Learning Unexpectedly

Its been quite a long time since I posted something to share what I have learned about photography. I've been busy these past months and rarely have time to go out and take pictures.

For the past week, I gave some time to explore outside my room and took few pictures to share. Some of them were posted on my Facebook profile and received some compliments from friends.

I guess I have learned one or more things about photography. Thanks to DPS (Digital Photography School) for giving very helpful ideas about photography, especially to newbies like me.

Hopefully I will be able to take more interesting images very soon.

Room For Improvement

I spent some time with friends and took some pictures a month ago and I'm glad it was approved by

a friend who gave me some photography tips and helped me improve my photographs. I've been seeing his Facebook album photos and I can see the transformation in each pictures he took.

He even invited me to attend an event for photographers for free lectures and photo sessions which I need for my photography improvement. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend as I was already engaged with an appointment with friends on that day as well. 

But at least I learned some techniques and improved my pictures little by little.I even set up my Flickr account and created a web portfolio the lioness for public viewing to share my hobby. I know I still need to learn a lot to improve my photography skill and to find time and courage to complete my task. But I am proud that I was able to capture stunning images unexpectedly while giving directions to my little girl.

Photography: Making Improvements

I’m a bit inspired in taking pictures to make improvements of my photos. I’ve been researching and reading about photography settings, ideas how to improve my photos, lighting effects, better subjects and the rest on how to make my photos look better than before. I also learned some touch ups to make the colors sharper, clearer and beautiful.

My only problem is I cannot find enough time to go out and find subjects to take pictures of and for now, I prefer flowers as my subject. I find flowers more appealing, easy to direct (or I can redirect myself to find a better angle) and I wanted to see more colors in my pictures.

I took pictures this week but only few look good, somehow. See to appreciate.

Going Solo

The Other Half

Against The Odds

Experimental Photography 1: Flower

I made another experimental photography and I exploited my neighbors’ ornamental plants as my subjects in hoping to get a better pictures. I want to try if flower photography will be my forte or not. 

Though I know the subjects were really beautiful but I know I’m still lacking something in my photos and very much willing to learn more.

I don’t want to put too much color enhancement as it will look obviously edited and will lose the natural essence of the pictures. 

I'm only using 18-55mm lens and hoping to buy a macro lens to get a better close-up shots.

My Baby's Birthday Parties

It was 4 months ago since my little girl celebrated her 5th birthday at Racks restaurant in Ruby road, Ortigas  Pasig City. It was a cowgirl theme party since they don't have other themes to choose from. It was attended by selected family members and friends, old and new friends, re-acquainting with them, and few classmates of my daughter. 

The food was superb, though, a little pricey. But if you have enough budget for it, you can say it is worth spending for. They have adult packages and kids meal choices and they cannot be combined as the adult meal is separate from kid meal which can be an add-on for the chosen package.

For Mack's birthday, I originally selected the package 1 for 30 adults and 10 kids but since the manager who was on-duty when I made my reservation misunderstood my choice (which I made it clear to her it was the package 1 I wanted) I ended paying for the package 3 which was P425/person meal plus P160/kid meal and amenities including themed cupcake tower, themed-decorated venue, prizes, function room, loots and add-ons. All in all, I spent more than P25,000 but it was worth spending for, after all it was for my little girl.

Aside from her birthday celebration at Racks, she also held her birthday party in their classroom for her classmates. I was assisted by some of her classmates' moms and they were very supportive. 

I know she enjoyed the birthday parties I prepared for her and it gave her pride not only to herself but as well to her classmates and friends that she was able to experience the fun of having 2 different birthday parties, not to mention a pricey parties but worthy too.

                                              Photos taken at Racks birthday celebration.

candle-blowing moment

the mommies

family and friends

the cupcake

with friends

cowgirl-themed cake

                                                                              Birthday celebration at school
 

Balloons, gift from her classmate

opening her gift

Hello Kitty Cake

colorful cupcakes

Photo-shoot!

Photography. It has been my passion since I was a kid. When I was 13 years old, I asked my parents to buy me a camera, a not-so-expensive one, at that time, it only cost 500 pesos and I was the photographer for all occasions in church and my mom’s preschool class. 

21 years after, the passion for photography didn’t die. Instead, I upgraded my camera to SLR and I’m thinking about taking this simple interest and hobby to the next level. I always wanted to become a fashion photographer. Attending fashion shows has always been my dream. Snapping pictures of pretty models wearing new designs of well-known designers would be wonderful experience. But for now, I have to learn more techniques and knowledge about photography. Not only on how to take a better picture but all about Advanced Photography.

Well I guess, practicing with my camera will work for now and hopefully I will find the right time to use and enhance this interest in Photography very soon. Here are some pictures I took with my camera. Most of my subjects are my co-parent from my daughter’s school and some friends.

Motherhood Knows Best

It’s been 4 years and 6 months since I become a mother and as days and weeks go by, I’m learning a lot of things on how to manage, handle and improve my situation as well as my relationship with my daughter. Though being a single mom is tougher in more ways than one, but it was nothing compared to the excitement and happiness I feel to see my baby girl grow up fast and learn a lot of things.

This school year, she’ll start going to school as Kinder (rather than Nursery) which I’m not sure what lessons will be taught to kinder level, since she has not gone to school before. Though, as a teacher (and came from a family of teachers from preschool to ESL instructor) I exercised my knowledge and experiences to my daughter’s learning improvement. Still, I’m somewhat worried on how she will grasp to a new environment and learning strategy in school, but I am confident that she can recite the alphabet very well, together with twang and the schwa sounds. I guess it’s just my habit as being an ESL instructor and an English major to exercise what I’ve learned and pass it to my daughter. 

And as a preparation for the upcoming school days, we have already bought her school supplies early month of April, when school materials are still available. She got her school shoes, socks and bag too. She was already enrolled before the end of April to make sure she won’t miss a slot to get in to class. I also started digging the reading books my mom used when she taught me to read, plus, a little application of the TOEFL and IELTS learning styles I have which I hope will help make my baby girl equip for her schooling. 

I would love to take her to school in the first day of the class to see how she would look like. I know it will be a slight scary for her as she will encounter new people, new kids, new environment but I guess me and her grandfather have already prepared her for this new level in my little girl’s new world.