Saturday, December 31, 2011

blank canvas

"When you give him a canvas, you shouldn't tell him exactly how much paint to put on it, or exactly how sharp the images should be. You should let the artist get going"

- Reed Hundt-

From my observation and from my point of view, foreign people (none in particular) are much more open and appreciative of art. I can't help but compare, we Filipinos are still trapped with the standards and the usual.. you know, sometimes, liberation can be used in a good way at the right time, place and of course the right intention.
Yes, I am loving flickr and started to look up to foreign fine art photographers. They are just so lovely and inspiring. They just don't put on their works to the entire world to gather "fans" or boast for their provision of great quality images, they put it on just to share what they have and/or to inspire other people. When we go back to basics, these visual imagery are made because artists, painters, photographers etc. wanted to say something or show something that they cannot verbalize - and that what makes  a canvas SPECIAL-


"The naked dragon"

just thought of giving such title.. it's kinda funny!!! haha and corny.. >.<

things used:
some of the unused red strings with "WIRED" shoot
my camera hehe
ambient lighting.. JUST ambient lighting
black cloth

Tiara (a very good friend of mine) spent her time with us welcoming 2012 since she can't go home to Davao because of of school stuffs. So I was telling her a lot of blahs last night of how certain people deliver artistic imagery nowadays and comparing foreign works to ours. So she told me to blog it.. I hesitated at first but first thing in the morning that is what I actually did. HAHA

THESE ARE JUST MY PERSONAL POINT OF VIEW THOUGH...  so let's cheers to a very wonderful new year! the year of the DRAGON! 




Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Wired

"There is no greater evil for men than the constraint of fortune"
- Sophocles

So how does it feel when you get tangled and wired? 
gotta break that out guys! It is time to do some  good deeds for 2012! hehe 

I got the chance to collaborate with Figura Group of Models by Issa Laya-og. I am so much privileged to have worked with them, such talented and young models who wanted to break out and experience the world of modeling.. Big Thanks to Issa for giving them such great opportunities by organizing and conceptualizing shoots to showcase the group. 

It is again a great new experience for me.. A new experience with new people. I love how magical it is when you have to work with people whom you haven't met yet and get along well with  them eventually during the shoot. Thank you Issa/FGM and to the gentlemen.. mark, peter and vince!!! I had fun.. and i hope you enjoyed the shoot too!



Mark Guerro


Peterson Villena


Vince Dacay

group photos after the shoot! ^_^


A conceptual shoot for Figura Group of Models conceptualized by Issa Laya-og
                                                                         
  models are:

Mark Guerro
Peterson Villena
Vince Dacay


visit their page at:



Sunday, December 25, 2011

free of fear

"When one has the feeling of dislike for evil, when one feels tranquil, one finds pleasure in listening to good teachings; when one has these feelings and appreciates them, one is free of fear"

-Buddha-

To welcome the year 2012, I have decided to complete and close the photo set which was started with rebirth and the art of letting go

This is my first take on levitation photography. It has been a while since levitation photography started and wanted to try it.. so here it goessss... 

This may sound crazy and freaky, but I had a dream about me, floating and I decided to deliver the mood and the feeling of it on a photo.. So basically, I had let go of the worst things that happened last year and at the end of this year, a lot had happened, a lot of doors and windows opened for me and I am so much grateful for these. 

LET US ALL HAVE A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR! AND WELCOME 2012 WITH A BANG! 




A huge thank you to deankie latonio for trusting me with this levitation thing and to guada for the support (literally supporting deankie's head) HAHA

thanks guys! It would never be possible without you!
cheers for a bright 2012! 




Wednesday, December 21, 2011

a positive obsession

"Passion is a positive obsession"

hmmm.. I just can't get enough!
I wanted to have a year ender photo. 2011 has been very cruel but just like when we say the line "at the end of the day... well, at the end of this year, the terrible experiences brought out the best in me. A lot of changes have happened, a lot of challenges have gone by and luckily i went through out 2011 alive with a lot of bonuses! yeay! :3

I have been very thankful for everything lately, especially for the opportunities that came and for the people who are always there to support me in any way...

Well, to start off.. i got really passionate about photography and wanted to create something that is beyond imagination, something.. different! At first, i didn't know what exactly and how to deliver these images i wanted to create. I tried doing fashion photography but as time goes by, my hands get tired editing these kinds of photos - i mean no offense to fashion photographers but its just that, I am still not satisfied doing it- I also have tried to shoot for events and same thing happened, i didn't want to go back! But then when AJ bought his camera and some accessories which by the way, i got jealous and fortunately motivated me to not eat and save up for lenses and lights. AJ has been very supportive though and heartily lent me some of his stuffs and also learned a lot of technicalities from him ;)
I am so lucky and fortunate for some people like Tiara who's always been my MUSE! ever since I started this obsession (HAHA) Tiara has always been there to do poses for me. And yeah, to Dierrek too who's very patient in answering my questions lol! and for letting me try some of his awesome gadgets! :D 
And for good friends who kept on believing in me.. Shena, Guada, Jhowboi, Jay, Lou, Deankie.. and mama they are my inspiration and my motivation to keep on going.. through life and through whatever! 


I did this year ender photo as a thanksgiving and an offering of thyself to God. And somehow to look back and realize of how much I have grown.

The "flying" photos are some of my 2009 to 2010 printed works


Here's a PP progress.. hehe just thought of sharing


black BG with an octabox for ambient lighting
(octabox bought from macy's) 
 the photos are separately shot so as to catch
the sense of movement when they are thrown up in the air. haha
and making it scarier. lol made a mood.
(smaller photos are resized to smaller sizes)


3 days more to go before christmas! Have Merry Christmas everyone! ^_^




Saturday, December 17, 2011

the art of letting go

"When you stop chasing the wrong things you give,
the right things will have a chance to catch you" 







“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” - maria robinson


Nothing could be closer to the truth. But before you can begin this process of transformation you have to stop doing the things that have been holding you back.



                                                                                 
                                                                                        This is the plan I made for the shoot.

The feeling of constraint will never set you free and will never make you happy. So it is not that bad to sometimes break the rules, rules are there to be followed and sometimes broken for us to realize of what life can truly offer.

My friends visited me then showed them the plans for my shoot.. cool thing is one of them is up to do a shoot following one of the plans I drew. It took me a lot of time tying the twines, it would be perfect if i have thick red strings but unfortunately, i wasn't able to provide one earlier. 

So what i have in mind is that we are sometimes blinded by our own wrong doings and we fail to notice that we are already destroying our selves, putting barriers to happiness and make our selves a prison of constraint. This then represented by the blindfold and the strings for the rules, constraints and for the what-may-people-think thinking.. these hold us back from true happiness.

So I have read this blog and hopefully can help.. ENJOY! ^_^

1.    Stop spending time with the wrong people. – Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you.If someone wants you in their life, they'll make room for you. You shouldn’t have to fight for a spot.Never, ever insist yourself to someone who continuously overlooks your worth. And remember, it’s not the people that stand by your side when you’re at your best, but the ones who stand beside you when you’re at your worst that are your true friends.


2.       Stop running from your problems. – Face them head on.  No, it won’t be easy.  There is no person in the world capable of flawlessly handling every punch thrown at them.  We aren’t supposed to be able to instantly solve problems.  That’s not how we’re made.  In fact, we’re made to get upset, sad, hurt, stumble and fall.  Because that’s the whole purpose of living – to face problems, learn, adapt, and solve them over the course of time.  This is what ultimately molds us into the person we become.


3.       Stop lying to yourself. – You can lie to anyone else in the world, but you can’t lie to yourself.  Our lives improve only when we take chances, and the first and most difficult chance we can take is to be honest with ourselves.  Read The Road Less Traveled.


4.  Stop putting your own needs on the back burner. – The most painful thing is losing yourself in the process of loving someone too much, and forgetting that you are special too.  Yes, help others; but help yourself too.  If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do something that matters to you, that moment is now.


5.       Stop trying to be someone you’re not. – One of the greatest challenges in life is being yourself in a world that’s trying to make you like everyone else.  Someone will always be prettier, someone will always be smarter, someone will always be younger, but they will never be you.  Don’t change so people will like you.  Be yourself and the right people will love the real you.


6.       Stop trying to hold onto the past. – You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading your last one.


7.       Stop being scared to make a mistake. – Doing something and getting it wrong is at least ten times more productive than doing nothing.  Every success has a trail of failures behind it, and every failure is leading towards success.  You end up regretting the things you did NOT do far more than the things you did.


8.       Stop berating yourself for old mistakes. – We may love the wrong person and cry about the wrong things, but no matter how things go wrong, one thing is for sure, mistakes help us find the person and things that are right for us.  We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past.  But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future.  Every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for a moment that is yet to come.


9.       Stop trying to buy happiness. – Many of the things we desire are expensive.  But the truth is, the things that really satisfy us are totally free – love, laughter and working on our passions.


10.   Stop exclusively looking to others for happiness. – If you’re not happy with who you are on the inside, you won’t be happy in a long-term relationship with anyone else either.  You have to create stability in your own life first before you can share it with someone else.  Read Stumbling on Happiness.


11.   Stop being idle. – Don’t think too much or you’ll create a problem that wasn’t even there in the first place.  Evaluate situations and take decisive action.  You cannot change what you refuse to confront.  Making progress involves risk.  Period!  You can’t make it to second base with your foot on first.


12.   Stop thinking you’re not ready. – Nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises.  Because most great opportunities in life force us to grow beyond our comfort zones, which means we won’t feel totally comfortable at first.


13.   Stop getting involved in relationships for the wrong reasons. – Relationships must be chosen wisely.  It’s better to be alone than to be in bad company.  There’s no need to rush.  If something is meant to be, it will happen – in the right time, with the right person, and for the best reason. Fall in love when you’re ready, not when you’re lonely.


14.   Stop rejecting new relationships just because old ones didn’t work. – In life you’ll realize that there is a purpose for everyone you meet.  Some will test you, some will use you and some will teach you.  But most importantly, some will bring out the best in you.


15.   Stop trying to compete against everyone else. – Don’t worry about what others doing better than you.  Concentrate on beating your own records every day.  Success is a battle between YOU and YOURSELF only.


16.   Stop being jealous of others. – Jealousy is the art of counting someone else’s blessings instead of your own.  Ask yourself this:  “What’s something I have that everyone wants?”


17.   Stop complaining and feeling sorry for yourself. – Life’s curveballs are thrown for a reason – to shift your path in a direction that is meant for you.  You may not see or understand everything the moment it happens, and it may be tough.  But reflect back on those negative curveballs thrown at you in the past.  You’ll often see that eventually they led you to a better place, person, state of mind, or situation.  So smile!  Let everyone know that today you are a lot stronger than you were yesterday, and you will be.


18.   Stop holding grudges. – Don’t live your life with hate in your heart.  You will end up hurting yourself more than the people you hate.  Forgiveness is not saying, “What you did to me is okay.”  It is saying, “I’m not going to let what you did to me ruin my happiness forever.”  Forgiveness is the answer… let go, find peace, liberate yourself!  And remember, forgiveness is not just for other people, it’s for you too.  If you must, forgive yourself, move on and try to do better next time.


19.   Stop letting others bring you down to their level. – Refuse to lower your standards to accommodate those who refuse to raise theirs.


20.   Stop wasting time explaining yourself to others. – Your friends don’t need it and your enemies won’t believe it anyway.  Just do what you know in your heart is right.


21.   Stop doing the same things over and over without taking a break. – The time to take a deep breath is when you don’t have time for it.  If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting.  Sometimes you need to distance yourself to see things clearly.


22.   Stop overlooking the beauty of small moments. – Enjoy the little things, because one day you may look back and discover they were the big things.  The best portion of your life will be the small, nameless moments you spend smiling with someone who matters to you.


23.   Stop trying to make things perfect. – The real world doesn’t reward perfectionists, it rewards people who get things done.  Read Getting Things Done.


24.   Stop following the path of least resistance. – Life is not easy, especially when you plan on achieving something worthwhile.  Don’t take the easy way out.  Do something extraordinary.


25.   Stop acting like everything is fine if it isn’t. – It’s okay to fall apart for a little while.  You don’t always have to pretend to be strong, and there is no need to constantly prove that everything is going well.  You shouldn’t be concerned with what other people are thinking either – cry if you need to – it’s healthy to shed your tears.  The sooner you do, the sooner you will be able to smile again.


26.   Stop blaming others for your troubles. – The extent to which you can achieve your dreams depends on the extent to which you take responsibility for your life.  When you blame others for what you’re going through, you deny responsibility – you give others power over that part of your life.


27.   Stop trying to be everything to everyone. – Doing so is impossible, and trying will only burn you out.  But making one person smile CAN change the world.  Maybe not the whole world, but their world.  So narrow your focus.


28.   Stop worrying so much. – Worry will not strip tomorrow of its burdens, it will strip today of its joy.  One way to check if something is worth mulling over is to ask yourself this question: “Will this matter in one year’s time?  Three years?  Five years?”  If not, then it’s not worth worrying about.

29.   Stop focusing on what you don’t want to happen. – Focus on what you do want to happen.  Positive thinking is at the forefront of every great success story.  If you awake every morning with the thought that something wonderful will happen in your life today, and you pay close attention, you’ll often find that you’re right.


30.   Stop being ungrateful. – No matter how good or bad you have it, wake up each day thankful for your life.  Someone somewhere else is desperately fighting for theirs.  Instead of thinking about what you’re missing, try thinking about what you have that everyone else is missing.


    
i got this article from:
http://www.marcandangel.com/2011/12/11/30-things-to-stop-doing-to-yourself/