Where the light is

I'm enjoying right now my sudden 3 week vacation before I move over to my new job. I have all the time to do the things I enjoyed (which includes photography but no outdoor photography for now as its really hot to do outdoor activities) like working out in the Gym which I can do now 5 times a week 3 days of Weight training and 2 days of Cardio and also swim a few laps on the pool. I can also now fix, update and tweak my itunes library. 

My latest addition to my itunes library is John Mayer's "Where the light is (John Mayer live in Los Angeles)" I already have 3 of his albums in my itunes library and most of the songs in where the light is but the live versions of these songs made me get this CD.

Farewell

The photo above was one of my last shot of the Index building before leaving the project. It was shot using Lomo LCA loaded with Fuji Velvia and cross processed.

Well I can say its official I'm no longer part of this project. I have my last working day the other day it was 2 weeks earlier than schedule as what should be in first week of August due to some misunderstanding which I rather not go in details. Well as I can say that I substantially completed my task as early this year as most of my final task on the project was to help others in their areas of work.

Its been a good and challenging 2 years of working in this project no regrets and I have learned new things that will help me as I moved on to the next challenge I will face elsewhere in the region (more on that on my later post).

To the people I've worked with and become my good friend Farewell to all of you for now till we meet again.

Yo whats up!!!

The photo above was shot using my Lomo LCA loaded with Kodak BW400CN

This is Joyce think I already posted her photo before, she is my perennial model. I always used her for my shoots whenever I have an entry for a competition, doing some lighting studies or just getting bored at the office.
You may be wondering about the title of this entry its our greeting whenever we see each other every morning at the office.

One of the things I do not like about Dubai beside the humid summer weather is its Public Transportation. There are few buses plying around the city and you have to wait for hours to get one thats traveling the route of your destination chances if its a rush hour you will find your buses fill to the rafter so they will not take new passenger so you have to wait again. They don't have subway or Metro train yet at least for another year until the construction of its first Metro are completed. The best but expensive way to go around the city by public transport is the Taxi.

Aside from that there are a traditional mode of public transport here called the Abra (shown in photo above)its a small boat that ferry passengers from Bur Dubai to Deira across Dubai Creek. Got a chance to ride one after 2 years of stay courtesy of one weekend afternoon walk.

The photo above was shot using Lomo LCA loaded with Kodak BW400CN.

Twin Brother

As I wrote in my previous entry that the traveler is with me right now and still with me for almost a week. I'm just waiting for the advise on when will I send it next so to the other participant who is yet get to hold of the traveler just stay put our baby is just fine sitting side by side with his twin brother.
To all of you who don't know I happened to own a camera same as the traveler a lomo action sampler so took a photo of the twin sitting side by side.

The Traveler reaches Dubai

After 2 years of waiting I finally the traveler has finally reach me. I'm planning to get the process as quick as possible be shooting this afternoon if the weather is good as you know at this time of the year in Dubai its sandstorm everyday and its so humidly hot not a good time for outdoor photography. Anyway I'll try to wrap it on Saturday the latest so I can send it to the next participant.


The crappy photo of the traveler is from my Treo since there are no digital camera handy when I receive it.

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.