Random Photos from Palawan
February 18, 2012
We spent 7 days in Palawan, spent Christmas in an island; sleep, eat, snorkel, lounge and read and basically do nothing.
I need another vacation.
Cebu Pacific – always late. (PEK>MNL, MNL>USU, USU>MNL, MNL>PEK)
Little boy jumped and clung on to Peter’s luggage.
Rented a motorcycle and went around Busuanga.
He’s not a fan of the kick starter
And then we saw a “waterfall” and went for a dip.
Siete Pecados. That tiny boat is tiny, and when both of us sat on that boat, it started sinking! The local kids were very amused and shouted “AY! Titanic Titanic! hahahaha!”. So we switched to a bigger boat, which the local kids, again, were shouting at us “Your boat facing the wrong way!”. They were quite happy seeing foreigners struggle with I’m sure something that is very basic to them.
Snorkeling in Siete Pecados. We had to get out of the water because a tiny fish bit Peter’s mole and it actually bled.
Big happy fish giving me thumbs up.
San Miguel Pale Pilsen, good stuff.
Kilawin – Peter’s food discovery and favorite.
Arurusip (sea grapes), tomatoes, and onions.
Babababarracuda. In Popototan island.
It’s Gil!!!
The hydrophobic fish
We stayed at:
1. Busuanga Sea Dive Resort – right in town, market, great diving place (according to Peter because I don’t dive), nice restaurants around. But if you wish to just lounge in a”vast, white sand” type of beach, this is not the place because there’s no sea shore at all. But nevertheless, it’s nice to just walk around and check out the local scene.
You can also rent a motorbike from Boyet (0928 292 9884), west of Sea Dive, 15 minute walk. He’s quite friendly, Php 600 a day’s rent, plus pay for 2 liters of gas.
2. Next resort we went to was Coral Bay, 30 minutes by van then 1 hour by boat. It’s in the middle of nowhere; actually in an island, so bring chips and snacks or like Tanduay Rum and order Coke then you get Rum and Coke (yeah yeah, the Asian cheapo)!
All photos are taken with the Olympus st6010. It’s so-so, not happy with the quality, but quite okay with underwater photos. But then, as my brother would say, might as well enjoy the water and the fishies than being busy taking photos.
Comments (0) | Tags: Coron, Motorcycle Rent, Palawan, philippines, Sea, travel | More: Others, Philippines, Places, Small Camera
Wedding
February 03, 2012
I haven’t blogged about last Christmas’ Palawan trip yet. And now I’ve been to and back from Philippines again for Chinese New Year and to be part of entourage to my brother’s wedding.
About the title, fortunately is my eldest brother’s wedding in Manila. He and his fiance Jacqueline have been going out for… omg 9 years? But anyway, Jacky’s a nice girl, she’s very soft spoken and ladylike (a trait that me nor my sister don’t posses), and she likes to bake and decorate cakes, so we’re lucky we have her join the family!
Wedding was very tiresome, let me tell you. The night before, I was only able to sleep at 1 am. Then we have to get up on the wedding day at 8am (supposedly 6am!!) to have makeup, hair and nails done. Peter had a field day with my makeup and called me “cake face”.
So far it went smoothly. During the reception, some couples were called on stage to participate in a game where the band plays a tune and the couple has to sing a line from it. Unsurprisingly, me and Peter were called up stage, among 8 other couples. Peter, who is quite well-versed in music, is stumped! haha He said he doesn’t recognize even a single tune. There was even a Tagalog song that I don’t know the lyrics to. LUCKILY, with just 3 couples left behind, the emcee sang The Moon Represents My Heart (Youtube song here) by Teresa Teng. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I was very very happy the band played that tune!! It’s one of my dad’s favorite songs and he used to play it all the time when we were kids (I’m sure until now). So yes, we went up the microphone and I sang one line from the song. So embarrassing!
Anyway, photos from the wedding:
Jerrick, Me, Bernadette and Jerwin
Peter adjusting his tie (borrowed from Dad!)
Cousin Dennis and his iPad
Jerwin
Entourage
The beautiful bride, Jacky
Dad on the phone
Mom
The church
The rings
Me and my bouquet
Rosary that will be used for the cord
Inside the church
<3
Comments (1) | Tags: Church, Jacky, Jerrick, Mall of Asia Church, manila, Red, wedding | More: Big Camera, Philippines, Photography
2012
January 08, 2012
Happy New Year! We went home (Philippines) for Christmas and New Years, but now back in cold -5C Beijing. Still struggling with the biting cold as we came from a warm 30C tropical weather.
Spent Christmas in a little island off south-west of Philippines, then spent New Year in the hometown. Peter got to meet the family and friends; he even cooked the New Year’s dinner! <3 Spent some time in Manila though all we did was shop and walk around Intramuros.
For now, some Filipino sky porn, something I missed from too much ugly grey skies in Beijing.
View from Busuanga Sea Dive Resort, Coron, Palawan.
PS. Busuanga Sea Dive Resort is the place to go to if you want to just dive. Don’t expect long stretches of seashore because there’s not much of it.
In the car, on our way from Dagupan to Manila.
Dagupan sky.
Comments (1) | Tags: Busuanga Sea Dive Resort, Coron, Palawan, philippines, Sea Dive Resort, sky, sunset | More: Big Camera, Philippines, Photography
Comments (0) | Tags: Ballet, Dance | More: Big Camera, Life, Photography
What’s up
December 01, 2011
I feel like I need to post photos to accompany my blog. But anyway, updates…
So I’ve finally changed jobs. I’ve actually started work last September (within just a week of notifying my previous employer). I can now call myself a “professional photographer”! Although with that title, I didn’t seem to please one person that needed to be pleased. I guess I just can’t make everyone happy…
With regards to my job, most stuff I cover are events, (a lot) of sports photography, concert and recitals, portraits, interviews, assemblies and such. Age range is from kinder to high school to adults. I’m learning a lot especially using flash and shooting sports. Oh and for a person who is quite introverted and not comfortable with little kids, I have to be friendly, engaging, perky and establish camaraderie. ;) You can check out my photos in our website here, my photos start on SEPTEMBER 2011. So now you know that I work for Western Academy of Beijing.
Part of Western Academy of Beijing on a nice blue-sky day.
It’s a great school, working with a team of creative professionals, nice kids, friendly teachers, accommodating coaches, and cheerful parents. It’s definitely different from my 2-year stint as a website editor working with mainlanders.
Not everything is easy though, as there are also frustrating times where teachers ask for group photos of their team but when I show up, they do not even bother directing their students to stand properly, line up properly, hands on your side/back or across the chest, etc etc. Is it my job to make sure the students are properly lined up? But then there are other teachers who are so anal that I haven’t even finished saying “Shorter ones in front, taller ones at the back…” that they cut me off with “We know what we’re doing”.
But I’m not complaining. It just takes a LOOONG time to get from my place to the school. I cycle to the subway station, take line 13, transfer to line 15, then cycle again to the school. Yes, I have two bicycles on both ends. Actually, I have three bicycles in all! But the weather’s dropping and it just KILLS ME whenever I cycle in the morning at -5C. Nice refreshing wake-up activity before I start the day though.
So that’s it. Hopefully I get to post more photos besides work. I’m afraid there will come a time that I’ll be sick of taking photos, looking at photos and editing photos.
Oh, and look! Global Times published a photo that I took of Gary Locke. Well, at least they put my name in huge font. Good enough.
| Tags: Life, photography, Western Academy Beijing, Work | More: Life, Photography
Meeting Two Inspiring People
November 21, 2011
Last week, I was given the chance to meet and photograph two people who are very inspiring.
First was the Iceman, George Gervin. All I knew before meeting him was that he’s an NBA legend. Little did I know that he as regarded as one of the greatest shooting guards in NBA history.
Mr. Gervin was there to guide and give some tips to the girls’ and boys’ varsity players. He was funny, friendly, cool and truly inspiring.
Geroge Gervin doing the finger roll
Second person I met the same week was Wang Jing, the first Chinese female to climb to the summit of Mount Everest from the southern slope. She takes awesome photos of her expeditions, too. Imagine freezing your ass off in the middle of climbing up a snowy mountain and having to take our your DSLR (she was using a Canon 5D II) and snap some photos, not to mention thaving to deal with the biting wind and altitude sickness.
She is part of a team of six women led by Liv Arnesen and Ann Bancroft, who on November 2012 will take on an 80-day long 800-mile expedition to the South Pole.
Comments (0) | Tags: Finger Roll, First Female Chinese to climb Everest, George Gervin, Portrait, sports, Wang Jing | More: Big Camera, Photography
Dad’s Stock Market
October 28, 2011
Small things are often taken for granted.
A series of photos of my dad, listing his stock shares on an old 2007 planner.
A Civil Engineer graduate, he is quite obsessive with his pens (0.7, blue, gel), ink quality, pencil, rubber eraser, quality of paper, rulers (he has more than twelve of them), and even correction fluid. I recently found out from my cousins that the stationery and art supply obsession runs in the family.
Most afternoons, he would connect to the internet and log on his stock market account online. He would list down the shares and even indicate with small up or down arrow as it rises or falls. Even the names of the companies are neatly labelled and stamped with his interchangeable rubber stamp set.
We used to only have dial-up internet in our store. Now it’s USB internet. Dad is more adept when in comes to technology and such as compared to Mom.
Old 2007 Planner, neatly lined in red ink and pencil for sections. Company names are not written, but stamped with blue ink.
Dad is never satisfied with those lined planners sold in bookstores. He has to line them and stamp them himself. Wait till I take a photo of his address book; very OC.
Comments (0) | Tags: dad, family, Home, Planner, Stocks | More: Big Camera, Photography
Fast Shutter and Green Balls
October 25, 2011
It’s been a loooong time since I’ve blogged. Been very busy the past month. The past two Basic Photography Workshops with Peter, both times we had to lend two of our cameras to the students. I wasn’t able to bring my point and shoot so didn’t get to take much photos.
But actually, I’ve been taking photos full time now. I got a job as a full-time photographer, but will disclose the details once everything is final.
So last week, for 3 days, I’ve been covering a tennis tournament for the Asia Pacific Activities Conference (APAC). Most players are from international schools around Southeast Asia.
As I’m not really a fan of sports photography, I’ve learned to control my shutter speed as well as anticipate the “moment”. My back was punished from the weight of the gear I have to carry to and from the venue. Although I appreciate sports photography now as long as I’m equipped with the right lens and fast-enough body. I must mention that my camera gear for work is Nikon, when I personally use Canon. For these photos, I’ve used mostly 70-200 but also used 24-70. Not bad Nikon, quite good with the focusing. Still getting used to it, but I’m not complaining. Am I one of those photographers who are “die-hard x camera brand” user who refuses to touch other brand other than what I use? Nope.
It was tiring but I had free sandwich for 3 days and I’m happy; it was a nice change for someone who is used to working in an office 8 hours a day.
Here are some photos from the tourny. Pardon me for not showing faces, but I might get into trouble if I did.
The coach
Flying red. She’s the women’s singles champion.
High five
Reach
Doubles hand shake
They didn’t have those attentive tennis ball-getter, and they had to make do with 3 balls per court.
Who remembers Kerokerokeroppi ??
Score board
Used tennis balls as table leg anti-friction
Comments (2) | Tags: apac 2011, beijing, chaoyang tennis center, china, sports, tennis | More: Beijing, Big Camera, China, Photography
Creator’s Project, Beijing
September 23, 2011
Went to the Creator’s Project opening last September 16 (Friday) with the Carney. To be honest, we went there just to check out Mount Kimbie play. But we had to endure a Chinese artist who was playing abysmally horrible noise. No idea who he is, but I can see some people covering their ears because it was just terrible. (Not sure, but I think he’s Zhang from Carsick Cars)
Creator’s Project from Geraldine Cuason on Vimeo.
There’s this performer called Glasser who reminded me of Bjork. No video for her though.
And then there’s Mount Kimbie. Not sure if I liked them play live. After three sets, we went home. Booo
But I guess the perk to the event is that they have an open bar (Jack Daniels Coke, Vodka Tonic, Spiked Cranberry juice, Tsingtao, and other fruit juices) so I can’t complain. Why can’t other festivals in Beijing serve booze?
Mount Kimbie at Creator’s Project Beijing 2011 from Geraldine Cuason on Vimeo.
Some photos from the event:
And here’s a video of the psychedelic installation of the entrance to Creator’s Project.
Creator’s Project Installation from Geraldine Cuason on Vimeo.
Comments (0) | Tags: 798, art district, beijing, china, creator's project, mount kimbie | More: Beijing, China, Music, Others, Small Camera
Yunnan Textile Shoot
September 09, 2011
I was given the chance to shoot for a project for Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Center (BJCHP). It was an interesting and different shoot because it involves textiles! The project is, according to BJCHP’s website:
The Menglian Weaving Revival Project is a continuation of the Mengma Archive Project –CHP’s successful pilot project in ethnic minority cultural revitalization. Sponsored by the New Zealand Embassy’s Aid Programme, theMenglian Weaving Revival Project is a collaboration between CHP and Vital Edge, a US-based humanitarian micro-aid organization.
This one-year project aims to improve Menglian’s unique weaving techniques and transform basic local handicrafts into products competitive on the international handicrafts market. Professional weaving training from a Thai weaving expert will be provided, along with assistance in design development and marketing to local artisans. Finished products will be sold domestically and internationally, providing additional source of income to Menglian weavers.
Menglian Weaving Revival Project will help empower the Menglian minority to revitalize their weaving traditions and promote cultural awareness in both the local and wider community, while also providing a sustainable income alternative for the area.
I first found out that BJCHP is looking for a photographer to shoot Yunnan textiles through a retweet by Zara Arshad (an awesome Graphics Designer, by the way, and thanks for the RT).
So after a few email exchanges, they invited me over to their office on a nice Saturday afternoon to shoot the textiles. Guess who my assistant was? Peter Carney! WOOT! (I just have to gloat because I’ve been his assistant all these times)!! Thanks for the big help. :)
Here are some samples. I’ve used two flashes, and at some times shooting through the umbrella. Also glad that we brought the black fabric as we used it as the backdrop.
This pattern reminds me so much of the Space Invaders! PEW PEW!!
There are many different colors, patterns and sizes. They also make scarves that are lush and soft to the touch. The photos that I took will be used in brochures and marketing materials. 100% of the money earned from the sales will be given back to the Menglian Weavers.
I think the scarves bought would include the cute little basket (inside the basket) and a handwritten note from the weaver.
If you wish to know more about the Menglian Weaving Revival Project, check out BJCHP’s post here.
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After shooting several fabrics close up, my eyes got confused and somewhat can’t tell if the image is sharp enough. But overall I’m happy with the results. We didn’t have much props to play with but I think it turned out well.