Qwerty by Paolo Dy

A short film by a Filipino director from Cebu which became his entry in On the Lot, a reality show for aspiring Hollywood directors co-produced by Steven Spielberg.

Well, the film and the director, Paolo Dy, didn’t make it to the top 50. It was too late for us to support the film and vote for it in the On the Lot website. Nevertheless, I recommend that you watch the film and witness the brilliance by Filipinos behind the film. A proof at how a Pinoy can be great in filmmaking stage.

Here’s the youtube video:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuTTXFzHrtQ]

I actually found the video in the On the Lot faster to load, just in case you want to try: Link here.

The film was also featured in ABS-CBN’s show, Bandila:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AO6x6Q64u08]

Ninja Turtles

Ninja Turtles

This was one of the Friday treats during our childhood days. And childhood means Elementary days. As such, this movie should have been titled MNT instead of TMNT. It should have been Mutant Ninja Turtles only, not Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

What do you think of that? hehe

Camels and Horse

Camels and Horse; Ladies and Gentleman; Black and White; Whatever….

Camels and Horse

Trying my hand on post processing for a black and white photo.

I read somewhere, I remember not where, that instead of shooting in monochrome with your camera, better shoot in color and post process into black and white. Powerful softwares like photoshop can do a great job during such transformation. But, of course, in this age of digital photography, you don’t need those black and white filters or films, right?

So, tell me, what do you think of this picture?

The Fourth of July

Following is the speech of Mr. President in the 1996 movie “Independence Day”, which I used to memorize and I used to recite in front of our Comm III class back in college.

I liked this speech as it can cause goosebumps when delivered with feeling, especially when one think of it within the context of the movie. I especially was moved during that scene in the movie.

Good morning. In less than an hour, aircraft from here will join others from around the world. And you will be launching the largest aerial battle in this history of mankind.

Mankind — that word should have new meaning for all of us today.

We can’t be consumed by our petty differences anymore.

We will be united in our common interests.

Perhaps it’s fate that today is the 4th of July, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom, not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution — but from annihilation.

We are fighting for our right to live, to exist.

And should we win the day, the 4th of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day when the world declared in one voice:

“We will not go quietly into the night!

We will not vanish without a fight!”

We’re gonna live on!

We’re gonna survive!

Today, we celebrate our Independence Day!

The Simple Reasons Why I Love Photography?

Let me walk you through the reasons why I love photography. Let me count the grounds at why I’m hooked into it.

Wikipedia defines photography as follows:

Photography is the process of recording pictures by means of capturing light on a light-sensitive medium, such as a film or sensor. Light patterns reflected or emitted from objects expose a sensitive chemical or electronic medium during a timed exposure, usually through a photographic lens in a device known as a camera that also stores the resulting information chemically or electronically.

Oops, that’s quite too technical, huh.

Anyway, in an effort to dissuade me, Erwin asked me why I’m so fond of photography, what will I do with my photos after I took them?

For me, I find it an inner satisfaction to document everything around me in clear and crisp pictures.

Housemates in QBC

I find it the simplest way at which I can express my creativity, and uphold its status as an art.

While looking at the pictures in magazines, books, billboards, etc., I want to replicate them in my own simple way.

In everything that’s happening around me, I wanted to capture that decisive moment:

Decisive Moment

Or freeze the action, as if stopping time itself:

Freeze the Action

Or maybe even convey the emotion in that particular moment. To document the face of:

Frustration:
Frustration

The Conviction:
The conviction

The Triumph:
The Triumph

The Happiness:
The Happiness

And the Sadness:
Sadness

The Scammers In Your e-Mail

You might have also already received emails from unknown persons just like this one I received not too long ago:

DEAR FRIEND,

AS THE LAWYER OF THE EXECUTED EX-PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSIEN, I WOULD WANT THIS PIECE OF INFO REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL BECAUSE OF THE POWERS THAT BE.

ACTUALLY I WOULD WANT TO INVEST SOME OF THIS MY LATE CLIENT’S LARGE FUND THAT IS STATCHED AWAY OUTSIDE IRAQ HAVING LOST HIS TWO SONS WHO ARE AUTOMATIC HEIR APPARENT TO THE FUND.

ENDEVIOUR TO GET BACK TO ME FOR DETAILS IF YOU ARE A GOOD INVESTOR OR HAVE A COMPANY WE CAN INVEST ON THAT CAN CONTAIN THE FUND WITHOUT THE FUND RAISING EYEBROW BECAUSE AS AM WRITING YOU THIS PIECE,AM IN OUTSIDE IRAQ AT COSY PLACE IN AFRICA WHERE AM FREE.

AS I HAVE PERFECTED THIS TO BE 100% RISK FREE, YOU CAN SEND ME REPLY TO;
[email protected] FOR SECURITY REASONS.

FAITHFULLY,
NAJEEB AL-NU’AIMI

Of course, for the likely victim who would bite into this bait, they will be requested to send money to the scammers to process whatever needs to be processed, and eventually the money will be gone.

But, behold, at what this genius guy done to “Scam the Scammers” over at PWiT (Philippine Week in Tech). I’ll assure you a hilarious read:

  1. Part I – Scamming the Scammer
  2. Part II – Scamming the Scammer, Part 2: Plan B

Update: PWiT has been down for decades.

Canon Philippines on Sale

I got this one from a Digital Photographer Philippines forum topic. I just thought anyone might be interested.

Canon Sale

Should I had rather put together my arsenal with this sale, I should have saved 27% from my purchases (at PhP 12.50 per 1 QAR), and that is on top of my bringing home the extra EF 50mm f/1.8 II USM.

Hmmmm, pity me!

Do I Need a Macro Lens

I actually wonder, do I still need a macro lens if I already have the reach of a long zoom (300mm)?

My 85mm lens

Above is the picture of my favorite lens, EF 85mm f/1.8 USM, taken using my second favorite lens, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM.