USF Kasamahan Barrio Fiesta 2009

I was asked by my friend who was part of the show if I can cover the show at University of San Francisco and I gladly accepted [got free admissions as one of the perks].

This year, the story is more serious than last year's comedic show. For this year, the story is based upon a "model agency" that entices women from the Philippines to come to America for a better opportunity but is instead tricked into prostitution. While being a heavy topic, all the talents did a wonderful job in the acting and dance performances.
My friends have a special duo dance off. Do you remember Kimiko [from my photoshoot]? Well that's her dancing away.
The production incorporated many vibrant costumes and it makes think that I have to learn more of my culture.
Another set of friends who I know who were part of the show. The lady in the middle, Kim, choroegraphed this number and she happens to sit next to me in our ethics class!
My friend Hazel has a solo dance in which a spotlight was shone on her throughout the piece.
At the end, freshmen through seniors were called onto the stage and were recognized for their hard work for the show. My friends Jayson and Andrew do a little leap frog on stage.
The 3 "A's" were given recognition at the end. The first A I wasn't too sure... but Aileen [who asked me to photograph the event] and Allen [director] got the last bow.

Good job to everyone who was part of this.

Below are the download links to the pictures:

PART 01
PART 02

Both links will direct you to yousendit.com for the download links.

Fun. Faces.

This was taken at the Beginning Photography class at Westlake which I'm teaching at. The class' objectives was to learn and take panning shots. In the middle of it, two of my students started taking funny faces pictures and so I asked if I can join in.

There's another photo that was taken right after this in which it was in focused but I like how this photo is a little obscure. I especially like one of my other student's hand is in the picture in attempt to make rabbit ears.

Objectified - A film by Gary Hustwit

Came across this documentary after browsing some design blogs [I think that's how I came across it]. I became more interested when 1) it's the same director as Helvetica [anyone should watch it since it's literally everywhere] and 2) there's a screening on April 21 Tuesday [remaining times are 10pm-midnight] in Sundance Kabuki Theatre in San Francisco.

I just purchased the tickets and will have my girlfriend come along in hopes of getting him sign my Moleskine x Helvetica limited edition Moleskine [yes, I will open it if I have an opportunity to have him sign it!]

Let me know if you're planning to go!

Purchase Here
General Information on the movie Objectified

Project: Abbot and East Moltke: "Toy"

I've always wanted to do this.

Where I live, there's a set of apartments that live up my street. For some reason, the corner of where the apartments are has become notorious for random objects to be dumped and discarded.

Already starting in the beginning of the year, I've been photographing these objects and something new for me is using my compact digital camera [Sony W120 to be exact] rather than my DSLR.

I don't know how long this project will be for considering I'll be working on Lineage first. It is slated to be [self]published into a book though once I feel there are an adequate amount of images.

What $195 + a Cousin who can hook it up can get you.

My cousin asked if I was available on Wednesday [03/11/09] and I was so he asking if I can go to a Warriors game. No hesitation there. He held back on where we'd be sitting until we finally walked into the gate and gave my my ticket and bam! $195 per seat?! It was his boss' season tickets and his boss couldn't make the game. So here I am lucky.

Row 9. Nice.
I enjoy my dog purchased from the Club's VIP-like section. I believe there was a full bar too but got beers for my cousin and myself isntead.
This was somewhat my view--I forgot the lens on my compact camera is wide-angle but it was a tad bit closer than this picture for sure.
Fortunately, we won!

2009-03-07 - Pictorial Event at Sheraton Hotel, Burlingame

Free dinner provided by my friend's mom: Salmon! Always a good choice when you go to hotel events since the heavier meats are usually chewy [in my opinion]. My lovely girlfriend helps me with this event with set up and managing sales.
Brought all that is necessary to print on the spot: Macbook pro, Epson Artisan 800 photo printer, photo trimmer, 8x10/5x7 clear plastic sleeves, business cards, sign up sheets for email blasts.
As far as the set up, 2 Alien Bess with 32" umbrellas into my white background. Power cords everywhere taped down with gaffer's tape. Background exposed to f/11 while main light epxosed to f/8.
All the equipment I brought [starting from top to bottom]: Light stands, background stand, Alien Bees Vagabond II battery pack [wasn't used but brought just in case], Epson Artisan 800, Alien Bees bags containing 1 A800 head, 1 A400 head, and 1 ABR800 [ringflash which wasn't used], and finally my Porter Case containing all my photo equipment. Love how this case can be used as a hand trunk!!

Oh, laptop in which I'm carrying and there off to the side you can see the roll of paper.

All of this rolling... I'd estimate it weighed about 80-90 lbs?? Pretty hefty.

The event was some kind Filipino organization reunion and many came dressed to impress. The event had me print out images on the spot and so many ordered 8x10s.
This young lady provided my girlfriend and I company and she sat around us and offered to trim the photos in which we insisted she can help afterward when we weren't working a sweat keeping up with the photo taking, printing, trimming, packaging and of course managine the money!
I ran into my high school friend PJ and it was cool seeing him. He and I were in our high school's hip hop group so I definitely remember him [as well as all the cotillion days we were in].
I too come into the picture.

Event started 7:00p but I arrive 7:45p and after tear down, we ended at 12:30am.

Beginning Photography: Behind the Scenes [SBA]

My other school site I'm teaching photography at is Susan B. Anthony in Daly City... where I was for 6th [when it was brand spanking new in 1999].

For this class' session, we're taking action shots and I took the kids outside to take advantage of the sun despite the cold winds.

Overall, the kids had a good time trying to shoot action stills--jumping, running, playing in the playground.

YouTubed and YouMixed. Good.

Beginning Photography - Behind the Scenes

One of my students poses for the camera and allows me to demonstrate the "Rule of Thirds" to the entire class.
Cheese! I was quite popular that day since the theme for class was "action" so the kids had me jumping so they can capture me in air.

I have the kids partner up with each camera and each takes 5 shots before handing it back to their partner.

Funny how so intrigued they are when taking pictures of each other taking pictures of them. Confusing yes.
One of my students looked up and behold!

He spotted the moon!

Good day of teaching despite the cold weather outside in the playground. Next week we'll be going over panning and creative zooming.

Academy of Sciences x NightLife

A definite much if you're in the city and looking for something else to do besides going to a club. Welcome to club NightLife at Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park.

Every Thursdays AoS holds this event that has drinks, music, and free roam [albeit with closed exhibitions like the planetarium and rain forest] for a $10 cover [$8 if you're a member like me!]

My girlfriend.
The closed and guarded rain forest.

Touching a starfish. Buzzed.
The men.
The ladies.
"We are all Africans."
Cher, myself, Ghia, and Apol. [shoutout to Ghia and Apol via Twitter @ghiagarcia and @apolperea] Yes, Apol and I were twittering live from the event.

Group pic. Afterwards, I call Ming of LimeTree restaurant and have him hold the restaurant before it closes. I've been there several times and have brought friends there so I can surely call him a friend of mine. Be sure to visit him and his real good place [check it on Yelp]. Either the roasted chicken or beef rendeng. And add that Roti and Corn Fritters. Delish.

I started teaching again for the Daly City after school program and these are the first batch of photos of the kids after teaching them the basics. So far into the week they've learned: how a camera works, definitions of shutter, aperture, rule of thirds, how to take macro [close up] shots, and for this class they learned how to take portraits.

We used natural light [my rules once handling the camera: camera strap on wrists at all times and turn off flash!] and encourage them to go up close for the portraits with their feet and not using the zoom.

The portraits turned out really nice utilizing the classroom's door as the background and natural light.

I guess they went too close.

Part of the portrait exercise was to show three emotions: happiness, anger, and sadness. I encouraged them to go over the top.

Probably one of my favs for this [last] week's shoot: Christine's happy look has a bit of surprise in it. haha

They asked me to pose as well.

Because these pics were from last week, today actually was another class and we took action shots. I'll post some when I can. Classes end in 3 weeks and we only meet once a week so it's really a fast class.

Guidance

I am at the offices for my clinical and I see out from the window two ladies and a dog. The lady with the dog is apparently blind or somewhat visually challenged as the other lady walks with her and directs her to the right direction as they all cross the street. Pretty cool how this dog is intelligent enough to help a person cross a street safely.

Home Visits

I'm @ Marin City with the public nurse I'm working with for this semester's psych and mental health rotation. As of now, we do home visits for targeted case management and here are the case files we bring along in our visits. As a student nurse, I write notes for their case files, look up resources for them, and even do client teaching. This is the other side of me than photography.

Homeward Bound from Occidental, CA

I'm coming back home from a church retreat in which I help lead along with friends. I'm definitely glad I'm back home and crossing the golden bridge is always a cool part of traveling north and south. Although I'm back, I know there's a lot of things ahead of me so I really gotta get back to my work in school and work.