Pro Technique: Simulating Wedding Sunsets

Wedding photographer Jomel Gregorio hired moi as 2nd photographer for Isaac and Kats’ wedding. For their late afternoon portraites I challenged myself to simulate sunset lighting at the cool and shadey Mango Farm reception. Because of the many huge mango trees planted around it’s impossible for any sun rays to pass thru (except noon). So I setup my off-cam Nikon SB-27 Speedlight with my TriStar radio receiver coupled with a Lee orange filter on a junior stand (approx. 25 feet away). Setting the SB-27 power ratio at full power with a 50mm zoomed head I shot this picture (above). Try this when the natural sunset lighting is impossible.

Bingle and Odie Pre-nupt in Tagaytay

Dewey Sergio of the Alpha Camera Club and moi found ourselves shooting Ms. Bingle and SPO4 Odie for their pre-nuptial photographs at the Grand Canyon Woods in Tagaytay. (Dewey is one of the few, winningest photogs who made a career in topping many major photo contests locally for years like Chito Cleofas). The weather that day swung from sweltering hot to a cool drizzle whimsically like a yo-yo. It’s always fun to shoot with Dewey who brought a huge, white translucent studio umbrella to act as a “Scrim Jim” to block the harsh sunlight during pictorials (and with which was my protection against the rude drizzle and direct sunlight). Thanks much Dewey! See you in their wedding celebration.

Pro Technique: Digital Infra-red (IR) in Sepia

For this sepia -toned IR photograph above, I screwed an R720 (IR) filter onto my lense. With a saturated olive colored panel I used the Custom White Balance (CWB) setting on my Nikon DSLR under a shade on a cloudy day for a data reading. It was the longest expoure for a white balance picture reference at 30 seconds! By filling my frame with this olive-colored panel I’m assured of an approximately neutral colored green leaves. My camera settings are in colored Vivid mode. Of course you will need a tripod as my exposure took 30 seconds to make under cloudy skies. I shot in JPEG file mode and the colors were slightly enhanced in Adobe Photoshop.

GEARTALK: Nikon D90 Road Test

Here's the first DSLR that incorporates 720P HD (high definition) video as part of its feature. At 24 frames per second the videos taken with the new Nikon D90 is jerky, so what I do is to pan quickly and/or do a cut-to-cut transition. Canon answered the D90 with a full-HD version in their 5D MkII model. I tried shooting both photo and video for a wedding coverage with the D90 and found it difficult. It's always best to concentrate on one aspect of the coverage to anticipate some unrepeatable "decisive moments". Nikon certainly started a small revolution here: converging the photographer and videographer into one artist. Expect all DSLR models to include HD video as standard issue. Next month I will post some sexy European corsets I shot with the D90 once I get the "go" signal from my British designers. So stay tuned...

Ron and Laarni Tagaytay Wedding

Congratulations to Ron and Laarni on their wedding. Shierdan Pamintuan did the video and Gilbert Obispo was the main photog. Venue was at the Josephine's Restaurant in Tagaytay. Ron surprised his wife by singing a ballad to her for the first time in his life (photo above) at their reception. What's unique about this event was that Shierdan (or Dan) the videographer did the couple's impressive pre-nuptial photography (inset photo). I'm floored! No woner he's not giving me pre-nupt projects. I'd better fast-track my video lessons soon as my revenge heh heh heh! How much for that new, HD video-enabled Nikon D90 DSLR again?

2009 International Cruise Ship Workshop

Ahoy mateys! Here is my latest press release photo for my International Cruise Ship Photography Workshop for the rest of the year. Nice eh? Thanks to Adobe Photoshop heh heh heh! My camera rig featured is the classic Nikon F2 (with DA-1 Action Finder) and the bombastic Nikon Speedlight SB-11...and boy they weight a ton! I just make 'em look easy and light to hold. For more info on my monthly workshop please visit this link. Sea y'all there!

Goodbye to Francis Magalona

We lost a nationalistic artist in Francis Magalona to lukemia on March 6 at 44 years young. He is the Father of Philippine Rap music, a businessman, host to a popular noon timeshow and photographer member of the prestigious Camera Club of the Philippines. When I was confined at the Medical City hospital (I had asthma) last month, a nurse whispered to me that Francis was also secretly confined. Only a good friend stoppped me on my tracks from entering his room. Well I just thought that the good man needed someone to share the love of photography in that sterile place. I would...The nation mourns.

Mike and Jocelyn Feb Nuptial

Congratulations to Mike Duff and Jocelyn Ferrer on their memorable wedding! Top wedding photog Dino Lara did outstanding photo-journalistic coverage and Bob Nicolas did the dandy video with their macho, full-HD Panasonics outfitted with Canon lenses (photo below). Both their photo AVP, video AVP and on-site wedding movie were all artistic in treatment of the highest quality. The wedding rite was celebrated at the new Magallanes Church in Makati city and reception was held at the posh Manila Peninsula. May your tribe increase folks!