Ghetto Superstar

I really hope I can keep this blog up; this I think is the fourth blog I've created here on blogger and this is the only one that has surpassed the 2nd post mark. So, so far so good. ALthough, I would really, lilly lilly, appreciate your comments.

Anyhoolabaloo, I've attempted to clear my iPhoto and surprise, surprise I got held up editing old photos again. I got a good haul this time, from our holiday photos last year.

Here are a few images from our Motherland.

Fried peanuts and drinks sold on the street

White pet rats for sale

Gossip Girls

Oh, this was during the province's trade fair in September 2009. Aaaww, how nice are the nights you just stay out and stuff yourself with street food and try not to be sick on the ferris wheel.

Living in the Philippines, being an archipelago and the second largest at that, would always put you close to bodies of water. And this is what normally happens in most areas come high tide...

FLOOD.

That was the neighbour fetching the rain boots her daughter used to cross the water so she can safely and dryly wear hear school shoes. Yeah, people in the third world know how to find ways.

And ways we find. Look at this two guys who picked up a washing machine from a nearby store. 

Who needs a ute/pick up when you got a scooter and a very trusting pal?

That's how we roll in the third world. Fish out. =P

Bulacan Week Fireworks Competition 2009

weeds and weather

It's the first month of winter here in Melboure and it's been really, really chilly. Nights are c-c-cold with occasional frosts. It's been raining a lot as well, which I know the locals are happy about. I dont really need to check the weather forecasts now as the weather's usually the same these past couple of weeks, but just to give you an idea...

Forecast for Wednesday (30 June 2010)

Cloudy. Scattered showers, mainly during the morning. Winds northwesterly averaging up to 30 km/h.

City: a few showers. Minimum 7 degrees, Maximum 12 degrees.

Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Overall: Cold and wet. BED WEATHER!!! source: me =)

Rainy and gloomy suits me just fine... that is if I'm staying at home, under the sheets while waiting for the soup to warm up ... or when going to the movies because there's a big chance the theatre would be empty... or if you have a good stack of movies for a marathon (read: only perfect when I'm not at work). It's kind of a different story when you have to go out and about; my tropically developed body can only take so much - so I'd really only prefer this weather during the weekends so I can stay indoors. I believe JB agrees, as come winter months he totally forgets we have the front and back yard to maintain. 

Currently we have a very healthy vegetation growing around the house.  In all fairness, it's kind of tough to do the lawns nowadays because of all the rain. So for now lemme me utilize the bright side of this situation (hah!):

I've been looking for a four-leaf clover. Obviously I still need some luck as I have had no success so far. Loser, right? But I'd still think finding one would be lilly, lilly cool. =B

Here's how our front area is looking now...

and see where all the above photos are taken: hee hee:

Ok, I'm getting sleepy now. It's currently 8 degrees outside and you can hear the wind blowing. I kinda miss the sun, but it's just extremely nice to rug up and sleep now...

I'll think of you, dear sun, when I'm at work tomorrow...

Front of our house, October 2009

basketball

Been watching hubby play basketball on Sundays. Him and the boys have been playing at this "Filipino League" in Hampton Park for about two years now. I stopped watching for a couple of months because some extremely Filipino mentality, I just can't stand. Just some. Anyhow, the tournament is not exclusive to Filipinos anymore as it has become more of a business.

Still, it's something to do on a Sunday morning and the boys really like basketball so we go. And since I'm there already might as well practice shooting. 

Looking at the photos make me want to *really* take up proper photography schooling. I know it will come - I'm just preoccupied at the moment. All the time, more like.

Got some funny photos while watching the game:

Hey Hunnies? Why dont you hitch your skirt up a bit higher? Eggs on toast right?... :)

Got to dance!

Yep, eyes on the ball. Two points.

The boys got lucky with some shots. Hello Facebook profile pic. :)

Hulk :)

It's a jump shot from Bushman!

brake/inertia.

Mr. C, as in Captain, had a really good game, scored about four 3-pointers.

The game closed to a draw so boo-hoo. Australian rules on small basketball leagues don't allow for overtime tie breaker. It was a very very exciting game nevertheless. 

Now let me just nurse my hoarse throat. Blasted cheering. Let's close this with my hubby's 'yabang' photo. :)

Revisited photo of the night

I have been attempting to clear my iPhoto as it's now taken up 1/3 of my minuscule hard drive's capacity. 

So, in my attempt to do this I found something else to do: edit them old photos!

In short I didn't accomplish what I set out to do but no matter. This is my reward...

Kids playing at Estrella Falls in Puerto Princesa, Palawan 

because nobody's perfect

Came across this photo of a plastic surgeon's ad on tdw the other night:

---rrright. Looks like Mr. San Miguel Plastic hasn't heard of photoshop, or probably a hair colourist.

Anyhoo, Im posting a few photos that I *borrowed* from friends and facebook contacts. I say borrowed because I didn't take them personally, not with my camera at all. These are everyday photos taken with digicams and really good camera phones that turned out to be great shots. And I feel compelled to make them look better, perfect even. 

"Tara Ballerina"

Photo Credit: Joanna Hatch using a Fujifilm digicam

This is probably my first successful edit on a borrowed photo. It's also only recently I'm realising that I really like action photos better. The more natural, candid the shot is, the more I want to showcase that moment. 

Going back to the photo above, my work mate Jo was showing us ballet photos of her daughter, Tara. This is the original photo:

So with just a few tweaks, we are able to create a bit of drama. haha I was happy that Jo liked what I did with the photo and now she's thinking of getting it printed on canvas. Cool!

I just need to be careful with borrowing photos and altering it to suit my taste; copyrights, intellectual property, whatever else you want to call it - you have to get permission to borrow and change the photos. I'll admit I'm careless with my close friends' photos but most of the time I'd ask permission. So far, nobody's sued me yet. :)

OK! enough babble:

Pam, one of my best friends, gave birth to her first baby, Andi

Photo Credit: I'm guessing Patrick Reyes, the proud dad :)

Kimi at the Baby Bumblebee recital

Photo Credit: my cousins Athan and Net Capule, Kimi's parents

And here's the latest one that is an absolute favorite as well. It was a tricky edit as the photo was lovely as it is. However I really tried to make it even prettier, challenging my editing skills (bah!). Anyway in the end I accepted some pictures don't really need major repairs. So i did a bit of crop there, clarity improvement and a few little tricks and voila:

Tara helping mum rake the leaves

Photo Credit: Joanna Hatch, Fujifilm digicam

P.S. Surgery IS NOT the only way. x

sunday lunch

julie dear is moving to another company. so head b*tch organized a sunday lunch at chapel street.

had lunch at kanpai, but i was famished by the time the food was cooked so i didnt take photos. but when we had coffee afterwards and the cakes were brought to the table i had to whip out the camera.

this is julie's chocolate cheesecake. yep, wipe your drool. i also think we've found out why this one's called a mud cake...

looks like something from the swamp. but it was scrrrumptious!

this was at cafe greco which has a very vintage (read: old) vibe. so at post processing i felt like going for a nostalgic theme. here are the girls...

Jo clearly enjoying her cup.

Jo and G

Tish and Jules

the obligatory group pic

and i took this photo of Joanna while walking. not as sharp as I would've preferred but i love how her hat sets the whole mood. looks like a scene from a 1940s movie.

and this is Janine making a face as i try to take a paparazzi shot of her. haha

4am mcdonald's run

Jb is such a sports fanatic and the 2010 FIFA World Cup excites him like Winnie the Pooh presented with honey. The problem is that here in Australia, first games don't start until around 9:30 pm. So he stays up till around 3am, and wakes up the next day not remembering who won what.

So last night after a long week at my work, I proposed to take a 2hr nap after dinner and set the alarm for the first game of the night. We went to our favourite, favourite, Chinese-Vietnamese restaurant - Hoa Tran. And boy did we get stuffed.

Taken with an iPhone 3GS: Hoa Tran's Salt and Pepper Spicy Pork Spare Ribs and Rice, Combination Stir Fried Soft Egg Noodles

That's a typical dinner for us. So we went home, rested for a bit and then went to bed to nap at 7:30-ish pm.

Seven hours later, I woke up. It was 2:14am. We totally missed Germany vs. Serbia (0:1) so no point hurrying to get up now. Good thing the England game wasn't until 4:30am so I left JB sleeping and had a shower.

A little later we we're on our way for a 4am McDonald's run. Jb wasn't up for it at first because it was about 10 degrees this morning. Meanwhile, I love the randomness of going out for food in the middle of the night (or morning). Jb had to give in to a morning cheeseburger eventually anyway.

I got to try my first few bokeh-ish photos. Happiness.

Anyway, England bombed and the Algerians did an impressive job defending their post. The game closed to a draw, 0-0 and the English supporters booed their own team.

Went back to bed. :)

my greatest relief

Liezl, June 2010

Looking at children's faces is one of my favourite pleasures in life. And to capture their honest eyes is a vice I am grateful for.

I finally got the watermark working on my LR. i heart it.

Yohan Keloena, September 2009

Yana Shameera, September 2009

Liezl, May 2010