Spring in Bloom @ Parkway Parade

Well just like what I have predicted, my weekend was full of photo sessions. There are at least seven fashion shows today: 2pm @Ngee Ang, 2:30 @Parkway, 3pm @Marina, 4pm @Raffles, 4pm @ Ngee Ang, 5pm @Paragon, 7pm @Ngee Ang and those were only for show that were open for public. I haven't counted yet those private show, and those shows that I didn't knew of. Huh! It was difficult to decide which one to choose buti na lang, Jared called up and ask me to join him at the Parkway. Hmm, that would be okay, I thought. I still have no pictures in that place yet, and I perhaphs they have new models.

The Parkway fashion show was quite unique. There was no runway and there was only one small circular ramp where the models would pose. How they did it? They used the regular mall pathways to serve as runway and then clean up one area in a cafe as ramp. Creative, isn't it?

The problem was, where will we position ourselves? Hala! we did see-saw shooting - follow the models as they walk along the "runway" and then wait for them to pose in that small ramp. It was a bad way of shooting! I have never done it before and the need to do contant adjustments on the camera since the lighting changes dramatically (the available light only comes from the Neon lights and Signboards of adjacent stores) was simply too much for a newbie like me. The results? All bad underexposed and off-colored shots. Had I not decided to settle on one area and wait for the models to pass, I would not be able to get good shots. It was a bit late though - the show was almost over. Jared, by the way, was there and was all along enjoying the show. Huah!

Then out of the blue, one of the show wardens started asking who are we and why are we taking pictures. Bad trip, it was the time when the models started to show some skin! Grrrrr!!!&$#**$%%%??!!! I miss all the beautiful skin shots. Anyway, I simply ignore the lady warden and continued shooting. She tried to call the nearest security officer to stop us... but the officer simply responded "they are not causing trouble". Hehehe...

Okay, enough for the dakdak... where are the photo sample? See below. Oi, Pinay yan ha! She's beautiful, right?

and here's more for the beautiful models...

Addidas Show @ Raffles City

What would you do if your photog friend send you a text saying there's an Addidas Fashion Show at the Raffles City today at 7pm? Of course, a photog like me would make sure that my camera and lenses are clean, the memory cards all initialized, the batteries fully charged, and etc..etc.. are ready!

Aba, I am getting obsessed with my new found hobby. Last week weekends, I was fully booked with photo sessions at the Mellenia and at the Marina and all were fashion shows. Then this weekend it will also be a fully book day, and you you guess it right, it's also a fashion show. You might wonder, why so many shows of this type? Hmm... for the non-local readers, fyi, the city is currently celebrating its annual Fashion Festival, and it usually spans for at least 10 days and involves all the major stores and fashion designers in the city. This year, he organizers had promised to make it grand hence they kindda "imported" many beautiful models.

Anyway back to business, I was talking about the addidas fashion show, lest I forget what I wanted to write, where I arrived at the place just in time - the show was about to begin. I eagerly queued at the entrance but was disappointed when the usherette informed me that the show was by invitation only. I didn't know that? And who would invite this fat critter, com'on, would this I may have to stay at the outside? That's not gonna happen, for sure, pinoy ako eh!

Indeed I was right. When I went at the back stage I found an entrance intended for the food caterers and easily got inside. I found a good place near the first curve of the ramp and stayed there. My photog friends Jared and Melvin also found the back entrance - that makes us three!

My first 100 shots were not good. Most of it were underexposed and blurred, mainly because of poor lighting and my lens, the Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6, was not fast enough to get the models focused. But when I changed to my newly acquired Canon 50mm F1.8, huah... the pictures were simply splendid. The pictures were sharp and clear despite the poor light conditions. Well, to see is to believe right? Okay, here's one good shot.

okay.. i'll here's a good teaser

and don't ask for more... *wink* *wink*

Of the 300++ pixs I took at the show, I made at least a dozen good photos. But, sorry, I cannot to post those sexy photo's in my blog, its not good for the health... hehehe. Kidding aside, it's because many of my friends who regularly read my blog are in Saudi Arabia, and alam mo na, everything is forbidden in there and web pages like is most likely to be censored.

Hmm, maybe one of this days i'll just buy a domain and post all my photos in a database format.

That if I win a lottery!

Lingerie Show @ Mellenia Walk

Clean the house! It's been three weeks overdue and I agree... I just have to do it.

I left at around 4pm. I would have plenty of time to spare, I thought, since the Fashion Show at Ngee Ang was scheduled at 7:30pm. I even dilly dally on my way to the MRT, using all opportunity to get pictures of Bedok area while reading the manual of my 20D. Probably, I would at least pick up the basics on what my camera can offer. Yeah, my 20D has been with me for almost a month yet we are still strangers to each other. Grr!!! I still have so much to learn.

Oh before I forget, I met this Pinay lady inside the train. We exchange smiles and then had a good conversations. I realized that she was staying just across my block, which was quite amazing because for over a year that I stayed in my place, I never saw her in the bus nor at Sheng Song shopping store. There's only two explaination I could think of... first because I a home body (???) and the 2nd, she's not that interesting! Hehehe... Anyway, she's nice to talk with. We parted along Lucky Plaza when I saw Glenn who just came from Ngee Ang.

Glenn told me that he has watch the 3pm show and is now going to Mellenia for another show. Glenn also told me that the 7:30 show is exclusive and may need ticket to get in. Huh, my schedule was off! Anyway, the Mellenia Show at 7pm, he whisphered is much better. It's a lingerie show. Wow! I don't have to think about it, instinct told me to go with them. And just as Glenn told me, the rest of the guys were there: Bhong, Mac and his wife Nadine, and the people from photonski - Raffy and Lyn. There were also other photographers whose names I forgot and gee... they all flaunt their expensive lens and camera. Most of them had "L" lens if not Nikkor lens. While me?.. hah! just an ordinary Sigma lens. I didn't feel bad anyway. What matter would be the end result - the picture, not the accessories. Ako pah!

The show proper started at around 7:10. The clothes, at first, were a bit wholesome but started to get skimpier as the show goes on. With pretty and sexy model, there was of course, excitement in the air and you could easily feel that on the photographers. Each one was trying to get the best possible position - the closer the better - and every angle counts. Where was I? Hehhe.... I was sitting at the end of the runway and was taking shot upwards. I could see everything, I meant "everything". Yes!

Let me post some pictures, perhaps next week, after Friendster allows me upload more photos. *wink*

What was more interesting with this photog session, was the chance to meet the models. I met at least three of them and they asked me if I can send the pictures to their email. I didn't waste time of course, I gave them my card and asked them to write their email on my notepad. Before parting, I was able to shake their hands and made beso-beso (just kidding).

Sabi ko sa iyo.. si Jorge ito!

KL day 2

Let's review what I done yesterday. Hmm... 300++ shots on speeding F1 cars - all with dismal results such as cars in valves, blurred cars with frozen background, frozen car with over exposed background, and blurred car with blurred background (majority of it) hehehe.

According to Bong, my teachers, I have to adjust the ISO sensitivy to 200 since its cloudy, set focusing to AI Servo, set Camera mode to Aperture priority - maximum, and reset the color temperature. Lastly, I have to take as many sample shots as I could so I can adjust the white balance according the histogram of the pictures. Hah! and you think I understand all about that? Of course not! Ah basta, I just set my camera to Priority mode F/4 then set all the rest to default.

Si Glenn naman, told me to do panning. Hmmm.. p(r)anning.. sino yun? I guess, he realized that I don't have any idea what he was saying all about, he just smiled and shake his head. He asked me though to get a monopod, set my 20D on top of it, then set the camera to multi-shot. Next instruction was to to aim and follow the speeding cars, and once I achieved focus hit the click button and continue pressing until the car had passed by. Click click click... and more click followed. Hohwaa! I made 15 shots in three seconds. This camera is great! (Pero ubos ang memory)

Glenn further explained that the objective of panning is to take one good shot by doing burst takes. Indeed, I got not only one good picture but two great pictures.

Hehehe... now I know how to do it.

Okay... here's one for Michael Schumacher. For the rest of the drivers, i'll upload it once Friendster allow me to load more photos. I already posted 50 pics this month (paano kaya yun? - ah di marunong mag bilang si Friendster).

KL ... night

Exhausted and tired, we decided, at around 3pm, to call it a day. Everyone sighed in relief... understandably because everybody was hungry, no doubt about it, and sleepy too. We still have to travel though - an hour at least, towards Kuala Lumpur proper but didn't matter, we all wanted to rest. And truly enough, in less than five minutes of travel, everyone had fallen asleep.

We stayed at the fully book Grand Seasons hotel. I guess if we have not confirmed our reservation last month, it would be a challenge to get a place for 12 people. Oh by the way, we have chosen adjacent rooms with easy access to each other, meaning we have common doors. Great!

Past 8pm, we went out for dinner, and the destination of choice? LCC! (Hmm.. to those who are not familiar with the place, it's the Petronas Twin Towers.) We actually planned to have some kind of fish buffet but having no knowledge of the place, we opted for steak at the Chilli's. Then after dinner, we did a stroll around the place to check out the night life of the city. Yeah, we did find some good watering holes, typical gimmick areas for yuppies, and some exotic places like the haven of transvestites. But none of these appealed to us. We just pass by at the Hard Rock Cafe, bought some novelty items then decided to go home.

And you think I would go home? Of course not!

Glenn and Ian secretly asked me if I am interested to join them for a drink, "gee.. of course" I exclaimed! Secretly, we separated from the group and went to Pit Stop, a crowded place full of beautiful girls err ladies (wowee), and... hah, I'll leave it to you guessing what happened next. Just remember, it's me Jorge in a bar ;-)

Don't worry, I'll give some hints of what the girls look like.

I know what's in you mind... hehehe, of course the shorter one. But the taller girl was better, I heard. Nah... I don't know.

Kuala Lumpur

It's nice to be back here in Kuala Lumpur. I can feel the "touch" of reality: traffic, bumpy roads, pollution, and undisciplined crowd just like what you normally see in Manila. A far cry from we "normally" enjoy in the beautiful life in Singapore.

Sepang F1 Circuit as seen at C2 Area

Okay, enough of the nostalgia. Let's talk about Formula One.

We arrived at Sepang at around 9am. Well you could say we were too early and that we have counted our group as among the first 25 people in the arena. It was good though, as we were able to pick the best place and view of the race.
On our left is the long stretch of viewing stand C2 facing the right leaf of the race track, our front faces the Grandstand and the dangerous 180deg curve, and on our right is the upper curve of the track. Huh! what I am trying to describe here? To give you an idea of what I am talking about... see below.

Now before you make comment, I have to remind you, these were taken from my new Canon 20D camera and I admit, I am having a hard time wrestling with the controls. Oh, how I wish I was successful in composing a long continous shots covering the whole area. Anyway, I managed to get some decent shots. Right? Don't disagree!

You might wonder where are the F1 cars in the pictures? Hmm... I made several shots, actually over 500 pics, but not a single one was worth posting. If its not overexposed or underexposed, the composition is baaaddd! Just imaging taking pictures of cars speeding at 200++kph, what pics do you expect a novice like me can capture? Yeah, you guess it right, pics of cars in halves!

Honestly, I was becoming desperate. I did good with my old Olympus C730UZ but this new SLR, I am totally screwed. Grrr.. !*#$%!><$@!! Buti na lang, I was with the bunch of helpful guru like Glenn and Bhong who readily provided assistance with such predicament. Kaya nga, I did spend most of my time standing besides them and patiently observe how they set their camera and how they compose their shots, especially with Bhong since we have the same model of SLR. I made one, only one acceptable shot, but I will not post it here. I save it for my next blog entry.

F1 @ Sepang

Okay, i'll confess... i've been waaaiting for this day to come for so loooong! Finally, the day of reckoning arrived.

I remember a month ago, Bobby asked me if I am interested to go to Kuala Lumpur to watch the F1 - Sepang circuit race. The plan was to go with Satya (with his fellow Indian friends), leave Singapore Saturday early morning then spend the rest of the day touring Kuala Lumpur, and to save for hotel fees we would spend the night at a Pinay friend of Bobby. Satya, on the other hand, would stay with his fellow Indian friends. Then on Sunday morning, watch the final race at Sepang. The plan looks good and affordable, hence I easily agreed. Satya even voluntereed to secure tickets for us.

Well, that was the plan, but only a plan. Bobby eventuall back out and Satya opted to stay with his friends. I really thought that my F1 plan is goodbye!

Good thing, I found an announcement in the Photonski yahoo group inviting anyone to join a team of photographers who are planning for a trip to Sepang. The cost would be higher - three times more - than the budget that Bobby had computed, but the accomodation is okay and we will have our own tranpo. I readily called up Julius "Mac" Dela Cruz - the contact person, and inform him of my desire to join. Two days later, Glenn Gamayot met me up at Tampines MRT and handed me my F1 ticket! Wow, alas, I have the ticket on my hand! I was so happy, I proudly showed it to Bobby and Satya, and teased them. From that day on, I was eagerly anticipated for the trip. I even bought a new long range Sigma 70-300mm lens for my Canon 20D camera.

Now you understand why I was so excited.

New Lens at work

I have no questions, the quality of pictures taken from Canon 20D is superior.   These pictures are thousand times better than my old Olympus point-and-shoot.   The color is brilliant and the contrast is vivid.   There is none that I could complain of except... the size of the subjects in the picture.   With my Olympus, I can take close up shots of any subject even if they (it) is several hundred meters away.   I was already used to this convenience and this is something missing in my Canon.

Last week when I asked around how to solve my problem, Melvin told me to buy a telephoto lens.  He suggested buying a third party lens because it is cheaper.  Hence today, I went to Lucky Plaza to canvass for a good lens.  One shop offered a Sigma 70-300 DC lens at a discounted price of Sg$170.  They say it was relatively cheap but personally, it is not.  The amount still leaves a sting on my pocket.

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My new lens was just in time to test the capability of my Canon camera.   Jared called and informed me that there will be a fashion at Marina Square at 11am.   He reserved a place for me and asked me to hurry.   And that's exactly what I did.  I took a taxi from Lucky Plaza toward Marina Square.  I arrived at the venue and found Jared lurking on one corner.  Truly, he reserved a seat for me.    We then prepare our gears for the upcoming Fashion Show.   Jard smiled when he saw my new Sigma lens. 

"Wow, long lens", he beamed

"Binyagan natin", I boasted.

In less than five minutes, the Fashion Show started.   I was a little dazzled because I was having problem adjusting with my new camera and lens.  More than that, I actually don't know what to shoot.   Should I shoot the subject sideways (landscape) or lengthwise (portrait).   Jared just smile because he too was experiencing the same dilemma.

Nevertheless, I managed to salvage few dozens acceptable pictures out of 300+ shots taken.

Here are some of the first Fashion Shot I've taken.  No editing - just plain resize.

Busy

Some of my close friends has asked, "Why did you stop updating your blog?"

Hmm... bakit nga ba? Ewan... maybe I just got too engrossed with my work and didn't find time to write. Siguro, napagod lang sa pag sulat, kase I had also forgotten to update my personal journal. Oh my ... that was eight months ago!

Ah.. I know. The real reason is because I fall in love with my new found hobby... Digital Photography. I bought a Canon 20D few months back and ayun na, nag kalimutan na sa blog.

Anyway, babawi ako one of these days. I'll post some of those "good" shots in my blog.

Fashion Show @ Marina

Sunday is oftentimes a busy day for me having to split the day with so much activities... a date in the morning, then a date in the afternoon, and if I still got some energy - a date in the evening! Hehehe... I am just kidding and of course I lying. (Hey, where church time)? But what I've notice these few weeks is my schedule had shifted dramatically. I had been too preoccupied with my newfound hobby and it had taken not only my Saturdays but had encroached with my Sundays too. Gee whiz, no wonder I am receiving several hate text messages and hundreds of miss calls in a week. Whew! I enjoy life for sure!

Well, lest I may forgot what I wanted to write... I want to tell about my latest raket.

My photog friends called up and informed me of a fashion show at the Marina. I know about the show and in fact had taken several shots last three weeks ago. But thinking it would be nice watching beautiful girls doing a cat walk and at the same time practice my photography skills, I readily agreed to meet the group at 3pm. Before going to Marina, I attend church service at the Cathedral of Good Shephered. Of course naman... I have to shave off some of my horns noh!(It got branches already)

Well, the photog today was far from ordinary. Not only that I got good shots, I had the change to talk to the models.. before AND after the show. They even gave me their email address. (Hehehe... iba talaga pag makapal ang mukha).

Enough for the ek ek... I believe I have to show some of my good shots. Okay, here are some....

This one is Lindika from Czech Republic

My favorite... An Kadesh from Ukraine

The prettiest... Ginger from Sao Paolo

and this one?... ahh I forgot her name but... she has a look-a-like in hollywood.

And here's the some of the good pics..

The kick of my DSLR

Have you seen a little boy who sleeps with his new toy because of so much happiness and excitement?   That exactly how to describe what I have done since Tuesday.  I literally sleep with my new toy - the Canon 20D DSLR camera.  I held it in my arms, staring at it for hours, and then cleaning it over and over again.

Am I gone mad?  No, certainly not.   I am just happy.  This is a big milestone of my life.  A dream come true.

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It's Friday and there was no work today.  The government declares it as a special holiday - I actually didn't bother to check what it was.   There are dozens of activities in the city, starting from Bedok Reservoir Lake, in Suntec, in Marina Bay, and even up in the remote Woodlands Community Centers.  But none of these interest me.  What caught my attention was the scheduled Singapore Air Show at the Changi Aviation Park.  In my mind, this would be the best time to test my new toy - the Canon 20D.

Indeed, I left the house at around 9 am and headed towards Changi Village.  I stop at the bus stop along the Changi Coast Road and took a short walk towards Aviation Park Road.  The place was easy to find.  All you have to do was follow the hoard of people who were also going to see the Air Show.  And when I arrived at the venue, there was indeed many high tech planes, helicopters and support items. 

For the first time, I saw - and touched - an F18 Hornet and an Apache Attack Helicopter.   No words could explain the sheer joy of this experience.  There were just in the pages of my book collections and they only exist in my imaginations.  Now, they are right in front of me.

Hours later, I moved around and start taking pictures of people.  I took pictures of beautiful Malaysians and Indonesians.  By the way, they look exactly like Filipinos.  You would not know the difference until they start talking.

I left the venue at around 3pm.

My new 20D

I didn't sleep last night!

How could I? I had been thinking of my new digital SLR camera the whole night. The feeling was eerie, you know, seem like a teenager having his first date. Too much excitement. From now on I will be holding a SLR camera and no longer a simple point-and-shoot digital camera. But at the same time, I have some apprehensions. This is a 2nd hand camera and I don't have any assurance if this would last long.

Chris, the seller who agreed to meet me at the Raffles City at 9AM, send a text message saying the train will be delayed for 15 minutes. That didn't matter, for as long as it's confirmed that the sale will proceed, I can wait. Waiting, I did for thirty minutes but nobody showed up. I began to worry. I called up the seller and to my surprise, a lady answered my call. Double surprise, the person on the other line was actually sitting opposite my table. Whoah! I didn't expect Chris to be a woman.

The sale was went on smoothly. I have inspected the camera and found it in mint condition. I also made some sample shots and showed good pics. I didn't take much test on the functionalities for how would i know if it's okay or not - I don't know the camera's functionality. Well, I'll just cross my finger and hope that this transaction will turn out nice in the long run. Personally, I found Chris to be a nice person and projects honesty with her dealings. I hope I am right!

Now I have a new digital SLR camera... a Canon 20D. Yes!!!!

An SLR?

For quite sometime now, I had been scouting for a new digital camera to replace my old but ever reliable Olympus C-730UZ. Oh, I love still my old camera. It had given me thousand of beautiful pictures and tons of memories - mostly in the Middle East. But sad may may seem, I have outgrown my Oly and I believe it's high time for me to move to the big league - the SLR arena.
I tell you, the urge of buying the latest model was consuming me. I had many brochures in the house: Olympus E-series, Canon 350D, Canon Digital Rebel, Nikon D50, Nikon D70s, Konika Minolta, Pentax, and others. I also had several dozes of model comparisons that I culled from the Internet and opinions from different usergroups. All of this didn't help though, but rather add confusion to the already muddy comparisons. Anyway, I rather rely on my own analysis. As of now I have short listed two models: E-330 and E-500. Why Olympus? Of course, brand loyalty and simply because I was happy with their products.

So... why not buy the camera?, you may ask.

Hmm... the Oly E-330 is not yet out in the market until the first week of March. I believe they will launch it in the IT Show slated on Mar 3-5. Huh! I can't wait to get hold of the new camera!

But wait a minute!

While surfing in the Internet, I stumbled upon an auction that caught my attention. It's a Canon 20D kit offered at $1870. Hmm... this is a good offer, I thought. The street price for a 20D kit is pegged at $2999 and the least would be $2800. Tsk, tsk... this made me think twice. The Canon 20D is very good camera classified as mid-range and placed above the Digital Rebel or 350D but lower than the 5D. My research also shows that 20D is far better than E-300/E-500/E-330 in performance, ruggedness, and functionality. This is what the pro is using, critics quipped.

Confused, I wrote an email to Bobby Timonera (my photography mentor back in college) asking for his opinion. And you know what the response was? Get the 20D!

Okay... it's final. I'll bid for the 20D to acquire it for two compeling reasons: First, because my experience photographer friend recommends it, and 2nd because Canon has a wider range of lens to offer for both Film and Digital camera bodies.

Wish me luck!

valentines

When was the last time I celebrated Valentines? Hmm... five years ago, maybe more!

After spending several years in the Middle East, I had given up many celebrations and one of these is Valentines. Not that I don't believe on the celebration, it's just that I am no longer thrilled with the event. Neither does dating and winning girls excites me. I would rather stay in the house and watch TV.


I am lying of course.

I smell christmas

When was the last time I celebrated Christmas? Hmm... that would be... in year 2000. Well, that was the good ole days in Cagayan de Oro, and that was the best days of my life.

I miss my friends, I miss my team in Billing, Jap, Dowin & Paduds, my drinking buddy Noel, my daily "challenge" Hope & Aya, Maynard, the traffic girls, my friends at HR, Manang Eves, the beautiful CSOs, ... and most of all.. i miss the canteen at Philcom. Hay... when can I have a spare time and visit my home city?

And for everthing else... i miss the most important person in my life. She's waiting for me there!