Thursday, December 25, 2008

Merry Christmas from ITSD Boys

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Common Misconceptions of (Filipino) Photographers

Taken from this Link

Common Misconceptions of (Filipino) Photographers

1. Post processing = anything to do with photoshop
- post processing means post-EXPOSURE processing, even resizing, renaming, and tagging your files CAN already be considered as "PP'ing." Photoshop is just one of the possible tools that can be used when PP'ing but it doesnt necessarily mean that PP'ing = photoshop.

2. Street photography = photos of beggars/ street children/ vagrants with oversharpened eyes
- how many albums have you already seen labeled "street photography" where all photos in the set are of street kids/ beggars/ vagrants? Yes they can still be considered as "street photography" because you can see them in the public but street photography is more of any subject you see out there in the public and not just to beggars/ street children/ vagrants.

3. f2.8 = THE ultimate answer for low-light photography
- yes it lets you gather more light but try considering if a speedlight is better suited for your needs.

4. Noisy image = your photo(s) sucks cow balls (mag ISO 100 newb!)
- in low light situations, i prefer a noisy but sharp image rather than a non-noisy but blurred one. BUT of course it all depends on what the photographer wanted to convery in the image.

5. blurred/ soft photos = you're a noob (benta mo na dSLR mo gago!)
- the photo maybe a little soft but when printed in 4R @ 300PPI, only pixel peepers or people with magnifying lenses MAY complain... (take note of the MAY word) people nowadays are just too addicted with sharpness that they seem to fail to look at the WHOLE picture

6. Photography = memorizing all the technical mumbo jumbo and start reciting famous photographers in the Egyptian language... backwards...
- nowadays some just fail to appreciate a good photo and start to embrace photography "RULES' as if they are absolute. So what if the image was compositionally off or blurred or noisy? Did the photographer convey his message? If yes then screw the technicalities he nailed a GOOD shot.

To you are what are the (other) common misconceptions of (Filipino) photographers?

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Won My 1st Photo Contest!

Won 1st Place in Gawad Kalinga's Larawan ng Kabataan photo contest last Saturday December 6. Woohoo!

I actually didn't make it to the November 30 deadline of submission of entries since I was only able to find time to send my 3 entries a day after on December 1 when they were already supposed to release the finalists that same day! I was so relieved to know via email that they accepted, and ecstatic that they selected 1 to be a finalist. So thrilled and excited was I that I had a messy time mounting the pic, which I had printed at Kodak on an 8x12 matte finish, on an illustration board. I can't remember myself to be as clumsy as smearing the pic with glue! Lots of it! Good thing it was near the edge which was easier to clean up (once dried of course).

The rest of the pics are in my National Sagip Day album.

Winning Pic:


My Other 2 entries:


Thursday, December 4, 2008

A Real Photographer...

Link

A Real Photographer ....

Real photographers are not those only who have PRO Accounts in Flicker or Premium accounts here, nor those who just own an expensive DSLR and lenses.

A real photographer is not measured by how many of your photos appear in Multiply. It appears there simply because Multiply wants you to stay and maintain a Premium account with them.

Real photographers are not those who study photography, nor those who did not study at all.

A real photographer does not rely on his expensive cameras to capture a good photo. His camera, whether it’s the cheapest disposable camera or the D3, is only an extension of his mind. He starts to see a good photo not from the viewfinder but from his imagination.

A real photographer is not bound by photography rules. He is willing to jump outside the box of photography rules and make his originality.

A real photographer does not depend on good locations to photoshoot to have good photos. For him, every place where he stand is the best location.

A real photographer does not depend on expensive Flashes to capture good toned, shadowed pictures, but knows that nature has already provided him the best lighting.

A real photographer knows that he has to shoot thousands of photographs to have a handful of good shots.

A real photographer is not deceived by camera manufacturer’s glittering ads that their CAMERAS are the best.

A real photographer does not get flattered when someone appreciates his work, but was very happy when somebody criticizes his work as for him this is an opportunity for improvement.

A real photographer spends most of his time to appreciate the works of others than his own.

A real photographer knows that the best camera ever created is the EYES. Every person who has a pair of good eyes owns the best camera in the universe.

A real photographer does not brag, and does not expect his work to be appreciated by others, as he does photography as his soul. He is ashamed to show his soul and is only obliged to show it to a few privileged persons whom he know more.

A real photographer feels awkward brandishing a big DSLR and long lenses and still dream that technology could shrink DSLRs like a matchbox.

A real photographer does not care discussing the best models of cameras in the market rather he practices his skill on what he has, not what he's dreamed to buy.

A real photographer appreciates technology advancement on newer camera models, but still relies on experience as the best teacher in honing his skills.

DISCLAIMER: Do not take this seriously, and do not believe this as this is only to test your EMOTIONAL MATURITY as a photographer. Take it lightly and go, stare your camera, caress it, love it, and most especially get an Eye Drop, place a few drops in both your eyes, and see the world in the BEST CAMERA you ever had. You are the best photographer in your own category.

"Tis the Season: A Photo Journal Challenge

Link

'Tis the Season: A Photo Journal Challenge

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Two great inspirations allow us to roll out yet another exciting challenge here at http://www.bookoto.com/.

First, the worldwide celebration of the holiday season that is literally at our door. What is the holiday season, and how do YOU celebrate it? According to wikipedia: "the words holiday or vacation have related meanings but will usually refer to one of the following activities or events:

  • A general leave of absence from a regular occupation for rest or recreation.
  • A specific trip or journey for the purposes of recreation /tourism.
  • Official or unofficial observances of religious/national/cultural/other
    significance, often accompanied by celebrations or festivities (public/religious
    holiday)

A holiday or vacation trip/break will often be undertaken during specific holiday observances, or be made for specific festivals or celebrations. Certain religious holidays may be of a more somber nature. Vacation or holidays are often used as a time to spend with friends or family."

Second, who wouldn't be inspired by this fabulous quarterly publication of Stampington & Company's Life Images by Somerset? We could not help but be awed by the breathtaking photographs and the heartfelt journals. Appropriately so, we have excitedly chosen Life Images by Somerset as our feature publication on http://www.bookoto.com/. "All the colors of the world emerge in this tapestry of original photographs, brought to you in Life Images, a new, 144-page quarterly special publication. Full-page images, accompanied by the photographers' journaling, invite you to share a moment in someone else's life." - from Stampington & Company's website.

THE CHALLENGE: "'Tis the Season": A Photo Journal Challenge

Get your cameras ready. Between now and December 28, 2008, however you celebrate the holiday season, take a photograph of an image that makes this season meaningful to you. Take a picture of people or a person, an object or a thing, an act or a gesture, a place, a tradition, or even a random thing that caught your eye and made you feel so good that it made you say to yourself, "Yes, the holidays are really here!" Capture the magic of the holidays. Capture the meaning of this season. Then share it by sending it to us.

Here's how:
  • Email your photograph to: Challenges@bookoto.com or sign up and upload them to our gallery on or before December 28, 2008.
  • You may send up to two (2) entries. Make sure it is original and taken for the purpose of joining this challenge. Photo entries should have been taken after November 20, 2008.
  • This challenge is open to all, where ever you may be in the world.
  • All property rights will be retained by the photographer. Entries will be posted in our gallery, while winning photos will be posted in our store site and blog . (No further compensation will be awarded to the winner over and above the prize pack.)
  • You may use photo editing on your entries to enhance the quality of your photos.
Don't forget to include the following details with your photograph entries.:
  • the title of your photograph
  • the story behind your photo, or your photo journal
  • what camera brand/model and lens/es did you use? Please include camera settings used to take the photos, as well as the processes/work flow utilized to achieve the end result of the photograph.
And yes, once you have submitted your entry, you may feature it on your personal blog, but don't forget to e-mail us your blog link.


THE WINNER'S PRIZE

The winner will receive these: the whole year's publication of Life Images magazine courtesy of http://www.bookoto.com/ and Stampington & Company


'tis the season.
Share with us the magic of the holidays.
Take us to your world through your photographs.
Have a meaningful holiday season
Take this challenge!

D80 Finally!

Finally, after one week of continuous searching for both brand new and pre-owned online postings fueled by a foiled transaction that shattered my heart into a gazillion pieces (please forgive me for being too emotional), my much awaited new toy has arrived.

Presenting... my new D80! (actual pics to follow)


Saturday, November 15, 2008

My Yahoo Pingbox

Check out YM 9.0's new feature. Too bad it can't be embedded on Multiply's main sections yet.

Ten Legal Commandments of Photography

Taken from PhotoJojo

The Ten Legal Commandments of Photography

I. Anyone in a public place can take pictures of anything they want. Public places include parks, sidewalks, malls, etc. Malls? Yeah. Even though it’s technically private property, being open to the public makes it public space.

II. If you are on public property, you can take pictures of private property. If a building, for example, is visible from the sidewalk, it’s fair game.

III. If you are on private property and are asked not to take pictures, you are obligated to honor that request. This includes posted signs.

IV. Sensitive government buildings (military bases, nuclear facilities) can prohibit photography if it is deemed a threat to national security.

V. People can be photographed if they are in public (without their consent) unless they have secluded themselves and can expect a reasonable degree of privacy. Kids swimming in a fountain? Okay. Somebody entering their PIN at the ATM? Not okay.

VI. The following can almost always be photographed from public places, despite popular opinion:

  • accident & fire scenes, criminal activities
  • bridges & other infrastructure, transportation facilities (i.e. airports)
  • industrial facilities, Superfund sites
  • public utilities, residential & commercial buildings
  • children, celebrities, law enforcement officers
  • UFOs, the Loch Ness Monster, Chuck Norris

VII. Although “security” is often given as the reason somebody doesn’t want you to take photos, it’s rarely valid. Taking a photo of a publicly visible subject does not constitute terrorism, nor does it infringe on a company’s trade secrets.

VIII. If you are challenged, you do not have to explain why you are taking pictures, nor to you have to disclose your identity (except in some cases when questioned by a law enforcement officer.)

IX. Private parties have very limited rights to detain you against your will, and can be subject to legal action if they harass you.

X. If someone tries to confiscate your camera and/or film, you don’t have to give it to them. If they take it by force or threaten you, they can be liable for things like theft and coercion. Even law enforcement officers need a court order.


What To Do If You’re Confronted

  • Be respectful and polite. Use good judgement and don’t escalate the situation.
  • If the person becomes combative or difficult, think about calling the police.
  • Threats, detention, and taking your camera are all grounds for legal or civil actions on your part. Be sure to get the person’s name, employer, and what legal grounds they claim for their actions.
  • If you don’t want to involve the authorities, go above the person’s head to their supervisor or their company’s public relations department.
  • Call your local TV and radio stations and see if they want to do a story about your civil liberties.
  • Put the story on the web yourself if need be.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

To Save Wildlife, We Have to Enjoy It

Taken from UPMENCOM Link


Save-Wildlife,-We-Have-to-Enjoy-It.html

Thursday, October 16. 2008

by Mads Bajarias (GMANEWS.TV)



Pinoy Backpack Festival 2008

Link

For the adventurer, traveler and the free-spirited. Read on.

Friday, October 17, 2008

Speechless

Just moments ago, my youngest sister handed me a brand new Nikon 50mm f/1.8D, all boxed up with a Worldwide Service Warranty card. She said it was from a colleague of hers who was apparently impressed with my photos on this site.

I was totally dumbfounded. Really. I couldn't say anything more than 1 word. "Why?", "Seriously?", "Uhmm" (was that a legit word?). I thought that I couldn't accept this token of appreciation but equally wanted to take my trophy and try it out right away. I couldn't remember the last time I was this speechless.

Gestures like these just inspire you to improve your craft further. If you're reading this, I sincerely and deeply appreciate the gift. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Tuloy pa rin ang Ligaya!

E-Heads reunion concert update!

Philip Morris has turned over promotion rights of the much-anticipated reunion gig to Radiohead Media after the much ballyhooed protests over the sponsorship of the said tobacco company.

Yey!: The concert is still scheduled on August 30 and this time at the open grounds of The Fort (IMHO, a better location).
Boo!: Tickets are NO longer free. They'll be priced at P800 and P1,300.

Read the rest of the story here.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Jump No. 2

Jump No. 2 would be way easier. Or so I thought.

Owing to the sweet urge of wanting to do a 2nd jump right after the historic 1st, I confidently yet erringly thought that the feeling would be the same even after 2 months. It wasn't at all! Not even close. It was like the 1st time all over the again. What's even worse is that it took all 5 big guys of us roughly an hour and a half of deliberation, easily outdoing my 1st time.

"Wala naman 'to sa itenerary di ba? Wag na lang!"
"Kaya ko e pero di ko lang talaga makita ung baba." "Wala naman tayo kelangan i-prove e." "Mauna ka na. Nakatalon ka na naman dati e." "Sige mauuna ako pero sunod kayo agad ha."
"Gano nga ba kataas to?"

Yada... yada...yada...


It took Manong JR, our bangkero, for us to finally take the approximately 33-foot drop. He looked every bit the veteran of the jump yet you could still see the split-second hesitation before the he finally took the leap. Ricky came in next, just seconds after Manong JR. I ended up 2nd again after Carl backed out the last minute. He mustered enough courage to jump next though. Exe made it last after 3 tries. As for Onin, well, enough said...

Jump No. 2, check! Jump No. 3? Nah.


You can check out Jump No. 1 here.
The pic above is a reference on how high the cliff was. 1 pink segment is approximately 5'7" high (my height). You do the math.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Nonopolitan - MyMiniCity

For all you Sim City fans out there, this is not for you. MyMiniCity is an online city-builder that looks a lot like SC2K, without the usual Sim City god-like control **evil laugh**. Population, industries, etc. grow by having your city endlessly clicked or visited daily. It's that simple. A great way to waste your time on the net!


Here's my city.
Click, click, click!




Sunday, July 13, 2008

Rumor No More

Can't wait for the biggest event of the year.
http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=2008071263&type=2

Flash: Eraserheads reunite!


Sunday, July 13, 2008

Yes, it’s confirmed: The Eraserheads are reuniting after many years of being apart, not for good but only for one show slated for Aug. 30 at the CCP Open Grounds.

According to the STAR source, all the original members (photo) are performing — Ely Buendia, Buddy Zabala, Marcus Adoro and Raimund Marasigan.

This piece of good news should make the Eraserheads fans very happy.

Said to be the ‘greatest Pinoy band,’ the Eraserheads will sing all their hit songs, including Alapaap, Toyang and Ang Huling El Bimbo.

So much water, so to speak, has flowed under the bridge since the band broke up years ago.

Ely, who survived a heart attack two years ago, has formed two bands, Mongol (which didn’t last long) and Pupil (still playing).

‘It took one big company to bring the former band members together,’ said the source who is keeping the company’s identity ‘confidential’ for the time being.

Really now, don’t the Eraserheads fans wish that the band would stay together not just for a one-night-only concert but for good...for old time’s sake?— Ricky Lo

Thursday, July 3, 2008

DIY: Dry Box

Like any other expensive toy we've invested our hard-earned money on, our DLSRs deserves to be babied with TLC. And one way of ensuring it is well taken cared of is to store it together with its accessories in a safe place devoid of high humidity that could foster fungal growth either on the lens or on the body.

Presenting the Dry Box, a box that exactly does just that. Perfect for tagging your precious DSLR along beach trips or plain storage at home, the Dry Box comes in many different sizes and ummm, flavors. Some simply hold a ton of dessicant inside for sucking the moisture out the air while some employ electronic dehumidifiers. Other include a hygrometer for monitoring and even a sensor for detecting broken seals. Whew! Talk about technology for such a simple box. And technology comes at a price.

So since I couldn’t afford a PHP3k+ dry box, I decided to go DIY. All items were purchased from SM Hardware section.
  1. 10L Lock and Lock container: P599.75
  2. 1 box of Silica Gel: P64.75
TOTAL: P664.75

For thousands less, you get the same air-tight, water-tight and moisture-free compartment its more hi-tech counterparts offer. Ok, it's probably not the same as those that pump air out but the Silica Gel still works as expected. If you manage to scour for Silica Gel packs from your old shoeboxes, you could shave 60 bucks more. That’s about 1 liter of gasoline already!

I could have added a Hygrometer but I really have no intention of making humidity readings, more so, monitor the humidity level inside the box. I'll just remind myself to recharge the Silica Gel everytime they’ve already sucked in enough moisture from the air. To recharge, just leave the packs under the sun or cook it very quickly in a microwave oven. until the color clears up. The Silica Gel I got turns reddish when packed.


As for the container, the dimensions I chose are good enough to store the Nikon D40 body + the long 18-200VR lens attached, a Nikon Speedlight SB-800 flash (if I decide to buy one), another small lens like the 50mm f/1.8D or even a Nikon 12-24 UWA, and several stacked filters. Perhaps even a 70-300mm would still fit sideways. Plus it’s got a neat handle for carrying around.

TIP: Never store or place your camera in the following conditions:
  • Direct sunlight (that's hot!)
  • Wooden closet (it's very humid in here)
  • Near places with water such as aquariums, sinks, laundry room (I mean why would you?)

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Infobits: Normal and Slow Sync Flash

In the aftermath of a failed UP night shoot last night (how redundant), I decided to fiddle around my cam while reading Ken’s User Guide in the hopes of learning something new.

After around 5 minutes of endless browsing, I came across a topic I rarely delve into – flash. Well, it’s about time I got to know a tad about it anyways since I get to use it every now and then without really knowing what it does. So for the first time, I got to grasp the difference between Normal and Slow Sync Flash and how it affects the exposure. Or at least that’s what I’d like to think

Normal Flash
In Normal flash, the flash fires instantly after the shutter is released. My friends call this the “blinding mechanism”.

In P(rogram) and A(perture) modes, it also normally tells the shutter to stay open no longer than around 1/60 seconds (according to Ken and which I was able to validate last night).

1/60 seconds is relatively short so usually you may notice that indoor pictures taken with Normal flash produce a brightly exposed subject but with a substantially underexposed (near black) background.

The dark background is due to not having a long enough shutter to let enough ambient light fill the background.

The bright subject on the other hand, is caused by too much direct light hitting the face. On people with make-up, it’s as if too much face powder was put on. Might as well used a cheapo flashlight if you really intended to have this effect. This is where flash diffusers or bouncers come in very handy because they diffuse or soften the intense light hitting the subject (thus also minimizing harsh shadows) and/or bounce the light off, say the 10-foot ceiling, to create incident light (which is softer on the skin) and adequately light the background as well.

On bright sunny days especially when you have no choice but to have the sun behind your subject to capture the breathtaking backdrop, you can also use Normal Flash to provide fill light to an otherwise shadowed out subject. I use this a lot.


Slow Flash
Slow Flash on the other hand, which is only available in P(rogram) and A(perture) modes, lets the shutter stay open long enough to let ambient light expose properly with the flash. This creates a very well exposed image since both the subject and background are well lit – the subject is lighted by the flash while the background is illuminated by ambient light (and the flash as well) due to the longer shutter. The trade-off though of the longer exposure is that moving subjects are blurred and in very dark rooms, the shutter can be awkwardly very long for people as subjects.

The rule of thumb for capturing sharp pictures with no blur is to use a shutter speed of 1 over the focal length (1/f). With the kit lens at say 50mm focal length, the ideal shutter speed would be somewhere around 1/50 seconds. Note however too that it may be hard to avoid blurs while taking hand-held shots at shutter speeds slower than 1/50 seconds, especially if you’re “pasmado” like me. If you have Vibration Reduction (VR) lenses like the Nikon 18-200mm VRII or the 55-200mm VR, you could lower this minimum to around 2 to 4 more stops. Otherwise, a tripod is a must if you want to use Slow Flash in inadequately lit rooms.

In daylight, Slow Flash would presumably have the same effect as Normal Flash since the required shutter would be relatively short anyways.

Slow Flash ain’t available in M(anual) mode since you can adjust the shutter speed as desired. But it gets tricky since it would be hard for newbies like us to estimate how long it would really take to have a well-exposed image with flash. It comes with experience. So I guess this reason is enough for me slowly shift away from M(anual) and start familiarizing myself with P(rogram) mode now.

Test Shots
Both shots were taken at 18mm focal length using P(rogram) mode at P* f/3.5 under ISO200. I used a tripod as well to maintain the same framing and counter my unsteady hands.

Normal Flash (1/60s) Slow Sync (2s)











Keep on shooting!

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Lakbayan Says I Need To Travel More


My Lakbayan grade is C!

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!

Created by Eugene Villar.

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Worth the Climb

After more than a month, Team Gulatan once again headed off to another weekend adventure - the Team Gulatan way. This time around, we decided to try our luck in nearby Tagaytay.

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Tips: Changing Lenses

Every DSLR owner dreams of having the perfect walkaround lens. A walkaround lens covers a focal range noramlly from Wide Angle to Telephoto, thus minimizing the need to carry several lenses and giving you more range choices in taking a particular scene. Good after-market alternatives are the Sigma 18-200 OS HSM and the Tokina 18-200 or 18-250. For Nikon lovers, the Nikon 18-200VR is the top choice. But at P29k for the Nikon 18-200VR (Hidalgo price), it costs more than a Nikon D40/x which a newbie couldn't easily afford. So for those on a budget like myself, shuffling forth between several lenses is the most practical solution to cover at least the same focal length of the 18-200VR. As a case in point, I use the Nikon 55-200VR (only P9k) to compliment the 18-55 D40 kit lens. From time to time, I also use an old-school 50mm f/1.8 prime.

While being the cheaper alternative, a major drawback though of changing lenses quite often is that it greatly increases the chances of dust entering your body. Dust appears as tiny specs or even smudges on your images and could ruin your sensor if not taken care of properly. Here are some tips on changing lenses.

  1. Always change lenses in an environment that is as dust-free as possible.
  2. Always have the body facing down to minimize dust from falling/getting in.
  3. Minimize the use of blowers unless really needed. Blowers don't easily get the dust out of the body, especially for dust that has already stuck to the sensor/mirrors and instead cause them to just fly around. An anti-static blower/medium is needed to really get the dust off.
  4. Don't leave the mount open without the body cap on for prolonged periods of time.
  5. Try to change lenses as quickly as possible.

Clean as a Whistle

Finally, I was able to have my sensor cleaned at Columbia in Cubao after having my beloved cam endure the long wait from my trip to dusty Bolinao. According to the attendant, cleaning normally takes only 45 minutes to an hour but since the technician wasn't in yet, I had to wait around 3 hours before I got my cam back. It's a good thing Cubao was just a stone's throw away so I went home for lunch instead. Ok, it's not that close really. Well, at least if Superman threw the rock, it could be.

The attendant was kind enough to send me an SMS that my cam was ready for pick-up. Sensor cleaning cost me a very-difficult-to-let-go P1,250. It would take another P1,250 for body cleaning (includes viewfinder, etc.) but is not recommended outright unless really needed. At the current health of my cam, body cleaning wasn't needed yet. Whew! But the technician was nevertheless aghast at how dusty the sensor was and obliged to show me before and after images. Check this out...

BEFORE CLEANING

AFTER CLEANING

I think I'll be getting myself a Nikon 18-200VR instead after this experience. Shuffling between my 18-55 and 55-200VR is just too worrisome. Now where is that lotto ticket...

Thursday, February 28, 2008

There's A B-Side To Every Story

I retired from work unusually late today at 9PM despite the fact that I've been mindlessly doing almost nothing since 6PM. Heck, it's been a rather uneventful day come to think of it. My new daily sked of 10AM-7PM (from the previous of 9AM-6PM) is still hard to digest that's why. Plus I've been having a hard time getting my mind on my job lately with too much going on in my topsy-turvy head. Good thing though I had my guitar with me (yes, in the office) to distract me from the boredom called work.

This billboard showcasing the new Penshoppe B-Side collection pretty much summed up my day today - B-side material. Doesn't B-side connote something like "not good enough for A-side material but will rather suffice"? Hmmm... I wonder if Penshoppe marketing ever thought of that.

Monday, February 4, 2008

Making up for lost time

OMG! How time flies when you're too caught up! June 27th was the last post in this blog I tried so hard to find time to maintain. And here I am 7 months later, wanting a new blog, a photo blog in particular, to compliment my new toy and hobby.

To recap the last 7 months:

  • The project that rid me of blogging time, or any other personal time for that matter, is finally over (yey!)
  • Only to be replaced by an equally demanding new project (boo!) but less time-consuming at that (yey!)
  • Spent almost a week in Singapore for a well-deserved respite (yey!)
  • 300 bucks for a beer in over-hyped and undersized Hooters (boo!)
  • A business opportunity itself for a partnership to revive a provincial road-side bar (yey!)
  • Only to have me, and eventually the principal partner, retract for the very same reason I wasn't able to blog (boo!)
  • I turned 1 year in the coolest company I'm currently working my ass off for by the time the project went live (yey!)
  • But it took less for me and the love-of-my-life to call it off (sob...)
  • I was able to finally grab my hands on the much-coveted Nikon D40, an early Christmas present and long-overdue birthday gift in one! (yey!)
  • While some cheap bastard was able to get his hands on my wallet at the same time (boo!)
  • I'm loving every bit of my new found hobby - digital photography (yey!)
  • While still struggling to find that oh so precious time (boo!)
  • Our barkada finally was able to book a trip to Bangkok (yey!)
  • Which only purged my purse empty, at least for the time being, for my dream lens, a Nikkor 18-200mm VR (boo!)
T'was not a bad year after all.
Ok, I'm gonna stick it out with Blogger.