This is the nuclear version of the shoot I did for a former schoomate of mine, Jella, and her family with the in-laws back in December. Today was just the three of them plus the little guy inside her, and instead of going to a park, we chose to stay at home instead. Bella is such a cutie and I am always amazed at her vocabulary each time I see her. Far from shy, she can make you smile with her antics and the way she insists on wearing her new rubber shoes everywhere.
They are expecting another addition to the family and I can't help but be excited for them. Who wouldn't? I bet that the little guy would be the male version of Bella, all smiles with a mop of curly hair and a cute grin. Enjoyed this family shoot and it was definitely a tad too short to capture just how adorable this family is.
couples, couples, couples, couples, couples, couples
“As if you were on fire from within.
The moon lives in the lining of your skin.”
― Pablo Neruda
couples, couples, couples, couples, couples
A month ago, I tagged along with Glenn, another photographer friend of mine (see his works here) for couple shoot set in one of the resorts here. It was my first time meeting Jay-R and Adai and immediately I felt at ease. Both were down to earth, with ready smiles, and they were just so comfortable and sweet with each other that you can't help but believe that what you're seeing is pure and true love. To last that many years, go through all sorts of things together, both good and bad, and still look and smile at each other that way, it takes an amazing kind of love. And these two have found that.
Jay-R and Adai were extremely game and fun and obviously still in love after so many years of being together. Fun fact: they already have a house together, which really impressed me. I've always liked the idea of having everything prepared for life as a married couple before you get married and it looks like they think the same way.
The shoot was fun, there were a couple of concepts planned that took us all over the resort but both didn't seem to tire and were ready to try all sorts of poses and outfits. It was a good thing that the weather was good and the location was equally as gorgeous. With a fun couple and a great location, you get the perfect mix for a good couple shoot.
When I think about what catches my eye and what I want to take photos of, I am reminded of all the inspirations that I look at and drool at and fall asleep to... great images taken by extremely talented yet humble people who have made it their live's work to intimately know the camera and treat it like an extension of who they are, like an extra limb or an extra pair of eyes. I am surrounded by extremely talented people and what makes me jump for joy is when I get to interact with them even in the smallest ways. I can fangirl like the best of them when I really want to, which is probably why I get goosebumps when these people who I look up to merely acknowledge that I exist!!!
Take, for example, something I got from a good friend and talented photog Jeff from Green and Purple (see his incredible works
here!) when he visited Dumaguete and we finally got to meet for the first time. I know Jeff through Kat, and they both know that I adore a photographer friend of his who is based in SG with her family. I love, love love
Josephine Sicad-Minerva's photography, the happy, fresh shots, smiling kids and couples in love, taken against the backdrop of the colorful and picturesque urban jungle that is SG. There's just something light and pretty and cheerful about the way she takes photos, something that jumps off the page and infects you and leaves you smiling. It was a total surprise when Jeff presented me with a small note from her, all the way from SG, his eyes beaming before he grabbed his camera and took a picture of me holding the note in my hands like a giddy schoolgirl, LOL!
Thanks Jeff and Kat for thinking of this for me (You two are the best!) and for Ms. Minerva for obliging a fan :D I was over the moon when I got the note (STILL AM!!!) and will cherish it forever. :)
Sharmil is this cute little bundle of energy and ready smiles who just turned one two weeks ago. I had the honor of documenting her first birthday party, which her parents doubled as a kiddie party for the streetchildren in their area. To say that this baby is loved, loved, loved is an understatement. Three frames!
family, family, family, family, family, family, family, family, family, family, family, family, family
“Sometimes you break your heart in the right way, if you know what I mean.”
― Gregory David Roberts
Shantaram
 |
| taken using an Olympus E-510 with film Zuiko 50mm |
The unfortunate tragedy of my Canon camera dying on me forced me to pick up my old Olympus camera again. It was already sitting in the box, packed with its wires and cables and charger, and had even showed it to someone who showed interest in buying it (Yes, I can't believe I even considered that). With no choice but to use that camera for the times during the day when I needed to unwind, I fell in love with it all over again.
Oly is a spectacular underperformer. When I used my 50d to take photos, I would marvel at how it rendered light and color so well, and I would squirm, thinking of how badly my Oly would have handled it. But time and time again, I fall in love.
This was my first camera, given to me by a loving aunt, and it took me just now to realize that I could never, ever part with it. I use this almost exclusively with my vintage film 50 mm Zuiko which means that this lens has to be turned manually to focus, making it practically useless for action shots. The crop on this thing is also terrible, it now takes photos like some mutated telephoto lens, and in cramped, small spaces, you will be lucky to take a decent frame of a person's face when he is standing in front of you, with a little bit of neck if you're lucky.
It is fussy, but the aperture blades close and open fine. I love how small it feels in my hand, but also how sturdy the metal parts feel. I love how the camera is missing a few port covers and is dusty in nooks and crannies, but it's an old camera, and somehow aged is just the right look for it. The worst thing about this camera is its low light performance and how badly it blows highlights during sunny days. But working with this camera is teaching me a lot about patience, about learning how to work with difficult things and try to get something beautiful (at least to me), out of them.
So no, this camera is no longer up for sale. I think JP will be glad that I've reached this decision, since he has told me not to sell the camera and just keep it as part of a collection. I doubt if this camera will ever be left to gather dust, however. I may forget to pick it up for weeks and even months, but it constantly draws me in from time to time, and I easily fall in love all over again.
“Make a pact with yourself today to not be defined by your past.
Sometimes the greatest thing to come out of all your hard work isn't what you get for it,
but what you become for it.
Shake things up today!
Be You...
Be Free...
Share.”
― Steve Maraboli
Life, the Truth, and Being Free
I have been thinking about how amazing the Internet is, because it fosters creativity and sharing, friendships bridged by fiber optic cables and cultivated through instant messages, hour-long conversations over chatboxes, and encouragement in the form of blog comments and social network "Likes". No matter what they say about how impersonal communication is becoming in the day and age of the Internet, there is also a lot to be said about how the Internet is fostering a new kind of friendship and meaningful communication between people who have not even met in person.
I consider a lot of bloggers and writers online as personal mentors, whether I communicate with them personally or not, and without the Internet, I would not have these influences (will definitely be doing a post on my top inspirations and am pretty excited about it!) Nor would these things be possible had these people been too selfish to answer questions or write about things that inspire them, which also inspires me. The world is bursting at the seams with creativity, it's just a matter of knowing what draws you in, what makes your heart skip a beat, and immersing yourself totally in it.
Creativity is free online and there are so many sources of inspiration out there, but without people willing to share the results of their creativity and without those who readily give encouragement to others who need it, none of these will be available for inspiration-starved people like myself. So a big Thank you to the people who invented the Internet, the people who share in it, and the people who spread positivity and inspiration with each of their posts.
Happy Labor Day!
