Nikon Photo Safari

Second place is not a defeat. It is a stimulation to get better. It makes you even more determined. -- Carlos Lopes

Last Saturday, I attended the first ever Nikon Photo Safari here in Davao City and the highlight of the day (aside from the food and drinks) was a photo contest. Each participant in the event was allowed one entry to the landscape and macro categories. The top three in each category would win prizes. I entered an entry only to the macro category since I admittedly suck at landscapes (and didn't get to shoot any). Luckily, I got to borrow a macro reverse ring, and was forced to borrow a flash since my unit was not functioning. I learned on the fly how to use the reverse ring; and after about an hour, I got the hang of it.

I was amazed at how sharp the images taken by the macro reverse ring were. I coupled it with my 35mm 1.8 and used a flash with an omni-bounce diffuser. Here is a sample of how sharp the images were:

And here is the shot that made my day. I placed second in the macro category with this mosquito shot. I saw it land on a flower and took a couple of clicks. I had to stop for a bit because the flash was overheating; took a few more until it flew away. I didn't even realize I had a keeper until I got back to the assembly area. After asking a few opinions (because the image above impressed me so much with the sharpness), I was convinced to submit this shot. Luckily, I won second place and got some accessories as prize. It was really a good day for me.

Second place, felt like first place for me. I didn't expect to even be in the top 10 since I didn't have the proper macro gear and there were some pretty good macro shooters around. I just submitted an entry because I was there and I had some shots. I'm really happy I went to the safari, not only because I won, but because I had fun (and was drinking since 10AM). And the bonus was that I got two more shots for my 100 portraits project.

And I just entered this photo to the continuation of the contest sponsored by the Nikon Concept Shop. If you were part of the Photo Safari, then you can enter the contest here: Fanatic Photographers - Nikon Photo Safari Contest

The Adventures of Danbo Part I

I was supposed to make a blog yesterday but I got stuck doing reports. So my blogging streak ends at two days. But I am back and I have a couple of sets that await their turn to be blogged. I'll still stick to doing one theme or set per blog; makes things simpler.

I've got a simple question as an introduction to my subject: how can a cardboard cut-out have so many chicks thinking that he (or it, for that matter) is so adorable, cute or amazing?

Well, I present to you: Danbo (short for Danboard, the cardboard box robot)

Sometime last January, I went to a friend's store that had a small studio setup on the second floor. We were supposed to just hang out. We got bored and a friend had the bright idea of doing a studio shoot with Danbo as our subject. We didn't have models to shoot so he (or it) would have to do. So we played around, using the studio lights that were designed for portraits on a three inch tall cardboard figure. We went about this shoot with the same manner as we do with our portrait photoshoots. Danbo was no longer just a cardboard box robot, he (she or it) was the model.

And with his (or it's) singular expression, I managed a couple of keepers.

We even found a doll to be a date for Danbo.

Out of boredom, I got some images I am happy about. It just shows that keeping an eye out for possible subjects should be part of my habit. I also learned that the simplest things in life can be very interesting; even a cardboard box.

Thank you Danbo!

 View the entire set here!

An Angry Little Bugger

It’s really amazing when you get to see the world of the very small. These are the things we tend to take for granted. There are so many interesting things to see when you zoom in for a really close look.

This was my realization after just one macro session. My friend lent me his extension tube and I tried it out on a boring Saturday. And then I got hooked. Seeing the output made me want to take more and more shots. And I really haven't gotten myself bored with the countless times that I zoomed in on my shots. And it's also very challenging since the extension tube makes the viewfinder go dark and there is no Auto Focus (AF); it makes shooting more fun.

This particular insect, which I am not really sure if it’s a beetle or a bronze version of the lady bug, has got to be one of my favorite things to shoot on macro. I usually find this critter on the purple sweet potato (kamote) leaves. It probably is good camouflage because the colors kind of make it look darker and less visible. Its actual size is about half of a 5 cent coin. And if not for the movement, it can remain virtually hidden in plain sight.

It becomes much more visible when it moves into the outer edges of the leaves.

Set against lighter green foliage and darker background, you can see clearly the profile of this angry little bugger.

I wish I had more time to shoot macro. It’s been raining lately and I'm having a hard time getting up early to shoot; and besides, there is nothing to shoot when it rains. I am also hoping that I'd find the budget for a proper macro lens so I'd have sharper photos to share.

PS: if anyone knows what the name of this bug is please inform me. I wish for all my insect macros to have proper labels.

The 100 Portraits Project: 3, 4 & 5

Every photoshoot invite is an opportunity for me to add to my 100 portraits project. A simple SMS on a weekend afternoon to shoot a new face gets me out of my hibernation to go out and shoot.

Most of those organized shoots have themes or concepts. I just come to the shoot with my camera and other gear. And most of the time, all I really have to do is shoot as there are already people who direct and do the styling. What I do is shoot first for my project and then shoot for a set with the theme. As my project is evolving, so are the concepts that we are doing.

Portrait #3: Lara Kim (Fairy in the City)

This is different from the one I uploaded in Facebook.

Portrait #4: Aysen (Tifa Lockheart of Final Fantasy VII)

Portrait #5: Yuri (The Two Sides of Yuri)

I'm glad I don't have to think of concepts or whatever for these particular shoots. And honestly, my creative mind took an extended vacation and hasn't returned yet; I do hope it returns soon as I need it for the prenup shoot I'll be doing next weekend. Wish me luck!

The Flooded Streets

Climate change has certainly been in the spotlight for the past weeks with those monster storms in Australia. Floods, at least, flooding of city streets during heavy rains is very common in Davao City. As far back as in my childhood days, flooding has been a problem in this city. And in recent years, it has gotten a whole lot worse.

A couple of Saturdays ago, I was stuck in Victoria Plaza, a local mall, with Anna. We met up there to go to another mall to watch a movie. But it was called off on the account of rain. The flooding was so severe that we decided just to eat and hang out at a coffee shop on the mall grounds. Before proceeding to the coffee shop, I got curious and took a closer look at how bad the flooding was. With camera in hand, and inspired by the Bad Weather Photos by Danny Santos, I took a few clicks. Then realized I had the perfect vantage point for panning shots.

On the first set of clicks, I got my first keeper.

Then, I waited patiently and got another one.

The pair of photos I got were the ones that I liked the most. It was hard to get panning shots but I had fun. I know composition is key to a good photo, but when your subject is moving, it’s a different thing all together. What matters is that I had fun taking these shots. And I do hope to take some more bad / extreme weather shots and perhaps make a portraiture set out of it in the near future. For now, panning shots keep the boredom away.

The 100 Portraits Project: #1 & #2

2011 is here and this year I am dreaming big!

Ever since I had my hands on a camera, I have wanted to create a compilation of the photos I have taken. I have long dreamed of creating coffee table books with all my shots for the world to see. And this year I am starting a project that will hopefully be the precursor to my very first coffee table book.

The project I am doing is to take 100 portraits of different people. My inspiration for this project came from Danny Santos, whom I look up to as a photographer because of his unique style of street portraiture. I have long been amazed by his output and fascinated by his style. He has done the "100 Strangers" project, a street portraiture project where the photographer shoots portraits of random people out on the streets. Well, he is based in Singapore which is a melting pot of cultures so he has plenty of subjects to choose from.

Another inspiration came from Chris Owens, a photographer based in Texas, USA. He is currently at #73 of his "100 Portraits in 100 Days" project. His project entails him to shoot everyday of the week or at least produce an output for 100 days straight. Its fairly hard to do even if he is based in America; and if you see his output, every shoot is totally different.

Since it would be hard to shoot beautiful strangers here in Davao City and I have a busy weekday schedule, I decided just to do 100 Portraits for the year 2011 and then compile them in a book. Parts of it will be studio shoots, outdoor shoots and candid stuff. In this project, I'll start using tools like Photoshop and the other photo editing software that I usually do not use because I am just too lazy to edit photos. I'm hoping to enhance both my skills in portraiture as well as my post processing with this project.

And as a start to the project, here are the first two portraits for my project. I have 98 more to go... so wish me luck!

Portrait #1: Keyt

Portrait #2: Anne