the cause:


The artists who graced the occassion:


and of course, my fellow Indios who documented the event:


...and I look forward to shooting more events in the future! {for free or for a fee - smile!}

You can see the rest of the photos HERE.

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Experiencing Hot Air Balloon Fiesta

Seeing them on TV, especially in features in National Geographic (not exactly sure about it) and Discovery Channel makes me feel so young at heart! I know that they are huge and they run on winds and hydrogen, but seeing them right before my eyes is definitely an altogether different experience.

Together with my Flickr friends, we started our travel from Quezon Avenue to Clark at 4:00 Am and arrived before 6 AM. It was my first time to attend the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta last February 15, and was just surprised to so many cars and people lining up!

But we were lucky to have a friend's friend to buy tickets for us so the queuing up was a little shorter. Thank God! or else we would not see the preparation and the start. It was worth the heat, the confusion, and physical fatigue....it was indeed an awesome experience! I might go there again next year and bring my sons with me!

You can see my 2009 Hot Air Balloon Fiesta HERE.


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40 explored photos

Since the day I got my first explore photo, now I have 40! Yippee!

Just wanna share this to you:



1. Connection, 2. Pacman and me! For the win!, 3. A day's reward, 4. Concentration, 5. SEARCHING for meaning, 6. Kamoteh Bokeh, 7. Life is..., 8. Isang sulyap sa pananampalataya [A glance at faith],

9. Flicker Star - an ode to Flickr, 10. The race marshall, 11. Race, 12. Tingala [Look(ing) up], 13. I miss your photo streams, 14. Inkblots' harem (lols!), 15. I will seek for you among the clouds, 16. Oblation,

17. Mount Apo Peak, 18. Solitude, 19. Imagoism Thursday - Essence, 20. Batas [Law], 21. Pinoy Kodakeros give back, 22. Happy Holidays! (signing off...see you all on December 30!), 23. Searching, 24. Study 009,

25. Tindahan [Store], 26. Basco Light House, 27. Study 019-Symmetry, 28. Pong, 29. Brothers, 30. Almost blinded, 31. San ka papunta, bata? [Where to, my child?], 32. Hapô,

33. Si Superboy at tumbang-preso, 34. Buntot Pusa, 35. San Sebastian in Mono, 36. Idlip [nap], 37. Wonder, 38. Repleksyon [reflection], 39. Strawberries, 40. PAIN

Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

Thanks to all of my Flickr friends who share the passion with me, and for believing in me...


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The Indios Experience: A photo exhibit

After its two successful outreach projects, Flickristasindios is now holding its first photo exhibit, dubbed as "The Indios Experience". The exhibit will showcase selected individual works of its members from all over the world.

Fellow blogger Jojo Pensica, a.k.a. jobarracuda in Flickrlandia, says:

The exhibit will be about our group – Flickristasindios….who we are, the passion the binds us together, our weekly activities, our beloved photowalks, our small projects and our Outreach Projects.

While the group exhibit aims to make a dent in photography through this exhibit, it also aims to raise funds for its outreach projects. Thus the photos, as well as the Flickristasindios 2009 Calendar, which showcases the group's photos will be on sale during the exhibit. As I have blogged earlier, Flickristasindios has already conducted two outreach projects for the Pantay Elementary School. In the midst of all the preparations for the exhibit, the group is brewing another outreach project for another group.

For the past years, the group, with a membership of 991 as of November 25, 2008 has been very active in Flickr, which has gained for itself the most active Flickr group in the Philippines that, in turn, caught the attention of Yahoo! Philippines, which is the major sponsor of the event. Also supporting this event is TriNoMa Mall, which is providing the venue for free, and Digiprint in printing of the photos.

So you are all invited to the group's exhibit on December 15-19 at the TriNoMa Mall Cinema Lobby.

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