How to crash a wedding (and take pictures, too)

Yesterday I went to Antipolo church with the whole family and we chanced upon a wedding that was just about to start. We sort of crashed that wedding and I took a couple of shots of the bride during the march.

Here comes the bride. Whose name I didn’t know.

Anyway, I found a spot among the spectators and snapped away with my awesome Canon AE-1 film SLR camera. Of course I got stares from other photographers who were armed with DSLRs and onlookers who were shooting with their hi-tech digital point-and-shoot cameras, but what the heck. I think my Martin did the job just fine.

I want to be a wedding photographer. I like the excitement that comes with capturing interesting scenes during the wedding, those that don’t necessarily involve the bride and the groom, and the challenge of being discreet to make sure you don’t become a distraction at the ceremony as you do your job. This was my first attempt to shoot at a wedding and I didn’t even know the couple. I wanted to shoot some more, but I didn’t think I could be discreet, especially with the sound that my analog camera makes. It may be music to me ears, but it could also be annoying to others.

So, is it too late to switch careers?

Bag clutter: January 2012 edition

It’s been a while since I last made a what’s-in-my-bag post, so here’s one. Yeah, I know. Who cares about the clutter in my bag, right? Well, this is MY blog so I’m free to post whatever. And there’s always the x button.

Superheadz Ultra Wide & Slim, Holga 135BC, Solid Gold film, Sony Walkman mp3 player, Max Factor eyeliner, Carmex lipbalm, MAC lipstick in Pink Nouveau, The Face Shop eyelash curler, Cover Girl pressed powder, Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser, Tictac mints, Etude House BB cream, Carrera sunglasses, Goody hairbrush, Blackberry mobile phone.

What’s in YOUR bag?

Double X

No, this is not a post about (sounds like corn), you perve. I’m here to talk about double exposure in lomography. I remember when I was a kid and we only had film cameras, my folks would get frustrated over pictures that have been ruined because the film was exposed twice. Back then it was always caused by a glitch in the cam and never intentional. Those ruined photos ended up in the trash bin for they were always considered rejects. That was in the early 90s.

Fast forward to the 00s, I discovered lomography and it changed the way I see double exposed films.

My first lomo camera was a Holga 120N, a medium format 120 film camera, and it helped me produce these “artistic” shots. I just can’t remember whether I purposely exposed the film twice in these photos or if I just forgot to advance the film before taking another shot. Either way, I loved the images that I produced and I was far from frustrated when I first saw them. You see, that’s what’s great about double exposure. It gives you more freedom in creating great images and the license to goof once in a while without really ruining your composition.

I already sold the Holga 120N, but I have another Holga camera capable of double exposure, the Holga 135BC. Since it has a different orientation, I sometimes forget that I can do double exposure with it, which is kind of ironic. Instead of forgetting to advance the film, I fail to remember that I can experiment by NOT advancing it before taking another shot. But I’ll get the hang of it and soon I’ll be goofing, er, creating double exposed “works of art” again.

Redscale Lomography

Here’s another shot of Makati City buildings in redscale. I took this with a Vivitar PN2011 camera and Lomography Redscale XR 50-200 film.

I really think redscale films work best with lomo cameras. Right now my Holga 135BC is loaded with another Lomography Redscale film and I can’t wait to see my shots. Oh, the wonderful vignettes!

I “DO”

…and scan my own negatives now. In film photography, DO stands for “develop only.” That’s what I do now since I already have my own negative scanner. I used to have my rolls processed at Digiprint because it was the most convenient thing to do. I just drop off the films at the nearest Digiprint outlet and wait for the CD that contains the scanned images to be delivered to my office or at home. The waiting part is probably the most excruciating because naturally I’d like to see my shots right away and five days is just tooooo loooong. Plus, having your rolls scanned and processed can be a bit pricey.

Anyway, gone are the days when I have to wait that long before finding out how my shots turned out. With my own scanner, the only waiting I have to do is for the film to be developed, which takes only about less than 30 minutes. DO is also a lot cheaper than the film-to-CD service of Digiprint at only P70 per roll.

Now the fun part: scanning the negatives. It may seem like a lot of work, but that’s what makes it exciting. By scanning my own negs I feel like I’m more involved in my photography. I get to see the results of my work first and process the images that I captured according to my own preference. There is a sense of fulfillment after all the hard work, which isn’t really that hard.

Here are samples of images that I processed:

I really enjoy scanning negatives and processing images. It has taken my film photography experience to a whole new level.

Redscale Photography

Did you know that when you expose the wrong side of the film it will produce breathtaking photos that look like they’ve been digitally altered?

Now you do. All photos taken using a Canon AE-1 SLR camera and Lomography Redscale XR 50-200 film.

Analog love ♥

So I’m into shooting film again and this time I’m not limiting myself to just shooting from the hip. From two plastic cameras I now have five and I also got myself a handsome Canon AE-1 film SLR, which I named Martin.

Here are some of the photos that I took using Martin and Lucky Super 200 film:

Makati Skyline

Behind the camera

This hobby is addicting. Now instead of browsing the net to look for the latest beauty products I find myself lurking online stores that sell analog cameras and films. Most of the time I have to remind myself that my budget has a limit and I have bills to pay and other more important stuff to buy.

I may be just a newbie in photography, but I am very much willing to learn and eager to experiment with different films and techniques. Of course, this is not to say that I will forget about lomography all together. I shall continue making happy accidents happen.

RED my lips

After watching Captain America, I once again found myself in search for the perfect matte red lipstick. As in Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) Red. So fierce!

Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter

Last Saturday I went to the mall to watch an indie film with a friend and continued my quest for THE red lipstick after the movie. The OC in me wanted the exact same shade as Peggy’s, so I asked the saleslady if she’s seen Captain America and could point me to the right shade of red lipstick. Revlon had the one I was looking for.

Revlon matte lipstick in Really Red

I was choosing between this and a darker shade of red that was suggested by the saleslady. I obviously went for this one, which has a hint of orange hue, but knowing me I’d probably get the other one too when I have extra cash. By the way, I got this at P100.00 off. What a steal! I was clearly at the right place at the right time. Haha!

I’m definitely happy with this purchase. Although it’s matte, it glides on smoothly and is very pigmented, too, that you don’t have to retouch often. It can even last the whole night, unless you would be locking lips with someone. Of course, like any other shade of red, this lipstick is quite challenging to apply. But with practice, you’ll be able to perfect that Peggy Carter look.

The make up junkie in me

I am a bit of a cosmetic junkie. Just a bit because I don’t hoard make up like some girls do. Of course one reason is because I don’t have that much money to burn, but I am also practical and just don’t see the logic in buying all these products that only end up in the trash bin. Such a waste of hard-earned cash.

Anyway, I started wearing make up when I entered college some X years ago (not telling!). Most of the girls that belonged to my college wore make up. Back then I used an over-the-counter pressed powder, cheap eyeliner, and a Clinique lipstick that was given to my mom but which she didn’t use because it didn’t suit her complexion.

Now let me share with you some of the make up products that I currently use.

ELF All Over Cover Stick in Apricot Beige. This one is like a concealer / make up base and I like it because it blends easily. It can cover dark circles under the eyes, which have always been my biggest problem, and other blemishes. It smells good, too!

Cover Girl TRUblend pressed powder #2. This translucent light compact powder from Cover Girl gives you a smooth finish and takes care of excess oil. It won’t clog your pores so you don’t have to worry about pimple breakouts.

Nichido eye pencil in black brown. Probably the cheapest item in my make up kit now, I use this one for lining my upper lids. It glides on smoothly and gives precise definition to the eyes for that smokey-but-not-quite look.

Avon Extra Lasting mascara in brown black. I don’t usually put on mascara on a daily basis, but this one is just so comfortable to wear that I think I can use it to work every day. I was planning to buy mascara from Maybelline but I saw that this one, which is a new product, is selling for a really cheap introductory price, so decided to take it instead. And I’m glad I did.

ELF Natural Radiance Blusher in Glow. I am a big fan of those cheek and lip tints / stains, but I find them a bit messy to apply since you have to use your fingers. So I decided to switch to a powder blusher and my brand of choice is ELF. Turned out to be a good one. It’s not too pigmented so you won’t look like you have some sort of allergic reaction or anything when you have it on. I also have this in Coy.

I think that every girl should have three lipsticks in basic shades in their beauty arsenal. One in pink, one in red, and one in nude or any neutral shade. This way you are sure to have the right shade for every occasion.

MAC lipstick in Pink Nouveau. I’ve been wanting to get my, uh, lips? on this one and thanks to a friend in Singapore, I finally did! It’s in a cute shade of pink and has a satin finish. Tastes yummy, too!

Avon Ultra Moisture Rich lipstick in Apricot. This is the oldest tube in my make up kit. It’s so old that I think they have discontinued it. Sad. Anyway, I love how it glides on smoothly and the shade (nude) isn’t too loud, so I can practically use it everyday.

Ever Bilena matte lipstick in Love That Red. I use this lipstick on days when I don’t feel like wearing that much make up or when I am already running late for work. I just curl my lashes and apply a coat or two on my lips and I’m good to go. It can be quite tricky to apply, though.

Aside from cosmetics, I also have Strawberry Carmex moisturizing lip balm and Garnier Light brightening eye roll-on in my make up kit. Got to keep chapped lips and eye bags at bay.

 

I use an eyelash curler from The Face Shop and a make up brush from Nichido.

You don’t need expensive make up to look pretty. Yes, branded cosmetics can work wonders, but there are also make up products that can deliver the same results without causing you an arm and a leg. Remember, make up doesn’t change the way you look. It only enhances your appearance by highlighting your assets and camouflaging your flaws.

WordPress for Blackberry

I am posting this using my Blackberry Curve 8520. Of course I can only do this when I’m subscribed to the full BIS of my network, which, in my opinion, is quite expensive, or when I’m connected via WiFi. I usually just subscribe to the BB Social plan of my provider.

Anyway, I only wanted to try this one. I hope it works.