Still Life Photography: A Different Approach

Lessons Learned the Hard Way: My outtakes on still life photography

 

What is still life photography? This question comes to my mind as the judging of our final   project is happening. Did I really miss the point of this concept or are the judges too traditional? When they announced the winner, I was crushed. I have high expectations and not hearing my name on the top five broke my heart.

 

 

 

 

 

Mind you, this is basic photography class and we are required to produce a still life shot of fruits. I immediately thought of going beyond what is traditional, which is arranging the fruits to make it look good. I don’t want to be contained with that idea so I went outdoors for my shots. My shot below is what I submitted for my finals.

 

 

Should I chose to enter the photo below, I could have gotten a higher rank. But then, as I came to think of it, I would not also be happy choosing that photo over my original entry. This is when I realized that I had yet to find another audience for my photo. Being radical or thinking out of the box would not really work in group where mainstream photography prevails. Nonetheless, I was happy expressing my art!

 

Book is Bread Also

 

Every since  was a child, I have always been fascinated with reading. Books easily became  my companion and libraries and book shops became my paradise. I admit that I may not be as voracious as the other readers out there but I recognize the importance of books to the development of a person.

 

 

 

While it has always been pointed out by many that reading books is important, not many people are really keen on reading. How can it be so hard to see the connection that in order to know more, you have to read more. Be curious and ask often. 

 

 

 

 

Today, there is an increasing number children who are not reading books in favor of playing computer games and other electronic toys. Indeed, the distraction of children in studying and reading books have indeed become more serious today than ever. Before, children are distracted because of too much playing, especially outside their houses. But today, children are left on the living room, watching TV all day and night long. Aside from too much TV, they have other electronic gadgets to play like play stations or computer games. They do not have any physical activity anymore. And this situation saddens me.

Merci Milk Chocolate: I Heart!

 

The unique thing about this chocolate is that is assorted. The different bars have different flavors which are all unique to my taste. Usually, I would only have two choices for chocolates- dark or white. Others would be the inclusion of several ingredients like nuts, almonds and many more. With Merci, the flavors include Coffee, Dark Chocolate, Marzipan, Milk Chocolate, Almond, Crisp Crokant, Hazelnut, and Cream Chocolate, each individually wrapped.

 

 

 

 

 

The twenty sticks of chocolate in a box of Merci always give me a unique eating   experience. It’s like literally saying that “life is like a box of chocolate, you never know what you’re gonna get”. It describes exactly my experience with Merci chocolates. Every stick you pick, you’ll never what’s inside it. Nevertheless, there are color lines put in every stick which gives you a hint on what to expect on each bite. 

 

 

Indeed, I can say that Merci is one of the finest chocolates in the world. The finest  ingredients can give you variety and indulgence. Today, this brand of chocolate is more than just a food. It is used as a way of expressing gratitude to other people or loved ones. Undeniably, it is a gift that speaks for itself.

So to the makers of Merci, I say merci!

 

 

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Food Trip: Pizza in a Cone

 

 

Looking for creative ideas on food business? Why not try having pizza in a cone? It’s like having an ice cream but substituted by a pizza. It’s new and a unique idea. I have only seen this once at malls so I guess the market for the kind of food business is not yet overrated.

 

I believe having the pizza in a cone will be popular among teenagers, food lovers and the busy people. The idea of conveniently eating your pizza anytime and anywhere is the unique selling point of this business. You just have to come up with a unique marketing strategy to attract people to come to you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Personally, we just stumbled upon this little food place in SM Mall of Asia while waiting for a musical show. We are looking for a place where we can eat fast but at the same time feel full. So we tried this place and voila, just as what we expected.   

Not bad, I guess. It can attract many food lovers. Until the next food trip!

 

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Getting Inked

Avoiding the most cliché tattoos.

 

Having tattoos is becoming a trend among the youth today. It is not seen anymore as a thing for the bad and wild people, but as a form of expression of oneself. As a matter of fact, I believe that it goes beyond a personal expression today. It is fast becoming a fad and a frenzy. There are many people who goes to have tattoo without any serious thought on what is to be inked and just for the fun of it. Most of them, you will see, will eventually regret having tattooed.

 

 

For those  of you who are really serious of getting inked, think about it a million times. And at all cost, please avoid those that are clichés or considered trivial. Take into consideration the part of the body where you will get tattooed and most importantly, the tattoo design. You can go to tattoo shop or parlor to get tattoo ideas and inspiration. Or you can just search the web for a wide range of tattoo gallery or tattoo art. Among the tattoo designs I consider as cliché are tribal band, super hard neck, butterfly, dolphins and sacred heart on the boobs.

 

     

At the end of the day, just remember that unless it is henna, getting inked is a permanent body art. It will remain on the body and even the cosmetic surgery will not really actually remove it. The traces of a removed tattoo will still be evident on your skin. So before getting ink, think about it first. If you pursue, think about the design. Think, think and think.

 

Here are some collections of tattoos from different books. You might want to consider taking a look:

 

 

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Multivitamins: To Take or not to Take

 

 

 

 

Ever since I was a child, I have been reluctant taking medicines. And this reluctance has stayed in me even now that I am old. I think it’s common to everybody to be afraid of hospitals, injections and medicines. Emerging diseases would immediately freak me out. So you can see why I’m  not a fan of medicines specifically multivitamins.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Further, there are already studies emerging today that multivitamins show little benefits to the body. This has made me even more reluctant to take vitamins. There are even more aggressive studies pointing out that vitamins, instead of slowing the aging process, it even increases the risk of death.

 

 

For me, it is better to take healthy foods and have a healthy lifestyle rather than resort to  taking vitamins. In this way, you can ensure a holistic well-being. It is your choice whether or not to take vitamins. My point here is that, my reluctance on taking medicines has led me to having a healthier lifestyle. 

 

But if you really insist on taking vitamins, here are the list of some beneficial vitamins:

 

 

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Starbucks Coffee as a Status Symbol

 

 

Yesterday, I went to Starbucks Coffee Shop and it seems like ages since I had coffee in this place. I really try to avoid going to this “fancy” place because it looks superficial to me. While many people are hungry out there, there you are sipping your very expensive cup of coffee. Many people are lured into these place because of the sense of feeling that you belong to the high class society or the elite level. I think this absurd, unfair and irrational. 

 

 

In the Philippines, Starbucks is less of an issue of the fair trade and more as a status symbol. Most of the people go to the shop just to show off that they can afford this high-priced coffee drinks. It’s like telling to the world that “hey, I have money, I drink this kind of coffee and I belong to high society.” I hope that one day, this kind of thinking would stop. I just will people would stop thinking that products from the West or the global goods are reflection of high financial/economic status.

 

 

When I was in Indonesia, I have this friend once who constantly tells people that she misses drinking Starbucks coffee. Then, a foreigner asked her why she is looking for Starbucks where in fact she’s in the place where local coffees are the best in the world. At that moment, I want to smile but at the same time ashamed with what happened to my “friend”.

 

Here are some stuffs about Starbucks:

 

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Finding Music through Les Paul

 

It has always been my frustration to play the guitar. Ever since I was a kid, it is inspiring to see people who can play the guitar well. Many has told me that playing the guitar is easy but I never find the courage and inspiration to play one. I have tried the piano and I’m eyeing for the violin. I hope that in the future, I would be inspired to pick up the guitar and just strum it. Meanwhile, I took a shot of my cousin’s guitar and it turned out good. Take a look.

 

 

 

Here are links to some cool electric guitars.

Macro Photography: Up Close and Personal with my Nikon D90

 

 

The more formal or professional name for close-up photography is macro photography. Before this kind of photography is only appreciated in crime lab or the forensics. But today, it is one of the most artistic kinds of photography. And as I explore this concept, I am truly amazed with photography and the effect of seeing small things through the lens. 

 

 

My first fulfillment of my shots from my Nikon digital camera (D90 specifically) came with my macro images. Every time I feel like practicing, I would go in the backyard and take a few shots of small things. Indeed, it looks nice and a bit professional through the help of my camera also. While creating bokeh shots is great, the Nikon D90 is also equipped with fisheye editing tool.

 

 

 

There is a wide array of macro lenses that is sold in the market today. Other than macro lenses, there are other equipment designed to aid the photographer in macro photography. Aside from equipment dedicated from macro photography, there are also techniques utilized. Among these are the depth of field (DOF, my favorite) and the lighting.

 

 

Here are few links to some useful lenses for your camera:

 

 

 

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Carolina Herrera Takes on Eye Glasses Also

Through the looking glass: Carolina Herrera Eyeglasses

 

 

 

When one talks about Carolina Herrera, one can easily think of perfume. More than a name, Carolina Herrera is a fashion label. This designer brand is known for its perfume/fragrances, clothing, shoes, handbags and menswear. While it may not be usually heard like the case of Louis Vuitton, Gucci. Prada and the like, this brand is also a fashion empire. The label is known for its ensembles that are considered timeless. It is perfect for ladies who crave for a touch of class.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As for me, I love the whole clothing line of Carolina Herrera. It’s something that I can  relate into. Unlike the collection of other designers, Herrera’s are something to look forward to. This is true especially on its bridal wear. Her designs would be something that would inspire my future wedding gowns.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And with my last visit to my eye doctor, it opened me to the other world of Carolina Herrera. She designs eyeglasses/eye frames. I do not know exactly how is the business when it comes to designer eyeglasses since various fashion brands have their label of different eye wear also. When I saw the Carolina Herrera eyeglasses, I knew that it was the perfect fit for me.

 

 

For those who have eye glasses, they can profess that finding the perfect fit is difficult.  Obviously, eye glasses are not that relatively fashion statements, especially when you really need one. Some may rock them, but most would look drab or nerd or whatnot. So, I thank my Caroline Herrera, since it also looks fashionable for me. Yey!

 

 

 

Here are the links to some of the fragrances of Herrera. I guarantee you, they are a perfect scent!

 

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