Chronicles of a (P&)Shooter

the bar

2006-12-27T01:12:00.000-08:00

previous.................................................this&that 12.7.2006 7.8mm 1/13s f/3.2

it has been an eventful December. this was taken at Tiananmen Bar during the Flickrs Photo Club Christmas party last December 7.

more here.

happy days

2006-12-20T19:36:00.000-08:00

previous.................................................people 9.9.2006 ISO 50 5.8mm 1/1000s f/2.6..........................................next

gelli, my sister, just turned 18 last month. she had a party and i, being the sweet sister that i am, volunteered to be her party planner. :D

i used this photo as the background for her invites. the party theme? fushia pink and mint green polka dots. ahhhh, teenagers. ;)

winter wonderland

2006-11-18T02:26:00.000-08:00

previous.................................................people 9.4.2006 ISO 100 5.8mm 1/40s f/3.5............................................next

they weren't kidding when they called the place, Mall of Asia. this place is HUUUGE! Mall of Asia only has two floors but what they lacked in height, they made up in length. with about four separate buildings, you can easily get lost while shopping. despite this, the designers still did a fantastic job on the lay-out of the building. i loved how they had areas that were air-conditioned while the buildings parallel to Manila Bay were open to welcome the fresh sea breeze.

Mall of Asia even has two viewing decks that stretch out over the street until the bay area. these bridges are popular sites, especially during sunset.

this mall's skating rink is, by far, the best in our country. aside from its sheer size, it's the only one i know with snow capped mountains for a backdrop.

and, as in any mall skating rink, the area was filled with onlookers waiting to catch a spectacular spin or, more often than not, an amateur skater falling flat on the hard ice.

attack of the killer ants

2006-11-10T01:09:00.000-08:00

previous.................................................food 9.4.2006 ISO 100 5.8mm 1/40s f/3.5...............................................next

there's nothing like a bunch of hungry red army ants to kill a girl's appetite.

ain't no mountain high enough

2006-11-04T08:24:00.000-08:00

previous.................................................food 7.23.2006 ISO 100 5.8 mm 1/20s f/4.5.............................................next

...to keep me from eating, er, getting to you!

i have a serious chocolate addiction. when my sister brought home a pack of chocolate mallows, i was a goner.

Let there be light...

2006-10-25T04:21:00.000-07:00

previous.................................................scapes 3.26.2006 ISO 100 5.8 mm 1/4s f/4.5...........................................next

...and light appeared. God was pleased with what he saw. Then he separated the light from the darkness, and he named the light "Day" and the darkness "Night." Evening passed and morning came - that was the first day.

- Genesis 1:3-5

never alone

2006-10-01T01:26:00.000-07:00

previous.................................................this&that 7.8.2006 ISO 100 5.8 mm 1/15s f/5.0........................................................................................next

i treasure moments when i keep myself company. it may sound weird to some people but i love being with me. i make sure to have that essential quality time every week, even if it's just strolling in the mall, sipping coffee in a cafe, watching a movie at home, or curling up on the couch or my bed to read a good book. strangely enough, these rituals actually keep me sane and focused. :)

dusky

2006-09-27T00:45:00.000-07:00

previous........................................people.scapes 5.6.2006 ISO 50 13.8 mm 1/320s f/5.6........................................next

gelli and her long lashes. also in Puerto Galera.

practice makes perfect

2006-09-24T00:56:00.000-07:00

previous.............................................scapes 5.6.2006 ISO 50 13.8 mm 1/1000s f/7.1............................................next

while waiting for the sun to set, i spotted this guy learning how to windsurf. he fell countless times but i admire his determination because no matter how many times he hit the water, he always stood up and persevered.

finally, he was able to stay up for a few minutes. i wanted to whoop and cheer but i remembered i was holding my camera. :D

Veni. Vidi. Beachy!

2006-09-22T01:09:00.000-07:00

previous...............................................scapes 5.6.2006 ISO 50 5.8 mm 1/640s f/5.6.............................................next

I Came. I Saw. I Beached. :D

this is a typical summer day at Puerto Galera, Mindoro.....

people peddling their goods (friendship bracelets, native accessories) and services (massage, braiding, snorkling, etc.).

sun worshippers. sunphobics. and those in between. :)

a lot of water action: jet skiing, banana boating, snorkling, scuba diving, wind surfing...

my weekend stay at the beach was wonderful. :)

more here.

say cheese!

2006-09-20T03:56:00.000-07:00

previous................................................food 4.1.2006 ISO 200 5.8 mm 1.0s f/2.6.................................................next

i had dinner with my HS friends a few months ago. since we had it at marci's house, we agreed that it was going to be potluck. nadia brought salad, marci made barbeque (pork and chicken), marize brought pasta, and carol brought the cake.

i brought Garlicky Buttered Shrimps. they were pretty shocked with my choice because i used to be allergic to shrimps. i say "used to be" because i'm finally freed of this "affliction!" i began to gradually eat shrimps last year to make myself more immuned. now, i can eat about 5 pieces without any signs of itching or difficulty in breathing. of course, i haven't attempted to eat more than that - yet. :)

jae-ded

2006-09-16T20:44:00.000-07:00

previous...............................................people 3.16.2006 ISO 100 5.8 mm 1/15s f/2.6...........................................next

Jae was my shy student in the Toddler class two years ago. now, she's in the big school and has totally grown out of her shell.

when i subbed for their teacher last year, i had my camera with me. while we were waiting for their parents to pick them up after class, i let them take photos.

this was how i learned that one of Jae's current interests is photography. this 4-year-old knows how to properly hold the camera! she took a few funny shots of me. of course, i had to retaliate. there was a bit of a struggle but i finally had my payback.

it might be you

2006-09-15T04:10:00.003-07:00

previous...............................................food 1.30.2006 ISO 50 5.8 mm 1/1000s f/2.6.............................................next

for all you hopeless romantics out there...

this was one of the last fortune cookies i had during the recent Chinese New Year.

hopia like it!

2006-09-14T06:44:00.000-07:00

previous...............................................food 1.29.2006 ISO 50 5.8 mm 1/100s f/2.6...............................................next

one piece of chocolate hopia just isn't enough for me.

loco over choco

2006-09-13T05:09:00.001-07:00

previous...............................................food 1.29.2006 ISO 50 5.8 mm 1/100s f/2.6...............................................next

during this year's Chinese New Year, i went on a dessert shopping spree...and these are just some of the stuff i bought.

hopia is a popular Chinese dessert in my country. it comes in different varieties (pork, mongo, ube or yam, pandan, etc.). the most common is the mongo beans but being the chocoholic that i am, i chose my favorite flavor. :)

Oh The Thinks You Can Think!

2006-09-11T08:35:00.001-07:00

previous...............................................macro 1.28.2006 ISO 50 5.8 mm 1/15s f/3.5..............................................next

what is the most difficult question you had to answer?

a Dr. Seuss classic.

our school's Mat Area is like a giant puzzle. my kids go absolutely berserk the minute they set foot on the mat....gives new meaning to "Jungle Gym" (hm, looks like our Mat Area needs a little cleaning...)

my most difficult question is definitely, "What came first: the chicken or the egg?" i grew tired of debates over this already!

yummy yema, y'all!

2006-09-10T16:44:00.000-07:00

previous.........................................food 1.21.2006 ISO 50 5.8 mm 0.60s f/3.5.........................................next

yema - a popular Philippine dessert.

they come in balls and small pyramids. the ones i have here are the jumbo pyramids, which have gained popularity for a while already.

my lola (grandma) used to make the yummiest yema. i remember i'd nick some before she even serves them. hehe.

heavenly

2006-09-07T01:49:00.000-07:00

previous....................................................................food 1.21.2006 ISO 50 5.8 mm 0.60s f/3.5.......................................................................next

after spending Christmas with my relatives last year, my family slept over at my sister's apartment in Pampanga (that's where she's assigned to work). the next day, we had lunch at this fabulous resto, A la Creme. the food was spectacular!! the kind where you forget your name after taking a bite...

anyways, they had these quaint display windows decorated with different gadgets (like these trains and cakes).

the owners of the restaurant just got married. their wedding cake was more than 5 feet tall! this cake, which sits by the display window, is a replica (actual size) of the one they had during their reception. now this is definitely a dessert fit for feeding an army!

wanna piece of me?

2006-09-06T01:19:00.000-07:00

previous............................................people 10.16.2005 ISO 100 5.8 mm 1/180s f/3.2...........................................next

meet erwin, the wonder boy. when i first met him, he shyly hid behind a post. but when he saw me taking pictures, his curiosity got the best of him. i shrewdly showed each shot, hoping that it would encourage him more. erwin loved seeing himself on the digital screen of my camera soon, he was posing like anything! i actually got about 10 shots of erwin and i told him that i had to stop or i won't have any space left for other photos of the event. this was his last photo.

psst

2006-09-03T18:47:00.001-07:00

previous...........................................people 10.16.2005 ISO 100 5.8 mm 1/150s f/4.0............................................next

while touring the Gawad Kalinga village, i spotted these sisters by the window.

girl power

2006-09-01T22:21:00.000-07:00

previous...........................................people 10.16.2005 ISO 100 5.8 mm 1/125s f/4.0............................................next

hanging out with the Gawad Kalinga girls. more about last year's birthday bash in GK here.

soulful

2006-08-30T02:20:00.000-07:00

previous........................................... people 10.16.2005 ISO 100 5.8 mm 1/160s f/4.0...........................................next

they say that the eyes are the windows to our soul.

i saw this adorable boy while i was taking the tour around the village. he remained motionless despite my attempts to take his photos.

Gawad Kalinga is one of the non-profit organizations that i really believe in. i've volunteered twice, first on my birthday and second, last december with the Light of Jesus (LOJ) community. it's really a great experience and i highly recommend it to everybody.

this was also where i met erwin the wonder boy.

pick a pony, any pony

2006-08-23T04:05:00.000-07:00

previous................................................macro 10.3.2005 ISO 50 5.8mm 1/4s f/3.2................................................next

last year, my toddler student lined up our horse critters by herself, even grouping them by color. i'm so proud of her :)

it was a spontaneous moment and i was glad i had my camera with me. i quickly took the shot before the other kids had their turn in using the horses.

sunny day, sweeping the clouds away...

2006-08-19T20:37:00.000-07:00

.......................................architecture 7.17.2005 1/640s f/8.0.............................................................next

i took a walk around my neighborhood one day and i began to wonder if i was in the right place. somehow, our mayor decided to paint our town in bright and pastel colors! it was an extreme change from the usual dab colors and i love it! it definitely gives the homes more character.

links

2006-08-01T19:16:00.000-07:00

personal pages:
weytaminit - my very first blog
wasaby@flickr - my flickr account

photography sites:
flickr - in my opinion, the best photo-sharing site around :)
photodoto - a great site by fd. it has a lot of excellent tips on learning photography. don't forget to check out the photo gallery, too!
photoblogs - the mother of all photoblogging resource sites

photography blogs i visit:
pixel rebel - a photoblog by my good friend, star :)
sari-sari store - sidney talks about his life as a belgian living in the philippines through his arresting photos. it's always cool to see my country from a different perspective.
dino lara - my favorite local photographer's blog
the world through my eyes - one of my favorite flickr groups. check out the amazing photos!
lifevicarious - i recently came across this blog and i just had to bookmark it. christian wagner takes his viewers on a whirlwind trip around the world in 448 days!
chromasia - the very first photoblog that i visited. visit his site and you'll get hooked, too.
daily dose of imagery - get your daily dose of photos from this amazing photoblog
a walk through Durham Township, Pennsylvania- kathleen connally shares beautiful images of her hometown. must be bookmarked!
londonrubbish - rubbish his photos are not!
markmyshots - and you should!
northern exposure - gorgeous photos of the photographer's northern hideaway.
straymatter - scott's photos and words are executed so eloquently

food blogs (because i love food so much, these sites deserve their own category):
nordljus - i just love the simple and elegant design of this blog as much as i love her photos! keiko also includes instructions on how to replicate her delicious gastronomic creations. i doubt that i'll be able to photograph it like she does, though :) oh, and she also has a photo blog.
she who eats - chika's dessert shots are definitely mouth-watering
the traveler's lunchbox - traveling, eating, photographing, and blogging. some people have all the luck. :D make sure to visit the things to eat before you die post.
mattbites - not only does he take fantastic pictures but his entries are just so wittingly funny to boot!
chubby hubby - it was the funny title that piqued my curiosity but the photos and stories behind them were definitely the reason i kept coming back.
marketmanila - i came across this blog while doing research on Holy Kettle Corn. my initial impression was that it was a corporate site but as i continued reading, i realized it was a personal blog. it has a lot of information about market haunts, restaurants, and, of course, food!
delicious:days - nicky's photos are amazing! i could browse through her photo gallery all day. of course, don't forget to check out her recipes while you're at it.
abstract gourmet - it truly pays to click on blog links. i found this on one of the food sites mentioned above. i love the Does Your Blog Look Good In That contest where different food bloggers submit a photo each month.
still life with... - a food styling and photography website that i recently came across. has useful tips, links, and a lot of gorgeous photos.

core

2006-08-01T02:39:00.000-07:00

previous........................................nature/wildlife 9.10.2005 ISO 50 5.8mm 1/500s f/2.6.........................................next

while waiting for my sister, i chanced upon a flower bush around the clubhouse. i was testing the macro function of my Canon A520. this was the closest i can get.

who me?

2006-08-01T00:13:00.000-07:00

hi, i'm aby.

i worked as a computer programmer/systems analyst for five years before shifting careers. i'm currently teaching toddlers, finishing up my Masters degree in Early Childhood Education, and striving to fulfill my passions in life.

photography is one of them.

my love for photography was something that my dad passed on to me, i believe. as a child, i had a lot of fond (and traumatic, hehe) memories of being in front of his beloved SLRs. he has a collection which, due to unforeseen circumstances, is now gathering dust (plus other organic stuff that i don't even want to talk about) in the dark recesses of his closet. i plan to inherit his Nikon FM2 someday. i would love to learn how to shoot in film but, sadly, this is such an expensive hobby that i have to hold off until somebody gives me one. or when i'm rich. whichever comes first. (i'm praying for the latter)

in 2005, i got myself a Canon A520. it's handy, affordable, and has a lot of cool features. definitely one of the best investments i've made in a long time. the amazing thing about digital cameras is that you see the results in an instant. frankly, this has been a disadvantage for impatient people like me because i don't think about the composition and execution of a photograph as much as, say, when i would use a film camera. still, it makes for great practice - and it's less expensive, too. the photos i'm sharing in this blog are an expression of what i have been through in my photography journey. i have so much to learn and i want you to go through this experience with me. :)

what exactly is a P&S?
a Point & Shoot camera is basically a lightweight photographic camera with an autofocus (thefreedictionary) it's less expensive than an SLR and is perfect for a beginner like myself. i still dream of getting myself a dSLR but that can wait. until that wondrous day comes, i am making the most of my trusty P&S.