JR + Jen engagement

Ok, so classes were suspended, some people stayed at home and signal number 1 was declared over the Metro...but that did not stop us from our prenup session at Tagaytay Highlands. A little rain here and there, let there be fog! Bring in the surreal effects! I thought for a moment, It just keeps getting more and more exciting! How about some indoor fun?! Hmmmm....I like! (Thank you Jen Ong for the inspiration!) :D Congratulations to both of you, JR and Jen! You make an excellent couple, I'm sooooo excited to be a part of your wedding! :D

Ro + Natalie engagement

Having fun under the sun!

I was able to take some interesting shots along the way to my target site. Having a top view of the metropolis and the antipolo mountain was a great way for sight seeing. Airlifted by the ever reliable Robinson R44. :D

with Direk Mikey


Ready for take off!

Some photos and Biblical Prophecies for sharing

Ok, now comes the fun stuff! My heart just pounds really loud when I go over my photos and look back and reminisce the moments of the photographs that I took. I'm going really overwhelmed with some particular photos in my iPhoto catalog, especially those I took in Israel! Here are some 'em.

The Garden of Gethsemane

The location were Christ Jesus was arrested by Roman soldiers and betrayed thru the infamous kiss of Judas, one of numerous prophecies fulfilled in God's redemption plan for us.



The Eastern Gate

This sentry is located at the eastern side of the Temple in Jerusalem, strictly reserved for VIP's such as kings and royalty that enter the temple courts. The exact gateway that Jesus Christ made His way thru at Palm sunday greeted by the Jews waving palm leaves and laying it before Him as He passes by. Another prophecy fulfilled clearly stating that He is not only the King of the Jews but the Messiah as well. The gate is now sealed off by the Muslims that took over Jerusalem, the Bible tells us that in His second coming He will once again enter thru this side of the Temple.



The Dome of the Rock

Islamic mosque that now is situated in what is speculated to be the location of the Tabernacle during the second temple period. This is considered as holy ground not only for the Muslims but for Jews as well.



Sea of Galilee

A lake actually, is were Jesus and His disciples began their ministry by performing miracles and converting the people. It really gave me goose bumps every time I would reflect and meditate by the shore. Indeed, it is an overwhelming feeling to imagine the Lord walking in the same body of water that I was facing!



Har Megiddo

This is what came to be called "The Valley of Armageddon". The ancient highway which links the northern and southern countries in the western region of the middle east. The major battles during the Old Testament times occurred frequently in this route and Bible prophecy reveals that the last major battle in earth will be once again in this valley, right before the rapture.



Mount of Olives

Directly facing the Eastern wall and gate of the Temple of Jerusalem, Jesus Christ will descend from the heavens and shall set foot again in this place in His second coming right before re-entering the Temple courts.

On Blogs and Weddings...

So, I haven't been blogging quite a while since I'm a busy busy bee nowadays! I suddenly missed it and took a break from work to post this. I've been doing wedding albums here and there I'm just at my peak were I'm totally enjoying it! I'm really excited with the designs I'm doing and experimenting, I am applying new techniques and its just overwhelming and so cool. :D Sorry, no preview this time of my album designs, perhaps drop by or just invite me for a cup of Starbucks so I could show you my new ideas. Hehehe... ;)

RAW Power

Shooting in RAW format has always been a complicated process in imaging. The file size is enormous, taking a lot of space from the memory card and hard drive. Down with the workflow, calibrating and adjusting the elements of the file such as: color, hue, sharpening, assigning the right color space and color temperature make it a long and painstaking procedure! However, it has its advantages over the commonly used compressed JPEG format. It has almost 10 times more color information that gives the photo a smooth continuous color gradation which gives it a more natural "Film look" when properly tuned. This in a way, evades the overly "Digital look" criticism. Without any special filter to be added to my image to enhance the overall artistic quality, the color, sharpness and detail come close to the rendition I always wanted from film.

Up high!

I am always excited of new assignments that comes my way, and recently my job was to take images from above! I was tasked to take aerial shots of a school in Manila, we used a Robinson R44 rotor craft which was small, light and could hover at a low altitude. The ride was smooth and quick, we passed the location about 4 times at different altitudes (as low as 400 ft.) and different angles. After firing away at every circle we made, we headed back to the hangar and that ended our session for the day.

Before take off.


Departing the hangar.


Cockpit view.


Makati district.


The target!

My First step in Israel

Shalom!

These past few days have been very meaningful and tiring for me! I've been around Israel for about three days and I am so blessed to be present where key biblical events transpired. There is just so much to understand and appreciate in Israel that it definitely is a place that everybody should experience! Indeed, Israel is the land of Milk and Honey, as God promised His chosen people. It is blessed with beautiful climate and landscape. Thru out the country side you will discover that it is rich in agriculture and livestock. Dry and cool air breeze surrounds the cities. The historical sites are well preserved and will give you a clear perspective of its past. I'm staying by the Sea of Galillee and it definitely is an awesome sight! I'll be soon going to Jerusalem and the Dead Sea and I'll keep you all posted with even more images of the Promised Land.

The City of Rock, Petra

I just came from Jordan, were I stayed in Amman and made a trip to Petra. Its an ancient city in the southern part of Jordan were its rocks formed thru earthquakes, wind and water and these rocks were carved into homes. It is a tourist attraction and is now part of The Seven Wonders of the World. It was such an amazing sight. Here are some images of this majestic city.

On my way to the Promised Land!

I'm packed and ready to go, I leave tomorrow for the Holy Land! I'm really excited not only because I'll have an opportunity to document the people and the places I'll be going to but primarily we will be having an in-depth bible study tour. Reading the history and events that transpired in the bible is so overwhelming and visiting the place is just as exciting! It will be a long trip, from Manila to Dubai, then Amman, Jordan then Israel. I'll try to post some images by the weekend. I just ask all my friends out there to pray for a meaningful and safe trip for our group. To God be all the glory! :D

The Star of David!

more sights of Hanoi, Vietnam

Here are some shots we took of Hanoi, this includes Halong Bay and Perfume Pagoda. Vietnam is such a wonderful country, I'm definitely going back sometime soon. :D

Good morning Vietnam!

Today I woke up in Hanoi, Vietnam! I can say I had a unique experience as I first looked out my window and walked in the streets of Hanoi. There were lots of fruit and vegetable traders and lots and lots of scooters and bicycles! Its just so amazing how people manage to cross intersections at fast pace without running to other people! Noodles were great! I'm now back in my hotel room planning for our next destination - Halong Bay! I'll post more sights of Hanoi very soon. :D



This is one busy intersection!

A new day, a new assignment...

I was on assignment yesterday to photograph personnel and the major equipments in a facility that fabricates metals for aircraft panels and machinery. The place was cluttered and relatively dark in most areas. I was able to achieve a balanced ambient lighting effect that make the images look natural and gave it a "strobeless" feel on it. I used different types of gels and diffusers and of course I was again working on Nikon CLS technology to do the trick.