Odos Ongkoy, South Cotabato (Sony A550, f 5.6, 1/1250, ISO 200, 18mm, out-of-camera)
Before the on-set of the holidays late last year. I introduced the Sony Alpha A550 with Sony DT DT 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 SAM here. And after about three weeks with the camera, here is my express field review of this DSLR. Three weeks is actually a short time to really get to know a camera. Some people can run the entire lab test they want but it is different with actual usage and application of the camera in the field. I wasn’t able to fully utilize all the camera features here because of the short time and also of the holidays but I think I covered the important aspects of the camera below. Note that most images here are out-of-camera JPGs (OOC) with only resizing and watermark done on the images.
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A550, Alpha, Gears, Photography, Reviews, Sony
The Full Moon on a New Year 2010
Yes it comes only every 2 decades. And we get to see it this time again on the New Years Eve of 2009. No don’t expect the moon to be fully blue in color but it’s just a term for a double full moon in one month which happens rarely hence the term “Once in a blue moon” while technically here in the Philippines it starts at 3:15am January 1st so it wouldn’t be a blue moon on 2009 but on 2010. In fact 2010 would be a rare lunar year with having multiple blue moons here in the Philippines, which is January 1, and 30 and March 1 and 30.
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Blue Moon, Exposure, Moon, Photography
There was a time I would look at calendars and admire the photos there. I would skim through the pages and enjoy looking at the pictures. There was even a time I kept a calendar past its marked year because I enjoyed the photos that much. Anyways, I finally got a chance to be on a calendar. I don’t know the pharmaceutical brand (I heard PrimeDrug is a subsidiary of a German Brand) but I’m happy still that they liked the photo and used it.
My photo of Batanes opens at the start of the year in January 2010. I hope that harkens good vibes for the coming year, 2010.
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Batanes, Photography, Projects
Singapore Orchard Road Underground (Olympus E-P1, 17mm M.Zuiko f2.8, ISO 200, 1/6sec, Pinhole)
Singapore and sanitation seems to go together in this little country. Above the streets everything seems normal. Most well to do people walking around and shopping. But life here is not all that dandy, the cost of living is high that some people can’t keep up. They don’t have greased homeless people like here in the Philippines but there are people in Singapore who are trying to survive by alms under the street.
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Photography, Singapore
Seair Inclight Oct-Nov Cover
We’re on the last quarter of the year and things have been happening pretty fast. Seair Inflight’s October-November 2009 edition revisits the wonders of Baguio, explored the paranormal places in the Philippines and gives account to first time Open Water diver in Boracay. Again, I was lucky enough to be able to grace and contribute to the pages of the magazine for the Baguio features. Check them out when you fly Seair anytime soon. Check out the editorial note below.
Issue Contents:
As a child I sometimes spent holidays with my mother in my aunt’s farmhouse in Antique, on the west coast of Panay Island, just a few hours away from Iloilo and Caticlan.
I remember the house had a huge kitchen, a stone oven, and an equally huge wooden table where my 12 cousins and I had our meals away from the adults, who dined in a separate grown-up room.
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Magazine, Photography, Seair Inflight
Article Published on One Philippines August 2009
People have been asking for tips on how to get the most when taking photos during their travels. I’m sharing here and article I wrote for One Philippines, an entertainment and lifestyle newsmagazine for the millions of Overseas Filipino Workers and Pinoy migrants. It’s a general set of pointers both for point-and-shooters and new to DSLR cameras:
There’s nothing like summer to stir wanderlust. We go to exotic places, embark on adventures, sample great food, and most importantly, share moments with friends and family. And the camera has become our third eye, capturing these important events in our lives so when we return home, we get to re-live our experience and share them on Facebook or via email to our friends. But sometimes, when we finally scroll through our photographs, we see blurry shots, awful lighting, unrecognizable landmarks or plain-to-crappy pictures.
It can be frustrating, as we can’t take back the moments we remember vividly but documented so badly. How to avoid vacationer’s remorse? Here are a few handy tips to take better travel photos. Whether you’re a casual point-and-shooter or a beginner when it comes to handling that brand new DSLR or digital single-lens reflex camera, these tips may help you make your casual snaps into something as memorable and stunning as your actual experience.
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Photography, Published, Reading, Tips
Secrets of Mindoro text and photography by Ferdz Decena
I have been on assignment in Mindoro twice for two different publications. The first one when I covered an Iraya Mangyan Festival and a resort in Oriental Mindoro. The most recent one was for Mabuhay Magazine when I went to Occidental Mindoro to discover its secrets. This was published last June 2009 Issue. On both occasions I went there both as a writer and a photographer.
With one hand on the camera and the other on a pen and notebook, I went around Mindoro to capture a story. Personally, I would prefer to be either a writer or a photographer. But I have seen a good mix of photographer and writers who does a great job at their work in the likes of Lester Ledesma. I also heard from a friend in the publication industry saying that the prestigious Outside Magazine, one my favorite outdoor and travel mags is known to hire people who could both write and take photos. In my experience, working as both has advantages and advantages.
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Mabuhay, Magazine, Mindoro, On Assignment, Photography, Writing