I have discovered my hidden passion for photography mid 2007 and since then God knows how many photos I have take. Its a good think photography has evolved into digital world and makes it more cheaper to shoot photos than before. I say I have improved a little in my shooting and learned to process my shots well than before... One photo has given me the inspiration to improve more in the craft. I have taken this photo in Kowloon and processed it in photoshop. I have posted this in one of my Photography community wesite called Myshutterspace.com and received an overwhelming responce. The number of responces are not numbering in hundreds but the words uttered were so inspiring an i wanted to share this to you. THE BEGGAR
 These are the appreciation i received from the members of the website:   It is not so many but the words are so inspiring specially for an amateur like me.
A simple man tells how his booking an airline ticket for his father, his first flight, brought emotions and made him realize that how much we all take for granted when it comes to our parents.
My parents left for our native place on Thursday and we went to the airport to see them off. In fact, my father had never traveled by air before, so I just took this opportunity to make him experience the same. In spite of being asked to book tickets by train, I got them tickets on Lufthansa.
The moment I handed over the tickets to him, he was surprised to see that I had booked them by air. The excitement was very apparent on his face, waiting for the time of travel. Just like a school boy, he was preparing himself on that day and we all went to the airport, right from using the trolley for his luggage, the baggage check-in and asking for window seat and waiting restlessly for the security check-in to happen.
He was thoroughly enjoying himself and I, too, was overcome with joy watching him experience all these things.
As they were about to go in for the security check-in, he walked up to me with tears in his eyes and thanked me. He became very emotional and it was not as if I had done something great but the fact that this meant a great deal to him.
When he said thanks, I told him there was no need to thank me.
But later, thinking about the entire incident, I looked back at my life.
As a child how many dreams our parents have made come true. Without understanding the financial situation, we ask for football, dresses, toys, outings, etc. Irrespective of their affordability, they have satisfied to all our needs. Did we ever think about the sacrifices they had to make to accommodate many of our wishes?
Did we ever say thanks for all that they have done for us?
Same way, today when it comes to our children, we always think that we should put them in a good school. Regardless of the amount of donation, we will ensure that we will have to give the child the best, theme parks, toys, etc. But we tend to forget that our parents have sacrificed a lot for our sake to see us happy, so it is our responsibility to ensure that their dreams are realized and what they failed to see when they were young, it is our responsibility to ensure that they experience all those and their life is complete.
Many times, when my parents had asked me some questions, I have actually answered back without patience.. When my daughter asks me something, I have been very polite in answering. Now I realize how they would have felt at those moments.
Let us realize that old age is a second childhood and just as we take care of our children,the same attention and same care need to be given to our parents and elders.
Rather than my dad saying thank you to me, I would want to say sorry for making him wait so long for this small dream. I do realize how much he has sacrificed for my sake and I will do my best to give the best possible attention to all their wishes. Just because they are old does not mean that they will have to give up everything and keep sacrificing for their grandchildren also. They have wishes, too.
Take care of your parents .
Hi! I stumbled accross this topic in the Wikihow website and I thought this should be very interesting to share specially to those who loves to be in photos and photographer wannabies. Let me know what you think! Happy Easter!
- Wear clothes with colors that suit you. Certain colors complement certain skin tones, while others tend to bring out the worst. Also take into consideration your hair color. You may have a feel for which colors you look best in, but if not, do some research (check out the external links below) and some trial-and-error
- Hide your blemishes. The bad thing about photographs is that because they are simply frozen images of one angle in an instant in time, they can't show all your good attributes. The good thing about them is that you can easily hide certain features you don’t like. If you've got a unsightly look on one side of your face, for example, don’t show the camera that side.
- Determine your best angle. Beyond the obvious hiding of blemishes, finding the right angle for your face can be a bit more difficult. The best thing you can do is experiment using a digital camera so that you can immediately see the results of each pose. It will very quickly become obvious which angles are most flattering for you, and you can then use that angle as much as possible in the future. The classic model's pose is to arrange your body 3/4 toward the camera with one foot in front of the other and one shoulder closer to the camera than the other. This isn’t the best pose for everybody, however, and it can look a little ridiculous when used in a family photo right next to your Uncle Bob.
- Get rid of a double chin. Tilt your head down slightly and try to position yourself so that the camera is a little above your eye level. This will hide a double chin fairly effectively. You can also put one hand under your chin as though you’re resting your head on your hand (keep the thumb side of your hand out of the camera’s view, if possible). Don't actually rest any weight on the hand, however, or you will push the skin into an unflattering position. Also try resting your tongue against the roof of your mouth.
- Stick your neck out. One trick models often use is to present a 3/4 pose to the camera (turn your head so that 3/4 of your face is exposed to the camera, as opposed to a full frontal shot) and then lift your neck and slightly tilt your head down, as though you are a turkey sticking its head out (without actually thrusting your chin out). This improves facial definition and helps ameliorate wrinkles and flabby skin.
- Relax. Many people end up looking odd in photos because they freeze into odd facial expressions with a “say cheese" type of smile on their face. If you're used to having bad pictures taken of yourself, you probably get nervous in front of the camera, and this can make things even worse. If you know a picture is about to be taken, take a deep breath and exhale naturally, relaxing your arms and shoulders. As you exhale, smile or strike whatever pose is appropriate. Don't hold your breath, either in or out, otherwise you'll appear as though you're tense or suffocating. If you see the photo coming too late, don’t panic and try to strike a pose. Keep doing what you're doing and try to ignore the camera. It may not turn out perfectly, but you’ve got a better chance than if the camera catches you quickly trying to change your facial expression. The more comfortable and relaxed you appear, the better the photo will turn out.
- Think happy thoughts. An unnatural, forced smile can make you look stiff and, frankly, weird. When people are smiling and waiting for a photo to be snapped, their facial muscles can get caught in all sorts of strange positions. To remedy this, try to time your smile so that you don't have to hold it for too long. Also, imagine something really funny (don't be afraid to laugh a bit, even) or think of someone—your spouse or child, for example—who makes you happy. By doing so, you’ll get a genuine smile. If you don't like your smile or your teeth, try a more subdued, closed- or partially-closed-mouth smile. Regardless of how you choose to smile, the happier and more relaxed you are, the better.
- Smile with your eyes. Nothing projects happiness and beauty like smiling eyes: a happy, somewhat mischievous expression of the eyes. To achieve this effect, imagine that the camera is a person you have a crush on walking into the room. This will create wider open eyes and a relaxed smile. Chances are you unconsciously do this all the time; the trick is to be able to bring it out on demand, so practice the smiling eyes in front of a mirror.
- Maintain your posture. Listen to your mother — remember how she always told you not to slouch? Good posture can dramatically improve your appearance in pictures. Sitting or standing up straight will make you look healthier and more alert and, if in a group setting, more attractive than your slouching companions. Just remember to breathe normally and relax your shoulders. Especially if you usually have bad posture, it may be difficult to stand up straight and not look stiff, so practice this in the mirror.
- Get a better photographer. Professional photographers generally know how to bring out the beauty in people. You can't always choose your photographer, but sometimes you can. If you're going to put up a shot for an online dating service, consider enlisting a professional. If you need headshots for modeling, get the best professional you can find.
- Edit or enhance photos. If you've tried everything, but you still can’t seem to get a good picture of yourself in any environment, try slightly altering your digital photos. Changing the lighting effects or filter effects, for example, can dramatically improve the appearance of your complexion.
- Fake it till you make it. People are often photogenic because they like having their picture taken. They are therefore relaxed and happy when the camera appears. If you cannot muster up genuine love of the camera, pretend you like the camera. Imagine the camera is someone you love, a long lost friend, an old flame, your child at age three, or whatever you need to look at the camera lovingly. Try it—it really does work.
- Keep the shine down. It is so important to keep the shine down in the ever-troublesome t-zone - the top of your nose and your forehead. Especially on a warm day but even the coolest among us may get a little sweaty when faced with the lens of a camera.
- Relax your lip(mouth) region and dont have any delirious thoughts filled with gloom that's a natural way to appear fresh and appealing in photo graphs.
- Be graceful in your movements.
- keep your face in equilibriumLook at your face in the mirror.That's NOT actually the face which comes in your photograph.Now stare at your own reflection.After sometime your face will reach the 'normal' condition.That will be your 'equilibrium' face.Now deactivate your eye region and activate your lip region.Dont clench your teeth ,just make sure that your upper and lower jaw molars touch each other.Always smile if your complexion is dark or dull and your smile should be a slight one .At the same time stress the corners of your eyes and raise your eye brows a little.Practice this exercise every day before mirror for a few minutes.In one month it will become a habit whenever someone tries to take a photograph of you.But dont forget the most fundamental things for a good photograph and those are good cheer and confidence.
Tips - Study pictures of models and other photogenic people. When comfortable for your personality, experiment with mimicking their postures, but remember most model photos are not what family members or friends are looking for in a picture. Stand at a slight angle to the camera.
- When in a seated group shot, be sure the chairs are placed as close together as possible. Instead of leaning in, sit up straight and relax.
- Have your close friends look at the pictures you've taken to help you ascertain when you look your best. Sometimes, a critical second set of eyes is a great help.
- Consider that people with highly animated faces stand a better chance of getting captured during a transient grotesque expression. Frame-by-frame video is a great way to see significant differences between the photogenic and the not-so-photogenic.
- Practice smiling in front of the mirror. In no time you'll know which smile looks fake and which is the most flattering. Learning how your face moves will help when someone grabs for the camera.
- Keep your tongue behind your teeth.
- Use makeup. Those runway models and movie stars don’t necessarily all have perfect complexions, but they do all wear makeup so that they look unblemished. Especially if you have oily skin, a spotty complexion or a lot of wrinkles, experiment with different cosmetics to hide the “bad" and accentuate the “good".
- Always look slightly above the camera when the picture is taken. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis always used this technique for photographs and portraits. Additionally, it helps reduce the "red eye" effect.
- If it is a full-length shot, position your body 45 degrees from the camera, then turn your head towards the lens. Stand with one foot crossed in front of the other and put all your weight on your back leg. This pose is very slimming and universally flattering.
- While being photographed, try to keep all body parts as close to your torso and face as possible, anything protruding directly at the camera will seem huge in the photo. ** Exception: Women often hold their arms just a couple inches away from their body b/c holding them too close often exacerbates the look of flabby upper arms.
- Three seconds before the shutter clicks, have your head down, and then slowly bring it up. No jerking head, though that may work. Smile while bringing your head up. When the picture is taken, your mouth should be in a full swing relaxed smile. This way, your face is fully relaxed. Relax your eyes for the photo and feel relaxed. This may not work for all, so experiment when finding your photo taking style.
If you want to see the full page here is the link: http://www.wikihow.com/Be-Photogenic
I was browsing through dozens of photos I took last Christmas and this one caught my attention. This is my colleague Lisa and her son. I asked her permission if I can post this on my site for critique and she agreed as long as I copyright the photo. This is one of my favorite portrait. I love the expression of the kid's face especially the eyes.
Have you experienced these:
1. Pagdating galing office first thing you open is your multiply account.
2. Pag gising sa umaga first thing to check is your multiply account (baka may nag reply na sa blog or photos ko)
3. Nagigising ka ba ng madaling araw and then first thing you do is to check ..... yes multiply account?
4 Ok ito ang mas matindi. Napagalitan ka na ba ng magulang o asawa mo kasi kakain na lang multiply pa din ang inaatupag mo?
5 Last.. Napapanaginipan mo ba??
If you are experiencing these symptoms you might have it :) Please feel free to add more if you feel you have similar symptoms.
1. Mas damdam ko ang diwa ng pasko...Misa de galyo, puto bumbong, kapeng barako mga borloloy. karoling ...(I think karamihan ng mga pinoy nakaranas mag carolling )...etc
2. Di ko kailangan magtrabaho sa 24th :(
3. Parang mas masarap mag shopping sa SM and Glorietta habang naririnig ko ang christmas carols sa background.
4 MASARAP KAPILING ANG ATING MGA PAMILYA SA PASKO.
...ok dagdagan nyo pa...
 Wishing you all a Merry Christmas & a Prosperous New Year
jun & joanne
I have been wanting to write about this incident that happened in Mongkok. This happened last Nov 30 Friday morning. It was holiday in the Philippines and walang mga clients sa Pilipinas so my colleague agreed that he will man our desk in the morning and I in the afternoon. So I went to Kowloon side (Mongkok) to check out this shop that my friend has been telling me that sells cheap camera accessories. I also brought with me my camera just in case there are interesting sights to shoot. I found the store after walking around for  fifteen minutes and ended up buying extra battery for my cam... as I was paying nagulat ako dahil yung isang empleyado biglang sinara yung shutter ng shop..(you guys are probably thinking raid!! Nope mali.. ) So I asked the guy in the counter what was going on and he just said "oh nothing" and cool pa. So after he r eceived the money he quickly ran outside, so lalo akong nagulat and that time may naaamoy na akong parang nasusunog... So I went out of the shop just to discover that there was a smoke coming out of the ceiling.... Yes correct nasusunog ang shop!!! I guess "business first" sabi siguro nung nasa counter before anything else. So anyway I took a couple of shots (feeling news photographer) d  uring that incident. Sabi ng officemate ko sana binenta ko sa Hong Kong News Bureau yung mga pics. I could easily make money daw. But I think hindi pa pan g news material ang mga kuha ko.  What happened in the end?? ... di ko na alam. It was almost 11:30 that time and i had to rush back to central to have lunch with Joanne. As of this writing di pa ako nakakabalik sa area so di ko alam kung nasunog ba buong building o hindi. I think hindi siguro kasi after 3 mins when the incident started dumating na ang fire and rescue team nila. Bilib din ako sa bilis nila to think this area is so traffic.  Oh well that's it for now till next time ! Ciao!
 Di ako makapaniwala na sobrang taas ng level ng pollution ngayon dito sa shopping capital of Asia. On my way sa office akala ko fog ang nakikita ko pero smog na pala. It kept me wondering tuloy kung maswerte pa din ba ang mga Pilipino dahil di ganito ang pollution sa atin. At around 8:30 in the morning I took a picture of the Hong Kong Island from our office (64th flr of IFC2) and from where i was standing you can barely see anyghing 2 district away na usually on a good day clear na clear (sayang wala akong photo ng Hong Kong na clear ang view). No wonder madami na ding umaalis na expats sa Hong Kong because of polution.
Does a man create his own destiny or is it something planned by a divine being?? Have you ever experienced this situations?
- you have told a friend that you are looking for your father whom you haven't seen for decades and just after a day your friend tells you he knows where your father is because a friend of his is a friend of your father...
..i did!
- you just decided to wear your best suite in the office and upon arriving your manager tells you to represent the company on a function because you are the one in the proper attire
...this is just an example it's not mine.
These and other "weird" experiences makes me wonder - do we create our own destiny, is it planned by someone higher than us or everything is just mere coincidence?
/jun
I just got this email from a friend and I just wanted to share these to the rest of the "multiply" world. This has been an old story that has been told in different context. I just wanted to know what you guys feel about it. THE EVILS OF DYNASTIES "Virtual Reality" column of Tony Lopez The Manila Times
Just how bad dynasties are to the economy and the country can be gleaned from the amount of taxpayers' money these people have access to.
Take the Senate. There will be siblings - Pia and Alan Cayetano. In addition,Alan' s wife, Laarni, took his old congressional seat from Taguig. There will probably be a father-and-son senator - Nene Pimentel and Koko Pimentel. The No.2 most popular senator, Chiz Escudero, has his father, Sonny, as congressman from Sorsogon, his son's old turf. Ed Angara is senator; his son and namesake is a congressman.
A senator draws P200 million in pork barrel; a congressman, P70 million. Therefore, Pia, Alan and Laarni will rake in P470 million a year, or P1.4 billion in three years. Nene and Koko will have P400 million between themselves yearly, or P1.3 billion in three years. Chiz and Sonny will enjoy P270 million per year, or P810 million in three years, just like the Angara father-and-son tandem.
How much does the average poor make a day? A third of the 85 million population, or 25.5 million of the people of this country make less than $1 a day, or P365 (or P17,155) a year.
According to Ping Lacson, the P200-million pork barrel of a senator is just a starting figure. If a senator sponsors a Cabinet department during the budget hearings and sessions, he/she is given access to P350 million in the line budget of that department. So P200 million plus P350 million, that's P550 million.
What do the Filipino people get in return for electing these people? Very little, if any. In the last 100 years since Filipinos began electing their representatives, the Philippines degenerated from being the No. 1 economy, trading and commercial power in Asia to No. 73 least compe-titive country in the world. Today, the Philippines is less free than it was a century ago. Did you know that the Philippines used to be Asia's industrial power?
As late as the 19th century, the Philippines was already one of Asia's premier industrialized countries and was the center of culture and education. The country was producing iron-ore sheets, refined iron ore, liquor from molasses using then unheard-of boilers, fine textiles for export, and was using steam engines and steamships. It established the first bank in Asia, made the first typhoon forecast in Asia, and set up the first European-style universities in Asia.
Manila had a street car system, just like San Francisco; and had a ferrocarril line from the city to Dagupan in the north and from Manila to Batangas and Bicol in the south. By 1895, Manila had an electric light system. The first taxi fleet, the first airline, the first modern newspapers, the first conglomerate were established by Filipino tycoons. What happened after that?
During the last 100 years, Japan became a military power and the world's No. 2 economic power next to the United States. During the last 50 years, Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore became economic miracles. Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore became nation states (they used to be unknown islands while Filipinos were already conducting diplomatic relations with Europe and China).
In fact, at one time, the Sultan of Sulu was a frequent visitor in China because he liked it there. He stayed there for three months, but died of syphilis. The Chinese erected a monument in his honor.
In the last 30 years, the Philippines became the slowest growing economy per capita in Asia, bar none. During that time, Congress produced 15,000 laws and law schools 30,000 lawyers, half of whom are active. So two lawyers for every one law. Yet, the Philippines has a very poor human rights and economic rights record.
We got our priorities wrong. We gave the people the power to vote even before the people and those they elect learned how to govern properly, or at the very least, prepare or educate themselves to have a modicum of competency and honesty.
These days, people kill people just to be able to serve the people. People bribe people just to be able to serve the people. That is the meaning of a heated electoral contest. And of fraudulent elections.
Should our politicians be blamed for the nadir we have fallen into? I will say No if those families mentioned in the first part of this column will return their pork barrel and declare, "from now on, I will truly serve the people." C'mon, give the money to the 12-million school- age children who are out of school because of extreme poverty. You don't deserve so much money. You didn't earn it.
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