Philippine Azkals in Kuwait

Football fever hits Filipinos in Kuwait as the Philippine Azkals football team arrived in the country for their World Cup qualifying match against the Kuwait National Team . As news spread that the team will be practicing at the open Salmiya Sporting Club at around 7 pm last night, a good number of Pinoy fans trooped to the venue to see the team up close. I was also there together with my family and some friends.

The match will be played at the Mohammad Al Hamad Stadium, Qadsiya Sports Club in Hawally this Saturday, 23 July from 7:00 pm..Tickets, according to press releases, will be available starting today till the day of the match and are priced at KD 2 ( roughly Php 312), KD 3 (roughly Php 468) and KD 5 (roughly Php 780).

Highway Man..FAIL!

I drove down South again today to check out the relocation area for our project site offices. While driving, I was toying with some photo ideas I want to do after my visit. I already had the photo in my mind- me as a highway trekker or something like that..its only a matter of execution and of course, location.

And so, on my way back to Kuwait City, I looked around for good location until I spotted this long stretch of road and decided to stop. I took my camera and tripod and prepared to make the shot. I was already doing some test shots, like 5 or 6 including the photo above, when a huge pick-up truck stopped by and parked in front of my car. A burly middle-aged man alighted from the vehicle and walked towards me. I quickly realized my mistake..I was shooting next to a pipeline!..I was aware of it but somehow I neglected it..stupid me.

At first I thought he is a police officer because of his khaki uniforms..Then he introduced himself, in good English, as the security officer for the area...He asked me in a polite manner what I was doing there and I explained to him I just came from our site and thought it was nice to have some souvenir pictures of myself in that area...He asked if I was not aware it is prohibited to approach or even take photographs there..He also asked if he can see the pictures I took so I let him.. He saw two photos of me sitting on the guard rails with the pipelines behind me and told me to delete them..I apologized and deleted the two photos with him looking while telling me not to do the same mistake again..of course I said yes..When everything was clear, we shook hands and drove our separate ways..

I could only shake my head and laugh for doing such stupidity...FAIL!

Desert Adventure + Funshoot Weekend

Last Friday, the LightBenders Photography Group drove down South for 2 important events: first is our induction as official members of the group (yey!) and second, as birthday treat of our resident designer/HMUA, Kenneth.I brought my family with me to experience the outdoors and to meet the rest of the LB families.

First stop was this beautiful rock formations at the outskirts of Khiran, some 90 kms. south of Kuwait. There in the looming shadows of the rocks above,we conducted our oath-taking as the first batch accepted by the group in their young existence..

LB Batch 1 (L-R): Amie, Mel, Alvin, Me, Verge, Rey and Johnny.  Photo by Diomil dela Pena

Just to be in the same company as these talented and creative individuals is already a rewarding experience by itself and to be formally inducted as one of them is just the icing on the cake..

LightBenders Photography Group in Kuwait. Photo by Johnny Dao

Next stop is at this camel farm in Wafra where we spent the rest of the day. There, in the middle of the desert, we had our barbecue/lunch, the children played around, and we simply had a good time, taking photos of the camels and their caretakers, and later on, an impromptu photoshoot with our guests turned models.

It was a fun and exciting day, a great outdoor experience indeed....I can't wait for more fun and creative shoots with the whole LB team...soon!

22. Meet someone famous

Last January, on my 39th birthday, I wrote a list of the 40 things I want to do or accomplish before I turn 40. This is number 22 from that list.


Last weekend, the Light Benders Photography Group (LB/PG) organized a 2-day photo shoot featuring the avant-garde creations of the one and only Rocky Gathercole, a world-class Filipino designer based in Dubai.

Fresh from his successful stint in the recently concluded Miami Fashion Week 2011, Rocky stopped by Kuwait for the weekend event. (You can find photos of Rocky's creations including his interview for the Metro Velvet  here.)

We- photographers, make-up artists and models alike- were overwhelmed and inspired not only by the presence of Rocky but also by his amazing designs and concepts..Suffice to say it's a tall order to give justice to his genius through our photographs.

Some of the photos from the event:







(More photos will be posted soon)

At the end, it was such a rewarding experience to be able to have this kind of opportunity- to have meet someone as famous and yet so humble and down-to-earth as Rocky.. We can't thank him enough for his time off his busy schedule and I look forward again for the next big event with him..hopefully soon!

35. Have my first real photoshoot

Last January, on my 39th birthday, I wrote a list of the 40 things I want to do or accomplish before I turn 40. This is number 35 from that list.

By real I mean with someone else other than my immediate family members posing in front of my camera, fully made-up, dressed up, set on location..the works!

They say the first 10,000 photos off your camera are your worst and it actually holds true for me. After almost a year with my DSLR, I felt that I am not making any significant progress with my skills as a photographer. I used to live a solitary life as a photographer, depending solely on online tutorials and the like, but I realized that is not enough.

So this year, I made a resolve that I will try to develop/ enhance my photography..first step is to come out of my shell and mingle with other camera enthusiasts..

The opportunity came when I was invited to attend a photo shoot last Feb. 25 with the newly formed Light Benders Photography Group in Kuwait.. The event was the Vol dela Fantaisie ( Flight of Fantasy) featuring the creations of Kuwait-based Filipino designer Kenneth Harion..I was both excited and hesitant to join at first but at the end, it turned out to be an eye-opener of sort.

Light Benders Photography Group in Kuwait at theVol dela Fantaisie Photo shoot Event
Radisson SAS Hotel, February 25, 2011

I learned a lot in that one day, my first real photo shoot.. and since then I saw myself getting more motivated and interested each day.

Reuters Best Photos of the Year

Visit Reuters Best Photos of the Year for more photos.

The Northern Lights are seen above the ash plume of Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull volcano in the evening April 22, 2010. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

Meteor streaks past stars in the night sky over Stonehenge in Salisbury Plain, southern England August 12, 2010. The Perseid meteor shower is sparked every August when the Earth passes through a stream of space debris left by comet Swift-Tuttle. Picture taken using a long exposure. REUTERS/Kieran Doherty

Late for Easter

  

Easter Sunday

Holy Week Series 2010

Black Saturday

Holy Week Series 2010

Good Friday

Holy Week Series 2010

Maundy Thursday

Holy Week Series 2010

Holy Wednesday

Holy Week Series 2010

Holy Monday

Holy Week Series 2010

Nifty Fifty

61/365:0327, originally uploaded by cyrographics 

I finally got my 50mm, brought all the way from Malaysia by a very good friend..Yay!..now I feel so lucky to have been blessed with a family and a circle of friends who are all very supportive of this small hobby of mine :)..Thank you guys!

Now let's have more fun with this new baby :)

Tripod of friendship

56/365:0321
Originally uploaded by cyrographics
It is always a great feeling to receive a gift, no matter how big or small it is..esp. if it is given with sincerity and good thoughts..I received a call from a colleague and good friend of mine who's leaving Kuwait soon ..He told me he wants me to have his tripod as a simple keepsake..Funny thing is I was actually thinking of getting a new tripod just seconds before his call..Coincedence huh?!...I am doubly surprised to see that he even took time to personalize it with my name and theirs..isn't that great?

Thanks Vik and Mary..Thanks for the friendship..I'll treasure this and I promise to put it in good use..:)

Good luck in Ukraine..this isn't good bye yet..we'll see each other again hopefully soon..

Writings in the Dark

Light Painting series
All writings/drawings courtesy of my wife, Princie

Light Trails

Past, Present..my Future?

Past, Present..my Future?, originally uploaded by cyrographics

And I've finally been bitten by the camera bug..

I have this 7-year old SLR Minolta Dynax 404Si, seldom used and if ever used on occasions, it wasn't into her full capabilities..because I never really put serious effort into photography....

not until recently, when I received this Canon EOS 500D as a Christmas present from my ever-loving wife..

and so now, I am giving photography a second try..I'm ready to have fun!