Travel, Learn, Shoot!

Help! Rescue Needed: Blogger's Block

noreply@blogger.com (Karlo de Leon) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:11:00 +0000

I cannot believe I could not think of something to blog about. I've been wanting to blog about this and that since 2 days ago but for some awkward reason, things aren't happening. I feel somehow that whatever topic I'm thinking of, for me, it's just not interesting enough, or not worth blogging at all.

Of course, I still have my Breaking Rules series, and a few other things in mind, but for some reason, something gets in the way. For now, we'll call it, the Blogger's block - a term taken from its cousin, the Artist's block.

To be honest with eveyone, even as I type away right now, I'm feeling this drag on my fingers. I'm tempted to keep pressing the delete key until all the words are gone forever. But don't you worry about the possibility of me quitting. That's not going to happen just yet. Unless I have a perfectly good reason to stop, I wouldn't.

As a piece of advise to everyone, and just so that this entry will make sense, the important two words for today are "Don't Disappear". There will be times in your career, in your hobby, even at times in your passion, that you will feel a drag, a block, a butterfly, or whatever you may want to call it. It will be there, it will come, it will happen, and the best way to deal with it is not to disappear. Sometimes you may have to force yourself to do one simple thing or two. Sometimes this happens when we think too much. Do know that it's just a phase. It will pass sooner hopefully than later.

Untill my next entry! Peace Out!

Breaking Rules: Fill the Frame is a Big Fat Joke

noreply@blogger.com (Karlo de Leon) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:06:00 +0000

I don't mean to sound cruel nor do I intend to declare war with the rest of the photography community. If the title offended you, then as early as now, I apologize for the choice of words (including those you have yet to read). But since that got your attention, I think keeping it there is a good idea.

So let me tell you why I have a lot of reservations about "Fill the Frame". When I say that this rule is a joke, honestly, I mean it. Jokes are meant to tease people - to make you laugh or other people laugh. Some people get it, some people don't. Much like this rule.

For the benefit of those who are new, Fill the Frame states that one of the things that you can do is to get close enough to the subject so much so that it fills your entire frame with that subject. This rule is regarded as the second most popular rule. The Rule of Thirds takes the number one spot.

The truth is "Fill the Frame" does not exist in a design composition perspective. This is because the viewers eye will always try to find a focal point, a point of interest. When you try to get close to a subject so much so that the subject occupies majority of the photographic frame, the tendency is that part of that subject will become more interesting than the entirety of that object or person. Which means when you zoom in close to your subject to "Fill the Frame", you are therefore using a different rule or composition guide. Examples of which are Rule of Thirds, Patterns, Leading Lines, etc.

Here's an example:

In this photo, the main subject is the man holding the oyster shells, he is positioned off-center in the frame. This photo follows several compositional guides other than "Fill the Frame". I took another photo of the same subject which others may say is "Fill the Frame".

In this second photo, although the subject fills the entire frame, your eyes do not view the subject as a whole but in part because you will have a different point of interest in the frame.

In conclusion, you can use Fill the Frame when you're not thinking about how composition can impact a photo. You are simply getting close but not thinking about the design challenges or opportunities that your frame may bring. This means it will be hard for one to adjust their frame to make it more effective using it.

I have stopped Fill the Frame after discovering this truth. I hope I was able to shed some light. In other cases, hey, its just photography - no big deal.

Breaking Rules: You're Too Close

noreply@blogger.com (Karlo de Leon) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:50:00 +0000

I've been thinking of what cool thing to post from movie reviews of Astroboy, which brought me back to childhood memories of the old 1980s cartoon (just wish they used the original 1960s score which made the movie incomplete), to accounts of my recent projects which I have failed to tell you about. There have been 3 if I can recall.

Since I'm in the area of educating people of nice things like photography and getting a whack at life, it may interest you that we talk about the rules of photography in a different light, in a creative sense. Also, it seems I haven't posted any photo for a while, so here's one I took recently during a recent shoot. They won't need this photo so its ok to post this.

You would probably wish I could have taken a closer shot of this but then again the feel of the golden waters wouldn't be like this at close up. We've heard it time and again, "If its not good enough, you're not close enough", and we have to thank NatGeo photographer, Robert Capa, who served the world with amazing images during World War II as a war photographer and for reminding us that. It must have been hard during his time taking photos of war action while dodging bullets across countries in Europe.

Being up close and personal is a great guide to better photographs. It is not a steadfast rule though. I'm thinking, can it be applicable the other way around. "If its not good enough, you're too close!", this one's by me. I've experienced countless of times when I feel there's something missing in my shot only because I was too close. As an example, the photo above shows a little bit of depth and only because I chose to back up - way back. I feel it also brings curiosity into the boatmen - or is it Jesus and Peter walking on water? The decisions you make when you take photos should be guided by vision and not just the words on your head that you got from a photography magazine that keep cycling over and over like it will haunt you when you don't do it.

More to come. On the next segment of Breaking Rules, I'll tell you about the photography rule that I have come to hate so much. In most days I just try not to think about it.

5 Tips to Avoid Buying Stolen Gear

noreply@blogger.com (Karlo de Leon) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 07:07:00 +0000

I had a great chat with Bong Bajo, one of those cool people I met during my recent trip to Bicol. One thing that was really interesting was how he apparently lost his big bag of camera goodies and how he was able to retrieve some of the items that were taken with it.

Since I love telling stories, I might as well retell it in a high-spirited and semi-non-fiction sort of way. So technically, it won't be all factual, but you'll get the point. Here we go kids:
One stormy afternoon, when the rain was running wildly with the wind, the tree branches rattling and leaves begin to race with the traffic, Bong decides to park his car at what seems to be a crowded parking lot. Since it was cold and he was getting the chills, he ponders about and leaves his car in exchange for a cup of coffee and an errand run in one of those government offices around the area. Within five minutes he was back on the cozy driver's seat of his white (or blue, or black) luxury sedan. The next few seconds horrifies him. His face turns pale and his sweat seem to turn as cold as ice. "I left it right here! It was just here before I left!", he says to himself, or at least, those are the words he would have said if he was able to speak. There it was, an empty passenger's seat - his bag is gone. In his mind, a flashback of all his gear that was in the bag runs through like still images in a suspense film. His camera, his lenses, and his laptop that contained all those important business files, all gone in five or ten minutes time. It was a living nightmare! He cannot move. He is now a certified victim of car break-in.

Alright, so this is one awful scenario. We've heard horror stories like this one. This is why heavily tinted cars and inside-access-trunks are always an advantage. Gear-napped stuffed whether done right in your face or stolen right off your car or hotel room is a photographer's nightmare. The question now is, Where does the gear go?

A good assumption is that the crook becomes a photographer himself and earns good money from it that he doesn't have to steal anymore. Apparently, this never happens and there are two places you can check: Its either on one of the stores in Hidalgo in Quiapo (if you're in the Philippines), or someone is selling it online through various photography or tech e-groups and forums. It's now a second hand item for sale. Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying its the photographers who do the break-ins or the snatching. This rarely happens if never. It just mostly ends up back in circulation. Much like stolen cellphones.

This is when I'm supposed to warn you. Finder's keepers losers weepers isn't applicable at all times. In any case, it shouldn't be applicable at all. In fact, I don't even like the phrase to begin with. Think about this. If you lost your passport, and someone finds it, does it become their their passport? "Oh Wow, 10 years multiple visa to the US! I can use this now!" Who are you kidding. If someone leaves their car open with the keys inside and you suddenly find it and decide to drive it home, does it make it yours? "Hey dude, guess what, I found this car outside with no driver. I took it home so its mine. Finders keepers, losers weepers!".

The lesson: Don't buy stolen gear, because if you do, it makes you an accomplice, and that's the law.

So how do you avoid buying anything stolen. How do you know it's just old-unwanted-but-still-reliable gear instead of someone's precious stolen merchandise? Three things:

1. Ask for the original receipt. I haven't seen someone keep their receipts inside their bag of used cameras and lenses, so if a seller cannot produce the receipt. There's a good chance it's stolen. But then again, there are people who don't really keep the receipts, then ask for anything that proves its a legit sell like an invoice, or box that came with the camera, lens, or whatever.

2. Buy from a reputable store. The problem here is that "reputable" is a very subjective word. Reputable stores simply means these are the places whom you know will not sell stolen items. Here's a little secret though. Bong found one of his stolen lenses being sold in one of those "reputable" photography stores in Quiapo. Check the store's background if need be. I know real Christians don't sell stolen items (and they don't cheat on their business taxes), so if I have the chance to buy from stores owned by Christians, then I'd buy there. It gives me confidence that the item won't cause me trouble. That's my technique.

3. Buy from friends. I know someone who bought a Nikon 50mm f1.4 for only P4,000 (US$90) in pristine condition from a friend of ours who at that time switched to Canon. I also got my Nikon 70-210mm f4-5.6 from her for a great big bargain. I still use it until now. Its good to know who used the equipment before so you're not only ensured that you're buying legit, you also know it's well taken cared of. That means don't buy used gear from me because I suck at gear maintenance.

3. Investigate before you buy. You may think I'm a little over my head when I say go ahead and be paranoid about what you're buying. But, like in Bong's experience, it is sad because it's true that even some of the stores you know may be selling used stolen products. Your gear, camera or lens, have serial numbers you can check against the manufacturer list of buyers. Usually, when you buy new from the manufacturer, they give you a registration sheet to fill out which says that so and so owns this product with this serial number. It may be a longer process to get in touch with the owner, but at least you dont get the hassle of buying stolen gear and lose your money in the process, or worse, get sued for patronizing illegal transactions.

5. Buy new. It may require you to let go of few more extra cash, but buying new is the best way to go. Of course, you're still up against gray and black markets, but these are easy to spot because of the cost of the product. I buy new at gray markets because of the large price difference. Gray market's are legal, black markets are not. We'll talk about those things next time.

Bong was able to retrieve one lens through which he saw was being sold in one of the stores in Hidalgo, and his camera body being sold through an online forum. Both were recovered through two separate entrapment operations. He also saw his other lens being sold at another store in Hidalgo but right after the first raid, he went back to check the store but it was already gone. His laptop and gear bag was never seen again.

This has been a long post. I hope you guys learned a thing or two. If you would like to share an experience you have about buying and selling used gear. Let us know.

Polaroid Pogo Printer: A Travel Photographer's Toy

noreply@blogger.com (Karlo de Leon) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:44:00 +0000

I was able to test the Polaroid Pogo Printer during my recent trip to Camarines Sur last week. I loaded 10 sheets of Zinc (Zero Inc) paper a few weeks ago and already used one during a restaurant shoot with Asian Traveler so that leaves me with 9 sheets. You’re supposed to load the sheets one pack at a time. Each pack contained 10 sheets plus a blue test sheet that goes with every pack.

Paper Quality and Size. The prints were by Zinc, which uses the same technology as the old Polaroid, except that the paper was more paper than plasticky gloss. The paper quality is similar to those matte ones you can buy off a bookstore. I wonder what happens if the photos get wet. I wouldn't want to try since each sheet costs Php16 (around 33 cents US), although you can get 80sheets now for US$20, which is roughly Php12.50. The paper is also really small (2”x3”), even smaller than a business card.

I had this thing since early October and expiration is on January. I’m guessing that each manufactured Zinc paper has a 6-month expiration date. I wish I could find more info about this and how to preserve and lengthen its usage past the expiration. My only real qualm about the paper is where to get it. They don't sell Zinc paper yet in these parts.

Battery. I made sure I brought the printer guide just in case something weird happens. The handout said I had to charge it 4 hours prior to usage. I had no trouble with charging. I didn’t bother carrying the charger that goes during my trip since it was as big and as heavy as those new PC laptop brick AC chargers. That’s why I love Mac. Each full charge is good enough to print 10 sheets, I only used 3 so no worries about charging. I'm a little stingy about giving away photos to begin with. I think I'll do better next time.

Pogo Case. I kept my Pogo inside the carrying case that goes with it. The pouch has an inner pocket and that’s where I kept the printer guide. It’s good enough to place an extra sheet pack there as well. This soft case is sold separately but I got it on package with the Pogo together with 4 packs of 10 sheets of Zinc paper for only USD$43.

Printer Size. Portability was not a problem since I could carry the thing in my bag and still have room for some smaller gear. It was as big as a walkman tape player, if you’re old enough to have seen one – otherwise, the dimensions are that of a portable hard drive except that it’s about an inch thick.

Print Quality. The print quality is good enough for you to recognize that the photo is of a person, a boat, or a duck, or what dish you just ate. Don’t expect to have quality prints good for exhibitions, or even your school project. Most people who buy this thing use it for instant scrapbooking. I simply use it for fun and rapport. It takes a while to print though. 1 minute to print off an another minute, or forever to select the photo that you want printed if it's buried underneath your photo pile.

I’m a little careful when using the printer in front of a crowd since people would want their own copy.

Camera Support. My Nikon D70 didn’t support Pictbridge in Raw format. I found that out a few weeks ago. That was a take a deep breath moment for me as it meant I had to shoot Raw + Jpeg so I can print off with the Pogo. The same happens with a Nikon D80.

Overall. Its pretty cool when you see people looking at a printer almost as small as a PSP for the first time, their eyes either starts to get really round and big, or their jaws start to drop. The smiles on their faces are priceless. It has never failed to bring smiles, even if it’s not their photo being printed out. Its a great toy for a travel photographer. It answers a lot of problems on the field like people asking for a souvenir, or of their photo being sent to them. Its a great gadget when you have time to print.

Photo above was taken in Buhi, Camarines Sur. We just got off a rubber boat that brought us across the lake to this island to check out the twin falls. This is Sol (left) with our tourist guide, whose name I forgot. Since we were waiting for the other guys to be crossed over, I decided to test the Pogo and gave Mr. Tour Guide a small token of appreciation for carrying my stuff to the falls. You can see the the nice smile on his face right there on the photo. You can also see Mt. Buhi and Buhi Lake in the background.

Guide to TLS Reviews

noreply@blogger.com (Karlo de Leon) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:05:00 +0000

I promised a few weeks back that I’d be posting a review of the Polaroid Pogo. Before I do that, I've decided to post a guide regarding any review I make.

There is a good reason why I decided to start writing reviews and including it in this blog. It doesn't involve a lot of geeking over things I buy and want to buy. Rather, it's simply a matter of expression, plus I figured its a good addition to poor attempts of good reads for everyone patient enough to go back every now and then to check this blog and put up with my writing.

So how does this go?

Two things. Before we come to the conclusion that something is worth buying, watching, or going to, you either just jump into going ahead at it like falling in love at first sight, or you begin a journey of discovery on whether you should or should not indulge. My goal is to help you make those decisions based on an artistic point of view. I will have two views per review, an artist's and a geek's. Either way, it'll be nasty.

I won’t be giving technical reviews since you can find a dozen and enough more reviews about many different things on the internet. Rather, I will give you an experiential reviews, especially in the context of travel and photography.

So what kind of reviews should you expect?

1. Travel Related Reviews - learn about great places to shoot, good food, hotels, nature and all those in between from the point of view of a travel photographer.

2. Gadgets and Gear - I won't be doing a Ken Rockwell type of review, or those you find in Tech TV. They're more experts about these kinds of things. So just so you know, the gear reviews ill be doing relates more to usage and usability when it comes to travel, photography, or both.

3. Movies and Media - you may think it's unrelated, but whenever I create reviews about media, it'll be all about creativity. Either that or I have no other great thing to blog about - kidding! I'll do my best to make it worthwhile for everyone

It will be good for you to know that I will not turn this blog into a tech blog, nor will it be solely a travel blog. The focus of these reviews is to learn about photography, what will help you in your photography and/or improve your art and enhance your creativity.

If you're ready and if the next post is up, go ahead and read on.

Backtracking the Last 2 Weeks

noreply@blogger.com (Karlo de Leon) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 08:01:00 +0000

Auto Publish was cool eh? You wouldn’t have even notice my being gone for 2 weeks. With my internet fasting break over, the world still facing climate change, and the Philippines still looking forward to the 2010 National Elections, it’s time to look at things in perspective and run by a few things that would help us all be better people, photographers, and travelers. So here’s a little run by of what happened in the last 2 weeks that I was off doing my own thing, and a few updates on what’s in store for everyone regarding this blog before we say goodbye to 2009.

1. Cleaning the house birthday bash - I'm grateful to all those who remembered my birthday. I had to reply to a gazillion people who greeted me. I stayed at home the whole day mostly, cleaned the house, watched TV, and thanked God for another year.

2. Photoworks: The Travel Photographer cancelled for 2009 - Unfortunately, we have to say goodbye to The Photoworks Studio in Ortigas, which meant we won't be able to run any Photoworks classes for 2009. I have a couple of new photography workshops up my sleeve for 2010 so wait for that. Let's see what happens.

3. Music Video shoot live recording - I just finished shooting for my first cinematographic project and I'm excited about this one. God is good, definitely. I'm looking at making documentaries and films in the near future too.

4. Travel shoot at Camarines Sur - I just came back from a 4 day project shoot in Bicol. We had to cover CamSur in a week. I had to go home while the gang had to stay for a day or two more since we had a bit of backlog due to schedule challenges. I could have stayed if I didn't have my Friday teaching class. I'll tell you a bit about CamSur in one of my next posts but I can't really post photos until it's published.

5. Auto-Publish Posts - Posting 4 entries to this blog without me around was amazing. I had to think about what content to write and how to manage the timing of each. I think I was able to meet all my promises and reply to some comments.

6. Eastern Samar again - I'm scheduled to fly back to Can-Avid to promote the Playa de Catalina surfing resort in Eastern Samar. Anyone can join me during this trip as this is a Surfing Invitational. The competition is great for beginner to advanced surfers.

7. A new blog look - I know, I know. I've been saying I'll be making changes to the blog design but since I'm no developer, I can't seem to get things running. Aside from the fact that I'm a little fickle minded when it comes to my own stuff, I'm having a bit of trouble getting the right people to get a new design working. I'm praying though that things will be different by the turn of the year.

8. Polaroid Pogo review - My next post is about the Polaroid Pogo. I’m certain this time. I almost have the post done.

9. December Calendar - I'm on the verge of looking for a good photo to use for the TLS December Desktop Wallpaper Calendar. I hoped you liked the November one. If not, you can check my previous post and get it there.

I think that's enough for now. I'll probably have some items in between as time goes by. Things are busy. Busy is good.

November Wallpaper

noreply@blogger.com (Karlo de Leon) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:00:00 +0000

I did promise to post the November 2009 Desktop Wallpaper when I get back so this is my little surprise for everyone. I am still on auto-publish mode so I had this ready before I started my internet break early last week. Click on the image for the 1280x835 version.

Get your large wallpaper here (2560x1600).

Just like the October Wallpaper, which you can check out here, the photo was taken in Eastern Samar about a month ago. I couldn't post any photos I took on assignment from this month since those are for publishing purposes and they're all food photos. I wouldn't want you guys to feel hungry every time you open your desktop.

This wallpaper is a panoramic version of a seascape shot taken 15 minutes after sundown. It feels better to post this version rather than a regular DSLR 3:2 aspect ratio frame size. If you don't know what I'm talking about, dont worry, it's fine. I'll have another post about aspect ratios sometime when I get back. Anyway, I hope you like the wallpaper, don't stare at it too much as it may cause eye strain (kidding)!

6 Ways of Becoming a Responsible Traveler

noreply@blogger.com (Karlo de Leon) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:00:00 +0000

If you didn't know yet, I am an advocate of "Responsible Travel". As a supporter, we help the environment and society by helping travelers become aware of the need to respect culture and destinations, and we help cultures and destinations grow and improve locally and internally.

Here are 6 ways on how you can travel responsibly. I got these items from a note by Travel Tales. They're happy to spread this information around.

1. Research on the place you are visiting. Know something about their culture, language, history, and geography of the province or country. When you get there, try to get to know the people.

2. Know about the cost of your trip. Think about where exactly your money is going. Will the locals benefit from your stay? Will it sustain jobs or support small businesses in the community? Instead of packing everything in your backpack or suitcase, you may want to leave some so you can pack lightly and at the same time, purchase some of your toiletries or snack food in the local stores.

3. Buy local and buy fair trade. Explore what the locals can offer specially those made in their own backyards, from food to souvenirs, and staying in accommodations like homestays or inns. This way you are supporting them economically and empowering them as producers.

4. Haggle responsibly. Take in consideration the quality of what you are buying and the process of production of these products. Keep in mind that when you haggle, you are also haggling the value of someone’s work or passion.

5. Open yourself to culture and its differences. Learn about the customs and beliefs of the local people and expect that they are different than your own. Be prepared to adapt the way you dress, talk, and behave.

6. Think about your footprint. Consider the kind of ecological mark you are making on the land. Think about your waste, take biodegradable products, bring a water bottle, and conserve resources as much as possible.

There you have it. So the next time you travel. Remember these 6 items, have fun travelling, and be a responsible traveler.

Travel Photography Workshop this November

noreply@blogger.com (Karlo de Leon) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:00:00 +0000

Here's great news people. Photoworks: The Travel Photographer Workshop is now opening its doors to the world. This is the 8th class since its conception in 2007. All 7 workshops prior to this one was exclusively for Photoworks graduates only. Since we were getting requests from non-Photoworks graduates, we have agreed to test it out and open it to everyone who have basic photography knowledge.

Photoworks: The Travel Photographer will be on November 11, 15, and 18. Check out the Photoworks Academy website for the time schedule and for more info.

This may well be the last public photography workshop I will be conducting for the year so if you have the chance, grab this opportunity to sign up.

In other news, I have been wanting to launch another advanced photography workshop that focuses on the creative side of general photography. I still have to fix the logistics for this workshop. I'm really excited with this one as this is already one year in the making. I'll keep you guys posted. For now, get your basic class over with and attend the travel class.

Its a Treat. My 8 Photography Pointers

noreply@blogger.com (Karlo de Leon) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0000

People would ask where I learned photography. I think the better question is how I learned photography and why I chose that path of learning.

I did not attend any photography classes or workshops prior to learning the basics of photography. I cannot claim to be self-taught either because there were people who taught me a bit of this and a bit of that. But whether or not you took classes, each one of us will have our own journey of experiencing and learning this two-dimensional craft.

Only because today is a special day for me and I'm a year older than I was a year ago, I'll give everyone a special treat. It's usually the other way around, but in the spirit of true giving, which I highly promote, I'll let you in 8 of my well kept pointers on how I improved on my photography specially during my first year of the craft.

1. I bought a camera that's right for me. I remember I saved up and bought my first SLR instead of a prosumer camera since I found that people who were really serious about photography gave up their point and shoots, basic and prosumer alike, to the more serious looking SLRs. Assess what you need a camera for and what photography you plan to do and save up for exactly that. There's no such thing as buying a beginner camera now and buying a more advanced version later. I find it a waste of money to upgrade later.

2. I read up on common photography terms. Aperture, ISO, Depth of Field, Exposure, Bracketing, Shutter Speed, White Balance, Exposure Compensation. These are some of the photography terms I initially learned before checking my manual.

Give yourself a weekend with your camera. Get to know what this button does and what that does.

3. I read my camera's manual. A lot of what you can learn in a photography class, you can do by reading your manual and trying out each function. Reading the manual also allows you to find out the common camera do's and dont's, including what makes your camera sick and suddenly lose its breath. If you don't like reading manuals, there are dozens of resources on the internet that can help you understand your camera better

4. I had a shooting vacation. Spend some quality time with your camera by trying out the functions. Its better spent on a weekend of just shooting and comparing photos based on different camera functions. Figure out what your camera can or cannot do. I remember going up to Baguio and Sagada and became a shutter monster, taking photos like there is no tomorrow.

5. Someone taught me photography on a long term basis. Don't expect to be better at photography by just attending a weekend class. Photography is a craft, meaning, it takes experience and time to hone your skills. A mentor or two over a period of time, probably 6 months or more will help you improve.

6. I joined a camera club. One of the best things that I did was joining a camera club. I learned from pros and enthusiasts alike who were members of that club. When you're part of a community of photographers, somehow, the craft rubs on you.

7. I did not buy additional gear aside from the basics. The things that will make you better are not for sale. One mediocre approach in photography is buying better gear to solve photography problems. Stick with your basic gear. Use one lens for a span of one year. I currently use only 2 lenses and it works well with anything I need in my photography. Don't buy too much gear when you're just starting with the craft. You will most probably not be able to use all of those effectively when you do. When you've learned all the things you need to learn, then thats the time to carefully assess what to buy. In the end, like most photographers I know, you will only keep the basics plus a couple of extras.

8. I took photos of what I love. I started out just shooting seascapes, travel, and architecture. I didn't like shooting people because I am a shy person. Now that I'm a bit better at what I do, and with this job I have, I shoot more people and still take photos of seascapes, travel, and architecture. You don't have to force yourself to shoot whatever subject people tell you to shoot. Shoot what you love, it will be a good first step.

There you have it, my 8 pointers. You can choose to use a few or all and integrate it on your path to better photography. Just remember, whichever path you take, whether its traditional learning, intensive training, or the fun theory approach, it takes a little bit of time and energy to achieve the level of experience that you desire. Something big starts with something small, and if you choose to take the magic pill that would instantaneously turn you into a photography guru, then know that the side effects will hunt you down later.

By the way, if you're planning to give me a gift for my special day, you guys can pool in the birthday money and get me a Nikon D700, or convince Santa that I've been a good boy this year and he could give it to me as an advanced Christmas present. As an option, you can also donate something to your nearest charity and help those poor orphan kids out there. Whichever works fine. In any case, Thank You for being part of this blog, apart from the fact that its my birthday today, its also National Thank You Day according to Toblerone.

I'm Quitting Blogging

noreply@blogger.com (Karlo de Leon) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:00:00 +0000

Yes folks, Im quitting blogging. I'm quitting blogging temporarily.

If you follow my tweets or are a facebook friend of mine and have read some of my posts, you probably know that tomorrow, Monday, October 19, I will be going on internet fast until the end of the October 2009. I won't be leaving you guys hanging though since I have taken contingency plans and have prepared around 4 auto-publish posts which I have already configured so you won't even feel that I'm nowhere online. I don't want you guys to miss me that much. Last time I did that, people forgot about this blog. I'm telling you this now because I don't want anyone thinking that "Hey, I though he was on fast? how could he still post on his blog?" and those kinds of questions.

With that out of the way, let me tell you why I'll be doing this, just in case you're wondering. Here's why: For starters, these fasts give me more time to spend with God rather than be intimate with my Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, or this blog. This also allows me to work on the real things that happen beyond the web. Yes, there's life in the real world people. Also, I really need to do some serious marketing, career and business planning so I will have time to write down stuff here for you guys to check out. And last, I'm considering this as my birthday break and an excuse not to receive requests to eat, drink, and be merry which as people may know, is not my cup of tea, except for the eating part.

When I get back, I promise to do the following:

1. Update you guys with a Polaroid Pogo Review

2. Tell you what I did when I was gone, including some cool photography stuff

3. Cue you in some things I've been working on to make this world a better place, and

4. Post a Desktop Wallpaper Calendar for November.

5. Reply to any comments posted here and reciprocate the love.. if there are any (praying & hoping someone would comment! ha!)

Enjoy the rest of October everyone, I know I am. My next scheduled auto-post is in 2 days I think.

Gear Trivia: Sunblock Can Kill Your Camera

noreply@blogger.com (Karlo de Leon) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:00:00 +0000

Did you know that Sunblock is bad for your camera’s health? I know about moist, sand, and dust, but sunblock? Who knew that it can cause your camera to malfunction, and worse, reach its end of life. I didn’t know though that Sunscreen was one of them. Check out this article from Digital Photography School for notorious digital camera predators that will eat your gear alive.

From time to time, Watch out for the Gear Trivia segment of Travel, Learn, Shoot! I'm working on other segments that will whet your artistic or techie appetite.

In the Quest for More than Just a Photograph

noreply@blogger.com (Karlo de Leon) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 06:23:00 +0000

If you can pick up your camera every single day and photography only one thing in this world what would it be? What drives us to find images? What is it that drives people to do what they love?

For those who know me. I love telling stories. My face just brightens up whenever I tell a story. Its embedded deep within my circuitry. Photography is simply an output to which I can use my storytelling. I wish to inspire people. But how do you inspire people? How do we use our abilities to help this seemingly helpless society?

Im in a quest to find my niche. I am a child trying to figure out this puzzle of a world. All I know is that there is only one Being who holds my future and my destiny and to Him I am grateful. To what purpose I am created for I will duly submit.

Have you asked yourself that question? What drives you do you what you do?

Photo Project: The Life Project

noreply@blogger.com (Karlo de Leon) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:14:00 +0000

One of the best ways to improve your photography is to do photo projects from time to time. Photo projects help photographers get better by giving their skills a piece of challenge and through these exercises they get to improve on their craft. A lot of us know about photo projects, but what a lot of enthusiasts dont know is what we call "Life Projects".

A Life Project is a project that is personally designed by you and for you which will start today and , whichever comes first. It is a project that you will decide to start doing and it will take years before you finish it.

Ok, so why should you make your own life project if it takes so long to finish? This project serves several purposes. The first and obvious reason is, like any other photo project, it challenges you to take your photography to a different level. It helps to improve your skill. The second reason is that, it creates a legacy. It may be something that you may share with your grandchildren. And last, it will straighten out ones commitment to the craft. If you have commitment issues and you want to work on it. Start with this one.

Now that we have the why, lets have the how.

There is no sure fire way to create an effective life project.
Here are some tips you can use to create your life project.

1. Decide on a deadline. Life projects are either open ended or close ended. Open ended deadlines are when you decide to quit your photography, is not strong enough to do so anymore, or when God takes your breath away. Normally, these are your only options for open ended deadlines. Close ended deadlines are set long enough that one would say that this project was the project you worked on for most of your life. For some it can be 10 years, 15 years, 20 years, or more.

2. Choose your subject wisely. Choosing your subject is key. You want to shoot and will have fun doing so. If you like cars, then choose to shoot cars. If you like portraits, then choose to shoot portraits. Remember you will take photos at least once a year, so make sure you will enjoy what you plan to shoot. It should be personal choice and has a strong connection with you.

3. Set Dates. Treat your Life Project like a loyal yearly client, wherein every year, you work on this project. Its not your usual, check your old photos and see what you can use for your project kind of thing. For some it can be a certain month, a season, or even a specific day of the year. Allow yourself to be flexible around this but make sure you are able to do it.

4. Define your output. There should be a clear objective and a definite end result. It should be something that is doable within the next decade or so, and will not be too stressful to do either.

Here are some examples of life projects based on different genres and subjects:

1. A portrait of a person every year from when he is 5 years old until he reaches 40
2. Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall for a specific landscape frame for 15 years
3. A family portrait of a specific family taken every year. Expect additions and losses to the family.
4. Fashion photography using the same clothing or accessory subject but different models and places
5. A photo story. Each year will be a continuation to the story

Alright. Think of your own and let me know what you plan on working on. I have yet to make my own life project, but I expect to start one this year.

To my friends and family in Canada - Happy Thanksgiving to you out there!

5 Ways Not to Lose Your Wallet When Traveling

noreply@blogger.com (Karlo de Leon) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 17:20:00 +0000

I lost my wallet the other day. Five things kept on tingling in my head though.

1) My money could have been used for something useful.
2) All my bank cards, licenses, and identification are all there an I have to go through the hassle of calling each provider to have the lost ones cancelled and renewed plus the unnecessary fees for doing so.
3) Whoever got it has no heart at all, and
4) There were a lot of people who recently lost their homes and their important documents, all are left with nothing but the will to move on. I didn't lose shelter, or food, and most of my legal documents are still intact.
5) I would have panicked big time if I lost my passport. Good thing it doesn't fit my wallet. So next time, I have to be responsible with my things.

The lesson here is simple. Things like these happen. Learn from it. Move on.

Its never too safe to be too safe nowadays, so based on a backtrack, here are the best ways not to lose your wallet when traveling.

1. Follow your gutfeel. I actually lost my wallet because some friends were going to have dinner somewhere and decided to go with them even if my gutfeel said not to. They didn't force me to go so its my fault I went.

2. Be aware of what you're carrying at all times. You should know where your valuables are at all times. I actually forgot that I carried a wallet and thought I only had my "anti-theft" phone which is too old and low-tech to even be stolen.

3. Your wallet should be attached to yourself - I used to carry a wallet with a chain when I was in college only because it was a fad during those times. I should reconsider getting myself one of those wallets with anti-theft chains. Its probably safe (but ridiculous) to get chains for anything important like cellphones and ipods even. For anti-theft chain wallets, checkout brands like Carrefour, PacSafe, Civilian, Victorinox, or Travelon. I have yet to get my own so I cannot recommend any for now. Suggestions are most welcome.

4. Keep your wallet zipped inside your bag - If youre not the fancy chain wallet type, especially if youre a lady, then make sure to keep your wallet not just inside your bag but on a zip-protected pocket inside your bag. This ensures that your wallet is really in your bag and not peeking over and enticing snatchers to say hello. Its also good to carry your ids, cards and everything on a separate secure and organized holder in another zipped pocket inside your bag and just keep things that you wont likely need to worry about too much in your wallet when lost.

5. Dont bring a wallet. - Of course the best way not to lose your wallet is not to have one at all. Sounds pretty smart-alec but true.

So there you go. I hope we never lose a single wallet to anyone with selfish hearts.

I have to apologize that I couldn't include links to this post. I have been waiting for someone to tell me that there was another glitch somewhere in Indonesia where another cable system has been going loco and affecting every bit of our internet connection. Unfortunately, I have yet to discover the cause of such slowness in the world wide web lately.

Its not getting better but I have to post something at least. Here's my heroic attempt to do so. I hope it works.

Shooting against Climate Change

noreply@blogger.com (Karlo de Leon) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:13:00 +0000

Climate change has been a big issue lately here in our country since calamity struck late last month. The reality is that its real and its effects can't be denied. Yesterday, I had a chance to be part of a historical event. I won't say anything else yet since I don't want to spoil anything. All I can say it that its a collaboration of artists and social entrepreneurs who would like to change the world for the better.

Thanks to Illac Diaz for this opportunity for me to help out as an artist and photographer. Its great to be involved.

I was talking with a few enthusiasts I was shooting with and told them how lucky they were being hobbyists versus someone like me who earn from photography. I had the idea before that since I was passionate about art and photography that I should pursue it as a career. I'm not sure if people think the way I think but now that I'm doing what I said I'd do, I realize that not earning from your craft has its perks. Don't get me wrong, being a pro is a cool thing, but for once, I'm enjoying not getting paid for a project. Since this is a for a serious cause and the other artists are all doing this for the love of our country and humanity, then I'm glad to do something like this from time to time.

I'll probably blog about the perks of being hobbyists next time. I still owe you guys a polaroid pogo review.

Photo above shows Karl Roy during our portrait shoot with him yesterday. He is one of those contributing to help fight against the effects of Climate Change.

30 Days of Transitioning from Work Slave to Part-Time Photographer

noreply@blogger.com (Karlo de Leon) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 18:06:00 +0000

Ive been thinking and rethinking about how I've been running my freelance business lately and I feel its getting fatter like me. This means I have to work those business muscles and get ready to exercise big time. If I want something different to happen then I have to do something different too. So I've been searching the net for some nice references to boost my knowledge when it comes to freelancing and how to get more business. I found this interesting resource on becoming a freelancer (from having a regular office job). Since I consider myself a newbie again in the freelancing world, after bumming around for almost a year, and starting from scratch once more, I'll probably try this approach. Afterwards, we'll see what happens. Its a little experiment, and although it will cost me a few bills, it may be well worth a try just to give myself a heave-ho and have a different perspective of things. So check the 30-day regimen here at Skelliewag.

And while you're at it, have you ever wondered what would happen when a travel photographer tries out fashion photography?
Two things can happen - it can either be a disaster, or it can be something as jaw-dropping and cool as this video. Make sure you give it a chance and finish it.

I have always used analogies to further explain photography and I will continue to do so because it is a great source of learning. You will get better with your photography by finding a lesson in the video you've just seen and applying it to your craft. And like a cd player on loop, yes, you've heard this from me before.

My uncle just arrived last night from Dubai ad he's probably jet-lagged right now. He cooks so well he could pass as a five-star restaurant chef even if his real work involves working for the US government. I'm thinking of waking really early at 4am the next few days for about a week or two just to watch him cook since that's what he does so early in the morning. Although I will be up for the food, I'll be there mainly to beg him for some lessons. There may be a thing or two that I could learn about cooking that can be applied in photography. I may even learn something about running a great business while I'm at it. Ironically, I graduated with a business degree which looks good on my resume but not in real life. Steve Jobs and Micheal Dell should have been my role models when I was younger. Too bad the names were total fiction to me back then.

To top this all off, visit www.capturethelightproject.com and support the victims of Typhoon Ondoy thorough a series of activities. Don't forget to register. My next post will probably be a polaroid pogo printer review. I'm hoping to get it this week. For now, check out the site.

Capture the Light

noreply@blogger.com (Karlo de Leon) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:30:00 +0000

Its October, yes it is! Wonderful things happen this October. First, someone special was born this month 29 years ago. Second, my Polaroid Pogo Printer is arriving this weekend. Third, Photoworks Academy have prepared something really nice for photographers of all sorts and it has something to do with the recent calamity that happened here in the Philippines.

So here it is:

Update: For more information about the result of this advocacy, go to the Capture the Light website.

If you haven't downloaded the TLS October Desktop Wallpaper Calendar, then you can do so here. Yes, its for free!

Get your FREE stuff here?!

noreply@blogger.com (Karlo de Leon) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:26:00 +0000

Who doesn't like free stuff?! Starting this month of October, you can download a monthly desktop wallpaper calendar in this blog for free! I got this idea from some photographers I respect and I think its a great idea. There will be 2 versions. Get one perfect for Macbooks here (2560x1600) and a smaller one for more squarish LCD's (1280x835) by clicking on the image below.

This month's Travel, Learn, Shoot! (TLS) calendar was taken during my recent trips to Eastern Samar while waiting for our boat ride going to Pearl Island in Guiuan. Straight-up shot, no filters, and adjusted for contrast. I blurred the top and bottom edges a bit to displace focus on distracting elements.

I will be posting the next one by the end of October for the November calendar. So have fun downloading and I hope you like it.

Challenge your Creativity

noreply@blogger.com (Karlo de Leon) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:13:00 +0000

I've been steady on Facebook for most of the day trying to relay information that may help to push for the search, rescue, and relief operations triggered by Tropical Typhoon Ondoy (Int'l name, Kestana). In the process of which you get several other posts that maybe interesting to some. I have a few that would be nice to check out and I would like to share it with everyone.

I would like to warn you that these items have nothing to do with photo gear, images, or the digital darkroom. In the process of learning photography though, it is important, IMHO, that you step back from photography and expand your creativity by learning other art forms or exploring and examining other types of skills. From there you get a learning lesson then try to apply it to your photography. Start today! So here we go:

1. Kseniya Simonova won Ukraine's Got Talent this year with a stunningly unique concept of using sand to tell stories. All of her performances involved stories of World War II and she shows a clear picture of culture in each making it into tear jerking experiences for the Ukraine audience. Check out one of her creative feats with this video.

The lesson I picked up here is that you can use any type of medium to express your creativity. Also, its the stories that make the difference, not how great your composition is or your subject looks like.

2. Ive heard different types of beat-boxes but this one, quite frankly, is exeptionally unique. Its a whole different genre by itself. I'm not even sure if you can call it beat-boxing. Presenting The Voca People:

This one was kinda fun to watch and even if the songs were all familiar to me because they were all remade, they did it in such a way that it was interestingly one-of-a-kind. Subjects in photography can be like this - the same subject over and over, but your creativity can and should make it look different.

Alright, that's it! I've been reading a book lately by a travel photographer. This guy surprises me for sharing almost the same vision, theory, and philosophical mindset when it comes to photography. I'm not yet done reading so just wait for my book review about it. I also have several of his e-books and I'm glad to know that in some way I'm on the right track. His focus on the why of photography, which I too am always trying my very best to discover, makes this book a good read. I'm deliberately not mentioning the book nor the photographer as not to preempt the review.

Lastly, it's D-day plus 3 now since the typhoon hit the Philippines hard with heavy rainfall and leaving behind a waterworld of a city. The Filipino people are working hand in hand to help their fellowmen. We are all going through this together. We would like to thank everyone outside of the country, fellow Filipinos and foreigners who have extended their help in any way. We pray that things go well in the next few days.

Typhoons and Mobile Phones

noreply@blogger.com (Karlo de Leon) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 02:12:00 +0000

If this was a Life Photography blog then by now I would have posted photos of the wrath of nature. But to keep the integrity of the site, I would have to limit the content to simply expressing how sorry I am for what had happened to Manila and the other provinces of this beloved nation. In less than 24 hours, the worst typhoon to ever hit the capital caught our attention by means of continuous heavy rains, flash floods, and the debris that go with it. To everyone, count your blessings. I have seen death and destruction early today. I can simply stand and thank God for this life of mine. So again, count your blessings, folks! As the saying goes, "I complained about walking, until I saw someone who didn't have legs" (or something like that).

On a lighter note, my cellphone signal is awful. The stingy side of me is forcing to keep my old phone while the more adventurous yet sometimes irresponsible side wants be to do otherwise. Who do I listen to? Perhaps both. With that, what phone do I get. Impractically at this point, I would love to get an iPhone 3Gs, since it would be great for my travel ordeals. It serves as a backup camera for relatively quick personal shooting. I love the autofocus feature! Leo Castillo, showed me a GPS application that uses the 3Gs funciton of the phone. Photo tagging had never been this fun.

Chase Jarvis recently posted on his blog a new iPhone app called The Best Camera that he created specially for taking photos. He says the best camera is the one that's with you and I could never agree more. Those who have it installed say that the app is great, but the advertising during sharing can be irritating. I cannot recommend this app for now, so check it out and lemme know. And when I do get an iPhone, I'll decide from there.

As some of you may know, I am not a fan of buying too much gear, specially one that I don't really need. I only have 2 lenses as of now and that is by choice the best thing I've done in years. I'll be adding another glass to my bag of goodies very soon. Im still undecided which one exactly but it will surely be a prime portrait lens.

Im off to church. Watch this video about the Best Camera while im gone.

Paradigms, Post Processing, and Seaweeds

noreply@blogger.com (Karlo de Leon) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:40:00 +0000

For years, I have been an avid fan and a strong believer of capturing and perfecting an image in-camera and if you'd ever need to edit your work through Lightroom, Photoshop, or Aperture, one should limit their post work to simple universal editing. Apparently, I am a true blue amateur when it comes to post work as I am used to submitting my work raw and almost without treatment to publishers. In my recent comeback as a photographer though, after almost a year of not picking up my camera and keeping it prisoner somewhere in my room due to a major artists block and severe visual soul searching, I experienced a major paradigm shift in my photography. Let me explain.

The camera imitates what the eyes see. The problem is that what the eyes see, the camera cannot imitate all the time. In fact, at most times, your camera cannot capture what your eyes can capture, specially tonal range and color. The camera is simply too limited. So don't believe anyone who says "the camera doesn't lie", because it does. Therefore, to turn a photo I have taken into what I have really seen, post processing comes into play, and apparently, universal editing can be so restrictive. With this new mindset, I am now playing around with a new post processing technique that will allow me to take a photo and turn it into something Ive seen without overdoing it so that viewers will see the beauty of the elements of the photo instead of the post processing technique.

Here's a little sample of an unprocessed image:

Here is the image after post. Resembles more of what I really saw

As you can see, I didn't use some fancy technique to make this image work better. I simply wanted to see the texture of the water and the seaweed man's features to pop out, adjusted the color temperature to match that of the environment as I saw it, and tweaked some other details on the seaweeds and the boat to make it less bland. Of course, this isn't really amazing post process work but just a quick sample.

The image above was taken at sea on the way to Pearl Island in Guiuan, Eastern Samar. Our boat got a chance to pass by this seeweed guy and his friend who was diving for some harvest. We had a chance to buy a handful of these freshly picked "arosep" seaweeds, which was an interesting additional ingredient to a familar dish with a twist - kilawin (raw fish naturally cooked in vinegar and spices) and kamote (sweet potato). It's a must try.

Going Strobist

noreply@blogger.com (Karlo de Leon) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 06:29:00 +0000

Call me a late bloomer, but I'm beginning to tinker with the idea of carrying a speedlite again when im out creating visual stories. Its a tug-o-war though, as some of you may know how I've radically fallen in love with ambient light that thinking of using controlled lighting was a joke, specially when shooting outdoors.

I had an SB-800 years ago which I happily sold thinking that it would shed a few extra pounds off my carrying gear. I'm glad I did. I barely used it for anything other than shooting events, which I never do now. But since the strobist fever is racking up the temperature and allowing it to rise to the ranks, Im thinking of getting myself at least one strobe to carry around when I travel, making sure I have enough light whenever shooting food. I do get disappointed when I don't have the luxury of beautiful light whenever amazing subjects come into play. Then again, I'm used to it.

The good question now is what speedlight should I carry. I normally go affordable nowadays, but it shouldn't border unreliable. If there was one on camera flash Id definitely buy, it would be the SB400. With its size and weight, its definitely a traveler's strobe. I only wished it had manual controls but unfortunately doesn't. So I might either get a Vivitar 285HV, or a Lumopro LP120 which a lot of strobist online are suggesting versus the Vivitar. An SB400 will still find its way in my bag definitely someday soon. I'll keep you guys up to date on whats going in and out of my bag once in a while. I'm off to a meeting! Till then...

It Has Begun

noreply@blogger.com (Karlo de Leon) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 15:01:00 +0000

Life begins when you realize that you wake up in the morning and the world is waiting for you, that your purpose is not simply to breath, eat, go about your daily chores, work your butt off, make a living, and sleep after all that.

I am a photographer. I go on assignment to different places to discover and capture the different facets, stories, and cultures of this earth. But there is a deeper purpose that draws me to pick up my camera and inspires me to capture what I see. It something that involves a higher calling created by a Higher being, and seriously, its not about me.

This is my personal blog, and its all about stories, because thats what I do best. It is my quest to capture what touches the heart and moves the soul.

On a lighter note, I got word that my brand new Polaroid Pogo was purchased earlier for a whopping low price of USD44.99 or Php2100. What's cool is that it already comes with a carrying case and 40sheets of Zink paper, which is supposedly sold separately. I just hope the paper hasn't expired yet when it gets here.

I've also been managing my finances lately and trying my best to be responsible more than once in a while. Its hard when you get to read about great gear that you can add to your shelf but I have to prioritize what I really need, and what I don't need or whatever it is that can wait, should. So if you're wondering, yes the Polaroid Pogo has seriously become a necessity for my kind of work.

Alright, back to bed for me. My blog wasn't called the Sleepy Traveler back then for nothing!

Oh, and before I go. I decided to just keep one blog. It dawned on me that it was hard enough keeping one, more so two! ha! Goodnight folks!