Wedded bliss

Photography, on higher ground.

This is it. I'm leveling up, and definitely this July, i'll be shooting more, cause I'm hungry for more. First steps are workshops and open photoshoots. Time to step it up.

Here are samples of what I recently did during a photography workshop. These images were done with post-processing.

I don't want to feel this way

Yep. But I can't help it. Maybe insecurity is starting to hit me. Please don't. I don't want to feel this way. I need to be strong,

I really need to be....

I inspired another couple, but please just ask

Last time when I was browsing the net, I saw a map that was exactly like the one I drew for our invitation. Found out they "used" our "map" as their own. They just "tweaked" some details and colors, and made it as their official "map". It was kinda unpleasant at first... well, discovering that someone you don't know and didn't asked for permission used you're personal property which happened to be my art piece and copyrighted mat. But as I thought about it, some uneasiness had faded, when I realized that I have inspired that couple and actually became a part of their wonderful day, well... in some way.

I wouldn't mind if only they asked for my permission. It is still my art. Just ask. Please.

So when this couple, who happened to be our friend by the way, told me they wanted to use our "chucks" as part of their invitation, did I said "no way"? No, why should I? For they asked me nicely.

Our "chucks" used by our friend as part of their wedding invitation

Because I miss Lego so much....

I just can't help but draw him.... ^___^

Our online portfolio

http://artwerkstudios.wordpress.com/

My grad pic

Guess what, this is me. This is my grad pic. And would you believe, this had been inside my bebi's wallet since the day I gave it to him eight years ago.

I can still remember when he once said that, I'm the most beautiful girl in his life, will always be and he'll hold dearly near his heart, always and forever. Love you much bebi!

Happy Birthday Bebi kew!

I love you so much! You complete us! Go three musketeers!

Lego loves the camera!

Yeah, our little cupcake do this whenever he sees me holding the camera. He will try to steal it from me. Or pose. Or stare. And then make that big smile.

A model someday? Hmmm.. I think a photographer too, like me! Sweet! 

You'll have all my support, baby. And all my gears!

I'm a winner!

I was glad and humbled for being the first to post an article in our SP site (which is still under construction and will be fully operated soon). The article I wrote was re-posted in the blog (link here: http://chocoberryorange.blogspot.com/2011/11/second-life-at-streets.html)

We had a meeting last November 19 and we were really grateful with our wonderful host, Kuya Egay. The Pancit Malabon was superb, same with the cheesy pichi-pichi and putong puti. Mike brought some barbeque, while Sir Luis shared a sumptuous chocolate cake. I brought kapeng barako by the way, which they said was really soothing and a nice blend.

But what's more exciting, was the company. My WOW family was superb! I really had a wonderful time and I'm looking forward to our next get together.

Sir Luis handing me my token for being the first to submit the blog article.

Second life, at the streets

People who don’t know what happened may wonder why I let go of a career many would wish they have. I was on its peak, meeting people I never imagined in my life would be my acquaintances. I even had a footage of myself aired on TV during our prestigious exclusive high profile events. Work was hard, but pretty satisfying. And I learned a lot about it, plus, I had worked with really great people.

So why leave? At first, I was really afraid to let go. Not so much financially (which was actually a big factor based on how life is today), but more on the fact that maybe, “they”, my colleagues, will go on their lives, and I will be left behind.

The career was really promising, but my health didn’t allow me. Yes. That was the real score why I left. My health. It will be too risky for me to come back to that life. A life I learned to love.

But as they say, life will go on, and everything is already planned. Yeah, my second life should go on and it was time to move forward and face my so called destiny.

So, I looked back, far beyond that wonderful career, and for some reason, it took me far way back until I saw my life before that promising career. And I saw myself when I was still an aspiring photographer. Yep, it was during my elementary days when I first had my film camera. I was the school paper’s photojournalist from elementary to high school. Even in college, photography was my thesis. And I got good grades.

I don’t know, but it might really be a coincidence that I stumbled to this group, WOSW (Wide Open Street Workshop) when I was starting to search for myself.  Kuya Ray (Leyesa, a WOSW alumnus and my angel) casually mentioned it to me. “Ey, may street photography sa Sabado, baka gusto mo subukan. PM Sir Luis Liwanag, here’s his FB account.”

To be honest, I only got three thousand pesos that time. I was jobless remember? And all our savings was spent to hospitalization. So I was thinking, is it worth it? This money must better be well spent. Last money I have, and I got tons of loans to pay. Not to mention our cable TV that was past due notice.

Instinct and “desire” perhaps, I pm’d Sir Luis and said I’ll join the workshop. Without hesitation, I committed my three thousand.

Street photo day one, Baclaran. There were so much in mind that I was thinking. I was hoping for a very fruitful result for my last investment. And as I met them, one by one, seeing them in action, laughing with them, learning with them, meeting whom I considered as the “photo Gods” in an art hub, I can’t hardly wait for day two.

Though not a hundred percent recovered, I didn’t feel tired even if we walked the whole day,scanning Quiapo and Binondo area for SP’s” just waiting to be captured. I was uplifted and inspired to look for subjects. I somehow felt challenged by my colleagues, which in a positive way, made me excited and inspired even more. I really want to deliver something that will make them proud. They have given me reasons to give it my all and capture the best shot. Each individual had his own story to tell, and I wanted to be part of it.

There, I felt a sense of belonging. Something I had been missing for so long. Something that I have forgotten and was rediscovered. Something that I really want.

The workshop was not just about learning street photography. It is a discovery. And I discovered not just the streets, but myself and the world beyond it.

Now, I’m loving photography even more. And Street Photography genre had given me a whole new perspective in life.

Street now is my life. My second life actually.

And it is my new career, the street as my new home, and them as my new family.

And so I can say, that three thousand pesos was the best investment I ever did.

"Looking forward, Stepping ahead and moving on" /  Statue of Ninoy in Baywalk.

"The look". A kid in Baclaran, still optimistic despite the heat and noise.

"Hearing the Mass from the Outside" -- Outside Baclaran Church, people I wonder what their prayers are for.

"We all have the same wheels, going on different directions" -- Somewhere near Quiapo

"My stairs is not solitary" -- Somewhere in Binondo

Taken during Day 01 of the workshop, somewhere in Baclaran, this pic I considered as my first SP shot.  / "My foot with the colorful steps."

I'm so in love

Everytime my bebi closed the gate to head to work, he will pause for a moment, look back and says I love you with a sweet smile, which brought me back to the same feeling I felt when I first met him. The "kilig" moment is still there, and hasn't fade a bit.

I-con

Thanks for the breakthrough and showing us that dreams are endless and all possible. Great job Mr. Jobs.

Vintage

Watching these shows made me realized that I have a huge fascination with vintage things. Maybe it started during my childhood. Before we moved to Lian, we lived in Wawa's house and she loves antiques so I think her collections had a great impact on me.

I hope someday, when LA and I finally have our own house, I'll be able to decorate it with vintage things. I actually have antique jars already which I found in Tatay's bodega and made into luminaries. Oh, I will love to put some vintage artwork on our future house wall made of terracotta bricks. Some vintage stools in our mini bar adjacent to our kitchen, or classic lighting beside our comfy couch. Oh, a 1966 Ford Fairlane GT390 downstairs wouldn't be bad at all.

Vintage and recycled. That will be our theme. Classic beauty. Loved by nature.

Oh well, someday... someday. ^_^

For Square

Because someone really cares.

"Square"

Last Friday, September 30, LA and I decided to go to Makati Cinema Square to have lunch. At the basement parking, we found an abandoned kitten. He's so little but his voice, as soft as it is, can be heard even if the engines of the parked cars were louder than his. Our hearts can't simply ignore this little soul and as we approached him, we realized that he was still a baby, maybe a few days old. What concerned us more, aside from the heat and the smoke  in the basement which adds to his agony and hunger from abandonment, was his crippled back legs. After checking his condition, LA looked at me and I read through his eyes that question if we could bring him home. Feeling the same way, I nodded. LA picked him up carefully. We get back to the car and drove to the nearest Mercury Drugstore to buy a dropper for his feeding. We totally forgot our reason why we went to MCS which is to have lunch, but that hunger was ignored because we were more concerned about the kitten's immediate needs.

By the way, we decided to name him Square, derived from the place where we found him.

At home, we looked for a basket, put two cushions so Square can lay comfortably. LA prepared his milk and I showed him how to use the dropper. Square sipped a little. Maybe he knew we were there and he decided to sleep after a few more sip. We brought him inside our room and placed his basket near where we could check upon him easily.

LA kept his caring eyes on him all day. Even checked him whenever he cries at dawn.

But despite our efforts, his fragile body couldn't fight anymore. After three days, he finally let go.

LA asked me if what we did was ok. That if we could have done something more to keep him stay longer. I just told him that maybe, Square really asked for us, that he cried his loudest for us to hear, back there in the basement,  because he knew that we could at least do our best, to make him feel loved and cared.

We will miss you Square and hope for that short little time, we made you happy, cause you made us feel so.

Flashback! K by Cunanan's Food Tasting

Alam ko na medyo late na (two years late, to be more specific) ang post na ito. Pero I noticed na medyo popular yun wedlink ko regarding our wedding caterer, K by Cunanan. Anyway, I dug this pic sa old hard disk and decided to share it to all brides or event planners who are looking for reviews about K.

Well, all I can say is, pretty pretty satisfied kami on having K as our caterer. Awesome food and service, plus yun styling nya was added bonus talaga.

The pics below aren't exactly yun kinuha namin for the wedding, pero most of it eh yun ang na-served. Like yun appettizer, salad, rice and dessert. Why you wonder bakit di kami nag go sa pasta, kasi di mahilig si LA sa pesto. Tapos yun baby potatoes di rin kasi ayaw namin mabusog agad yun guests, hehe.

Here's our menu: Cocktail hour: Hoisin chicken wrap, Fresh Vietnamese springroll, Spinach and feta cheese triangles with marinara sauce. Dinner: Assorted bread with Liver Pate; Brocolli cheese soup and squash soup; Barbeque chicken salad, Grilled red snapper with mango salsa and coconut cream, Japanese rolled chicken stuffed with cheese and leeks drizzled with teriyaki sauce, Honey nut prawn, carrot rice, panna cotta with strawberry and mango, banoffee cups, chocolate mousse in martini glasses, flourless chocolate cake, apple crumble with vanilla ice cream, raspberry iced tea, brewed coffee and tarragon tea. Kung may na miss ako, sensya na po kasi nakalimutan ko na. Pero more or less, eto yun menu namin.

Below are the pics of our first food tasting with K. Yun second tasting where kasama na namin family, di na nakunan ng picture, kasi sobra nag enjoy na kami sa pagkain. ^_____^



Brocolli Soup (super yummy!)



Spinach and feta cheese triangles with marinara sauce(Heaven!)



Barbeque Chicken Salad (to die for!)



Carrot rice (Fave ni LA)



 Mixed seafood or vongole pasta with chopped fresh tomatoes and pesto
(Fave ko kaya lang di hilig ni LA ang pesto)



Baby potatoes with beef (dunno exactly pero sarap din)

Grilled Tuna with Wasabi Mashed Potato (kaiba kaya I like)

Cream Brulee (yum!)

Defense of the Ancients aka DoTA

Well, well, well. I should have written something about this looooooonnnggg ago because this is the only "karibal" I have with LA (which actually made me thankful.. you know.. rather than.. you know...)

Anyway, I used to play DoTA or Defense of the Ancients under the WoW (World of Warcraft) Frozen Throne game. A map made by Icefrog. Seriously, this Icefrog is hell of a genius where I used to quote, "Why the heck didn't I thought about DoTA? I should have created it not him!" Ok, enough of Icefrog, well my first character was Razor, after is Lina Inverse, and then shifted to Bristleback (cause I love dogs you know). I played Kardel too. I enjoyed playing this game whenever I'm with LA's side as sentinels fighting the scourge heroes controlled by his brothers' Jo and Awi. We even went to EGG (Extreme Gaming Grounds) in Glorietta before just to play in multiplayer flatform of four. Whew, that was a long time ago and having the most updated map now and new build heroes made that EGG experience really ancient! Oh well, hehe, time passed so fast when you're enjoying. Right now, rented pc servers and LAN were history cause we enjoyed the game in the comfort of our own couch, thanks to gaming laptops Jo and Awi purchased for themselves.

But I stopped playing DoTA.

Why did I stopped playing? One reason, I hate dying heroes, heheh. Also, I hate to think that LA will get frustrated on me cause I will rampage all his sentinels. After all, I'm a very good player! Bwaha! Better stop now than give him reason to get disappointed. Right bebi? *winks

Hey, I'm still a DoTA player at heart and I'll just be my bebi's best supporter whenever he have a game, may it be in against the Garena trashtalkers or the Newsboys. ^_^

DoTA joke from Marlex Palomar “PALS"

This made me cry....

That's why I always say "I love you" to all the people that matters to me most, cause hearing their replies simply completes the meaning of my life. They are my life, my everything.

So LA, my bebi, I love you so much dear. Lego, Mama loves you so much. Nanay and Tatay, I love you and so many thanks. To all my family, I love you all. My friends, I'm just here.



Wedding photography

I received a call just this afternoon inquiring about my availability on October 15. They want me to be the main photographer on a wedding. Ok. Well, uhm... wedding? OMG! Am I ready?????

Honestly, this is my first wedding photo assignment, and I also consider this as my big break in the business. I'd been doing engagement shoots before so I can say I'm already familiar with the "pre-wedding" scenario. Yeah, the actual wedding event is pretty different with prenups, so does it mean I'm not ready yet?

Well, kidding aside, I have been doing some corporate coverages recently which became my bread and butter and guess what, I'd been doing quite well. My client even said I'm pretty smart in one occasion! And I'm sure that they are pretty satisfied with the services I have given them, cause if not, why hire me for five consecutive occasions, ayt? And yes, they are are planning to hire me again for more assignments and I'll be hearing from them soon.

Also, I always have this feeling of nervousness and excitement whenever I am given a photography project where my guts always tells me that whenever I feel like this, I will do quite well. That's what I felt exactly when I heard about the wedding photography job. Yes, I felt nervous and excited at the same time.

So, am I ready for wedding photography? Hell yes! As a matter of fact, I just assembled my team! The Focus Studio Creative Team! 

Wait world, we are coming! We have our passion and love for photography which will serve as our weapons and armors to conquer the creative world of exposure! And as our aperture started to shine, soon, the balance of light will be bestowed upon us and we'll be developed as "A Peek'Ture" perfect organisms who will form the ART OF LIGHT. ^____^

Ok, back to reality.... (reading wedding photography ebook... Ah, so that's the trick, I see... next page....)