Dear World,

<rant> I'm frustrated at the fact that even after five months of ownership of my camera I still can't take a decent photo. I wanna learn photography. I sincerely do. But I don't think I have the talent for it. I know I can do macro. Which is something everyone can do, provided they have a camera with a macro function. I do not want to be a known photographer. I just want great photos so that when I look back at all my memories, I can see all the precision and color and emotion in that one beautiful photograph.

I seriously need a life beyond sitting in front of a PC for x number of hours a day, seven days a week. I want to learn to take better photos! </rant>

Note to self:

• Dave Hill
• Jim Fiscus
• Jasmine Star
• Amelia Lyons
• Ryan Brenizer
• selective coloring
• clone shots
• High Speed Photography, perhaps
• Time Lapse

I just want my memories to be as beautiful as I remembered them, in colors that say: "this was a perfect day."

Dear, LJ friends, don't mind this entry. If you do, please leave a comment directing me to a beautiful photostream or photoshop or any tutorial which could help. Much love. ♥

I feel very under the weather today. I was even crying in my cubicle because I remembered something sad. I'll post a link to what made me feel sad, in the mean time, something to make you smile.

Say it with me:

"it's not about the gear, it's about the photographer." again! "it's not about the gear, it's about the photographer.". Okay, this time, with feelings. "it's not about the gear, it's about the photographer."
It is no secret that I get mildly pissed everytime I hear someone say, "I want a DSLR. Because I wanna take good pictures." If I get 5 pesos everytime someone in my multiply list, one of my friends, an fx seatmate, or someone in the intarwebs say that and 5 pesos more if their photostreams are BAD, then I might just stop working this job because I can fend for myself for a month hearing those comments.

It irks me when someone makes a comment that "GIVE me A DSLR. so my photos won't be crappy." Crap you. If you can't take good photos with your point and shoot, how the hell do you expect a DSLR to do that for you? IT does NOT magically points and shoots nice subjects or better pictures!!! (see the three exclamation points?  I mean serious business.)

Kids, before deciding to buy a DSLR it would be nice that you know aperture, shutter speed, and ISO exposure. Heck, even good composition. Do you see me saying I want a DSLR NOW? No. Because I know I am terrible at taking photos. (in a sarcasstic I am a kindergarten teacher voice). I only know point and shoot. That is why I am trying to learn. SO maybe when I still go geek lust on a DSLR, say 5 years from now, I know what I am getting myself in to. (end voice)

I believe that the people who must buy a DSLR are those who know a little about photography. A little goes a long way. They must know how to use a camera in manual mode, because they might as well just buy a point and shoot if they are going to shoot in auto mode all the time.

Albeit there are really incredibly good photographers with a DSLR, it can not be removed that there are hundreds upon hundreds of people who can shoot WOW photos with their point and shoot. My favorite FRANCES BEAN from flickr is an example. See, see, she uses a point and shoot! *fangirl mode*

Because I know I can not commit myself to 365. Or maybe I intend to do it next year, I am committing myself to this one:

100 Strangers

The One Hundred Strangers project is a learning group for people who want to improve the social and technical skills needed for taking portraits of strangers and telling their stories. The method is learning by doing.

( RECOMMENDATIONS: )

I know I have always had a fascination for strangers. My everyday is a cycle of fascination. I wonder, day in and day out, what my bus seatmates do for a living. I wonder who makes them happy in cold August nights. I wonder, even, how they articulate their Rs in their prayers, assuming of course that they do pray.

I will set out a day for my 100 strangers, but I do not intend to finish it in one day. I can't wait for my first stranger. I will post him or her soon.

---

EDIT: and I am rooting for these guys too:

Rosie Hardy and Aaron Nace They have been featured in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, and only through flickr did I find out. It must mean I have been spending too much time on the internet.

Okay, hold on to your seats, girls. More like, I should be holding on to mine.

Dear Friends, I want you all to meet: STARLIGHT. The newest addition to my beloved lovely things.

There is Serena, Soleil, Trixie Tang, and Starlight.


Name: Starlight
Model: Sony DSC h3
Birthday: 05 August 2008
Theme Song: Starlight by Muse, Digital Love by Daft Punk, Stellar by Incubus
Favorite Color: black/noir

SEE SOME TEST PHOTOS HERE. Similarly, if you do have a flickr account, you can add me there as well. Or the rest of the photos here sa photobucket. Ayaw na kasi mag open ng multiply sa opis.

( et al. )
Come six months in this job, I am going to reimburse this camera dito sa company. hihi</div>

that is the question.

I've been meaning to get for myself a flickr account. But what do I really need it for? Maybe when I do get for myself a new camera, I have to find a place to dump my photos. *crosses fingers now*

BUT i think that flickr is too complicated for me to use. And I get intimidated seeing all the beautiful photos people take there and my photos would be chopped liver. So what do you think?

To Flickr or not to flickr?

So tell me about it. And leave a comment on how to use flickr. Because there's nothing really wrong with whoring myself on the intarwebs.

*evil laugh* teaching Koreans provide more kicks than one! hello, Ortigas, I don't think I will fall in love with you, though.