2011 is going to be good.

I like reading interviews. I have always dreamed to be interviewed by someone – and trust me, I have answered a bunch of those surveys/memes that have been going around in the web. Right here, right now, I am making one of my dreams come true. (Or maybe, One of many.)

Why Photography?

I would say, this stems from the fact that I don’t have very many photos of myself growing up. There’s a bunch, but not the same amount as my cousins did. Some time when I was about 12 or 13, I asked an aunt for a point and shoot (It was a Minolta) and I took a lot of photos of me and my friends.  I would like to say that it started there, but growing up in the Philippines where film processing was a bit pricey was not economically sound to me.

Originally, I got admitted into the Journalism program of the University of the Philippines – Diliman. I shifted to Film and Audio Visual Communication upon realizing these two things:

a. I don’t read the newspaper or watch the news

b. I can write anyway.

I fell in love with the program due to odd reasons like

a. there were less students in the film program, hence enrolling into classes was easy

b. I don’t like to take exams

c. I originally wanted to get into advertising and

d. I took black and white photography and fell in love with it.

Between then and graduation, a lot of things happened. I became producer, television travel writer, graphic designer, administrative assistant and photography went digital. I couldn’t afford it back in early 2000 and I went back to it because I had to decide for a 29^th birthday present. It was a contest between a Louis Vuitton purse and a digital SLR.

The Digital SLR won because my friend, Manny said this to me over a round of drinks in their apartment.

“I am perpetually broke because I spend money on computers/musical instruments because it gives me the ability to create.”

What kind of Photography do you do? Do you make money off of it?

I do a lot of wedding/people, jewelry and of course, food. 

Wedding because it is great fun, everyone is in good spirits and there really is just too many emotions to capture. I do a lot of jewelry photography because I work for a jeweler and a lot of my jewelry work has been published in trade magazines. Food photography because I love food! Asians also have this predisposition to take pictures of their food!

My bread and butter is still being an administrative assistant, but I’m planning to change that by taking Communication Design. I am still waiting for an admissions decision from the Fashion Institute of Technology. That’s mostly the reason of the long hiatus from posting for my blog. Their design test for admissions is brutal and it took a lot of time to conceptualize and execute.

Are you leaving photography completely?

Yes and No. I don’t think I will leave photography entirely. I like that I have the background for it (I have a Film Degree) and it will make me a good designer and a better photographer. It goes hand in hand. I can effectively take better pictures if I know where exactly is going to be on.  It really isn’t just about pressing a button and hoping for the best or leaving all the adjustments to Lightroom and Photoshop.

That’s one cool photo. Who took it?

I did. It was one of the hardest things to do because at the time I took it, I did not own a remote shutter release. I put my camera on autofocus and it could barely focus on all that white background. I think this was photo #37.

I also took this because I wanted to keep a record of the way I looked at the age of 30. (well, the facial truth, at least. My beer gut does not lie.)

Your blog used to look a bit different, why?

For now, I haven’t done much change as I don’t really know how to design for the web. All I did was change a template which is similar to the old design and I created a Corporate Identity for myself – I think it looks a bit more professional this way.

Truth is, I used it mostly as a loose portfolio, you know, to make of a web presence. Mostly to talk about the lessons I learned from the experience of photographing and the end results. Now that I look back, it seems a bit too much talking (like this interview is) and I finally feel that I need to “grow up.” (I think.)

Then something hit me. My blog should look good. It should showcase that I do GOOD WORK. Although I do good photography, where I show it off is not as good as I want it to be. Not yet, but it will get there.

What do you expect from yourself or this blog?

I expect a lot. For it to look better, for my projects to come into fruition, and maybe I will change the blog’s focus entirely. We’ll see what the future holds. Like everyone else, I believe that 2011 will be a good year.

Bear Mountain: 1, Stella : ZERO.

a couple of weeks ago, through angela's sheer persistence and peskiness - i was convinced to go hiking on Bear Mountain. I went because i have never been, and i could take pictures.

BEAR MOUNTAIN : 1, STELLA: ZERO.

first off, i didnt have hiking shoes, i wasnt in hiking clothes and it was raining. on and off and hard. Its a hard and embarrassing lesson to learn because i tagged along a bike and hike meetup group (kill me, kill me now.) and if i were in their hiking shoes, i would be the person i would ABSOLUTELY HATE. i could recite a litany of excuses, but what i did was totally ANNOYING.

but it wasnt a total waste (even if i didnt last for more than half an hour) i did get some pretty interesting photos.

There is a bit more photos in here. But not much. I gave up right away, remember?

I commend all the wildlife and nature photographers for taking all the wonderful photos. The whole time i took this i was scared to lose my balance and roll down this steep mountain and into the road below.

Thank you to Angela and Garret and the rest of the meet up group for the patience. (this is angela - the rest of the group are already out up in the mountain when i took this.)

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

Summer Lovin' in the City and in the Hamptons (Magazine)!

I havent been updating this blog, but i do have a VERY VERY good reason why I havent. As you can see, my name is now officially longer.

Dave and I got married on June 1 2010 at Roosevelt Island Lighthouse Park. Being a bride is not only stressful, it is also tiring. In any case, I had fun.

Some of the photos are here. Our wedding slideshow is here.

Thanks to everyone who came, and super thanks to Angie Dykshorn of Angsnaps Photography for our wonderful wedding photos!

In this issue of the Hamptons Magazine, I have more photos than our weekly ad. I love seeing my photos come out in the editorials and the table of contents.

That 8-karat gold ring (yes, that's right, EIGHT karats), has also appeared in the JCK magazine. They also did a small write up for the store, and there are more photos there.

I didnt take the turquoise ring photo - but i sure did take the 24KT Gold Necklace (yup, its pure gold!) with rose cut diamonds.

YAY! it really is the summer of love!

Surprise, Surprise!!!

In this month's JCK magazine, I was told by Mayda (the boss' wife) that not only do we have one photo (see previous entry) but TWO!!! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!

That's MY PHOTO! right above the page number!!! WHOO HOO! i have sent this photo to them a couple of months ago and i didnt think "it made the cut" so i was kinda sad, i really thought my styling of this photo is superb, and im glad that they thought so too.

In any case, JCK magazine has answered my email with regards to the wrong credits. Im just waiting to see that erratum notice in next issue.

YAY!!!

YAY JCK Magazine Editorial!!, Wrong Photo Credit, BOO!!!!

The May 2010 Issue of the JCK Magazine came in the mail today. I was ecstatic. There on the bottom left is a photo that i have taken and submitted to them to be considered for this editorial. (JCK Magazine sends out mass fax messages to manufacturers for inclusion in their editorial. I send one in, almost every time - this is my third inclusion, so far)

Upon closer inspection, I noticed the small caption on the side that says "The Jewelry Book". I didnt give it much thought at first until i realized that they were all photo credits!!! (AAAARRRRGGGHHHH!!!)

I have never put my name for a photo credit for these product photos i submit, because they never really put any names beside the editorial photos - with the cd, i just send a letter that says the photo was taken in-house. What a huge mistake that is.

I have sent an email to the editors of JCK. I am hoping to get the proper credit i deserve.

Or at least a logical explanation.

Still, I got published again, YAY (sadly, i dont sound too credible. Boo!)

Point and Shoot Shooting Pointers

Before anything else, let me just make it clear that the camera you have is the best camera in the world. (say it with me 100x "the camera that i have is the best camera in the world.")

BECAUSE YOU ALREADY HAVE IT; CHANCES ARE YOU KNOW HOW TO PUSH ALL THE BUTTONS AND YOU HAVE THE MANUAL (in the hopes that you did not throw it away- in that case, there is always youtube). Of course someone will always have a better camera than you do, but that does not mean that it takes better photos than yours. Technically, it may be better, but visually – no.  

A CAMERA IS MERELY A TOOL, NOT A MAGIC WAND.

to prove my point, I have taken this photo with my old Canon A400. (it is 3.2 megapixels.)

Some things you might like to keep in mind if you are using a point and shoot camera (p&s).

1. Turn off your flash as much as possible.
    Cameras nowadays are light sensitive that they can capture images even in a dark room. Blurry images are not necessarily bad - it could convey movement. (this photo was taken in the dance floor. half naked guy eventually strutted his stuff!)

Not only does flash wash out your subject, it usually makes for very uneven photos of your foreground and background. Most of the time you end up with a bright foreground paired with a very dark background. This allows you to take photos without disturbing your subject with a flash of bright light.

It also allows you to shoot through glass - i was inside the other cable car when i shot this.

This also allows you to capture the true time of day, or the true colors of the moment that you are documenting. had i taken this image with a flash, the "neonness" of the colors will go flat. you can also tell by the tone that i had taken this photo late in the afternoon.

2.  Manual setting is your best friend if you have the patience to learn it. Otherwise, Night Mode (MOON AND STARS) is your best bet.

I have noticed how this feature is underutilized by most p&s shooters. When you are outdoors and the lighting is inadequate for a non-flash photo, switch your photos to night mode and shoot away, even if it isn’t night yet. The night mode button is for low lighting conditions. You may notice there is more blur and there’s cloning of light bearing objects (lamps, lampposts) you can minimize this by turning on your timer and setting the camera on a steady surface. It would be most helpful to tell your subjects to hold their pose a second or two extra.

If the flash goes off and you are still not happy:

Set camera to manual mode. Scroll to the 0 scale. 
All cameras would have a -2, - 1, 0 +1, +2 scale.

Set the “needle” to choose to the + side. What this does is it makes itself more sensitive to light – hence you get “clearer” photos.

(this image was taken with a Canon A400)

  

if there is too much light/sunlight, set your needle to the minus side - this setting allows less light into your camera and reduces glare and reflection.

When i first took this photo, the "luke's lobster" sign was just a white oval and you cannot see the people behind the window.

3. The timer serves more than including yourself in the group photo.

The 10second and 2second timer allows your camera to be rid of camera shake so your photos don’t come out blurry. This is quite helpful when you are taking macro shots (close up-detailed shots) and when your camera is set to that FLOWER mode. 

  

4.  Always shoot in the highest resolution possible , or second to the highest resolution.

This allows you to be able to print your photos nicely. Most web printing services have a minimum resolution, and they will warn you if you have uploaded a small resolution size and they will say that it is a “bad print size."

5.   NEVER EVER DELETE PHOTOS FROM YOUR CAMERA UNTIL YOU HAVE DOWNLOADED YOUR IMAGES.

You may really know how to operate your camera, but you might be in a rush to delete the bad images that YOU MAY ACCIDENTALLY ERASE ALL THE IMAGES IN YOUR MEMORY CARD. I have noticed people delete “bad photos” of themselves immediately. If you seriously detest that angle of yours, deal with it. Better have that bad photo than no photo at all – especially on vacations. If you are travelling, make sure to bring another memory card (which is really cheap nowadays) rather than deleting images while on the go. (in other words, vanity=stupidity.) this is definitely a rule that all professional photographers live by.

Remember to always bring a camera with you. Not all phones have good cameras attached to them (especially mine – paging Motorola!!!) and its best to be prepared to have it when a good photo opportunity is at hand.

Have fun and take lots of photos! It really isnt about the gear that you own, its how you use it and if you use it at all. 

Disclaimer: All photos have been taken with my Canon Powershot SD1100 except where noted. All photos have not been enhanced except for the first two photos and the last photo. ALL ENHANCEMENTS ARE MINIMAL.
First photo had red eyes corrected and was enhanced in Adobe Photoshop using Levels.
Second and Last photo was enhanced in Adobe Lightroom for exposure and black clipping.
Watermarks, if present, are all added in Adobe Lightroom.

I heart Notar

thank the lord this love is not unrequited at all! *swoon* (of course, with these photos, HE SHOULD LOVE ME, right Mike?)

I met Mike Notar through my fiancee Dave, after we got engaged, and Dave met him through his friend Ryan. I bet Notar isnt alien to girls swooning to him (nyahahaha) but the first thing that popped into my head was... why am i meeting this hot guy after i get engaged? WHY?!

The day before his show in Canal Room, there was a snowstorm. Thinking that the next day would be a work day, i didnt take my off camera flashes and telephoto lens from my desk drawer. Im really paranoid about carrying equipment around, so i usually either leave it at work or at home.

and then they close the office. GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH. all i did thursday morning was to schlep to huntington, take my flashes and schlep back. total time wasted: 4 hours.

and it gets better! when i got to the venue, i couldnt find my flash diffuser, so i mcgyvered it and put napkins held by a rubber band on it! so i took and took photos. of course, the lighting at canal room was GOOD that i ended up NOT USING MY FLASH MOST OF THE TIME.

and when i got home? inside the backpack i brought to the show was the diffuser!!!!!!!!!!!!

with these photos, who knew all of that happened?

the rest of the photos are HERE.