Automatic Exposures

Quinn

2007-03-23T11:19:00.000+04:00

One of the photos from the recent shoot with JQ.

Back in Action

2007-03-17T13:33:00.000+04:00

OK after months of not playing with Dee (70), I was back in action with her. Here's our group shot (with model/friend JQ) after the session. Oh we tested our new "gadgets". I hope it will improve our studio photography skills.

Alter Ego

2007-01-06T15:22:00.000+04:00

Catching up with my Photography and Photoshop, I promise to update my blog frequently.

Hang Time

2007-01-06T14:50:00.000+04:00

Behemoth Bok Esguerra of Indus Group on his way for a reverse dunk against Ali Salem Steel's Mabasa (no. 11) during their match of the FBC 4th Winter Basketball Tournament at the Al Sha'ab Club Gymnasium Sharjah, UAE.

Sports Editor's note: It's an exaggeration...reverse dunk...are you kiddin' me? But it looks like it eh?

New Beginning

2007-01-04T17:20:00.000+04:00

I got this New Year message from a dear friend of mine.

LIVE WELL

LOVE MUCH

LAUGH MORE

Happy New Year Guys! My reflections to follow...abangan

Golden Hour

2006-12-03T20:19:00.000+04:00

An afternoon in the land of golden sun and sands.

Awakening

2006-11-09T22:43:00.000+04:00

I have been so lazy with my glamour photography lately. I got distracted with sports photography and lomography. I finally got up and started processing the last photos I took with my wife. I promise to shoot some more glam photos again. I got some new models coming so watch out.

Dreamy

2006-10-21T20:00:00.000+04:00

Another session with the Bitter..ehem I mean Better Half. As usual its for Friendster.

Lomo

2006-10-21T19:51:00.000+04:00

After a week of hell in the office in preparation for the Eid holidays, I was able to tinker a bit with my P & S digital camera. I tried to replicate the lomo effect. I place a yellow plastic sheet on the flash and shot this candid photo of Celia. The objective on lomography is not to think but just shoot. The more defocus, vignette, grainy, wrong color the better. Will do some more experiment.

FBC Finals

2006-10-03T19:11:00.000+04:00

Filipino Basketball Centre Summer Tournament Finals 2006

Ninay

2006-10-03T19:05:00.000+04:00

This is for my wife's weekly Friendster photo update. Vanity issues...

Original Sin

2006-09-29T12:09:00.000+04:00

I had this idea a couple days back, was only able to shoot yesterday. I set-up my flash remotely, mounted on a tripod with a Stofen dome, used my reflector's light diffuser as a backround and to soften the light from the flash. I wanted a Sith like serpent persuading Eve to eat the Forbidden Fruit, hence the tunic. Oh before I forget, my wife insisted to give her credit since she was the one who took the photo.

R I N G U

2006-09-25T20:35:00.000+04:00

S A D A K O

Celia Verde

2006-09-25T20:25:00.000+04:00

I was a lazy Saturday afternoon. I asked Celia to wear make-up and I used her room's window as a light source. Thanks 'Nang.

Sayuri

2006-09-21T23:17:00.000+04:00

My Geisha Sayuri. Thanks to Mama San Ma Hal for the hair and make-up.

My Girl

2006-09-17T19:03:00.000+04:00

My Teri baby!

Ballhead Part 2

2006-09-17T18:50:00.000+04:00

Sadly we'll never see her actual game face.

Booster

2006-09-17T18:48:00.000+04:00

Booster's reaction when I asked him to assist me to shoot Mariel. He did a rather good job with the reflector.

Mariel Deux

2006-09-17T18:45:00.000+04:00

Another photo of Mariel from our shoot.

Prison Break Season 1.5

2006-09-17T18:42:00.000+04:00

Inmate Martin aka Double Dead before busting out of The Rock.

Stairway to "Hell"

2006-09-10T20:22:00.000+04:00

The way to Big Brother's realm.

Mariel

2006-09-08T13:29:00.000+04:00

One fine Firday morning shoot. Thanks for the great session, Mariel. Sa uulitin! I would like to thank 'Booster' for assisting during the shoot.

Reluctance

2006-09-04T19:31:00.000+04:00

The unwilling (kuno)

Mark

2006-09-04T19:02:00.001+04:00

Happy Christening Mark!

PlayOffs

2006-08-28T20:49:00.000+04:00

"Ball Head"
"Loose Ball"
"Butata!"

Blue

2006-08-24T18:06:00.000+04:00

Sporting a new look, welcome back Blue!

Daylight

2006-08-21T10:44:00.000+04:00

There are times that we are trapped in a dark room with no chance of getting out. And then a ray of light will peek through a small hole that will bring us new hope.

Hero of Darkness

2006-08-21T10:40:00.000+04:00

The young Bruce Wayne

Geisha II

2006-08-21T10:36:00.000+04:00

Close Up Confidence

Madonna and Child

2006-08-17T13:49:00.000+04:00

Sa aking pagtulog na labis ang himbing

Ang bantay ko’y tala, ang tanod ko’y bituin

Sa piling ni nanay, langit ay buhay

Puso kong may dusa sabik sa ugoy ng duyan

Bruce

2006-08-17T13:44:00.000+04:00

My son still has his old Batman costume. It's a bit small on him now but he loves it so much he wore it during the shoot. My son in superhero costume reminds me of those cheesy Mexican Wrestlers. Which reminds me I need to watch Nacho Libre.

My Geisha

2006-08-13T18:37:00.000+04:00

Almost

2006-08-13T18:31:00.000+04:00

It looks like it will be a clean block but the offensive player manage to hang on air a bit more to make the shot.

J.R.

2006-08-07T22:50:00.000+04:00

Ay Papa!

Reach

2006-08-03T18:05:00.000+04:00

As the old Cons slogan goes: "You can't beat, what you can't catch".

The Vow

2006-08-03T18:03:00.000+04:00

Take my hand..

Intensity

2006-07-29T17:58:00.000+04:00

ugh!

Look Ma! No Legs!

2006-07-29T17:54:00.000+04:00

If I'm not mistaken his shot can be classified as "bato tae".

Couple No. 1

2006-07-28T08:50:00.000+04:00

I can't recall their names, I guess I have to work on that aspect in order for me to get another job. Anyway they are a cute couple. Best wishes couple no.1 may you have many more weddings to come...err mali yata.

Take This Ring....

2006-07-24T22:02:00.000+04:00

What have I to give you?

The promise to take you as my only love from this day forward,

to stand by your side,

to listen when you speak,

to comfort you when you cry,

and to join your laughter with my own.

Take this ring, and be my.....

We Do

2006-07-24T21:48:00.000+04:00

Kasalang Bayan 2006 Sharjah, UAE

Moments of Love

2006-07-21T18:42:00.000+04:00

The rings that bind our love. This is one of the many photos I took during the St. Michael Prish's Kasalang Bayan '06. I had a great time, and officially 'deflowered'. The coverage was my first gig, and I learned a lot from it. It was not a fancy wedding, most of the couples are on a tight budget but all of them were happy.

You Got Game?

2006-07-21T18:16:00.000+04:00

Taken at the Filipino Basketball Centre game, Al Shaab Club Main Gym, Sharjah. I learned so much in sports photography during the last two Fridays I 'covered' the games. Thanks to some tips of my mentor. Sports is quite difficult to cover, there's a lot of anticipation, you should know who the star players are, not to mention the lenses you are going to need. I took these photos using a Nikkor 50mm F1.8, considering the crop factor I got probably close to 85mm. Prime lens in recommended, you can't use flash during the game. A telephoto zoom will be useful also as long as it has a constant aperture of F2.8, otherwise you won't be able to get a 1/500 stutter speed.

SMBoy

2006-07-18T17:44:00.000+04:00

Magpapa-EsEmBe si Buy!

Lazy Days

2006-07-10T22:36:00.000+04:00

I haven't touched my camera more than a month now. I'm not also too lazy to upload new photos or even go out an take some. At the moment I'm gathering some of my best shots in preparation for my website. I promise myself to make (well actually learn first) an online portfolio. So for you guys out there expecting a regular update on my blog, well I'll to post one photo each week until I manage to create my own website. At the moment I'll be going through books and online tutorials. The above photo will somewhat be a preview.

Peñafrancia

2006-07-07T00:27:00.000+04:00

One of the stained glass windows in my high school alma mater OLPS

"Death" Trap

2006-07-07T00:10:00.000+04:00

I'm back in the UAE now from my vacation. While reading the classified ads section of one of the papers in Manila I came across with this ad. You be the judge. I always discourage friends and family member to come here on visit visa because chances of getting a good job is very slim even if you have mad skills. In fairness (paboritong expression ng mga Pinoy sa Pinas ngayon), you have to admire the ad line...Go to Dubai and explore what's in store for you! What the willing 'victims' don't know is that most of the exploration will not take place in Dubai but in Kish Island.

Crazy Frog

2006-05-21T17:14:00.000+04:00

Press his foot and he'll start singing.

"I see trees of green, red roses too I see them bloom for me and you And I think to myself, what a wonderful world........"

Wheel of Fortune

2006-05-18T10:06:00.000+04:00

Our life is like a wheel, sometimes we are on top, sometimes we are at the bottom. Always remember though to stay on the ground. A flying wheel is not always a pretty scene.

8

2006-05-12T20:18:00.000+04:00

My son in his usual "Jologs Ako!" pose. Happy 8th Birthday son!

Blue Dusk

2006-05-12T20:09:00.000+04:00

I haven't been shooting landscapes lately. Here's one, well sort of. taken during dusk at the Sharjah-Ajman corniche. I played a bit with the white balance for this photo.

Ode to Joy

2006-05-06T18:19:00.000+04:00

Who Am I

2006-04-28T21:58:00.000+04:00

If you don't know me would you know if I'm Pinoy or not? The reason I asked is because I have many silly encounters with our kababayans and other nationalities. I have numerous encounter with our kababayan where they talk to me in english only to find out that I'm Pinoy also. A couple of Arabs and Pakistanis thought I was Egyptian, well they have to see my youngest brother, he looks Egyptian alright. Others thought I'm Chinese, Malaysian and Indonesian. I asked my British colleague if for example he doesn't know me, what will be his guess on my nationality, he said it will be a Hongkong kind of Chinese. So what will be your guess?

Tita Leth

2006-04-28T21:49:00.000+04:00

The Air Up There

2006-04-28T08:34:00.000+04:00

Hoop Dreams: A common Filipino ambition. While other asian countries have players all over Europe and Americas in different sports like soccer and baseball, we are unfortunately stuck in our basketball dreams. It high time the government start supporting other sports like soccer and baseball. In these sports Filipino will excel without thinking so much of their height.

Song Birds

2006-04-25T21:51:00.000+04:00

Duet, "Bakit ngayon ka lang?" Porkchop Version

"Ang lammmiiiiigggggg ng boses!"

Party Portraits II

2006-04-25T21:36:00.000+04:00

Omarotti

Baba Gil "Kung natapos ko ang aking pag-aaral"

Mekeni Mervs

Amir

Close-up: Togi

Party Portraits

2006-04-25T21:09:00.000+04:00

Andy Pandy

Moi

Don Robert

Gerry Boy

Daboy

Balbon

Hapon

Birthday Boy

2006-04-25T17:39:00.000+04:00

Happy Birthday Joms!

Joel: "I'm this close in shoving this beer can down his throat if he doesn't shut up!"

Tatang Natur

2006-04-20T12:13:00.000+04:00

Our building caretaker, Mustafa. I love his favorite expression.....mushkillah!

Finally Teri

2006-04-13T21:25:00.000+04:00

One of the most difficult person to shoot is my daughter. She won't stay in one place. She will keep on bouncing around until you finally give up. I was lucky to catch her in a good mood this morning.

Engrossed

2006-04-13T21:13:00.000+04:00

When it comes to Hollywood chikas especially about Brad and Angelina, my wife can't be bothered.

Chico's

2006-04-06T17:16:00.000+04:00

Here's a bit of Brokeback Mountain for a change.

Black Cat

2006-04-06T16:38:00.000+04:00

The wife did the post processing for this photo. I must admit her Photoshop skill is improving.

Shirley & Celia

2006-04-04T19:46:00.000+04:00

Weekend portraits, weekend emotions.

The White Witch

2006-04-01T20:28:00.000+04:00

The White Witch of Sharjah

The Guys Next Door

2006-04-01T20:22:00.000+04:00

My new next door neighbor, the notorious Al Naba'a Boys.

Kuya

2006-03-28T22:19:00.000+04:00

Draganized Chok

Idol

2006-03-27T20:20:00.000+04:00

Jmerts Eddun, winner of last January's Gulf Photo Plus competition. He is one of my inspiration when it comes to digital photography post processing. Reading the feature in the Pinoy Expats magazine, I found out that Manny Librodo served also as an inspiration to him. Of course I'm still way out of their league. These guys may be new in photography but they are Pro Digital Artists. Congrats Jmerts, Salamat sa inspirasyon.

John

2006-03-24T19:48:00.000+04:00

I took this photo using the Nikkor 85mm f1.8D at MK Trading. It convinced to get a prime lens in the near future. The image quality of a fixed lens is really remarkable. A 50mm f1.8 will be enough for my portrait photography. With a wide aperture it will be fast enough even for available light photography.

Retouch

2006-03-20T10:21:00.000+04:00

I don't really do too much post processing since I started photography, but there are instances that you are left without a choice. Since I don't know make up and I still don't have a set of studio lights, I learn to make do of what I have. That will be available light and the old ever reliable Photoshop.

Pang-Friendster

2006-03-17T17:09:00.000+04:00

Everytime I took some pictures of my housemates, the good ones always end up in Friendster. It makes perfect sense actually, if you religuously update your picture album in Friendster, you'll have more views. So every portrait photoshoot you do don't forget to upload some to our friendly Friendster.

Note:

The wife insisted that I should give her credit on some of the pictures I post here. So here it goes, my portrait was shot by my wife. I still own the copyright though.

Ironman

2006-03-15T13:00:00.000+04:00

Nuts, Bolts and Screws

Glamour

2006-03-10T14:32:00.000+04:00

Trying out the new stuff I got over the weekend, I ask the wifey to pose for some glamour shots. I found out that I need to work on how to make my model at ease during the shoot. And my wife has a very unprofessional way of working with the photographer. Maybe because its free....hehehe

Athena

2006-03-03T16:41:00.000+04:00

My super-kulit daughter Teri.

Mahal

2006-03-03T16:19:00.000+04:00

Unsuccessful with last week's photoshoot, I came back with a vengeance. Armed with car sunshade, fan and an open window, I was able to come up with this photo. Me bago na namang pang friendster si Mahal.

Man's Best Friend

2006-03-03T16:09:00.000+04:00

Mary Palmer: Dependable, Adjustable, Flexible and Safe.

City by the Clouds

2006-03-02T10:41:00.000+04:00

Another foggy morning in Sharjah. A couple days back I thought summer is on its way. Thanks to the thunderstorm some days back, we still have chilly mornings and evenings.

Sinta

2006-02-24T19:24:00.000+04:00

Lover, Mother and Partner

Rainy Days

2006-02-24T14:36:00.000+04:00

The UAE was surprised by a thunder storm early Thursday morning. It flooded most of the main roads all over the country causing a slow moving traffic during the morning rush hour. My son on the pic was waiting for the sun to shine again so that his weekend will not be spent inside the house. Oh and our windows need cleaning again.

Payong

2006-02-20T20:12:00.000+04:00

Our last photography meeting was about strobes and an introduction to studio photography and portraiture. The mentor whole heartedly left his studio lights to his beloved padawans. As a good student, one will not fail his master Jedi and learn the way of the force (light). Thanks a lot, Master for sharing some of your photography knowledge. We will look forward for the advance Jedi training when you return from your retreat.

Back to Sharjah

2006-02-20T20:02:00.000+04:00

We went for a boat ride from Qanat Al Qasba to around the Al Taawun Corniche. I got a good glimpse of the new phase development in Sharjah. When the project is finished I hope the MTR connecting Dubai will be completed to, otherwise the Dubai-Sharjah will be chaotic.

Semper Fi

2006-02-17T15:12:00.000+04:00

Always faithful.

Sunset Park Deux

2006-02-15T20:30:00.000+04:00

Another sunset in the park, another week over. Have a good weekend everyone.

Happy Valentine's Day

2006-02-14T21:57:00.000+04:00

Mga Kapuso at Kapamilya Maligayang Araw ng Mga Puso!

Souk Splash

2006-02-09T11:27:00.000+04:00

After dropping the wife to work I went straight to the Gold Souk (Blue Souk to some). Timing was great since nobody was around but the sun was not very cooperative so I end up shooting the fountain. I guess I have to come back here at dusk and do an angel hair effect with the water and an nicely lit souk at the backround.

Note to self: Don't bring the wife, we'll end up buying gold again.

Reps

2006-02-08T23:31:00.000+04:00

Messing up with my camera's white balance. Thanks for the idea and inspiration for my experiment jepaperts.

Ganesh

2006-02-08T23:28:00.000+04:00

The Elephant God

O.D.

2006-02-07T19:38:00.000+04:00

The Princess' Regiment

Bawang

2006-02-07T19:31:00.000+04:00

Pinoy: Hello friend, can you deliver one Dirham garlic, flat number 602, lift not working. Mafi mushkilah?

Grocery Boy: @#$%^&*!!!!

Kapuso Has Landed

2006-02-07T19:12:00.000+04:00

By this time most of you have heard that GMA Pinoy TV has landed in the Middle East thru Orbit. At the moment I can't watch any other channel because the wife owns the TV. I need inspiration for my photoshoot and I desperately need to access FTV's Midnight Hot Photographers (hehehe).

Boycott-Butter-Licious

2006-02-07T19:01:00.000+04:00

Since the authorities took out all Danish products off the shelves in retaliation against the editorial cartoon depicting the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), it was really hard to find a decent butter at par with Lurpak. Its a good thing I was able to save some before the boycott took place. I'll tell you what, my toast never tasted so good as before. Maybe because its a boycotted product. I fear when I finish this box I'll be force to try some butter from down under. I hope it does not taste as bad as their brew.

Jarhead

2006-02-07T18:55:00.000+04:00

Parade of Colors

A bunch of Pvt. Gomer Pyle

Chow

Aladdin's Lamp

2006-02-04T18:59:00.000+04:00

Taken at the Sharjah Heritage Museum

Soft

2006-02-02T22:53:00.000+04:00

Downy

Eon

2006-02-02T21:18:00.000+04:00

The era of beauty.

Portrait

2006-02-02T21:06:00.000+04:00

Stunning isn't it? Especially Lady Jamal.

TV Vortex

2006-01-30T22:58:00.000+04:00

Too much TV is bad for you. If you don't watch out you'll be sucked in. It always happen to me during Midnight Hot of Fashion TV, I just admire those pro photographers hehehe. Now why didn't I tuned to FTV when I took this photo?

Lagablab

2006-01-30T22:51:00.000+04:00

I was feeling a bit hot and bored so I played with my daughter's torch.

Blue

2006-01-30T22:47:00.000+04:00

Kulay homesick