Whats keeping me from Shooting

The photo above is one of the pair of Dumbbell I own and used in case I wasn't able to workout at the Gym which seldom happens as I go regularly for the past 10 months. For the past months it was a break in Photography were most of my free time were spent in the Gym. But I was able to regain my shooting groove courtesy of a back injury which sidelined me for a while from working out. I manage to finish some rolls of Film (by the way I shoot more with Film nowadays with my passion with lomography). There are few more to be finished and process I'll post the pictures once its processed and scanned.

Getting my groove back

Its been over a month already since I pick up my Camera and did some serious shooting and even doing some snap shots with my point and shoot digicam even with my Lomo cameras. The last time I post some pictures on my online gallery was last February 16 and those pictures were shot during the first part of Feb. There are some unfinished rolls in my Film SLR and I just recently finish a roll in my LCA which I load during the last week of Feb. Its not that I lose interest in Photography I just cannot explain why I’m not shooting for the moment. I usually experience this every year when there are months that I just don’t feel it like shooting.

The photo above is one of the photo in my recently completed roll of film thanks to the trip to the beach early Friday morning which I managed to finish the roll. Hopefully in the coming days I will get my groove again and came up with some photos.

Around the world in one camera update

Its almost two years when I joined a project called "Around the World in One Camera. In case you don't know whats this project all about.

"The whole idea is to create a photo album from images taken by 36 people from around the world using the same “travelling” camera and a single roll of film. Every participant will receive the camera by mail along with a notebook. Using that camera the participant will take a photograph of anything he or she wants and will have to submit a short note, explaining his or her choice of what has been photographed. When it’s done, the camera will be sent to the next participant. The whole process will be repeated until the roll is done."

When i joined this project I thoought it will be over in a few months or less than a year but it took a long time before the traveler (as what we call the camera we are using) to reach other user. We also thought that last year that the project will be a failure as the traveler was lost for a few weeks only to resurface again. Now we have to start the project again. Just got an email from the organizer of the project that I'll be next in line to have the traveler and shoot so I'll get a hold of it in a few weeks will keep you updated when Its i my hands already till then.

I'm back at Dubai once again after a 26 days vacation in the Philippines. It was one hell of a travel back which started on the hassle I have on the Airline check in counter at the NAIA. After queing for over 30 minutes when its my turn then when I way my check in baggage it weigh a 29 KG so I'm over the limit the lady on the counter asked me to lessen the weight of my check in baggage so what I did I switch the clothes in my hand carry to some of the contents of my check in baggage which consists boxes of "pasalubong". We weigh it again 25 KG but this time the kind lady in the counter let it go. So she gave me my boarding pass when I'm about to leave the counter she told me that she will put a Tag in my hand carry bag which is my Backpack where my MBP laptop is kept and the other one is my Camera Bag which carries 1 DSLR body, couple of extra lenses and my Lomo LCA. When I gave my bag to her she told me she has to weigh ...... 13KG the limit is only 7KG for hand carry I was surprise that they have to weigh hand carry bags nowadays. I travel to and from Dubai since 2006 and its my first time to encounter that they are weighing hand carry baggage now. Back to the lady in the counter she asked me to remove some of the contents of my hand carry baggage to met the allowable weight I politely told her that I cannot remove any more contents of my bag. I told her I cannot leave my Laptop and Camera behind so she let me go I greatfully thank her and left the counter to catch up with my flight. The flight went okay except that I have trouble sleeping so I just watch a couple of onflight movies. Then after touching down in Dubai and completing other requirements for re-enter i passed by the duty free shop at the airport and pick up a couple of 6 pack for me its one of the legal way to get liquor in this country. Then another hour of queing for the Taxi I reach home around 3:00 AM only to get up at 6:00 AM to go back to work.
Today its back to the office the rest of the working day was spent reading emails and other correspondence that piled up during my absence.
So its back to reality once again.

Approaching the end of the 2nd week of my 3 week annual vacation here in the Philippines. I have 1 more week to go to enjoy and do some unfinished business. So far the last 2 weeks was Fantastic went to Boracay for 5 days for some relaxation. Have some couple of photo shoots with some friends. Since my schedule are not that hectic unlike in Dubai I have a chance to do some personal project but using my Lomo since its easier and safer to carry a small camera unlike carrying a bulky DSLR which is also not safe when walking in the streets of downtown Manila. Next week I'm planning a whole day walk in Manila maybe riding the 3 line of MRT. The photo above is one of my Favorite photo I shot during this vacation the other photos which I posted so far can be seen here

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.