S90: View From The Rooftop

Here's a view from the rooftop of our unit in Makati. It was one of the few times that I got to use the S90 since we bought it. Hopefully, with the summer heat winding down and the workload becoming more manageable, I may have that urge again to take more photos.

I'm not sure, but I think I did something wrong because I'm not impressed with the photos that I took last time, the photo above is probably the best from the batch. I know it's not the camera, because I have seen beautiful captures from this little beast from different photography websites. When there's time, I might shoot again from the rooftop.

Maybe I'm expecting too much from the S90. I got used to my DSLR that I'm expecting the S90 to behave the same way (especially in the noise department). Even though the S90's technology is much better than that of my G5, a DSLR is still the way to go if speed and noise is an issue.

But for portability, the S90 wins hands down. The shot above was taken from a small opening between the concrete wall and the mesh fence. Only a camera that small can get an unobstructed shot from that vantage.

That's it for now. Time to get out and shoot some more.

Sky Lounge At Vivere Suites

Last night was superb! Nice food, a great view of the metropolis, and an opportunity to take pictures, all these while enjoying the evening with my ever lovely fiancee.

The Sky Lounge at Vivere Suites isn't new to us. In fact, Roxanne and I had one of our most memorable dates here a few years back, when I was still courting her. I say memorable because we got lost going here, thanks to all the detour caused by the widening project of SLEX. Imagine, it took us four hours to get there from Makati (for comparison, it took us 20 minutes to get there last night from Makati).

I highly recommend this place. Sky Lounge and Top of the Citi are the only restaurants I know that offers a stunning view of Metro Manila. In case you're reading this and have ideas on where to dine with a similar ambiance, please let us know.

One thing I have to mention is that it was surprisingly windy last night. It provided a challenge in everything: from keeping our napkins to making sure our hair didn't go astray to taking pictures. Yes, even with a tripod you get some camera shake with all that wind, or maybe I'm just using a cheap tripod. Even my credit card was blown away from the table, thankfully it landed on the floor.

Oh, this post wouldn't be complete without a link to the pictures. You can view them here. Cheers.

Random Photo: Perya

Again, another random photo. I was supposed to post some photos I took last weekend, but procrastination got in the way, and I think I can take better photos this coming weekend, since I'm going back to the same place. Anyway, enough of the chitchat.

Just in case you don't know, perya sort of translates to town fair or carnival. Places like this reminds me of my childhood. Back then, it seems like a year wouldn't be complete without a visit to one of these. It may be that small one that popped in the middle of town during fiesta, or the big ones like Star City (where the photo above was taken) and Boom Na Boom (not sure if this place still exists).

These places also remind me of how much I hate carnival rides. I remember when I was seven, I almost cried when I rode the Caterpillar, and I also recall how easy it is for me to get dizzy when trying out other rides. Horror houses and carnival games also give me some sense of nostalgia.

The photo above was taken in 2006, using my 400D and a 50mm lens.

Random Photo: Paoay Church

I don't think I got a good photo of Paoay Church as a whole, but this snapshot seems to be of my liking. I love how the setting sun produced that yellowish cast, and how the sky seems properly exposed. It's weird that as my equipment improve, the harder I find it to get shots like this.

Paoay Church is located in Paoay, Ilocos Norte. This photo was taken in late 2005, during the JET's much anticipated Ilocandia tour. Again, this shot makes me miss my G5 even more. It's time to get another point and shoot camera.

Random Photo: Breakwater

Another week without anything new, so again I'll share another random photograph.

To be honest, I was eying another photo when the title came to my mind. I mean, the breakwater here isn't as prominent, nevertheless I like this picture, and it makes me miss my G5 even more.

This was taken in Corregidor Island on May 6, 2006. Perfect timing too because that same day the island celebrated it's fall into Japanese hands in 1942. I hope I can visit this place again, and maybe next time we can get a tour that would allow us to explore more of the island.

Random Photo: Avilon Sunset

Okay, I noticed that lately I can't think of anything to post, unless there's some sort of photo opportunity. But such opportunities don't come everyday, for now at least. I'm too busy to do some sort of Project 365, and lately I've been commuting to work (with a heavy laptop) so bringing a camera is out if the question.

So to keep the ball rolling, I'll try to explore old photos that I took, maybe I'll start with those taken before this blog existed. I hope this helps inspire me in taking more photos, and at the same time improve my storytelling skills. let's just see if I can sustain this.

For my first random photo, a sunset shot from Montalban, Rizal. It was past five in the afternoon, and it was my first time to visit Avilon Zoo (with George and Jayson). Back then my 400D was only a few months old, and I was the only one with a DSLR. The sunset caught our eyes as Jayson's car traversed the rough road that leads people in and out of the zoo. And the reflection from the nearby rice field made it even better. I probably love this shot more than those I took inside the zoo.

Settings aside, this shot was taken using the kit lens. With photography, sometimes less is more.

Isabela: The Pictures

Farm scene.

Dirt road.

The lake.

Beast of burden.

St. Ferdinand Church.

As promised, here are some of the pictures from Isabela (Echague and Ilagan, to be precise). You may check out the rest by clicking here.

Enjoy and Happy New Year!!!

Isabela: The Experience

Would you believe this place is just a short hike from Roxanne's house? Really cool!

Okay, at the expense of sounding like a broken record, here it goes again: my camera went bonkers for the nth time. I was literally at the mercy of my camera during my stay, thankfully it decided to cooperate on moments that mattered, like the photo taken above. It's back at the service center, and I'll write something about it when I hear from the guys at Canon.

So back to the story. I was my first time to visit Roxanne's home town of Ilagan in Isabela, and I was fortunate also to visit some of the adjacent towns, like San Mariano and Echague.

Isabela isn't your typical tourist destination. It's a classic example of the rural scene in the Philippines. If you play the likes of FarmVille on Facebook, then you could probably relate to what I'm saying. And I love this rural feel. The animals, the rice fields, the trees that shape the landscape, and the stars at night, all of these contribute to the serenity of the place. This is simplicity at its best.

I must admit that I'm a total city boy, that what I call home consists of tall buildings, heavy traffic, and accessibility to malls. But once in a while I enjoy the calm that the likes of Isabela has, that quiet aura that enchants you and takes all your worries away.

I really enjoyed the Isabela experience. Mingling with Roxanne's relatives and seeing how she grew up makes me love her even more. And that was just the first of many visits to come.

I'll post the pictures soon, Multiply is down anyway so I'll take my time.

Photos From Hong Kong

View of Hong Kong Island from Harbor City Mall.

At last I'm done with our Hong Kong pictures. Instead of doing a day by day or place by place gallery, I decided to choose some of the best and just group them all together. All of the pictures here and a lot more are available on my Multiply gallery here, and for our friends, some not in the gallery are posted on our Facebook accounts.

So many cameras, so little pocket money.

It's hard to choose a favorite destination in Hong Kong. I really love the feel of the island. I love Victoria Peak and the view of the island from above, Ocean Park and it's many attractions, and my first time at Lantau was a blast.

The famous red taxi cabs of Hong Kong.

My camera started to act up as we headed for Lantau on our third day, and on our last night it went totally kaput. But I'm thankful I was able to shoot everything that I came for: the view of the city, the Buddha, the cute pandas, and of course pictures of us on our second anniversary. It's also great that Roxanne's camera didn't fail us, we also have lots of shots there.

The Buddha at Lantau Island.

The view inside the cable car at Ocean Park.

Jellyfish rocks!!!

And one last thing. I didn't have too many pictures from Disneyland since my camera was on the verge of failure, but I was able to get the best shot from our stay. At exactly six in the evening on the tenth of November, I proposed to Roxanne. And the rest is history.

The best photo of the bunch. Priceless.

So there you have it. We really miss Hong Kong, and we hope we could go back there soon. Please visit my Hong Kong gallery for more pictures. Happy weekend.

Back From Hong Kong

Not exactly the way I wanted to shoot it, but at least I still got the shot.

Oh boy, back home again. Roxanne and I really miss Hong Kong, seeing those bright lights for the last time on our way to the airport made us realize that reality is just around the corner.

So far, nothing much has changed in Hong Kong. Taxi cabs are still red, and neon lights are still, well, neon. But there are also some changes. The MTR seems to have more lines and stations now, including one exclusive for Disney. And prices aren't as cheap as I imagined. Or maybe I'm not really after anything that's why I say so.

Now for the bad news. My camera acted up again, thankfully I was still able to use it during our trip. Today, it has gone kaput and is back at the service center. It is really time for me to upgrade. I also realized how handy a small camera can be when traveling, so I'm also thinking of getting a small "prosumer" camera in the near future.

And now for the good news. They say a picture paints a thousand words. I'll let the photo below do the talking.


That's about it for now. I'll post more about Hong Kong soon, including the pictures from our trip.

Hong Kong!!!

View from Victoria Peak, circa 2005. I want to do this shot again, only wider.

It's November again. Every tenth of November Roxanne and I celebrate our anniversary, this year it's our second. So on Saturday, off we go to our country's nearby neighbor, Hong Kong.

I have been to Hong Kong twice already, but this one will be special since I will be with Roxanne all the way. It's also special because this is the first year I'll be out of the country more than once. Yahoo!

I'm excited to return to Victoria Peak, and probably do a redo of the photo above, well, maybe wider. I'm also excited to visit Lantau Island to see the giant Buddha, and if we're lucky, we may get to visit Macau.

So now I'm starting to pack my clothes, and use the remaining days before our departure to fix stuff at work.

And to Roxanne, happy anniversary honey. I love you so much.

Time To Stop Procrastinating

I think Xantino's a better blogger than me.

Almost a month with no activity in my blog. Not that I don't have anything to say, it's just that I felt lazy blogging these past weeks. It seemed like sleeping and reading other blogs were much more fun that updating my own online journal, add to that work and the daily errands that I have to perform.

But of course, I always found time for photography. I've been trying to learn flash photography, and it's not as easy as it seems. Well, thank heavens for E-TTL II for making on camera flash a bit more bearable. But I really want to learn off camera lighting. People like Zach Arias and David Hobby make it seem so easy, yet I'm far from mastering the technique.

I'm also trying to find my own workflow in post processing pictures. Using Canon's Digital Photo Professional software (which comes free with every Canon DSLR), I think I'm on my way to achieving my own style, all I have to do is train my eyes more in correcting skin tones.

I realize that I still have a lot of pictures left unprocessed, some still from my US trip several months ago. I know I'm not really obligated to show these to the world, but what's the fun in photography if you don't share what you've done? It's a form of self gratification, and a way for me to see how my work has improved over the years.

For now, I'll share this: night shots of the Skyway here in Makati. I've always wanted to shoot this, but there's always something that gets in the way (usually the need to sleep, hehehe). Thankfully I had the chance to turn this plan into reality, and hopefully I can repeat this again (best if I do it with friends).

Please see the rest of the pictures here.

So I guess that's it for now. I'll try to post more pictures in the coming days.

USA Tour: The Grove And Farmers Market

Mom looking at some dolls (with me in the reflection). I find these dolls creepy, but they sure are popular to little girls here.

I still had that nasty flu over the weekend, and now I'm confident that it's winding down. I guess this is the best time to get back at other pictures from our US vacation. There are still a lot, and I'm trying to finish up on smaller sets first.

Fun tram ride with a quick tour of the compound.

When in Los Angeles, one cannot miss The Grove and adjacent Farmers Market. Located near CBS Television City, these establishments are a juxtaposition of old and new. Farmers Market is known for its numerous food stalls and fresh produce, while The Grove is an ultra modern mall similar to our very own Greenbelt. If my memory serves me right, The Grove wasn't there yet back in 2001, my first visit to LA.

Farmers Market, a historic landmark in Los Angeles.

So that's it. A neat shopping venue in Los Angeles. Please check out the rest of the photos here.

USA Tour: Fisherman's Wharf

When in San Francisco, one cannot miss Fisherman's Wharf. This is where I got my infamous polarizer, but asides from photo stalls there are so many things to see and do here.

Alcatraz.

For starters, have some clam chowder (or any chowder variant) while here. We had our share of this creamy delicacy at Blue Mermaid. So good.

Railway to nowhere.

And there are tons of souvenir shops, along side photography stores. I got myself some magnets and table displays, and if you look around you might find something suited for you.

No poop, thank goodness!

Oh, and there's so much to see and photograph at the wharf. I have never seen so many birds mingling with people, as if they're used to having us around. I even saw one poop while flying, which is gross but awesome at the same time. Street performers are also a common scene here, each with his or her own unique gimmick. Too bad I never got to experience everything the wharf has to offer. No Alcatraz tours, not much museum visits, and too bad I missed those sea lions along Pier 39. Well, I guess I have to add them to my itinerary next time (hopefully).

You got to love self cleaning toilets. Cheers.

So that's about it for now. Please visit my gallery here for more photos. By the way, the last photo was taken on a different day.

USA Tour: Stanford University

I love a campus where you can go around on a bicycle.

I love visiting Stanford University. There was a point in my life where I dreamed of matriculating in this institution.

The entrance to the Main Quad.

Stanford University is located in Palo Alto, California, also known as Silicon Valley. Not surprisingly, a number of companies in Silicon Valley were founded by Stanford alumni. The campus is huge, with lots of landmarks and artwork. A lot of students and faculty go around the campus by bike, and parking is also abundant for those with motor vehicles. If you think the University of the Philippines is huge, the land occupied by Stanford will make you think again. Asides from the campus itself, Stanford's property also includes several housing facilities, a high end medical facility, museums, a mall (wow), and acres of land used for scientific and agricultural research.

Stanford Memorial Chapel. Sadly I haven't been inside.

It's not my first time to visit Stanford, but the latest visit is more memorable. Maybe it's because I got to take more pictures, or maybe it's because of the stories of Tita Tess (her husband now works here). It's so nice to stroll around Stanford, there's so much to see. Heck, we even saw squirrels playing in a tree near the parking lot. And the people, you can feel an aura that there's something special about Stanford.

Burghers of Calais, one of several artwork by Auguste Rodin scattered around campus. Thanks to Wikipedia for this information (as well as others written here).

Hoover Tower reminds me of the UP Carillon.

Playful squirrel.

Mom and Tita Tess relaxing at Stanford Mall.

For more pictures, please visit my Stanford gallery here. Hopefully I can post another set from my US trip soon.

Stanford University's official website
Stanford University's Wikipedia entry

USA Tour: Guitar Center

I wanted to take this baby home, but something this big is not suitable for traveling folks like us. Too bad because the price was reasonable enough.

When talking about guitars, I can't help but tell you guys how much I love music. Unfortunately, this feeling isn't reciprocated quite well. But that deserves a separate topic, so for now let's go back to another batch of USA photos.

I never realized that Sunset Boulevard is also known as Guitar Row, because of the many music shops and studios that line the famous stretch. One of which is Guitar Center, famous for its Rock Walk located at the entrance.

What I love asides from the numerous instruments for sale and on display is the fact that you can take pictures inside. It's a great way to attract potential customers. I actually wanted to buy a second hand Fender P-Bass, but I guess it's not practical if you're traveling and at the mercy of airline cargo volume limits.

So next time you're in Los Angeles, do check out Sunset Boulevard if you're into guitars and other musical instruments.


Oh, and please check out the rest of the pictures here.

USA Tour: Tita Nery's Place

I just have to get this out first. I'm beginning to love iPhoto. It's not as powerful as Adobe Lightroom or Aperture, but it gets the work done for bloggers like me. Plus it comes free with every Mac (portable or not).

Now back to the topic. I'm so thankful to Tita Nery for letting us stay at her house in Fremont. It gave us an experience of a nice American suburb, plus I was able to make new friends like IT guru Ben. Tita Nery was very accommodating, we even had the chance to play with her Nintendo Wii.

Like most of the Bay Area, it is really cold in Fremont. Something I miss right now, with all the heat and humidity here in Manila.

Anyway, please check out the rest of the photos here. I'm beginning to love saturating my pictures a bit, it makes the colors a tad more vivid.

More galleries to come soon.

USA Tour: Fairfax Flea Market

So many cameras, but none suited for me.

Here I am again with another batch of USA photos. This time, it's from a Sunday flea market along Fairfax Avenue in Los Angeles.

I think this is my mom's favorite part of the trip. She has been to LA for so many times, but she only discovered this find during our recent trip. Believe me, if my mom had it her way, we would have traveled back home with lots of balikbayan boxes.

As for me, the only thing I got from the flea market is an inexpensive bracelet for Roxanne. But like my mom, if I can have it my way I would have taken a lot of the stuff here on our way back home (especially the paintings and vintage photography gear).

Please check out the rest of the pictures here. Minimal post processing was applied for this batch.

USA Tour: Sausalito

I'm not so sure if most people know about Sausalito. It's actually a seaside community located across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. This link from Wikitravel can tell more about this place.

This is one of the coldest places I've been to. It has a great view of the sea, with lots of quaint houses and establishments to see.

If you ever have the chance to visit here, do buy a souvenir shirt (I regret not getting one). They have a store that sells spoof shirts, most of them pretty cool. Oh, and try out the food as well.

And guys, don't forget to check the rest of the pictures here. Cheers!

USA Tour: Golden Gate Bridge

One quick post before leaving for work. Going to San Francisco is never complete without passing through this landmark. It felt surreal as we traversed the entirety of the bridge.

Although there are parks located along each end of the bridge, the best vantage point for me would be Battery Spencer, which is situated on top of a hill. It gives a really stunning view of the bridge and the city. Add to that a really cool breeze. The only downside: it's only accessible by car, and is usually not part of the common package tours.

Please check out the rest of the pictures here. The first few were taken from one end of the bridge, while the remaining shots were taken from Battery Spencer.