TREES OF UP

First to time to set foot in UP (University of the Philippines) in Diliman for a friendly portrait shoot. Nothing really serious, my hands were just itching for something to take a photo of, so I asked my work friend Q if she's willing to be a subject (doesn't really have to pose). I'm a little surprised that she did, to be honest, but I'm glad someone's up for a little adventure too. I chose UP mainly because of the vast space and its huge, hundred-year old trees.

It also didn't hurt that this is Q's alma mater, so after her portrait photos were shot (which I'll post later this week) we rounded up the campus, got passed by a number of joggers, and bought buko juice on the side. It was not easy to accommodate the thought that I wish I had a chance to study here while being enveloped by this kind of surrounding, but I'd like to think it is still never too late *wink* (eek! hehe).

And before I forget, happy new year to you all! :)

THE ONE IN THE LONELY

 

It sometimes scares me how comfortable being out alone I can be now. Admit it or not, in or out of a relationship, we all crave for that one moment of solitude to simply breathe again on our own..

..and it just feel so damn good to do so.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

Quite frankly, Christmas doesn't require merriment for me. I'd rather have a calm and peaceful moment to feel grateful for the little good things in life that make it as whole. I hope you found a moment like this with yours today. Happy Christmas to you all :)

SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN

  

DILIMAN

Trees, trees and trees at the University of the Philippines Diliman.

CHRISTMASSY

Kimi and I wish you a very Christmassy weekend!

LARRY & MAU

What started as a "book club" eventually turned into a venue for "unpopular opinions", this is how the transition took place over at Skype conversations with my work friends Queenie and Mark. Anything politics-related is Q's territory, anything weird/racistrandom is Mark's. It's quite a challenge to engage these two in a photography-related topic, but when I do have an opportunity to do so, I let them suck it up  haha!

Last month, we took the conversations to Larry & Mau's along Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong, a diner that is tied up with Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. I'm surprised at how this place is not patronized as how I think they should be. They serve good food and has just the right ambiance for out-of-this-world type of conversations that I did not really see coming haha.

This is an order of calamari with potato wedges that Mark can't shut up about for the entire night just because he thinks it's a little overpriced for the amount of calamari (or lack thereof) served.

As expected, a variety of topics were discussed throughout the night. There's no specific goal to be achieved here, just a typical picking of the brain, which I lost a huge chunk of when Queenie started revealing her degree major to Mark and then talking about her version of Wizard of Oz hahaha! Basically, the weirdest stuff you'll ever hear. Nothing is normal in the company of geeks, duh.

In the end, we were just a bunch of kids giddy with these bottle jerseys that they gave us as a freebie.

P.S. Anything photography-related was not covered. Not fair.

KATE

Incredibly relieved that the past week has finally ended! It was a bit excruciating week of work-related stuff and going home late at night. It's sad to see my rolls of film arrive from the lab and not to be able to share some, so I'm filling in the lack of updates this coming week :)

Let me start by sharing that I've acquired a new SLR (yay!) -- a 1975 completely mechanical Pentax KX :) I was happy and content with my Canon AE-1 Program, but I also wanted to try another camera that doesn't rely on batteries to be able to take a shot.

I was originally eyeing for a K1000, but this camera popped up in one of the Facebook groups that I joined as for sale, with an affordable price considering it is attached with a 50mm f/1.4 SMC lens. I only knew that the light meter was not working when I was testing it, but took this as an advantage for me to better understand light and exposure on my own :)

I had an impression that this would be a lightweight compared to my Canon AE-1 Program, but I was all wrong haha! Quite a luggage by itself, although I like how it stays put in my hands when the shutter is clicked. It does not budge a bit.

Hoping to capture more memories with Kate :)

RECENT BLOOMS

EARTHY

WHITE AND WOOD

My Canon AE-1 Program camera's shutter all of a sudden stopped working last September, and how unfortunate for it to happen while I was at Bag of Beans. I wrote in on stone that I'll be back for more with a decent-working shutter. And sure enough, I did! How couldn't I? :)

I've always loved the mixture of white and wood (I love wood textures, in general) around this place. Being situated in Tagaytay, the cool wind really brings out a cozier atmosphere, making it perfect and okay to just feel lazy. Like you just want to curl up on your seat with a blanket, while cradling a cup of their houseblend coffee, or cuddle the pillows while having conversations with your bestfriend and lose the concept of time.

It was not a surprise that I finished a roll just being here, and I've been chopping up the parts through posts just so I still have more to look forward to. Will be posting another batch next time :)