Vogue-d!

Dear Reader, this is not one of those event filled post like before. Unlike my September, October is quite slow for my pace, but with the recent happenings online, I'm humbled with delightful experience. This may be shallow but my online confidence magnified itself three folds.

I joined Photo Vogue of Vogue Italia online. It's a feature on their website where any user (photographers) can use it as an online portfolio. It's a nice place where you can get your works assessed and critiqued by Vogue's editorial staff. If you are good, you get to be approved as one of the staff's selected photos and have your photos saved permanently, but if you are great, you get to be the Picture-of-the-day and quite possibly be published in Vogue Italia itself. If you are neither, then your photo gets taken down and you wallow in the depths of your mistreated ego. 

I got to know this website through one of my favorite photographers, Chai Mungcal. The photographer in me  thought, "Hey, there's a place like this? Cool. Im'ma try it too." And so I signed up and was giddy to post my photos. I posted and I posted. I kept coming back for days. None of my photos were good enough to make it to the "approved" category. I said to myself, screw this. And I've forgotten my account.

Months passed and with the stillness of everything in my current lifestyle, I googled myself online (yes, I love myself too much). I was in the process of taking down some of sites because my digital footprints are so scattered and too revealing of my identity. I just had to take down some of them, if I can remember what password and username I used. 

Then I saw a familiar site that featured a photo of mine. I clicked it and it routed me to Vogue.it featuring a photo of Jade, a friend of mine. And you can just imagine my smile as if it's the Christmas morning or when Harry walk through that brick wall and his first site of Diagon Alley. I was so happy.

My early Christmas gift. Lol. To better view the photo, please click here.

Funny thing is, I never remember uploading this online, And never have I gotten any message from vogue that  I have an approved photo. The photo was published July 19 of this year. And I was like, seriously? I haven't even checked Vogue that long? 

Lol, I think Vogue likes hunchback people for some reason.

But the photo seems like a fluke, I mean anyone can put a fake Vogue watermark on my picture. And so I scour the archives of Vogue.it to find out that I've been really featured. And I was, I browsed through all the pages and the July 19 selections were on the 939th page. Yes, seriously. But what matters is, it is there. 

Then you know, my big *virtual* mouth kicked in and I just had to post it on Facebook. *BAD IDEA* I mean, I didn't post anything braggy. I just post that I was late for the news that I had a picture approved by Vogue. That's all it said. And then people started liking my post and they are congratulating me and giving me compliments and stuff. It was nice of course. But do I really deserve the attention? I mean, my photo is just 1 among the hundreds of photos they approve everyday, photos that are waaaay more glamorous and excellent than what I could do in my lifetime. Some photographers have like 10-20 photos approved. But still I've been featured alongside them. It is such an honor, but from my friends, I think I don't deserve the attention they are giving me.

Someone even posted a link about me and vogue to a community site and of course, you get more compliments as it is quite a "town's honor". So I just said my humblest thank you's and prevent my ego ballooning up with this recent achievement. 

Of course, after so much attention you have garnered from one photo, you just had to try submit another one and to my surprise. It got approved again. And I'm just seriously doing my victory dance inside my room (more of like a Baby Finn dance really). Now I've got 2 photos in my Vogue Portfolio. I'm feel so good. I went out for tea with my friend, D. And some of the people we know are still congratulating me. Is it really a great feat what I did? Maybe, Maybe not. What is important is that, someone "powerful" in the fashion industry liked my photo and that itself is awesome beyond words.

I personally love this photo very much. To my delight, it made it too. For better viewing click here.

Looksee the only warm looking photo in the bunch. Okay, Vogues choices are as random as they get.

It mattered to me now on how I take photos nowadays. It needs to be "emotive" Not basing my creativity on what Vogue thinks is beautiful. But I get what Vogue wants and I know that I like my photos to make an impact as those I see in Vogue. What I think Vogue selects to be published or approve is how a photographer interprets what "beauty" is all about. I observe that not all the photos my fellow photographers submit are haute couture or high fashion, sometimes it's just a well-lit alley or macro shot of a flower. I mean, Vogue selects Beauty in every sense of the word. And I think that's what Vogue highlights, the beauty around us.

Here's another one. Click here for better viewing.

Looksee, I'm so proud.

I think this is the most favorited photo I've ever had. Click here for better viewing.

Sorry, but I just love warm colors. :D

So far I got 4 photos in my Vogue Portfolio. All of them are quite my favorites. I still submit everyday. I want   a shot on that Pic-of-the-day. So I'll try harder. Ganbatte~! 

Ginoo at Binibining Pakil 2012 Photoshoot Outtakes

I was hesitant to post anything from this event because it may or may not have consequent damages on the result of the town's pageant. But this was a big highlight from my awesome September, I just had to give it a well valued place in my memory box.

This was a particular busy day for many as it is set for the Ginoo at Binibining Pakil 2012 photo shoot. It's a preparation for the annual pageant held every Grand Turumba Festival to promote tourism and to take pride from our local town festivities. Weeks before the pageant, the Arts Society of Pakil held a photo shoot for the candidates to be made into tarpaulins and a Facebook fan page 'like' poll.

It's my first time to do a collaboration with other ASOP photographers and I had an awesome time with them. Finally, I get to tell some photographer's joke. lol. Anyhoo, we divided the tasks to lighten our load and to also make the shoot more efficient. We set up on our respective places and have our corresponding art directors. But you know, my candid camera lens loves some behind the scenes action. And well, the people behind the camera also loooooove to have their picture taken as well. And therefore, here are the outtakes~! Tadaa~!

L and E having an awesome camera radar. They've spotted me~!

Crowd control~! There are too many people ogling on half naked candidates.

Werk it~! Werk it~! 

Candidates observing other candidates. I bet they are thinking:
"What the hell am I doing here?"

 Ohhhh Sexy laddehhh~!

This photo cannot be explained. 

Anyonghaseyo! I take photo? Yes?

Art directors/Coaches show them how it's done. FIERCE~!

ASOP at work~! "Sit, but do not sit, like medyo lang."

If you can't direct them, fold them like a mannequin.

Lookie, someone is a playback junkie~!

Fierce pose showdown~!

Ever wonder what makes a glamorous picture? This.

The behind the scenes people taking on the spotlight. 

Can you say blurrrrrrrredddd??? Some photographer I am.

Best caption to this photo wins a prize~!

The former title holders.

Seriously, glamorous photos requires hard work, self-reflectoring anyone?

It's hard to look hot and glamorous among 20 other half-naked people in a drained swimming pool, isn't it?

After some "body" time, we went to a quite wholesome photo shoot. Yes, unfortunately the candidates with their clothes on. (Darn it~!)  by the Town Council Hall. We set up there and work with the black and white theme with 4 photographers, one white semi-ironed fabric as background, one flood light, 2 flashes and more than 20 models. Somehow we got through each one of them and had tons of fun directing the models. (Unfortunately, I haven't had the time to edit them all due to the jam pack September, but I will upload them. Defo. Hang in there~!)

I'm ready for my close up~!

Seriously, there's a lot of effort going on. One is a human mannequin, another is a human stand, the other a human tripod.  

We get to play in between takes.
Here's E, still has the energy after being a human flash stand.

Chaos is spelled with A.S.O.P.

I got 2 captions in mind, either:
"Anyonghaseyo, we are Girl's Generation~!" or
"You are still running towards being America's Next Top Model Binibining Pakil 2012."

Now, I have the perfect caption for this one:
"Anyonghaseyo, We are SUPER JUNI-OR, Owayo~!"

Aside from the photo shoot, we double that day as a video shoot. You know a lot of walking on imaginary catwalks and stuff, feeling the wind in your face and strutting down with a fair amount of swag. lol. But you know the creative team, we are competitive people. While doing the real video to be presented on the pageant, we made ourselves a parody video of Call Me Maybe - a little out of date but we turn on our swagger. And so here are the end results~! Tadaa~!

Happy 72nd Birthday Grandma!

A Vista/Asinas Family Reunion never really has a dull moment - it is other wordly chaotic. And for a double celebration last October 3, you can be sure that it is twice the pandemonium. Whoever holds the camera, in this case Vo, Vi, D or Me, you can be sure that we definitely caught some awesome moments during Uncle Bernard's "Blessings" Exhibit and Grandma's 72nd Birthday. Shall we have fiesta caption marathon, dear reader?

Notice: Image-heavy entry. (Because such moments should be well documented)

This is an exhibit! Not Trick Art Museum.

Human models not included.

This is called family effort.

Endangered love birds.

It pays to be the only girl in this group of siblings.

Rare Items are also showcased in the exhibit.

Lolo and Lola Brownie~!  aka Lola Tita and Lolo Mauro~!

My brother from another mother.

Please focus on the blur object on the left side.
He tried to do a photobomb but slipped. HA~! KARMA!

Photographer of the day~! 

Unlike father, unlike son.

Since we are in neutral Naermyth territory, we decided to pose ala Dorian/Athena style around Maki's grounds.

"Ano kaya ang ulam mamaya?"

That 2 floor-length glass window is very inviting. We just had to play with it somehow.

Supportive daughter came in the middle of his father's speech. 

Photobombing runs in the family.

Someone loves the Grand baby piano too much~!

Another evidence of our photobombing genetics.

Of course, I did a version of my own trick art museum.

Decided to celebrate Grandma's birthday right outside the exhibit hall. 

Jeex, get a room~!

Family of the bride.

Please turn your attention to the bully in yellow polo shirt. Ah yes, the ol Big Brother bullying.

Grandma and her wonderful grandchildren, minus 3 left in Manila.

Three girl's generation of Vista.

In usual Vista traditions, you get icing on your face for your birthday.
You say "Happy Birthday~!" and run for your life.

Is that 72? I see forever 40. 

Oppa Jumpshot Gangnam Style~!

Stupidity. Because we can.

Maria Makiling's nickname. Duh~!

We got to ISDAAN for dinner. (A quite lofty family restaurant that has some singing waiters, performers, giant statues borrowed from different ethnicities and floating huts over Koi ponds) Someone found a new friend~!

This is the TACSIYAPO Room wherein you buy porcelain Chinawares and throw them forcefully at the wall while screaming at your lungs content TACSIYAPO in place other brutal, degrading, inappropriate words. The walls are painted with specific annoying people that grazed your life somehow. I'm pointing at "Taksil" (for the sake of my international dear readers) aka HEARTBREAKER, TRAITOR, Someone who broke your trust and heart. Yeah, I'm bitter so what~! Better break a porcelain mug than go through all composing, singing and being named as the Mother of all bitterness. HA~! 

The place is best seen at night. But not after the rain. It is quite slippery due to glossy bamboos made into make-shift bridges. But its romance and wonder is at night. The lighting is quite picturesque.

Look Ma! We are in Thailand~!

Change photographer. :D

Vo and Ch for couple pictures by our ever stoic Buddha.

VERSUS Me and D in a couple shot still with the same Buddha.

ASDFGHSDFGHJ~! This is just too cute~! D jumped in an eggshell and smiled. There's also this too cute baby I can't even... Kawaiiiiii~!

Ssshhh! Someone is sleeping~! It might wake up and eat us!

I was cracking up when I saw a tall figure walking by us. Turns out it's a man in stilts. I was kinda scared and tried to laugh it off hence the reaction on my face.

Somehow, they have a quota in couple shots.

OMFG~! Michelle Obama's doppleganger!!! 

What have got to say about this Mr. President? Whuuuuuuuuuuutttttt????!!!!

Yeah, you know, we got King Kong on our back. No biggie.

Perverts~!!! Please turn your attention to CH's face.

This is team A. They have eaten most of the rice, composed of relatively young members.

This is team B. They mostly ate the viands. They are the not-so-young ones. Hence, not too much rice for them. 

And we end this day with a picture of the Golden Couple. Grandpa knows when i'll be taking the camera, while Grandma, I think she is kinda worried on how much we'll be paying for the stuff that we ordered. Haha~!
Over-all, this became a nice family reunion~! Happy Birthday grandma~! We love you~!