Photoblog - Day 316 Feb 19, 2011

Bubbles:

I wanted to capture kids at play without looking like a camera wielding perv taking pictures of kids I don't know... but the reason I was in seemingly stalking mode was because one kid in particular was blowing bubbles and the others were reacting to this. That was what I was trying to capture from a relatively safe distance from the kids and their guardians. I really wanted to see how bubbles would look as I took them.

First order of the business was to make sure they were visible to the camera's captured images. After all, bubbles are transparent, so I would need reflective lighting to make the bubbles visible... and lucky for me it was a sunny morning. I was also still getting used to the camera's focus, aperture, white light, etc... so it was really a challenge to try and capture the picture.

That said , I had to do some post-prod work on the picture to ensure the bubbles were really visible. Next time, I'll try to ask my nieces and/or nephews to do the bubbles stuff, so I can literally get closer to them and take better shots.

Photoblog - Day 315 Feb 18, 2011

Friday Reading?

Today was not my typical Friday - meaning it wasn't what I would be usually doing - and that was of course accompanying Barbie to the mall, so she could shop for some needed stuff for a Vietnam trip. Me? Walking around the mall entering different shops isn't my thing, si I prefer to go to the bookstore - peruse what they have, and if I find some interesting stuff, end up buying it.

Alas, such was the case with this pricey PM book (an investment - that's what I keep saying to myself), and the Time magazine. The Vanilla flavored yogurt is just to keep me company as I read the magazine and the Java book that I brought with me, while awaiting Barbie's eventual shopping ending (having visited all the shops she wants to), Not to mention lunchtime - yes... another uncharacteristic thing... waking up early to get to the mall on opening time.

Truly... the things I do for my wife.

Photoblog - Day 314 Feb 17, 2011

New Additions:

This is my new collections - still a relatively small number from what I usually get, but considering the need to stretch the budget until my next paycheck, a welcome rest for me considering the fact that these were the only comics that interested me... and even then the only item I'm collecting in a regular basis here is the JLA... the New Avengers... I'm still on the fence about this, but since it's got Chaykin as collaborator, I decided to try it out.

The Secret Avengers is the only reason I'm even considering this new Onslaught thing - and even then I'm really wondering if it's worth getting at all. Red Robin seems interesting, and this new Batman and Robin arc is likewise worth looking into seeing as I skipped their last arc due to really bad art... and not so interesting story.

Photoblog - Day 313 Feb 16, 2011

Spreading the SPARC:

The Acronym (if I can remember it right) stands for Strategic Partners and Affiliates with Red Cross. And the picture depicts our meeting in the Trophy Room of the Manila Polo Club.

Our reason for this meeting is to tie up with at least two international schools representatives and through them, tap the school's resources should the need arise.

This is technically, planning ahead of possible disasters - and since the Red Cross is a neutral and noble organization, I did not mind being part of the SPARC team. Technically, this is the second official SPARC meeting - though in this case, it's more a focussed discussion for one item.

The idea of SPARC was broached to me by John - an old College friend, and current chairman of the Makati Red Cross branch, and it's scope is (to say the least) vast - hence the real need to forge partnerships with volunteer citizens and companies. Our role is to play mentor roles to the Red Cross volunteer staff, forge partnership alliances with organizations or companies to enable us to use their resources should disasters strike, and basically have a network of volunteers representing various backgrounds and expertise to add diversity and strength to the institution.

Oh yeah, and in the process, I get to widen my network, have a more direct access to blood; should I need it for whatever reason... and mind you, it's not a need I look forward to - but it is nice to know that I can have access when such a time comes. Lastly, to find an excuse to link up once again with some old friends - namely John and hopefully soon, Rudy.

Volunteerism is nothing new to me... after all, at some times in my life, I was a Boy Scout, a Jaycee and a Toastmaster - in all these roles, I served as a volunteer in differing capacities. This is just another aspect... albeit, in a different arena.

Photoblog - Day 312 Feb 15, 2011

Prosperity Tree:

If I'm to understand correctly, this is supposed to be a prosperity tree - one that was set up in the Piazza at the last week of January, in preparation for the Chinese New Year. Well said new year came and went, and the tree stayed up until now.

It's nto something you see everyday, and this one had a promo connected to it. For every Php1,000 worth of accumulated receipts, one could choose a red envelope from the tree and win a prize. Well, thanks to the tea boxes Fiel and I got, I did accumulate receipts enough to join the promo. I then asked Barbie to do the honors of choosing an envelope - though we had been forewarned that the only prize we could get would be an audio CD.

We did get that as a prize - though it was for a local singer whom we weren't really a fan of. So we decided to give it instead to a friend who we know is a fan of said singer. Oh well... maybe this tree did not give me any prosperity - but that doesn't mean I can't get it elsewhere.

Photoblog - Day 311 Feb 14, 2011

Valentine Tea Box:

I was wondering what to give Barbie this Valentine - and contrary to what is the traditional option of flowers (one I never really chose - I guess I'm non-traditional, and a non-conformist in that sense), I wanted something a bit more useful - and definitely different.

So flowers that would wilt after a day or two (and ridiculously priced in Valentine's day at that) were impractical to me - and out of the question. I considered chocolates - on the sneaky thought that I'd get to taste them too, but I could get chocolates any time of the year... besides, I was choosing gifts together with Fiel, and his comment about not promoting health rang a tiny bell (one I could have easily ignored - but chose to heed that day). There were teddy bears too... stuffed toys that look cute (and equally ridiculously priced, just because they were repackaged), but what use were they as well. We've got lots of stuffed toys just gathering dust, and one would not be that much appreciated.

Then I saw this box filled with tea bags and I pointed it out to Fiel as well. We both agreed that the wooden box would be a presentable item in an office environment, and it's contents were also promoting a healthy lifestyle - so... right there and then, we decided to each get a box.

Technically it could be possible to get the tea and box cheaper elsewhere... but hey, time was of the essence too, so spending a little more was not too bad... and it did not feel like highway robbery as well. After all, what we got was not priced higher just because of Valentine, and it is reusable - just buy more tea bags. When I presented it to Barbie and she learned what it was (and opened it), she said the exact thing I thought... that it would look good in her office... and that the tea was seen as healthy. So yeah... she definitely appreciated the box filled with tea.

Photoblog - Day 310 Feb 13, 2011

My New Glasses:

Actually, it's just the frame that's new, on account of my old frame suddenly disassembling before me - apparently, the spring in the right side of the frame broke, separating the arm form the lens.

It was definitely frustrating - and I could not use the frame without either using crude solutions like tape - or have the optical shop do some welding. Unfortunately, should the welding option be done, it would melt the plastic material that my frame was made out of. So, I opted for 'door #3'; which was to consider getting a new frame - one close enough to my old one (they did not have one exactly like it), so I could still re-use my old lenses, which were still as good as new.

I got a good enough price for the frame - a bit pricey, but at least, it looks presentable - and yeah, not as pricey as the one it replaced... after all, the last one was a Ray Ban. Ah well...

The optical person I was talking to even suggested (and though it may come across as potential selling on his part, it still made good sense) that I have a spare set - should things like this happen again in the future. I'll really have to consider that... but not now. Maybe, in a few months time. Meanwhile, I hope this pair lasts longer than the last one.

Photoblog - Day 309 Feb 12, 2011

What's out there?

That seems to be the thoughts of Buffy and Bubbles as they look out through our second floor window at the rear room.

It was a great opportunity for me to try playing with natural lighting while taking something cute. I even set up the tripod with hopes to take more shots of them - alas, cooperative subjects they hardly are, and the cats were nowhere around to add ot their interest in looking out the window. So I had to make do with what I got.

What's not shown in this picture is where they're standing on. I placed my newest storage box filled with comics, beside the window, specifically for this purpose - though not for this particular day... meaning I wanted the dogs; specifically Buffy, to be able to use this to peek out. Bubbles can do it without the box, though I guess in this mode, she need not stretch too much.

Photoblog - Day 308 Feb 11, 2011

Training for Better Meetings:

Yup, this is me in action at an Achieving Meeting Results training session - specifically, me giving some pointers on how our participants could have improved their skills regarding facilitating their meetings.

Truthfully told, this picture was a surprise, I can just assume that Mon, my partner in said training, took it upon himslef to take the camera and take two shots of me in action - seeing as I was doing it the entire day to our participants, it was not an unlikely assumption that I wanted - but did not voice out to anyone, that my picture be taken.

So thanks, Mon... and since I did not take this picture, well... let's make this my official picture for February. After all, it shows what I look like at this time, it shows me in action - and best of all, it shows me in a situation where I am definitely unaware of the shot being taken. Not top mention, it shows me with my new shirt too.

I did little adjustment here - merely cropping a few background - thus making the subjects bigger, adding some contrast and balancing with a little over-all brightness, other than that, what you see is what was taken.

Photoblog - Day 307 Feb 10, 2011

Lunch with Friends:

This was unplanned - it just happened to be possible because everyone was in the vicinity with their respective trainings, hence we were able to set an impromptu get together for lunch.

You're looking at a handful of really great (meaning skillful) Corporate Trainers - colleagues all... and it is a rare thing to find us all in one place - as we're usually scattered by necessity of training locations. Today, however, was uniquely different, seeing as we (as in our trainings) were all near (if not beside) each other's rooms.

Everyone ended up eating in Max's and talking shop - meaning updating everyone with what was happening with their respective trainings. In the middle of all this, I asked everyone to smile - then announced to them all that thanks to them, I had my 'picture of the day'. They all laughed, since they all knew about this Photoblog.

As for me, I had lunch at home a little earlier, so I just accompanied them. The good news is, it looks like we'll still be able to repeat this lunch get together tomorrow. How cool is that?

Photoblog - Day 306 Feb 9, 2011

Slow day?

Yeah, it's actually been a slow day today - stayed home, watched some DVDs, got to charge my iPod (after not using it for at least two months), got some of my newer comics organized into a new plastic storage container, read two comic books - then emailed Marvel (for the first time) and updated my Photoblog... while finalizing my schedule for the rest of the week (hence my scheduler).

Not that I'm complaining, after all, I was able to rest... and despite all this, I found myself wanting for more time to do other stuff. After all, I'll need at least two days to organize my cabinet - one to clean it up... and another to rest.

Photoblog - Day 305 Feb 8, 2011

Simple yet Picturesque:

Getting a great sunset in the city is hard to accomplish. You've got too many buildings blotting out the horizon to see an actual setting sun the likes of which Boracay is known to produce.

Yet once in a while... like this instance, you see how the clouds, the weather, the buildings... all these seem to just form the right mix - and you have a simple, yet spectacular sunset... not by seeing the sun itself setting down - but with the effects it has on the building - creating a nice silhouette; how the sun's rays seem to visibly radiate from behind the building; and how the low cloud covering just allows enouhg sunlight to likewise shape it's outline.

I was obviously at the right place, at the right time to get this picture. Lucky for me, I had my camera to take the picture. Then it was a simple matter to increase the contrast to further emphasize the sunset. Nothing too exagerrated... nor too complicated. The better pictures just let the subject - in this case, nature and it's surroundings, speak for itself.

Photoblog - Day 304 Feb 7, 2011

Hunter's Instinct?

This peculiar behavior was something we all got surprised with - and by we, I mean Barbie, Ben and me. After all, Buffy never showed this particular behavior - then again, we never did pit a flashlight on her face... but it's not the flashlight's light that is keeping her so interested... so concentrated.

Yes, she's hardly moving... keeping still, almost like she were hunting. Notice the alert look, the erect tail and the one leg up... as if she were ready to sprint at a second's notice? Apparently, she was all that... you see, said flashlight happens to have another feature... that of a laser pointer, and when Buffy sees the red dot of said pointer on the floor, she goes gaga racing after it.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the reason for her alert look and hunter's stance. Buffy has been conditioned to anticipate the light's arrival (meaning we just turn the laser pointer on and aim at the floor) and give it her best (but failed) shot to capture the light... once and for all.

Photoblog - Day 303 Feb 6, 2011

New Fans:

The group's name is, believe it or not... the Rainmakers - yet their voices are hardly that bad to make the heavens weep. On the contrary, their blending is nice to listen to - and the songs they are known for happen to be categorized as within the pop ballad genre.

The four gentlemen have been around for a long time now - and I'm assuming they're all the original singers from the 80's - as those were their golden years (meaning golden as their hits, and not golden as their ages seem to imply these days).

Well, these gentlemen were guest performers for the launch of an internet show about parenting - and though I was not around to learn more about the show, I did get to hear the Rainmakers sing. In fact, when Barbie heard them, she did not believe me that these were the guys she heard of way back when in the radio and vinyl records, seeing as they sounded a lot younger than gentlemen of their age - just quoting how Barbie described them.

As my curiosity took the better of me, since we could just hear them from where we were drinking our coffee, I decided to look... and possibly take a picture. We were positioned one floor above from where they were performing, which afforded me a good view. So I also noticed the many children lingering by the stage's edge... possibly their new fans? Who knows?

I won't be surprised though, with timeless voices that they seem to possess, that may just be the case in five to ten years... that is, if they're still around. I mean, look at groups like the Rolling Stones. How long have they been around, right?

Photoblog - Day302 Feb 5, 2011

Playing with Fire:

Yes, this is a lady making the moves in a fire dance number - and no, I did not go to a club to pay and see this.

This little number happens to be just one of the many entertainments in a night of get together, camaraderie and home-coming celebration. I speak of course of the La Salle Greenhills High School reunion/home-coming for 2011.

To take this picture, I, and a multitude of camera-wielding, hot-blooded, green... er... 'hearted' alumni took our positions by the stage's edge. Security, took one understanding look at us - realized we weren't that rowdy, and thought... what the hey - you can take the man out of La Salle, but you can't take the La Sallite out of the man.

Anyway... I first used a flash - but not seeing the effect I was hoping for, I switched to non-flash mode, making the exposure stay open longer - thus giving the fire-trail effect I was hoping for. The down side here was the non-clear facial features of the performers, and as pretty as some of their faces may have been, I was more after the fire-trail effect, hence my taking the pictures this way (and a few flash shots for good measure), and choosing this particular picture amongst the dozens I had taken.

I mean, let's face it... I could have placed a picture of my batchmates here... maybe with me in the pciture as well... but how many opportunities will I have to capture a fire dancer in action? Not that many, so here it is... my picture of a fire dancer.

Yes, that is a tattoo at her lower right stomach area. I have a clearer picture of it... but with less dramatic flame movements.

Photoblog - Day 301 Feb 4, 2011

Urban Forest?

This seemingly lush vegetation is no virgin forest - in fact, it's not even a forest at all. It's what happens when you just let nature grow its shrubs - which later become trees, which later cover your usual concrete areas as well.

So where is this seeming lush jungle? It happens to be at the back of the Cyber3 building - an adjacent and seemingly abandoned lot to the warehouse converted to a series of badminton and basketball courts - in fact, I doubt if this vegetation is as lush at it seems from the ground view... then again, it could be.

What does this mean to me? For one, it's a spot of green; a break from the all concrete monotony of the city - a place to convert all the carbon dioxide to oxygen. Two, it is a possible area for airsoft games. Though I have not played airsoft for years now, that doesn't mean I don't see opportunities for it.

So, if anyone is reading this... anyone interested in looking for jungle (or forest) war games, this may be your place. Don't call me though... better to ask that badminton place at Pioneer in Mandaluyong.

Photoblog - Day300 Feb 3, 2011

Welcome Metal Rabbit!

Yup, like the usual New Year celebration, we made some preparation by buying fruits and other fortune-related practices, like Tikoy and those chocolate coins. Then we waited for midnight to celebrate - though not in the same intensity as the January 1st celebration. I will try to explain the practice.

The tikoy is a rice-based product that , when cooked, is slightly sticky and sweet (not to mention, oily). But the idea behind the tikoy is that it's stickiness is indicative of the family's closeness to each other... so in a way, this represents unity. On the other hand, the fruits represent having food on the table all year round., while the coins - albeit being made of chocolate, represents fortune and sweetness. Then there's the fortune cookies = technically props, but nice to have and open as we celebrated the first minutes of the Chinese New Year.

So yeah, this is a practice filled with old sayings...and as some people are quick to point out, these are just tales... with little or no proof ot their working - yet despite that, I know a lot of people still practicing these traditions.

Me? At the least, I know I've helped welcome the New Year properly - whether these tales happen or not, I find the presence of the fruits (and their consumption of course) healthy... so I guess, that's another reason - to assure one's self and family of health the whole year round. Wouldn't we want that?

On the side note... hey! My 300th post! Awesome!

Photoblog - Day 299 Feb 2, 2011

The Lion Dance:

As part of Chinese tradition, welcoming the lunar new year involves practicing fortune-attracting practices like Geomancy and the welcoming of the Lion and Dragon dance - sought for it's ability to ward off bad vibes, and in the process, attract more positive vibes.

This involves youths under the Lions (as seen in this picture) which usually needs two people to handle it - and the dragon, which entails close to a dozen (maybe more) people to handle it's long serpentine body... a body I could not take a clear picture of due ot it's length. Accompanying the Lions and Dragon is a drum and cymbal ensemble to supply the loud noise that is supposed to ward of the bad spirits.

Whether it really works or not - the Lion Dance is a worthy show to watch on the side... and it comes as a reminder that the new Lunar Calendar is about to start. In this case, it is to welcome the Year of the Rabbit - so Kung Hei fat Choi to everyone! May fortune smile upon us this 2011.

Photoblog - Day 298 Feb 1, 2011

Anachronistic Service?

This is the Philippine Postal Service's main building in Manila - a great looking edifice with architectural designs at least 50 years old.

For a building this age it's been preserved quite well - perhaps a testament to the architect and engineer's genius - and the building's sturdiness to weather the passing of time.

But with the advent of the email, the population of the service's visitors has drastically decreased - in fact, I can't remember when I had last used 'snail mail', as it is referred to often in online circles. So one has to really wonder - is the postal service still relevant in this day and age? For now, the answer will have to be yes.

You see, the reason why I went here was to pick up a package (a book mailed to me, and in the interest of economics, what used to be delivered to my doorstep, now has to be picked up in the post office), so in that vein, I found the need for the postal service. Technically this was just the second time I've visited this building (for the same reason) in recent months - prior to this, I probably last visited the post office decades ago... maybe in the '80s.

So as you can see, I hardly find the need or use for the postal service. In fact, should I have an iPad or a Kindle, I would hardly need a physical delivery of any book. I guess, that's progress - but until everyone can have access (and the education that comes with it) to the Internet, realistically speaking, the postal service will still be needed. Anachronistic it may be... but not totally useless.

Photoblog - Day 297 Jan 31, 2011

Artistic cream:

It's just an afterthought when added to your favorite drink in countless Starbucks coffee shops around the globe. I've been a welcome consumer of these things for years now - and though they are avoided by some calorie-conscious people, it still is a welcome artistic addition to my frap whenever I see these.

This one in particular seemed well placed, it was an artistic rendition to my drink - so much so that I decided to take a picture of it.

I had another picture with the rest of the drink, but this one had a better look at the cream's design, so I chose this. I then upped the contrast a bit, to add emphasis to the design, and viola! A picture perfect topping.