Yung Kwento.

Binabalak kong bumiyahe kung saan saan. malayo man o malapit, makalimutan muna saglit ang buhay. Malimutan ang mga iniisip. Ayoko munang isipin kasi na wala akong kwenta, o mag isa lang naman ako lagi. gusto ko munang isipin kung saan na ba ako pupunta. wala naman akong mahalagang ginagawa, hindi rin naman pinapahalagahan kung meron man.
Sa sobrang kawalan ko nga ng ginagawa, nagkaron pa ako ng oras mg linis ng bisikleta't magkwento dito.

Kapag magpapalipas naman ng oras sa internet, wala naman akong nakikita kundi mga papuri sa sarili at mga pangarap na hindi naman posible. mga yabang na akala mo may halaga't katuturan. Nalulungkot lang ako na pag dating sa mga gusto ng tao sa isang tao, kapitalista parin.
Ganito kasi yan... Maraming may gusto sa starbucks kesa sa nescafe 3 in 1. Dahil lang mas mahal sa starbucks, may statement na "mas mayaman ako sayo". kung nutrition wise naman, napaka daming ibang pwede . nagdahilan pa.
Ngayon, di porket sikat, mabuting tao na. Mas gusto nila lagi sa sikat o yung hinahangaan ng ibang tao kasi kapag nakuha mo siya, may statement na "mas magaling ako sayo"..

WALA. tang ina. nagloko ang chrome. nawala yung mga kwento ko. pakshet. di ko na masundan. HANGGANG SA MULI NALANG,. kaputanginahan naman ng buhay.

Upgrading (Or Buying) Lens or full frame ?

Digital cameras has crop sensors, meaning that they don't have that conventional 35mm frame behind that glass. This crop sensors sometimes give photographers an OCD on wanting a full frame sensor because that 35mm sensor is basically point 0 (Zero) when it comes to lens focal length, your 50mm is actually a 50mm unlike on a crop sensor where you have to compute for its equivalent focal length .

For a beginner photographer, this isn't much to care about because they haven't yet understood the differences between all the focal lengths. But for someone with experience, especially to street photographers, this means a lot .

canon eos 1100D :Crop sensor entry level camera

Let's say you can't really afford much and you bought an entry level camera with a crop sensor with a 1.6 crop factor, that makes your 50mm an 80mm. With a prime lens, this is a little bit tough to deal but it's okay with a standard zoom lens because you could just turn it to 24mm and you get your 50mm equivalent.

Achieving your desired focal length with a prime lens is hard, unless you upgrade to full frame or buy a wider lens. If you have the money to buy a full frame, I say buy the full frame. But if you don't, you may start to think whether to buy a wider lens or save up for a full frame dslr . 

A full frame dslr has many benefits, One is you get the right focal length equivalent of course. You're truly happy that you're not getting lied to about your focal length and you enjoy that sharp prime lens. Second is a bit of a theory. Full frame sensors are less noisy when bumping up to a higher ISO . That's a big benefit especially when you're still out shooting in the night. Last but not least, A full frame dslr has tons of features that will be useful and will improve your photography. 

The Full frame 5D Mark II

Take the Canon 5D for example, it's full frame and pimped out with buttons and dials . but that is too expensive compared to just buying a wider lens to compensate for the focal length you want.

When you buy a wider lens, you save money and you get to buy more lens with the rest of your money. Investing in good lenses is always a better choice because there are more lenses to choose from than there are full frame cameras that you could fit your lenses into .

Yashica Electro 35 GSN Rangefinder

Bottom line, I suggest you go with wider prime lenses. It's cheaper than a full frame dslr. If you still want a full frame camera that isn't cheap, then go buy a film camera with a 35mm film. there are some people who sell cheap but in good condition cameras. Some rangefinders online only cost about $100 or less. And Also, when you decide to buy wider lens , don't forget that you could also fit them into a full frame dslr. So go buy and invest with wider lenses and then buy a full frame . That would be my suggestion , because that is what I have decided as a photography with a small income .

Walang Tatalo sa FILM

Sa panahon ngayon, uso na ang digital. syempre ! mas tipid yun, mas convenient at mas okay para sa karamihan. isipin mo naman, kung magkakaron kayo ng photoshoot tas gagamit ka ng film, ilang rolls ang bibilin mo ? napaka mahal nun !

Punta tayao sa ibang good side ng digital.

well, of course tipid ka dun. maglalabas ka ng 1000php , makakabili ka na ng 8GB memory card nun (depende sa size kung SD or CF , etc. ) at forever mo na siyang gagamitin. Unlike sa film, hindi mo na mababawi yung mga shots mo, walang delete delete. Which is the 2nd good thing about sa digital, pag napuno ang memory card, delete lang. At pag nagkamali, pwedeng mag delete at subukan ulit yung shot.

Bad Side ng Film ?

Magastos, hindi na mababalikan, marami ! kaya natatabunan na sya ngayon. Madals, hindi na kailangang pag usapan kung bakit hindi na gumagamit ng film ang karamihan ngayon. In my experience, napansin ko na nakakatakot mag load ng film. kasi syempre, parang pera yun eh , pag naexpose yun, para ka na ding nagsayang ng pera.

Pero madami din namang pangit sa digital. Pumasok na tayo sa Balon.

Pag nagkamali ka sa digital, nasa isip mo lagi na "ay ! pwede namang i-delete toh eh.", hindi nawawala un, lagi mo nang hinahabol ang perfection, which is napaka hirap. At meron ding tinatawag na "Chimping", ang pag tingin sa LCD screen pagkatapos ng shot, tinitignan mo kung maganda ba yung kuha mo or ano ba yung dapat mong baguhin. Now, BIG ADVANTAGE yun ng digital pero not every situation. I call it "Insecurity", hindi ka nagtitiwala na nakuha mo yung shot, parang it doesn't show professionalism in some way pero hindi yun yung point dun ah !

Sa film kasi, alam mong hindi ka pwedeng magkamali, isang banat lang at yun na yon . which is a better way in photography in my opinion. kasi mas iniisip mo yung shot, you get connected with the subject. kumbaga ganito yan, "It's either you do your best or you don't do it at all" . madaming kasabihan ang pumapasok sa isip ko na ako lang naman may gawa, tumatanda na yata ako..

Mahal nga ang film, mahal magpadevelop , pero napaka sarap nya. iba parin ang feeling ng film. yung napaka gandang blacks ng film, may details parin kahit  madilim na. kasi , hindi megapixels yun, walang megapixel ang film, kaya kahit gaano kalaki mo iprint ang film, malinaw parin sya . eto naman ang BIG ADVANTAGE ng film.

pag tinignan mo ang mga pictures na galing film, parang andun ka talaga sa pangyayari, parang panaginip pero andun ka mismo ! wala nang edit edit , post processing, kahit wala nang ganun sa film, maganda parin.

Kapag hindi mo nakikita kung ano itsura nung shot mo pagkatapos mong kunin yun, tapos inaantay mong ipadevelop, isa yun sa napaka sarap na feeling sa film. lalo na kapag nakita mo na at nakuha mo yung tamang exposure at composition , walang katulad !

Napaka rami pang magagandang bagay sa film, hindi ko lang mahimay kasi saglit palang ako gumagamit ng film. Pwede na rin nating sabihin na Hindi 100% photography enthusiast ang isang tao kung hindi nya pa nasusubukang mag film. or something like that. Basta parang iba parin ang pusong photography ng taong naksubok at nagmahal ng film kesa sa hindi pa. gets ?

walang tatalo sa film, kahit napaka felxible ng digital, iba parin ang nararamdaman mo sa film. Complicated kasi para sa isang tao na iexplain ang sarap ng film sa isa pang tao. dapat maexperience ng lahat ang film, hindi dahil para lang maintindihan nila yung kwento , kundi para maisapuso talaga nila yung photography.

(nalimutan ko na yung iba kong sasabihin, paumanhin. :) )

I own a DSLR, I am now a PHOTOGRAPHER (RANT)

I did it once, but just to say that I finally have my own. Note: I did not brag about anything

Inside the social networking sites, there are people who likes to share photographs of their own. Now there are some who share photographs of themselves holding their camera (specifically a dslr). To be honest, it means being proud of what you have and proud that you can share anything to anybody by images. But there are some who over do these sorts of things.

 

There are people who take pictures of themselves holding their camera and saying, "Hey ! I have a new DSLR!" , and there are those who say , "Im officially a photographer, woohoo!" or "Look at my new DSLR, Im a photographer!". Now I have a saying that I live by, "It's not what you say, It's HOW you say it", and these bragging and calling themselves a photographer really bugs me.

Google defines a photographer as "Someone who takes photographs professionally".

And society defines a photographer as someone who takes photographs whether professionally or not, Which I agree on.

But it seems that calling yourself a photographer and bragging about it does not really make you a photographer, It's sorta calling yourself humble which contradicts the definition of being humble (but let's not go through that). Everything is good and all when someone calls himself/herself a photographer, but the problem is when she brags about it just because he or she has a DSLR. It gets worse, he brags about it and takes crappy pictures (mostly in auto mode). 

Yashica electro 35 GTN : Film rangefinder camera

I'm like "WHAT THE FUCK!?", you only have a dslr , not skills nor imagination. Yeah sure he processed the photo of his new camera but with filters, presets and effects I can't name. Now there's nothing wrong with those but for me, it is just not appropriate nor does it show professionalism. My Target here are not those who have DSLRs and call themselves photographers, I'm talking about those who brag about it and take crappy shots, or doesn't even take photograph, Just bragging about their "overpriced" camera.

From my past research about street photography, an article said that we are all photographers because of how easy it is to have access to cameras. Though many people use instagram and takes tons of pictures with that app and use multiple hastags (which are irritating sometimes) and that's okay. They are just being a photographer and sharing their photos. But I just cannot deal with people who buy DSLRs , rely on auto mode, take crappy pictures, cliche pictures , call themselves (professional) photographers, and brag about it.

But you know what they say, "If you got it, flaunt it!". Well, show off your camera, not the skills you don't have, and I wish you would one day have them.

Bottom line, I just wanted to say that people who buy DSLRs and brag about being a pro photographer, irritates me . I just hope that someday when people buy a DSLR, they are after the control, the flexibility, not the label, not the name tag that says "Photographer". 

Street Photography in Baguio City, Philippines.

I've been really working on my street photography for the past few months. Reading articles, blogs , watching street photographers on youtube , anything to help me shoot better photos in the street. I can't seem to find interesting things in my local city (which is Makati) mainly because I don't travel really far, It's very very hot outside. So I tried street photography in baguio.

Baguio City is located in Northern Luzon, a very high place, and we all know that high places are cold (or atleast cool). Session Road, Burnham park, and anywhere near that area are the most places I have shot street photography. I didn't find much, sometimes it is just too busy.

 Here's one from Session road. I was shooting from the waist (or hip) and randomly pointing my crotch to random people. I was clicking and clicking until my mind went nuts. I saw a wave of interesting people, and I was sprayin and prayin . I came home and found only a few workable photos.

After a while, that feeling went away and I can't seem to find anything interesting..

Walking back home, I tried to look for interesting people, and I did, and they are posters. I took this next pic at Leonard wood road (if I am not mistaken). Most people that saw this photo said that this was ironic, and I loved their comments because it told my audience a story , there is something that they understand .

After 7 days of staying in Baguio, I wasn't satisfied with the experience of shooting street photography. Maybe it is either I was still afraid , I lack confidence or there is not much places  to go to . But I was confident that I will have a few good photographs that I will get to take home .

Shooting street photography in Baguio is not that difficult or unsatisfying, it totally depends on the photographer. I was only equipped with a Canon 1100D with a 50mm f1.8 lens or my Kit lens, and sometimes I'll use my friends Yashica electro 35 GTN rangefinder (I haven't still developed my film). For me, I didn't find Baguio city a paradise for street photography.... At least not yet I don't.

I'M COMING BACK !!








Here's a few I took from Baguio.

Hayaan mo akong dumaldal #1

Gusto ko lang mag type.

Wala, gabi na eh. at ano laman ng utak ko ? Marami-raming bagay din kaso yung iba hindi pwedeng sabihin dahil maraming batang marunong nang mag basa at ayoko silang maimpluwensyahan.

 4.20 (or April 20) ko ito sinusulat, yes , special day today ! Worldwide event daw yun eh , kaso hindi nga lang sabay mag 4.20 yung dalawang sides. haha so close !
Tulad ng sabi ko, dumadaldal lang ako. wala namang point yung pag type ko kundi mailabas lang yung nasa utak. Unti unti na kong nagiging madaldal ULIT, sa dami ba naman ng tinatago ko eh , isa na yung kapangitan ng buhay. 

Alam mo yung "Smile, it's just a bad day, not a bad life"  ? Eh paano naman ung mga nakidnap at naging slaves na. yung mga unang panahon, naisip siguro ng ilan un eh kaso baka di nila maikalat kasi nga nakakulong sila or talagang sira na yung buhay nila.

17 palang ako, at mejo ramdam ko na na ang pangit ng kalalabasan ng buhay ko pag tanda ko. pero naisip ko rin ng onti na baka mood swing lang toh, ewan ko. May ilang taon pa ako para alamin kung saan ako pupunta, marami pa akong gagawin at aaralin. 

Speaking of pag aaral, nalimutan kong kainin ung nilagay ko sa ref. LOL, ano connect ? Kahapon ko pa iniisip kung ano bang magandang ilagay sa blog. di naman pwedeng everyday life ko with pictures, parang facebook na din yun. Kailangan ko pang magresearch ? Kasi naman pag nagtanong sa iba, parang iba iba talaga yung sagot.

Gusto ko lang naman talaga ma share yung photography ko , eh kaso nga lang mukhang mas masaya kung may halong kwento... ganun nalang kaya ? hmmm. ayos yun ! hahahahaha

Oh well, dumaldal lang ako. sorry . hahaha masusundan pa ito ng napaka raming random daldalan mag isa. Wala rin makausap eh. haha yung ka vibes talaga na malaliman. 

HAPPY 4.20 ! One Love tayo ah !

What is Street Photography (Re Defined)

Everybody is a photographer these days because of the easy access to cameras. There are phone cameras, webcams, and iPods that has cameras, CCTV cameras. And there are many ways to share these photos that many take, like instagram, facebook, twitter, tumblr and many more. Some of the photographs that trend the internet are those random inspirational people or poor people on the streets, some are just fascinating places , tourist spots.


What is street photography ? That question will have multiple answers from multiple people. Some may say it is an act of taking candid photos of people, some may say it is to capture the beauty of the streets because it tells a person a story based on what is on the image.

By Eric Kim

There are many definitions of street photography from people who practice it. For me, Street photography is the act of taking photographs of the public in candid. But let's not base the definition just from myself, Eric Kim, an international street photographer, also gave street photography a definition, he said:

"If I could define street photography, I would define it as the act of taking photos of people in public urban areas in a candid manner"

-  Eric Kim (Street Portraits vs Street Photography)

My definition may seem similar to what Eric Kim stated, it is because he has been an inspirational street photographer to me. Besides giving the definition of street photography, there are things that one must remember in order to capture a true or meaningful street photograph.

Capturing the decisive moment. You also have to think about the timing of the image, Is the scene there? Is the composition right ? of course you can't capture a light trail of cars if the cars are not in motion.

By Eric Kim

Emphasis. For art students like myself know this very well. you have to emphasize your subject in order for your viewer to understand who or what you have captured. 

Imagine a photograph of a market, The vendors and the buyers are in one image then the photographer starts to talk about his image saying lots and lots of things about one specific vendor, and we all went like "whhhaaaat?". It's because he did not gave emphasis on that vendor, what if his image was just the vendor itself, nothing else, then we would understand things better. 

Colors, depth of field, and light rays, can be used to emphasize an object in your image.

Black and White. According to many (if not most) street photographers, a street photograph must be in black and white, and that is one of the rules and shooting street photography. Well honestly, you don't have to use black and white BUT it may be less dramatic or the colors are just too distracting or irritating. Black and white may also be useful in hiding the ISO noise. 

There are many things that a street photographer must think about. A photograph of a fire hydrant is not street photography, but if it includes children playing with spilling water from the hydrant, then there is more story. 

By Eric Kim

Street photography is difficult to define by words, but by heart, it is already defined. To me, basically, Street photography is taking photographs of people giving me a unique feeling, a different kind of story, the mundane, the everyday life of a particular type of person, or something just captures my attention in the public.

you may have a different definition, but it does not make you wrong. for as long as you love what you do, there's no one that can tell you otherwise.