Nina's Touch Website Now Online

Finally I can annouce that Nina Dumpa's wesite is now online: http://www.ninastouch.com/. I used Macromedia Dreamweaver for the HTML coding and Adobe Photoshop for some of the image enhacements and graphic designs. My Nikon DLSR captured some of the photos in her website. Nina is your best bet when it comes to unforgettably stunning hairdos and makeup. Have a look at her website and learn more about this Hollywood artist...

Daring Setcard Designs for Irish and Joan

Here's something I want to share belatedly: Ms. Irish Contreras is a young, sexy member of the all-female entertainment group: Viva Hot Babes. Joan is an amateur model. So I was tasked to shoot their pictorials and layout their setcards (comp cards to some) as part of their updated portfolio materials. For Irish's setcard to standout I had to persuade her and her manager to just use one main photograph only! I believe in breaking the "rules" of setcard design if anyone wants to seriously make creative heads turn. My concept worked and Irish was ecstatic! I sometimes see Irish guests on some ABS-CBN channel 2 tv sit-coms. For Joan, three selected photos were enough to land her a contract with a famous local talent agency. For these pictorials I just used two Nikon SB Speedlite flash units off-camera. For post-processing I used the Corel Knockout software to "drop-out" or erase any backgound behind Irish.

Dremcare Clinic Opening at the Metropolis

On March 15 I saw myself shooting the Dermcare Clinic opening at the Metropolis Mall in Alabang, Muntinlupa. Shooting the clinic's moody and dim interiors was a breeze, thanks to the Nikon Vibration Reduction (VR) technology incorporated into today's modern digital cameras. Before VR technology I would mount the camera onto a tripod to capture dim interiors. VR has enabled me to hand-hold cameras in not-so bright interiors. Many thanks to Rene Gaviola for this project referral.

Nina Dumpa Printad in Weddings & Beyond

The Weddings and Beyond magazine will advertise Nina Dumpa's printad which I shot. Weddings and Beyond is a new directory magazine that will feature a wide array of references for soon-to-be married couples, event organizers and even those dreaming to tie the knot someday. The delicate yet vivacious bride is Ms. Christy Co. Lito Sy was the contracted high-end wedding photographer for their March 5 wedding. I used two Nikon Speedlite flash units mounted on separate lightstands for this portraiture. The international award-wining photog in Lito has always been my inspiration when it comes to off-cam lighting as his web gallery attest to his photographic prowess. Have a look here.

Center For Culinary Arts Printads & Billboards

The Creative Director Bong Banal of McCann Erickson Philippines got me to shoot colored print ads and billboards for the Center For Culinary Arts (CCA). The ad came out in the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper (G-1 section) on March 9, 2008 and the billboard version will follow in a couple of days within Makati and Mandaluyong cities. It was a whole day affair at the company's premises. The young student chefs are very shy and quiet at first so we all had to warm up to the first-time models. Once they have warmed up then things begin to rock 'n roll! The printad with the plate as visual came out ealier in the Inquirer publication. Ding and Edu assisted me for this shoot. Nina Cumpa did their hair and make-up.

WANTED: Filipino Cruise Ship Photographers

Ahoy mateys! The Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation will conduct a 3-Day Cruise Ship Photography Workshop for any Filipino intent to work abroad as a professional ship photographer. The 3-day workshop will be on March 27-29, 2008. Yours truly will conduct the workshop by helping prospective photogs increase their chances of being hired abroad. There is a Php3,500 fee per participant. The workshop starts at 9AM and ends at 5PM. Written below are the topics to be discussed:

Day 1-Introduction to the cruising industry
-Steps on how to apply
-Adjusting to onboard lifestyle
-General camera adjustments
-Proper English script guide and decorum

Day 2-Practical shooting: embarkation
-Practical shooting: the gangway
-Practical shooting: the proper table shots
-Practical Shooting: pirates' night

Day 3-Practical shooting: Captain’s Night
-Practical shooting: formal portraitures
-Wedding and special events coverages tips
-Final evaluation
-Question & Answer session
-Distribution of Certificates

For your info the FPPF arranges the same cruise ship photography workshop for companies, recruiters, organization, clubs and groups.

For queries: 302A FEMII Building, Soriano (Aduana) Street, Intramuros, Manila.
Telephone: (63)(2) 524-7576 and phone/fax: (63)(2) 528-0371.
Look for Karen or Lito (email: fotoatwork@gmail.com).
Visit http://www.foto-at-work.com/ too.

Sea you thar!

Bridal & Lingerie Look by Nina Dumpa

When Hollywood hair and make-up specialist Nina Dumpa contacted freelance model Joan Mazo to help her promote her artistic skills in bridal and lingerie looks, Ms. Mazo had me as advertising photographer during that "stimulating" session. Nina, by the way, is very Filipina and her artistic and learned skills are limited by our imaginations-really! Joan's photos will grace some of Nina's marketing materials for this year.

TIPCO Juice Product Shot and Booth Layout

Here is a project I did for Tipco Juice, a product shoot for their sales booth. The print-size is ten feet by ten feet. I used a 300ws strobe (with a softbox) and my Nikon SB28 Speedlite. A white illustration board was used as my mini-cyclorama. Conceptualization and layout production/execution was conceived by yours truly within the shooting day too! Whew!