http://9thavenue.multiply.com/ "people don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care" "less gear...... more brains....... better light" - DH Fri, 10 Oct 2008 06:46:36 -0000 Thu, 9 Oct 2008 07:56:11 -0000 http://images.9thavenue.multiply.com/logo http://9thavenue.multiply.com 100 100 <img class="alignmiddleb" src="http://images.9thavenue.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/SO24OQoKCDgAACfGQj41/sports-slapshot.jpg?et=5AjrYZXo2Fl%2CdPi4WTaZsQ&#x26;nmid=0" border="0">The Hollywood icon has come and passed. I know that he's been cremated last week and it's only now that I am writing about this wonderful man, a true hero for humanity. We've known him as Cool Hand Luke, Butch Cassidy, as the racer and race team owner, and as the entrepreneur who gave away almost 250 million dollars for charity. But upon reading a lot of articles about Paul Newman, I'm disgusted not to find any reference on my favorite Paul Newman role as Reg Dunlop, the playing coach of the Charlestown Chiefs ice hockey team.<br><br>Writers fail to even mention "Slapshot" as one of the many Paul Newman films. The movie was a flop at the time, way ahead of the hockey boom in Southern California and Florida. But to me, it's the most memorable role for him because, as a hockey player, I enjoyed watching him play old-time hockey - complete with bench-clearing brawls, the bloody fisticuffs, and the many antics that will give hockey referees an instant coronary.<br><br>Slapshot will always be the all-time ... http://9thavenue.multiply.com/journal/item/11/Godspeed_Coach_Reg_Dunlop_Paul_Newman Thu, 9 Oct 2008 07:56:11 -0000 Athena and Mia modeling my 15-year old Jackson JSX94. My very first electric guitar, one of only 600 ever made by Jackson Guitars in Ft. Worth, Texas. This is my baby, my pride and joy (aside from my camera of course). 23" scale, 22 frets, humbucker at the Floyd Rose bridge, with two humbucking single coil pickups at the middle and neck. I've been wanting to shoot a model with my guitar and it finally happened. I got the idea when I saw Jenna Jameson modeling for Jackson guitars. Of course, a sexy endorser for a screamin' demon of a guitar! So I had to restring this with brand spanking-new Ernie Ball Super Slinkys. The jump shot exposed the weakness of the cheapo AC slave flash. It couldn't sync fast enough with my camera so the delays were obvious in the jumps. I wanted a more "Eddie Van Halen" flying split jump, but it was impossible, neither of the models were wearing Chuck Taylors! Comments and constructive criticisms are most certainly welcome. Expect a return review in ... http://9thavenue.multiply.com/photos/album/91/beauty_rockers Wed, 8 Oct 2008 18:01:33 -0000 My visit to the International Motor Show (or whatever it was called) at the World Trade Center in Pasay last August 21. Decided to visit the place at the first day of the show to avoid the large crowds usually found at car shows. The show was a bit dismal though. Not enough cars, and not enough models! =) The only real attraction for me was the Audi Quattro R8 and my favorite among them all, the BMW 335i. I'm not a big BMW kinda guy, I'm more of the Italian romantic kind. So the absence of any Ferrari, Lamborghini, Alfa, or even a Maserati was really disappointing. I focused my attention to the models instead. As expected, there were an army of photographers ogling at the same models as well. The Mitsubishi models were a top hit, with their two Brazilian bombshells. I found it absurd though when one of the Toyota models asked me to stop photographing her. Well, maybe it was the time of the month, she couldn't handle all the attention the photogs are showering her. I found it ... http://9thavenue.multiply.com/photos/album/90/beauties_and_wheels Wed, 8 Oct 2008 17:10:47 -0000 First birthday of Kaity Ventenilla at the Big Red Barn in Westgate, Alabang last September 28, 2008. It was a Hawaiian-inspired party and of course, what Hawaiian party would be complete without a luau. Guests arrived in their best floral outfits. The kids wore leis and grass skirts and there were plenty of orchids for the female guests. The Amazing Arnold had multiple roles for the party. He was the host, the magician, as well as the ventriloquist. The kids sure enjoyed his wacky segments and wowed them with his magic http://9thavenue.multiply.com/photos/album/89/kaitys_luau Tue, 30 Sep 2008 07:09:05 -0000 Spongebob-themed birthday party celebration of Jae-Kyu Park at the Christ to the World Church in San Antonio, Makati. Of course, since Spongebob is his favorite cartoon character, the room was filled with all sorts of thing-a-ma-jigs about everyone's favorite sponge. Even the host, Richard, had to be in character and his matching brown pants and yellow shirt with a tie went well with the children. Fortunately, I'm behind the lens so I didn't need a http://9thavenue.multiply.com/photos/album/88/jae-kyu_parks_birthday Thu, 25 Sep 2008 09:44:26 -0000 Themed birthday of Audi at Jollibee in BF Homes, Paranaque. Cars was the theme for the day and <a href="http://letzparty.multiply.com/">Let's Party</a> provided the balloons, decors, backdrops, cakes, souvenirs, and all party perks for the celebration. <a href="http://letzparty.multiply.com/">Visit the coolest party planners here and LET'S PARTY! Click me!</a> http://9thavenue.multiply.com/photos/album/87/audis_themed_birthday Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:08:52 -0000 Stephanie Gumaru's debut at the Valle Verde 1 Club house. She chose the "Hollywood/Oscars" theme. The last debut I attended was ages ago and I never knew that the "cotillon" wasn't fashionable anymore! =) Too bad, I'm a veteran of that dance, in fact, that's the only dance I know (the waltz). Steph instead had 18 diamonds and 18 stars for her wishers and greeters. No 18 roses or father and daughter dance here. The location was perfect for a debut, albeit small and had some structural pillars blocking the view of some guests. Fairly low, white ceiling which was great for bouncing strobes. The size of the room meant that it cooled pretty well, with ample airconditioning. But the difference between outside temperature and inside was from Arctic to Sub-Saharan! So my brand-new pinstripe suit had to go. <a href="http://s292.photobucket.com/albums/mm4/maharlikatmc2/others/?action=view&#x26;current=005861c1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm4/maharlikatmc2/others/005861c1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> http://9thavenue.multiply.com/photos/album/86/stephanies_18th Wed, 24 Sep 2008 18:52:20 -0000 For a debut this Saturday. Budget is really tight, PM me for your rates and possibly a sample of your work (even a short clip). I'll message the other details through individual messages. Thank you! http://9thavenue.multiply.com/journal/item/10/Videographer_Wanted Mon, 15 Sep 2008 07:33:31 -0000 Back with the ever-luminous Jaezeline. The classic long side table from Jake's lola's house served as a platform and a prop at the same time here. So sorry for consecutive posts. I don't want to look like a spammer but I just had to upload this and the other album. <a href="http://s292.photobucket.com/albums/mm4/maharlikatmc2/others/?action=view&#x26;current=40ea9b0f.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm4/maharlikatmc2/others/40ea9b0f.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> http://9thavenue.multiply.com/photos/album/85/beauty_23 Wed, 10 Sep 2008 09:02:37 -0000 Different outfit for Angelique. Tried different settings with the camera this time but still a one-strobe-pony. With the printed dress, it's still the hard light using my "voice-activated" light stand, Jake. C&C are welcome and will be returned promptly. <a href="http://s292.photobucket.com/albums/mm4/maharlikatmc2/others/?action=view&#x26;current=06f7642b.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm4/maharlikatmc2/others/06f7642b.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> http://9thavenue.multiply.com/photos/album/84/beauty_22 Wed, 10 Sep 2008 08:57:02 -0000 Second set of Jaze during our shoot at Jake's house. Back to the kitchen this time, with the ladle once more! Still a one-strobe-pony with this one. C&C are still welcome, and would be returned immediately. <a href="http://s292.photobucket.com/albums/mm4/maharlikatmc2/others/?action=view&#x26;current=6b1e0773.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm4/maharlikatmc2/others/6b1e0773.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> http://9thavenue.multiply.com/photos/album/83/beauty_21 Mon, 8 Sep 2008 18:03:00 -0000 I'm not a nature photographer but the sunsets of late are really catching my eye. Reports say that the recent vivid colors and bright sunsets that we see are the results of the volcanic ash spewed out by the Kasatochi Volcano somewhere in Alaska. It's similar to the effects of Mt. Pinatubo's eruption in 1991. Photographers from all over the world caught the magic of the "Pinatubian" light and captured some of the most memorable landscape images. Tried hanging behind MOA once again for the obligatory sunset photos. But these shots were what I was really after. The great big ball of fire in the sky once again didn't fail to astound me. If these images still make you doubt that there is a God, I think you could do the rest of the world good by jumping off a cliff. <a href="http://s292.photobucket.com/albums/mm4/maharlikatmc2/others/?action=view&#x26;current=f7cb429b.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm4/maharlikatmc2/others/f7cb429b.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> http://9thavenue.multiply.com/photos/album/82/fire_in_the_sky Sun, 7 Sep 2008 06:00:06 -0000 Still breaking tradition here. Same model, different beauty set. It's still Angelique but she's in her pretty pink dress this time. The kitchen's now the venue and the props are still there. I was a one-strobe pony with this one. Didn't bother with the shoot-through brolly and the AC flash. C&C are most certainly welcome. PS: Jaze, I'll upload yours shortly! =) <a href="http://s292.photobucket.com/albums/mm4/maharlikatmc2/others/?action=view&#x26;current=91ccf08c.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm4/maharlikatmc2/others/91ccf08c.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> http://9thavenue.multiply.com/photos/album/81/beauty_20 Fri, 5 Sep 2008 21:04:38 -0000 Second time around to shoot the luminous <a href="http://jaezeline.multiply.com">Jaezeline</a>. I'm still blinded by that very light skin of hers! =). Even my "voice-activated" light stand, Jake, had to put on his shades to protect his eyes when my flash bounces off Jaeze's white skin. We had a lot of fun though, still inside the house with Torj. <a href="http://s191.photobucket.com/albums/z222/rac_murphy/others/?action=view&#x26;current=28b3561a.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z222/rac_murphy/others/28b3561a.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> http://9thavenue.multiply.com/photos/album/80/beauty_19 Mon, 1 Sep 2008 09:17:39 -0000 She's <a href="http://torjtorj.multiply.com/">Angelique</a> and it's my first time to shoot her. All I can say is, I loved every minute of it, since Torj likes to pose and I like taking pictures! <a href="http://papastjake.multiply.com">Jake's</a> house once again is the location. I can never get tired of that beautiful house! So many spots to choose from. Sorry Torj if it took too long to upload! I've been swamped recently. This is just one set, more to follow Ok? C&C are most certainly welcome. <a href="http://s191.photobucket.com/albums/z222/rac_murphy/others/?action=view&#x26;current=d922f9a7.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z222/rac_murphy/others/d922f9a7.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> http://9thavenue.multiply.com/photos/album/79/beauty_18 Mon, 1 Sep 2008 08:48:02 -0000 <img style="width: 236px;height: 182px;" class="alignright" src="http://images.9thavenue.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/SLLzwAoKCDgAAAmElEo1/2747306263-65cb50bce9.jpg?et=NBbN1P3nWcEFb9A81EO3TQ&#x26;nmid=0" border="0"> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Recently, I can't help but feel bad when I think about a recent incident I encountered as a photographer. One of my pet peeves, even when I was growing up, is when people start calling me "boy", "bata", "psst". But the absolute worst of it all is "pogi". FYI, pogi is used for dogs, as in "Ang pogi mo, parang aso!" or anything in that context. I know, I'm just a photographer, a hired hand - - - oh wait a minute, I wasn't paid then, you didn't hire me! Blast it. And decide to call me pogi? (Uy, pogi, pogi, kunan mo naman kami dito! Isa pa!) What made you better than me? You're a rich fellow, a class-act maybe in your peers but around your juniors, around the people you don't know, you ain't hackin' it man. Ask your closest neighbor, ask someone who knows me, or ask any-flipping-one for my name! Don't call me "pogi". That's just common courtesy. <br><br>I don't call any old person "tanda", I address him/her properly, "Sir" or "Ma'am", whichever is applicable. This is wh... http://9thavenue.multiply.com/journal/item/9/Call_me_by_my_name_-_-_-_or_ask_for_it Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:00:24 -0000 Same model, different set-up. <a href="http://alexuh.multiply.com/">Alex</a> moves to the kitchen this time (again, <a href="http://papastjake.multiply.com/">Jake's</a> lola's house). The house was really set-up, complete with stainless steel dishwashers, stainless steel fridge, granite countertop, Fisher & Paykel exhaust, and the works. I wouldn't be surprised if this kitchen alone cost a cool million. And staying with cool, I decided to play with the lighting and white balance a little bit. Set my camera to tungsten (the light bulb logo on your cameras) but didn't use CTO gels for achieving the "cool" effect. Main light is still the AC slave firing through the white satin umbrella. I mounted the SB-600 this time on camera to give the hair light and a little fill here and there. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9thavenue/2779227982/" title="alex27 by 9thavenue, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3075/2779227982_9bccf95d21.jpg" width="325" height="500" alt="alex27" /></a> http://9thavenue.multiply.com/photos/album/78/beauty_17 Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:10:23 -0000 Chomolungma, Sagarmatha, Mount Everest - 29,035 ft. above sea level. The highest peak, the tallest of them all, the roof of the world. One little step closer to God. Sure it's been scaled more than 3,000 times before, but on May 16, 2007, three Filipinas dared to challenge the norm. They went out of their ways to climb the sacred mountain. This is Noelle Wenceslao, the first ever Filipina, and first ASEAN woman to climb Mt. Everest. In the process, she achieved one feat that most of us can only dream of, cementing her place in history and achieving immortality. I was fortunate to hear her speak during the Membership Development Seminar of Rotary District 3780 hosted by our sponsoring Rotary Club, RC Murphy. Noelle is one of the three Filipinas who proved they were strong enough, brave enough, and determined enough to achieve her objective, to make her dreams real. Just how bad-ass is Noelle? Well, she was a sickly child and has never completed an ascent before, until she conq... http://9thavenue.multiply.com/photos/album/77/beauty_of_a_pinay_heroine Sat, 16 Aug 2008 19:02:58 -0000 Continuing with <a href="http://alexuh.multiply.com/"> Alex's </a> photo stream. This time, she's playing with the light modifier (white umbrella). I used Nikon's CLS system to remotely trigger the SB-600 using the D80's on-board camera flash. Setting was a little tricky since the brolly was way beyond the intended firing target (Alex is using it as a traditional umbrella). Comments and suggestions are highly appreciated. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9thavenue/2763588592/" title="alex22 by 9thavenue, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3221/2763588592_3e205b82b9.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="alex22" /></a> http://9thavenue.multiply.com/photos/album/76/beauty_16 Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:06:16 -0000 Yes, that's right, <a href="http://roxymontealegre.multiply.com/">Roxy</a> has her own billboard! I didn't know about this until we dropped off <a href="http://alexuh.multiply.com/">Alex</a> after the shoot. This billboard is in Marcos Highway, just across Robinson's http://9thavenue.multiply.com/photos/album/75/beauty_13_-_on_a_billboard Mon, 11 Aug 2008 08:30:25 -0000 A break from my posting tradition here. <a href="http://alexuh.multiply.com/">Alexa's</a> still the model but on a different "beauty" set. There's still a lot of photos in my HDD from that photo session and I don't want to post them all in one folder. Instead, I'll be delivering an installment of sorts. Tried a few PP tricks here to spice the photos a little bit. A little dodge and burn here and there and a little cropping on the sides. The DX lens that I had gave a little bit of barrel distortion in the tight shots so I had to crop out the walls. Strobist (still paying it forward): Same setup, with the cheapo lighting kit from China, plus one SB-600 wherever needed. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9thavenue/2750407681/" title="alex13 by 9thavenue, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3192/2750407681_5f2850a953.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="alex13" /></a> http://9thavenue.multiply.com/photos/album/74/beauty_15 Sun, 10 Aug 2008 21:10:20 -0000 <img class="alignleft" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31H1J01ZE3L._SL500_AA280_.jpg" alt="" height="222" width="222">Earlier today, I was dumbfounded once again when my 4th Generation iPod froze up on me. Usually when I’m playing along with my guitar, I’ll be fast forwarding if I didn’t feel like playing the song at that moment. But too much of anything, as always, is bad right? So what happens? My iPod suddenly has a mind of its own and starts fast-forwarding itself. After resetting the darned thing three times (MENU + Center button), my iPod gave up and showed me the sad icon. So what to do? I searched for the best iPod fix I could find and found this <a href="http://digg.com/apple/How_To_Fix_an_Ipod_with_the_Sad_iPod_Icon" target="_blank">link</a>. Were they ever correct! I tried all the methods the posters in that site suggested and the two best suggestions were as follows: (1) the frisbee - I threw my iPod on my bed whilst spinning it wildly for two times; then (2) gave it a good smack (<a href="http://everything2.com/e2node/Beat%2520like%2520a%2520redheaded%2520stepchild" target="_blank"><em>like beating a red-headed stepchild</em></a>) twice at the back (I don’t know the scientific correlation of two spins and two smacks) but it worked! It’s funny how you fix things sometimes. Sometimes you take thin... http://9thavenue.multiply.com/journal/item/8/Fix_that_iPod Sun, 10 Aug 2008 04:48:49 -0000 Ahh, long time no upload. After a battle with the flu and tonsilitis, beauty number 14 might just be what the doctor ordered. Now I'm back to my element and extra happy shooting Alexa. The rains didn't stop from falling the past week so the planned outdoor shoot went out the window. Instead, we made use of the beautiful house of Jake's lola. Strobist info (paying it forward): one cheapo lighting kit with 42" shoot-through umbrella and one SB-600 under variable settings with different colored cellophane (cheap alternative to color gels) all over the place. On-board flash sometimes acted as the trigger and sometimes as fill-light. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9thavenue/2743966692/" title="alex8 by 9thavenue, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3142/2743966692_8c5f4fa992.jpg" width="345" height="500" alt="alex8" /></a> http://9thavenue.multiply.com/photos/album/73/beauty_14 Fri, 8 Aug 2008 09:43:32 -0000 http://9thavenue.multiply.com/links/item/4/SurveySavvy.com_-_Your_Opinions_Your_Marketplace_Your_Rewards_-_Get_Paid_for_Surveys Fri, 1 Aug 2008 18:47:58 -0000 For once in the Batman franchise, Batman himself goes away from the limelight and gave the stage to Two-Face and The Joker. Heath Ledger's performance was compelling and riveting. Ok, I'll get this one out now, I'm not saying this just because of the untimely demise of Heath but he was indeed the perfect psychopathic clown in the movie. Aaron Eckhart was equally effective as the hard-core DA Harvey Dent who later became Two-Face. Yeah, he's no Tommy Lee Jones but Eckhart still delivered the goods. Maggie Gyllenhaal was the perfect love interest for Eckhart. Just imagine if Katie Holmes played Rachelle Dawes here, I honestly think that she would stick out like a sore thumb. I give the movie the highest rating here, simply because it's the best Batman movie I've seen yet. It used to be the original Batman that was top drawer for me. The one where Jack Nicholson played The Joker. But Jack was too old in the first Batman, he didn't have the athleticism and the grit that Heath Ledger had. J... http://9thavenue.multiply.com/reviews/item/1 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:49:02 -0000 <a href="http://electricityandlust.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/the-dark-knight1.jpg" mce_href="http://electricityandlust.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/the-dark-knight1.jpg"><img alt="The Dark Knight poster" src="http://electricityandlust.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/the-dark-knight1.jpg" mce_src="http://electricityandlust.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/the-dark-knight1.jpg" title="the dark knight" height="339" width="212"></a><br> <p>After waiting for quite a while now, I finally got to see the much-anticipated installment of the Batman franchise. <a href="http://thedarkknight.warnerbros.com/" mce_href="http://thedarkknight.warnerbros.com/">The Dark Knight</a> marks the return of Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne/Batman and Director Christopher Nolan. New to the Batman series is the late Heath Ledger as The Joker. Michael Caine is still Alfred, Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox, and Gary Oldman as Jim Gordon.</p> <p>This new Batman movie is very different from the comic book Batman of the past. It delves deeper into the human emotions - exploring mostly the weaknesses of the human spirit and the indifference among all of us. From the opening scene, where bank robbers dressed as clowns annihilate each other just to make his share of the heist bigger, to the conclusion of the story; the movie told many tales about human beings in general.</p> <p>The hype around Heath Ledger's performance as The Joker was well deserved. The role fit him perfectly, and his portrayal of the demented psychopathic clown was spot on. His voice, mannerisms, a... http://9thavenue.multiply.com/journal/item/7/Do_I_look_like_a_man_with_a_plan Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:24:12 -0000