Above the Clouds

The early morning December Fog in Dubai has covered most of its skyline only 1 tower stands up above the rest. Currently the Tallest building in the world (As I have mentioned in my previous entries). The fog fails to cover this Burj Dubai as shown in the photo above..

Rugby Action

Some shots I made during the first day of action of the 2007 Dubai Rugby 7's. I was able to watch the first match of the Lads of our company which eventually won the Social League title. After a few months of absence I started to be active in Photography once again. After a commisioned Interior shot a month ago and another commisioned shoot this month. I'm starting to feel the groove again. Maybe its hard to take photography out of my system.

My First paid photography Job in recent times. Eversince I move in to Dubai to work been busy with my Day Job as an Architect which leaves me with little chance to do freelance photography work. The only chance I get to do Photography is during road trips which happens every now and then.
My recent project which a Friend ask me to shoot the interiors of the Boutique she's managing. I shot a couple of their outlets which located in 2 different Malls.

Its nice to do freelance work once again..

The photos below were shot at the 40th Level of our Project "The Index Building". It was during our site inspection when I took a snap using my LCA shooting the North, East and South view from the building showing the City of Dubai unfortunately didn't include the West side.

North Side View
(Emirates Tower, Dubai Financial Centre currently under development)

East Side View

South Side View
(Burj Dubai, Dubai Business Bay currently under development)

Last week It was the first time to use my LCA in shooting an event/party. Last week our company held a mini party (cocktails,drinks) as a celebration for bagging another project.
The pictures below were some of the result.
Details
Camera : Lomo LCA with colorsplash (but set the gel to natural)
Film : Kodak TMY 400 uprated to iso 200.

As all of my lomography photos no single post processing were done.

The photo above are 2 of the structure that will comprise Dubai skyline in the near future. The structure in the foreground is the Index Building (as I mentioned in my previous post is our onging project) and the structure on the background is the Burj Dubai when completed will be the tallest building in the world.

This is part of the lomography pictures I'm currently producing. This was shot from my LCA with Tunnel vision lens attached using Kodak Tmax 100 film uprated to iso 200 then process normally.

I still continue to enjoy my interest in Lomography actually I just finish my 5th Roll from my LCA will be taking it to the Lab tommorow to heve them processed and Scanned. Its been a while since I shoot using Digital Camera and my DSLR has been stocked in the dry box.
The picture above are some night shots I made with the LCA this are handheld (lazy to lug around a tripod specially when walking around the City).

Now that both Multiply and Flickr are now blocked sites here in the UAE which leaves me with blogger the only alternative to post pictures. Hope that they will not block blogger also.
Nowadays I shoot mostly with Film with my new found interest in Lomography. I just got myself a LCA recently let me show you a couple of photos I shot using it. I never knew that Lomograohy is addicting so my DSLR and my digicam is taking a brief rest.

We are almost in the halfway mark of the building structure. We shearwall reaches now to Level 36. We are targeting to complete the building by Dec 2008 which mean we have to complete the structural works (which means Level 80 )by end of the year.
So all the works now are all urgent so can't imagine how I was able to squeeze this post on my busy work day.

By the way the picture above is the current status of our project and decide to include a foreground like this delivery truck. For this picture I used black and white film (Tmax 400) with the Lomo Fisheye.

Bus Stop

A photo of one of the Bus Stop sign here in Dubai,UAE.
Using Lomo Fisheye and Fuji Superia Film

Heres another one taken from the latest roll I consumed for my action sampler. This time a shot of my favorite still subject which is Bicycle this one part of the front wheel. Maybe next time I'll show you a Fisheye shot of a bicycle which I still have to shoot.

Lets take a brief respite from posting Lomography picture. This is a photo of Cherrie a Colleague and a Good Friend of mine.
This was shot inside a moving vechicle during our ride home from the office after a days work.
Even the challenge of shooting inside a moving vechicle and the stresses of a day in the office I still capture her at her best.

Ice Cream Fix

During this hot summer climate in the Middle East were the temperature rises to a blazing 50 deg you really need to have a cold fix for me its an Ice Cream fix during a hot and humid afternoon. The photo above was shot when I'm about to leave a Baskin and Robbins Ice Cream shop. Taken by my action sampler.

Another Action Sampler shot

For today I would like to show another shot made from Action Sampler. The sode dispenser at our project office.

Shot in the crossing near my house shot this before but this will be the fisheye version.

Action Sampler

Just finish the first roll in my action sampler so I hurriedly have it process so I can see the result. So far half of the photo in that roll turns out ok (which means I like the outcome) here is one of them.

Picture for today is a self portrait using Fisheye.
Can't wait to see the Action sampler shots.

Disaster recovery

Well after a disastorous weekend, all is well now with my Macbook pro. I was able to get my backups at the office. After a clean reinstall and update the OS to 10.4.10 (which is running smoothly so far finger crossed). I was able to get almost all of my music to itunes. Get my important photos well at least my portfolio and stock photos are intact thanks to extra back up in DVD. I'm completed reinstalling some of my apps like adium (for chat) Mail plugins, and my BT client and RSS reader (some of it I have to download again).
So what else is missing I think its complete its like normal again I can do the stuff I'm doing with this computer like writing this entry for instance.

Well I'll be able to do my new passion which is Lomography (more on that on future post).

This will be the picture of the day shot using the Lomo Fisheye camera. Be posting some picture from the action sampler once I finished the roll.

Lomo Picture of the day

Just finish my first roll of film shot using my Lomo Fisheye. Instead of posting all of the picture here I thought of posting one picture at a time here. This will be the first picture from that roll.

I finally join the Lomography bandwagon. Just got myself an Lomo Fish eye (photo above) and currently on my first roll of film shooting whatever I feel shooting. I will post the pictures after processing .

When Disaster strike

Yesterday I made a software update on my Mac OS updated to 10.4.10. While updating my external hard drive (where most of my back up files are stored) was mounted on my Laptop. After the update and restarted my Computer for some unexplained reason most of my application won't launch.
The worst part of all my files (photos, music library, documents were gone both in my hard drive and in the external hard drive (its disaster time) I just don't understand how it happened. The folders on both of my drives are intact but when you click on the folders there are files.
Now I'm currently recovering some of my file that was lost. good thing I have some back up made in CD but that was not updated its better thing than nothing to recover but still its a tedious thing to do and now I have to solve the problem od launching some of my apps.

Kobe

This is Kobe my wife's nephew. I shot this portrait during our visit to Manila early this year. On the series of shot I took of him this one is my favorite. I shot him in a Candid matter eyes wide open maybe he was surprise of the flash attached on my camera.
I recently won our camera club monthly photo competition with this picture as my entry. With that I won a Canon photo printer which till now still wrap in the box well don't have use for the printer as I still print my pictures on the lab but thats another story to tell.

Flower

This is one of the subject that I seldom shoot. Maybe I'm not that good in shooting flowers or its a little bit feminine. And whenever I try to shoot flowers the pictures came out um um.

Here are one of the rare instance that I shoot flowers and was satisfied with the outcome so Its just right to post it here.

Burjal Arab

After living in UAE for over a year I have a chance to take a snap on Burjal Arab. Before moving over here I was planning to shoot this hotel that they say is the only 7 Star hotel in the world. Been planning on to go there but it always didn't push through. But last weekend It was able to pushthrough although the sky was not that awesome as there was a bit of sandstorm but was able to make some decent shots. Well I'm planning to go back there when the weather is good and the sky are clear.

In an attempt to shoot Burjal Arab last weekend. Thanks to the non cooperative weather I ended up shooting this guy playing around the beach. But I did not got empty handed in shooting Burjal Arab I managed to got couple of acceptable shot. Will post it later.

We Stand Alone Together

This is the title of the latest CD of Bamboo actually released way back February but only got a copy of the CD just now courtesy of my friend Joyce who just got back from Manila.
This is a two disc album first disc is a compilation of covers of classic songs. My Favorite in this album are
"So Far Away" originally by Carole King
"Prayer for the Dying" originally by Seal
"Umagang Kay Ganda" originally by Ray Ann Fuentes and Tillie Moreno
"English Men in New York" originally by Sting.
These songs are really my favorite and I like his versions of the covers as well as he make a new turn for this songs.
The second disc was the version of their old original songs without some of the members ie Hallelujah (without Vic Mercado on drums).
If your musical taste. falls between Rock,Soul and Jazz just like me. I recommend getting a copy of this CD.

I'm Ernie

You Are Ernie

Playful and childlike, you are everyone's favorite friend - even if your goofy antics get annoying at times. You are usually feeling: Amused - you are very easily entertained You are famous for: Always making people smile. From your silly songs to your wild pranks, you keep things fun. How you life your life: With ease. Life is only difficult when your friends won't play with you!

The Sesame Street Personality Quiz

Paint

This was shot few months back since I'm showing photos shot inside my house I consider including this one. This was not exactly shot inside the house but on the garage the stack of paint was shot as is no arrangement were done on the object. Will be showing you more of this on the coming post since I've compile few pictures like this.

Heres another image I create without leaving the four corners of my room this time I used some push pins that I found in my drawer use my table as background but now with a little help of bounce flash to illuminate my subject and to bring some more color to it.

Spell Check

Talking about checking your spelling in your signage.

This portrait was shot Last December during the Hot Air Baloon Festival in Dubai we are about to wrap up our shoot for that day when we came across this guy. When he saw our camera he posed in front of his which we took the oppurtunity and shot few frames. This is my favorite on this batch.

Project update

After 16 Months of Construction. Our project The Index Building has reach 31st of its 80 Level. Shown above is the latest photo of the building which was shot yesterday. Structural Works are in full swing while Architectural/Finishing works will start any moment so we are in full swing in preparation of construction drawings and documents.
Will keep you updated as work progresses.