Various tidbits

Tidbit 1: This site slowing down?

This site is starting to become a bit sluggish... perhaps due to the number of pictures I've inserted. the question is, what is the limit (if any) to all these? I would like to continue adding pictures where and when I can, but if the database integrity is being compromised - if by adding more, this side becomes less responsive, I would find that worrisome.

I have a mirror site for this, and this is, of course, born from the idea that such would be a back up for this site's articles - but should it be realized that that other site can manage resources a bit better, then that may very well turn into the primary site, and this may likely be the secondary site.

Tidbit 2: Visitors from Dubai...

It seems the my brother-in-law and my nephew/god son (Jogie and Gabby, respectively) will be arriving in Manila on the 11th of October - and they shall be staying here for at least a month. I imagine their staying with us. It is but logical, since Jogie is here for training, and his training is in the Ortigas area, hence oru place is the closest area to said training venue.

It will be interesting to talk to Jogie, and to see Gabby. Just worried that while Jogie is working, will Gab like being left alone?

Tidbit 3: Newly met relatives...

I met three of my cousins for the first time. These are the children of my Tito Manolet (Dad's half-brother, whom I've had the vague pleasure of meeting when I was still smaller... way back when). As a Syyap, I hardly join reunions scheduled involving my Dad and his siblings - more so Tito Manolet, whom I would think may not be openly invited - unless it is my Dad's birthday, in which case, he would definitely invite Tito Manolet.

So yeah... I only got to meet Tania, Boogie and Nicki Syyap in our grandfather's funeral. Auspicious start... hopefully our next get together will be less serious and more celebratory.

Tidbit 4: More relatives...

But these three are not the only Syyaps I've had the pleasure of contacting lately... Shiela, my cousin to Tito Caloy (his eldest) contacted me via Facebook - a social site that I've started getting more active in. While her younger half-brother Carl, and another one - Ian, I met through both Friendster and Facebook. Its a great feeling to connect - and I am curious as to who they are, what they're doing and hopefully meeting them soon... yes... even Shiela, whom I've only met very briefly in parties... hardly a place to sit down and catch up with. So yeah... we're all strangers.

It would be nice to have a Syyap reunion - open to all. Now, aside from this, I know of at least one other Syyap that I've yet to meet. had the phone number... but had not called them. Unfortunately I lost the number (more like misplaced) and I hope to find it again, and make contact.

Pictures of Dict's Wedding

I took some pictures in Dict's (my brother-in-law) wedding. This was a great opportunity for me to practice with a lot of subjects, and it was a great time for me to, likewise, capture a few priceless moments. This happened last December 2007 - between Christmas and New Year.

This first one was of the kids - a rare occasion when Bryce and Bernice are with their cousins. There was actually another picture of them, in a more behaved manner - but I find this (almost) stolen shot to be more appealing - natural. Why did I like this better? Simple... it shows Gabby at the verge of grabbing the teddy bear from Bernice, as she looks on - a nice touch, while everyone else is either reacting to the situation, or trying to look at the camera.

The church had a balcony on both sides, and I automatically thought 'Wouldn't it be great to have some pictured viewing the wedding from above?' Call it my 'How to Draw Comics the Marvel way' training - specifically realizing that there can be more dramatic ways to draw scenes - well, who said it can just be limited to drawings? Surely pictures can show the same drama. So up I went - and here are a few shots I took. This second shot is a view of the bride and groom with their parents and sponsors.

I like this one - it was a clear shot of the couple with the priest - again, as viewed from above... one could almost imagine that this was the view 'from up above', as they exchanged their vows. I would title this picture 'as witnessed from heaven'. To think i was just using my trusty Ixus V, digicam... zoomed in for that more focused shot.

Here's the view from the balcony... I was trying to include the flower display from the balcony - unfortunately, my flashbulb made the foreground (flower) overexposed - or the background underexposed. I know I can probably fix this in photoshop - maybe this is could be my next project in editing photos.

Of course, making it official is the signing of the marriage contract. This balcony is a great design for wedding picture taking - I wonder if they really planned it this way, or if i was just one of a few people who'd think of such angles. I know that these - and my other pictures were well appreciated by both Dict and Tonette - after all, I wasn't the official photographer, but I hope I was able to add to the capture of their special date. You could say that this was my personal gift to them.

This one was taken at the reception... when they were officially introduced as Mr. and Mrs. Benedict and Tonette Buenaobra - prior to their first dance.

Now... why didn't I publish this earlier? Simple, I gave Dict the pictures and thought I kept copies for myself... when I was looking for them, I somehow could not find them. Lucky for me, Dict and my in-laws had copies of the pictures. SO here they are... there are more, but they don't present newer angles. Besides, I just wanted to share my first foray into taking pictures of a wedding. Imagine what else I could do with a more sophisticated camera... ah well, maybe next year I will be able to get said Canon Digital SLR.