You are currently browsing the Ferdz Decena Travel Photographer posts tagged: Olympus
Old Bagan in the morning
With over 2200 temples spread out on a dusty 26-square mile plane, Bagan is a stunning landscape of temples dating as early 11th-13th century. As dawn breaks, light paints a dramatic play of shadows and gradients on the vast land of temples and trees. For a moment, the horizon is like a sea with a sharp waves from the temples coalescing harmoniously.
Shot in Old Bagan, The Sea of Temples is available for print here. Property and Copyright by Ferdz Decena.
The Olympus 45mm f1.8 lens
I’m loving prime lenses more and more. Lately I find myself using them a lot often when I travel. It started when I got the excellent Panasonic 20mm Lumix pancake and now the Olympus M.Zuiko 45mm f1.8 added another dimension to my shooting style. Spending 3 weeks with the lens on actual travel made me learn more about its quirks, its strengths and handling. From the initial unboxing, I knew this lens was worth the money I spent. Now here’s my assessment of the lens and some real world samples to boot.
SMUGs Metro Manila Photo Walk visits a Panutsa Factory in Caysasay
The SMUGs Metro Manila had it’s first Photo Walk in Taal Town, Batangas. It’s been two years since I last went to Taal Town. While it is declared as a Heritage Town, two years ago I was disheartened on how it was neglected – the Taal Basilica was dilapidated, the stream along the Sta Lucia Well was flowing with trash and the streets were dirty. Returning with a group of fellow photographers through Smugs Metro Manila, I found renewed hope for this town. The Basilica is being renovated with freshly painted walls, the streets a lot cleaner and alas! The Sta Lucia Well is free of garbage. I also noticed there were a number of tourist coming and going wherein before I think we were the few who was there. Who ever the people in charge of restoring the grandeur of the town, I must commend them.
The Magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda
After 11-days, 5 overnight bus rides, 1 train ride, 1 pick-up truck, 2 horse carts, countless motorbike rides and thousands of words scribbled in my notebook, I finished my journey around Myanmar. I can say it was one of my fulfilling travels in a while in line with my travels in Laos and China. It was one of those journeys where Traveling and Photography is all about being in the moment, being part of the scene, melding, and being invisible. I love the interaction I get with the locals and just being in there. It’s the travel and the photography where the only person I’m shooting for is myself. I can’t wait to write it for the next few months. Here’s is Shwedagon Pagoda, a gold studded landmark which symbolizes the country. It was the major sight I visited the first time I got in the country and also the last before I left. Myanmar is a wonderful country that I won’t hesitate to go back again.
Shwezigon Siblings (Olympus E-PL1, 45mm, f2, 1/400s)
I’m nearing the end of my Myanmar Journey with only a few days of stay here. I had a bit of snag in Inle Lake which was supposed to be some sort of a highlight for my trip but things got complicated when there was a festival on the nearby town. One things for sure I tell you, avoid the local festivals if you can. While it might be interesting, prices double and accommodations are non-existent. But still it was an experience. Good thing I met a very helpful lady in Aung Mingalar Hotel who accommodated me on my very brief stay in Nyaungshwe when I was already loosing hope of finding a place or even going back to Mandalay. Anyways more details of the story when I write them. In the meantime here’s a fun young sibling I met in Shwezigon in Bagan. That thanaka on their faces just gives the poeple of Myanmar a distinct character.
The Olympus M.Zuiko 45mm f1.8
It was one of the much awaited lenses for Olympus PEN and the Micro Four Thirds format line. For years, Olympus as opted to keep the f2 as its fastest aperture to ensure the quality of its Zuiko lenses. But now they made a bold move to introduce a larger aperture of f1.8 for its 45mm M.Zuiko. This was welcomed with much celebration both from Olympus and Panasonic users as the lens selection for M43rds has definitely mature with this new addition along with the excellent Lumix 20mm f1.7, Pany/Leica 25 f1.4 and Olympus 12mm f2. But let’s put the spotlight on this wonderful Olympus 45mm f1.8 M.Zuiko Lens.
UST WVT Maru and Judy victory hug
I never thought Beach Volleyball can be so emotional, it is really a different atmosphere from indoor Volleyball. But I guess on every game when the championship is at stake, every player can feel the pressure and only having a pair on a team, it really shows on every winning point. I was able to watch the finals game match for UAAP Season 74 beach volleyball in UE Caloocan. For the Women’s it’s UST with main players Maru Banaticla and Judy Caballejo playing against Ateneo’s Alyssa Valdez and Bea Tan. Game 2 was a win from Ateneo forcing a deciding 3rd match. I was really surprised on how each player would react to each points they got and they sure show a lot of passion for the game.On Game 3, Maru had an injury but she showed how a trooper she was and continued playing despite the pain. In two sets, UST was able to get their first Beach Volleyball championship and it was a well deserved win. Lots of victory hugs here.
