Category Archives: Top Ten

My 7 Super Shots!

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This is yet another very overwhelming post to compose. I look at other blogs’ submissions (Lucid Gypsy, Madhu, Adin) to this and I feel pitied, hesitant and dried up to even respond to this award.  Look at one of the links and tell me that I’m overreacting! Plus, I wanted to include new/er pictures for this. Disappointingly, I have nothing new show you. This has been waaaaay overdue post so I’m just gonna let it out. I wanted it to be special, but what I only got are images that you, my followers, are already familiar of. Here are my 7 SUPER SHOTS!

A photo take took my breath away…

From a picture-taker’s end, there are these images that as soon as you took it and reviewed from your camera’s monitor, you know that other people are going to love it. I took this one in Virgin Island in Bohol, Philippines. The scenery speaks for itself. And that it presents itself making it easy for anybody to get good shot of it. I knew it, then and there, that this IS my winning shot.

Bohol, Philippines

From looking down the sand on the sightly low, clear blue water to looking afar the vast ocean that you can see an island miles away, and with the cotton candy clouds on the horizon, this truly is such an arresting view! It’s the most pristine spot in the world I’ve ever seen. Point Blank.

A photo that makes me laugh or smile …

There are pictures that might take a second look, or something that you have to broaden your perspectives before you appreciate it. Some you have to manipulate to get the best out of it. This picture I took wouldn’t be here if I had not turned it to Black and White.

Venice Beach

I completely neglected this image at first. I stripped the colors, and ahoy! the colors no longer are stealing the main focus of the shot. After that, I got an acquired taste for my own Black and White photos. Note that this is taken from Venice Beach in California where skaters, segway riders, rollerbladders, biker, etc. come to roll. It’s a candid image seeing these these ladies spin their own wheels.

A photo that makes me dream …

Rocky Intertidal Zone

I’m a big fan of rock formations. And this another breathtaking part of this world, The Rocky Intertidal Zone in San Diego, California, I truly admire and completely stunned by it. I was snapping away with my camera and I couldn’t believe my eyes what I was witnessing. I was smiling in disbelief that people must have thought I’m crazy. I’m sure they are astonished by these magnificent views as well that they understand the glow in my eyes. There’s a lot of people that just sit there and just absorb the views around them. Looking at the two couples seating there, it makes me long to have someone I love to be beside me again.

A photo that makes me think …

This is a no brainer. Animals, plants, flowers, mountains- nature in general makes you wonder. I think jellyfish is the epitome of that. They’re such a delight in your eyes. When you look at them, their movements, how you can see the parts of their body operate, their weightlessness, it gives you that polarizing effect. The way they float freely and gracefully, it makes you wanna be like them, or float with them. They really are wondrous and marvelous creatures.

Birch Aquarium

Not to be confused, this one I took from Birch Aquarium in La Jolla, San Diego.
The Jelly Experience is from Monterey Bay Aquarium. I hope you read what I’ve written here.

A picture that tells a story…

Caramoan

How the boy takes care of the carabao. How he walks in the field every morning for a day’s work …with a dog as his company. How farmers create a smoke to make the trees healthier …not realizing how it immensely beautifies the surroundings. How people can be so poetic without even realizing it. How the sun lovely shines creating magnificent silhouettes. How ambient the image is and what effect it has on us. How the boy goes on to help in his family’s livelihood at a very young age. How he may considers it as his way of playing outdoor. And what separate us, people who travel far, from him who is blessed by this field everyday? One picture, different open routes to interpretations.

A picture that made my mouth water …

This one takes the cake, and brings home the bacon. This is a picture of a Gnocchi I got from Carpi, Italy. One who goes to Italy shall not let pass the opportunity of tasting this heavenly, mouthwatering culture food.

A picture that I am most proud of …

People may not agree but this one is my most accomplished shot for me. It took a tremendous toll on me capturing my concert images. I was wrestling with the crowds. I have to constantly change camera settings. My concert shots are action shots. The band moves a lot that it’s hard for me to capture a still image result. I was raising my arms trying to keep focus. There are stoners around that I have to have to avoid. Amidst it all, I was living the moment of appreciating the performances. Some shots, you really have to be patient or work hard just. And that oftentimes, it is  be the most satisfying.

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I’m reviving this old award. My 7 Super Recipients are

Debra of Bagni Di Lucca

LuAnn of Paint your Landscape

Sony Fugaban of Stories of my Wandering Feet and Mind

Allan of Modes of Flight

Amy of The World is a Book

Marianne of East of Malaga

and …

Angelia Sims of Living, Loving, Laughing

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Excellent Photography?

FEATURED BLOG

Here’s to a blog where compositions is always well thought-through.  This photography blog shows its followers what expert photography really is. Looking at Cardinal Guzman’s blog, you can tell that he varies his subjects from time to time. Street photography, nature, people, designs … you can eaily find a visual treat that suits your eyes. Do check out his Travels, Recipes!?, his History of Tattoo series, and his IMPRESSIVE list of movie recommendations to which we are in agreement to a lot of it. My favorite post – Morning at the Western Wall.

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Last Call …

Some of your most commented photos …

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By the way, I have collected 4 stars so far. Blog of the Year requires 6. :D

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Solitary Walk: Venice Canals

Visiting the Katimbang family (see post before this), I went to San Diego this weekend. It was a four-day staycation for me. I was also touring around California our old-time friend we’ve known way back when we were all in Missisippi. While I thoroughly enjoyed the company that I don’t normally get, my travel opportunities, however, became limited. Frankly speaking, it was quite frustrating. I dare not to elaborate further not to sound such a very mean tattletale. Let’s just say that I didn’t get anywhere on my destination plans in San Diego. Anyhow, the disappointment were replaced with great conversations of new and old times. I guess, it still worth the long drive. Traveling with group sure has the “inner” benefits, but in all physicality, going solo gives you umpteen possibilities and freedom. See my post here about traveling in groups vs. solo – Lost in Paris.

With the aching, rising price of gas and the long hours on the road, I just couldn’t bare the thought of getting nowhere after three days of staycation. Going back home, in Los Angeles, I tried to cover LACMA but got there too late with too little to see. Knowing me, I just don’t give up that easily. I continued on. I punched in another address on the GPS and I was ready to roll again. When we got there, I told my good old friend to wait in the car handing him my iPad so he has something to do. I already took him to Santa Monica, Chinatown, Griffith Park, Fairoaks Pharmacy, Mission Beach and La Jolla. I’m sure he understood.

I went for a solitary walk in Venice Canals. The good riddance, perhaps selfishness or rudeness for some, was all worth it. It can easily be one of the top best solitary walks I had in my entire travel days of all-time.

Yes, the Venice Canals in California is set-up to resemble the one in Italy. Only this is a high-end part of Los Angeles. Not of historical signifance scenes than its predecessor, and no gondolas in sight, the scenery here is then beautified with glamour, stylish houses, gardens, trees, cemented and wooden bridges, and varieties of paddle boats.

These are the only passengers I saw on these boats.

I ran so quickly I tripped three times, bumped into two people blocking my way where one of which, I pushed to the water, dropped one of my lenses, just so then I could get on top of the bridge to catch this shot.

I was, of course, just joshing. I stood on the bridge and waited eagerly and patiently for that shot above. This one below, however, was a serendipitous sighting.

The lanterns that are hanging from a tree lit up, telling me I should go back now and get back to my friend I left so horribly inside the car. He did like the Hollywood sign and Santa Monica for those are popular, but I don’t think he had the same interest in seeing these views.

 

This post is part of Weekly Photo Challenge: Solitary.
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Italy and California?

Featured Blog

Here is an excellent all-around blog. I don’t mean it in the slightest. This blogger is an artist, a poet, a traveler, a photograph expert, and a well-versed writer. She is currently enjoying Verona, and sharing wonderful street photography and stories of her stay there. Mind you, stateside, she’s been to San Jose, San Diego, Honolulu, Chicago, Anchorage, to name a few. My most favorite from this newly Freshly Pressed blog, One Street Shy, is this Verona-slash-intrapersonal post.

Last Calls…. Brace yourselves, as I did.

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Though I didn’t anywhere in San Diego while traveling in group, this bookending solitary moment completely made up for it. With this scenery, I was certainly relieved.

SUNDAY POST: Reflection and Peace in Nature, or Caramoan, Philippines

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RELATED POSTS:

It’s more fun in the Philippines (part deux)
OF Carabao and Caramoan
Flashback Friday: Sabang Port
Weekly Photo Challenge: SUN

Reflection. It’s always good to reflect, to contemplate, or to mull things over. When your world is revolving so fast and you’re overwhelmed, when it drops a bomb on you and you have to react, or when it presents all its magnificent nature in front of you and you found yourself so blessed. Sometimes, the best thing to do is to pause and not jump immediately to the situation, and take a moment of reflection, compose yourself and sigh to what life hands to you, good or bad.

It’s a universal feeling- returning back from a vacation of a lifetime and couldn’t return back to reality. It’s hard to wake up, especially with the annoying alarm clock. It’s hard to stand up, drag your feet, and face your responsibilities. To sit and ponder, to find your peace, when nature is staring back at you, is a beautiful thing to do. The world is vast and wonderful, but it is also cruel and unforgiving. It is unstable, and that you need to locate your balance to everything. That, in every greatness, every grandeur, every splendour and all things glory and holy, it can be deathly. While its best to have moments of reflections, you also need to snap out of it for it can eat you alive and then swallow you whole. Too much reflection can bring you down, and pondering too deep can lead to procrastination. I know it’s a difficult thing to do but you need to stand up and shake that feeling.

Survivor Caramoan premieres this Wednesday, on September 19. I do wish and plead for you to see it even just the very first few scenes where they usually show the beauty of the location they are in. I’m just proud of my motherland. I’m glad that I’ve been to Caramoan. And that, I would want you to see what Philippines has to offer despite many setbacks.

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Philippines?

Featured Blog

Capture the Colours and let Lance Romel be your guide to some of the most beautiful locations in the Philippines. Take a tour to Zamboanga, Bohol, Tagaytay and more. Clicking on his blog, it doesn’t take a second for you to realize how captivating, arresting and impressive his photos are.

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Last Call:

I didn’t have much more to say about our trip to Caramoan than what I already narrate to my related posts. But I knew, even way back then, that I still old some pictures that I’ve been dying to share. To stop me from thinking too much, and to just let it out, I decided to segue it to Jake Printer’s Sunday Post. Thank you Jake for the save. Here’s the link to participate to his photo challenge.

This post is also a part of Flashback Friday. *sticks tongue out*