First Real Shoot at Fat Boy Studios

Started the day just like any other and I was really excited to get some practice shooting cosplayers. I enjoy photography on cosplayers because, as I have stated before, they are just so accommodating to photographers and I am always so thankful the allow me to take their pictures. Here in my country you would be very hard pressed to find a more popular cosplayer than Alodia, to tell you the truth though, she is one of the most down to earth cosplayers I know and has absolutely no airs about her.

I started the day wanting to capture her in a studio setting. Ive seen her baroness cosplay and have been wanting to document such an awesome piece of cosplay work. I'm just so thankful that she and her sister and mother agreed to pass by my studio for an on the spot shoot. I knew she was tired and the baroness suit I'm sure was extremely hot. She stayed patient throughout the shoot and was just a dream model for any photographer.

As I always say. To make interesting photographs the first thing is to get a very interesting subject. It doesn't get anymore interesting the this People. Thanks for you time A and I hope to shoot you again soon. =)

Full set here http://www.flickr.com/photos/14528141@N04/sets/72157622430268001/

Otaku Taiiki 2009

I never Tire of going to cosplay events. The cosplayers just seem to have unlimited energy and they all seem to be having a great time. This hobby is a great one to meet friends and make new ones. I just go in order to get some practice for my photography.

After a while you'll know some of the nicest people you have met. The last event i went to is the Otaku Taiiku. The event area was just too small and the Aircon in the place couldn't handle all the people inside. The place looked like a tight fit. being a photgrapher I enjoyed the outside of the event much better. Everybody was there and they were more than happy to smile and give you a pose.

If you are trying get your photography better, especially your event shooting. Cosplayers are the best subjects you can shoot. =). Remember though, if they do pose for you, one of the things you can do is to at least show them their pics. Send a Link of your pics to Raymond at http://cscentrl.multiply.com/ and show him your pics. He will post them in his site and the cosplayer that gladly posed for you will see her pics. Its the least you can do.

I personally dont know if Taiiki was a sucess. But, I had a great time and for me thats all that counts. My pics of the event here. =) http://www.flickr.com/photos/14528141@N04/sets/72157621993189621/ once again Thanks for the pics Cosplayers you all looked great. =)

The passing of Mrs Cory Aquino

As a teen of the 80's I have missed most of the drama that led to the people power revolt. Although we fully felt the drama and the revolt, we never had put too much importance to it as we were naive of the flight of the filipino. We were just too young and too engrossed in our own little world. Even when Ninoy was shot to death I never really took another glance because i never knew who he really was or what he really stood for. I is only nowadays that videos of his heroism was released and the sacrifices for his country shown. Allow me to share some videos of NINOY..That we were not able to view in those dark times of Dictatorship.I hope you enjoy them as much as i have. http://www.youtube.com/user/NinoyAquinoTV

G10 Video Quality

Here are the videos I quickly took of my daughter hamming it up last night she is just beautiful..=) Love her. Hope you like the quality of the G10 it really is a very easy cam to use.

I still remember Goldcrest, Makati Supermarket and Quad

For the guys who are young you may not remember but for a guy like me who grew up in makati its always been and enjoyable place to visit. I remember Goldcrest for Nova Fontana. We used to hang around there for RC's toys and what ever they had. There was no cellphone, internet or any of the modern comforts we have now. Its was just all walking and talking. I enjoyed those times. Sadly the last remnants of the old Glorrieta is starting to dissapear. Im sure the new will look great but the old will always stay in my memory. =)

How we treat our stuff..=)

How we treat our stuff in torture testing..before this we were throwing the box around.=)..hope you like it.

My new want. WP-DC28

The ultimate in underwater protection for your G10. there is noooo wayy im putting my main cam in water..LOL..=)..This baby is just beautiful..=)

Taking underwater pics is and awesome thing even from inside a pool. or with fish. I hope to get one soon. =)

Glimpses of Manila

The Manila Polo club is a place I hold in very fond memory. Me and my cousins and brothers used to go there all the time from Karate lessons to swimming. It was a place of awesome memories with my friends. If you have time to pass by please do. I hope you enjoy it as much as i have. =)

Start of being a Loser

I have been overweight all of my life. Since I was a child, I have always been over weight. Eating has always been enjoyable for me. Unfortunately the food that i have enjoyed is also harmful to my health. Fats, Sugars etc, I love all these things. Not caring about the consequences of eating such things if done for a very long time will make you an Overweight person. Today is the first day of my journey of saying, "I cant take it anymore and will do everything i can to fix the hole i have made for myself". I will document my journey so it will help me stay on track. Thanks very much for passing by. I intend to lose all the weight by a regiment of strict diet and excersize. Wish me luck.

Rockwell at 7-26-09 My favorites Today

Was Walking around Rockwell today and wanted to show you some of my favorite things today in the mall. What can i say its free to dream. Hope you like them as well. =)

Uhh Mercedes SLK..Ultimate in getting from here to there..In my fave color too..

Fresh Cherries..Nuff said.

Wooow i really enjoy these Cheesecake lolly pops..if youve never tried these you should pic some up at the bakers fair.

Ive always loved MaxiCollector were I get all my collectible goodies. I cant wait for my new stuff to come..=)

New Toy for Blogging =)

I have been using my 5d mark 2 for a while and in my opinion it is just unbeatable. Unfortunately there are places i cannot take the cam comfortably such as a golf game or just everyday walking around.

That's why i decided to get the G10. It was a toss up between the g10 and the lumix but the additional compatibility of the G10 to my cannon items such as remote trigger and Flash made all the difference.

I've been going around testing it and the IQ is very very good. Ill give more input with this item as i continue to use it. =)

Most Powerful Man in the World Uses Canon 5d Mark 2

Barack Obama's new official photo is the first official presidential portrait taken with a digital camera, according to Obama's Web site.

It's also the first official presidential portrait taken with Canon's sexy new EOS 5D Mark II, too, as Daring Fireball notes. ("No flash, 105.0mm focal length, 1/125 exp, f/10.0, ISO100.")

I've always loved Canon. I also enjoy that he uses the same kind as me. Way to go Mr President, You have my vote.

FBS is born

As a collector I collect lifesized pieces. I enjoy them so much that i got to talking to other lifesize collectors. Most of them had the same complaints, no one does the pieces that they really want.

I set out to begin FBS. I am a sculptor as well, but my skills are no where near the very good sculptors of our country. I needed some one very very good. We took a trip to the town of Paete and there i went to look for a Sculptor who can do the pieces that we want. I wasnt easy cause before you can find someone your happy with you first have go through others who dont really fit the bill.

Back to my PAETE trip. I was asking around and I met this young man who really just looks like a boy. He was tending shop and beside him where the most beautiful portrait sculpts i have ever seen. I approached the young boy and asked him where was the man who did those works. He answered that he was the one who did these pieces. I was in Awe, Apparently he has been sculpting since the age of 8. He is extremely good and through proper direction he could only get better. I decided to pay him twice what he was making and thats how FBS was born. His name was Gemmo Villaverde. In a little town in Laguna. Barely the size of Glorrietta and Greenbelt. I remember walking through that town and being taken back by the sights and sounds. Thank you PAETE.

Art Producer Part 4 "The Filipinos Unite"

When we were at our lowest every filipino collector carried the load and we all tried to mend our broken name including HM. We are a different group from a year ago when we were ridiculed. Now people look at Filipino Collectible Craftsmanship with new respect. Our pieces sell for high prices at ebay which shows that everybody is appreciating the Art pieces coming from our country.

Collectors from all over the world now know where the Philippines is. None of this would've been possible without the tribulations that bought everybody together in the first place.

The Filipino "can" compete with anybody. We only need unite and endure.

Art Producer Part 3 "Rise of Maxicollector"

At the time when the Philippines was at its lowest. A new company emerged who would bring Philippine collecting to the Front and Center. Its name is MAXICOLLECTOR. The Philippine market was so strong even up to now that the filipinos would sometimes take 10 to 15% of the worlds total supply of a certain statue. Maxicollector used his company to put Our country into the collecting map.

He was able to get the prototypes and show the world some pieces way before they were released. Finally the worlds collecting eye was focused on our small country.

They would ask questions such as;

Where is the Philippines Anyway?

Why Do they get the prototype and show first?

Is that a fake no one could possibly have that this early in the game?

Maxicollector was able to do that because of the Huge sales he was able to make because of the huge collector fanbase of the philippines. Finally, We have a dealer in our country who is at par with the worlds best. We now have a fighting chance at being a country who can be a force in the world of collectables. People who could care less where we were now take notice.

Art Producer Part 2

Everybody was against the filipinos for the act of HM. Every Forum was hostile there was a new bad group in collecting and it was the PINOY.

At that time we only had one main toy forum in the Philippines which was Pinoytoycollector. We could not showcase our art there because our statue thread was just buried inside all the toy posts. The only answer was to start a forum just for Filipino Statue Collectors. Hence PinoyStatueForum was born, http://pinoystatue.6.forumer.com/index.php It is now an international forum ready to showcase filipino talent. We would try to fix our broken reputation by showing everybody what we could do. We could do it in a Forum that was made for the pinoy collector by the pinoy collector. March 21 2008 was the start of when we would get our dignity and pride back. Stay tuned for part 3 =)

Art Producer "The beginning"

Ive Always enjoyed articles by bloggers and people who document their lives. They share their experiences and whatever they enjoy with everybody. I would like to do the same. My name is Richie Dela Merced, allow me to take you through the journey of my passions which is Photography and Sculpture.

In 08' I was a collector of Pieces of art produced by artists such as Bowen and companies like Sideshow to name a few. We were a very happy community of filipinos, just happy with the pieces we were able to aquire no matter how small or how humble our collections were compared to our international counterparts. We would always be in awe of what they would be able to make and enjoy their talents in sculpting and directing such pieces of beauty. We could only watch as we really could not afford most of the custom pieces they seem to make with flawless effort.

It all started with another collector who we will name as HM. HM is an extremely good artist and an exceptional Art Producer. Unfortunately he fell into a path that is very shady early in his producing life, RECASTING. Recasting is by definition, the copying of another persons art. He did this for a while, selling the sculptures to anybody who couldnt afford the originals. Everybody who collected in the Philippine community was oblivious to the reprecussions of how we would be percieved in the world collectors market in the future.

One ToyCon in 08' HM took his recasted wares and put them on display to sell. This was a display that would change the perception of filipino collectors everywhere. Someone was able to take photographs of the display and posted them on the net for all to see. The pics reached an International Forum where we as Collectors talk about our experiences. The forum goes by the name Statue Forum. The pics fueled a Scandal that dropped the Philippines as a group of people with no talent, that all they could do is copy what other countries do and sell them. We were all percieved as thieves. The sin of one, became the sin of ALL. This, for those that went through it, was a very dark time for us.

Every Forum that knew you were Filipino treated you as a misfit and a thief. They insulted who you were, without even knowing you and they repeated all the generalizations they have heard. Everywhere we filipino collectors went to share our ideas we were ridiculed. It was definitely a very dark time.