Yup.  It’s a quick and dirty way to get a picture of any object, or person for that matter.  A trick I learned from the man himself, Mr. David Hobby of the Strobist fame.  No light modifier used,  just hard Nikon SB80dx (now obsolete but you can buy the SB-900 if you got a load of money) in my left hand connected to a reliable  SC-17 cord.  Too lazy to set up my Pocketwizard.  Shot with a D90 and Nikon 18-200mm lens in my right hand.  The background was a black cloth I hung on a homemade indoor cloth dryer.  If you have a question regarding one-light photography or want to use this image, just post it in the comments section or email me.  Thanks for looking.

Book suggestion: The Hot Shoe Diaries: Big Light from Small Flashes

This blog, I hope, is finally back from its rather loooooooong zzzZZZleep.  More like neglect, actually.  Got a plan to change that though.  Starting with this post of happy and colorful metro Christmas pics — a testimony to the irrepressible spirit of Filipinos, which I believe we all got from our faith, whatever that is.  Never mind if you’re Catholic, Protestant, Iglesia ni Cristo, Dating Daan, JIL, or Muslim.  We all love celebrating Christmas.  Never mind if the country just went through the worst disasters.  Christmas just had to be celebrated.  Never mind if most of us are suffering from ADHD because of information overload.  Christmas had to be attended to.  Why?  Christmas gives us hope.  Hope that Christ brings again this coming year.  Happy new year to all!

Just thought of posting this video I have on youtube.  Just click on the photo and it will open a new window and bring you to the page.  Enjoy!

I’m sure you’ve already heard about the big event yesterday at Sofitel in Manila.  If not, read about it at the Inquirer.  It’s about the leader as a “principled negotiator,”  which I think we in the Philippines sorely need. I was lucky to have been invited to photograph the important event.  I just wished many government officials attended too.

The retired and (really) honorable Chief Justice Artemio V. Panganiban and President-CEO of Lamoiyan Corporation Mr. Cecilio Pedro provided the “front act” for the esteemed former British Prime Minister Mr. Tony Blair.  Here are some of the animated photos of these passionate and compassionate leaders.

As promised, here are some pics from the 4×4 racing in Tagaytay City, Philippines.

Passed through these monster jeeps one weekend on the way to a shoot and I just had to stop and get some shots. I’ll be posting photos of the actual race, at least some shots that I was able to squeeze in before rushing to my shoot. Aren’t they beautiful?

Went out yesterday to document what was left of a fireworks factory that exploded in Trece Martires, Cavite.  You can read the latest about the explosion here.

Had my press ID with me so I had no problem entering the now closely guarded 2-hectare property, although the commanding officer of the investigation team warned me not enter the police line as it’s still not totally safe. I obliged, of course, not wanting to get hurt.  Some parts were still in smoke and many G.I. corrugated roofs are precariously hanging (you can see some in the photos).

As of this afternoon, eleven people have been confirmed dead.  Some of the dismembered bodies have also been identified. Cause of the explosion has yet to be determined.

Can’t tell you to enjoy the photos because there’s nothing to enjoy in an incident, such as this one.

I don’t even know the reason why I documented the wreckage and why I’m posting them now.

Shot these photos with my Nikon D90 and Nikon 18-200mm VR lens and processed them using  Nik Silver Efex Pro.

Shot this photo on my way home from the province with my new Nikon D90 (I just love this camera) and Nikon 18-200mm VR lens. Been meaning to shoot this ancestral home for so long now. Thank heavens I finally had my tripod with me. HDR’d seven exposures in Photomatix and there you have it — the image that was inside my head for a very long time is finally out.

Posted this also because I think it represents the current gloomy outlook of people around the world. But should we really be despondent because of the economic tailspin we’re all in? I think not.

Just look at the house. Yes, it’s dilapidated, a breeding ground for termites, ready to surrender. But it still stands proud and many people from all walks of life notice it and see a past grandeur.

As a photographer, I see many opportunities in this seemingly cheerless condition. Where some may only want to tear it down, I see it as a beautiful, off the wall location for a fashion shoot or the background of a goth band’s album cover. In this instance, I took a shot with the intention of creating art (I hope I was successful).

As a Filipino, I see it as a museum housing the historical artifacts of the 19th century in this part of the province (btw, this house is in the last town of Bulacan, which is San Miguel, in the central plains of Luzon, Philippines).

As a writer, I can just imagine the secrets of the individuals who once lived here.

There’s always another side to the coin, as we often hear. We just need to turn the coin.

So do we have a gloomy future?

That depends on which side of the coin you’re looking at.

I just read Guy Kawasaki’s Art of the Start.  If you don’t know him, he’s the guy that helped create the Apple cult If you haven’t read it, I suggest you do.  It’s basically how to start a business but the one that struck a cord in me was when he said that businesses should make meaning.  He said:

Meaning is not about money, power, or prestige.  It’s not even about creating a fun place to work.  Among the meanings of “meaning” are to

* Make the world a better place.
* Increase the quality of life.
* Right a terrible wrong.
* Prevent the end of something good.

Hmmm…I wonder how many corporations today make meaning.

I wonder how many fashion brands make the world a better place for their workers in poor countries.

I wonder how many energy companies improve the quality of the air we breathe.

I wonder how many snack food companies really contribute to the well-being of my kids.

And I’m sure you’re wondering why I’m raising the issue in a photography and copywriting blog.

The American essayist and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson once said: “What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say.”

How true.  And exactly the point of this post.  We know that many companies spend millions of dollars on feel good advertising and PR.  We also know that many of these companies dump toxic waste in our rivers and oceans, produce products under deplorable, inhuman conditions, bribe government officials, the list goes on.  If you want to read more about these companies, visit CorpWatch.

What ever happened to what our mothers said to us about matching words with deeds?

Companies spend millions to say “we care” and they don’t do anything about our complaints.  Companies say “we’re responsible” and then spill tons of oil in our waters.  Companies say “we want your children to enjoy” and mix toxic substances in their toys.

Was it David Ogilvy who said that bad advertising can unsell a product?  Well, let me rephrase that in the light of the information tempest we’re experiencing today: even good advertising and PR can unsell a company if its words do not match its deeds.

Add to that: people today are looking for companies that make meaning.

And they will Google and watch. And protest in their blogs.

Is your company making any meaning?