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Cheers

Prost!  Double prost! Way ahead of the Octoberfest.

Richard and Jill

I have been assigned to take photos of our new church members again.  One of the church elders asked me, "You are the church photographer, right?"  "Um, I don't know.  Am I?"

Taking photos of people in unforgiving lighting condition is probably every portrait photographer's nightmare.  I took this one inside the church sanctuary.  I turned off all the lights so I don't have to deal with transient lights.  This way the only source of light was my 580 EXii flash dressed inside a photo box and the diffused window coming from the left side.

This is one of my favorites.  Richard and Jill just got married a few weeks ago.  I can see that they are very happy together.  I love that they show it sincerely.  It made my photo op worth it.  This is one of those times that everything seems to working out right.  Thank you, Lord.

Petrol-powered Stagecoach

Mercedes-Benz traces its origins to Karl Benz's creation of the first petrol-powered car based on Wilhelm Maybach's conversion of a stagecoach by the addition of a petrol engine.  It was financed by Bertha Benz.  Emil Jellinek, an Austrian automobile entrepreneur named the automobile the 1901 Mercedes 35 hp after his daughter Mercedes Jellinek.  Hence the name Mercedes-Benz.

Imperfect Solitude in Dark Prague

"May I kiss you then? On this miserable paper? I might as well open the window and kiss the night air."  - Franz Kafka

Cross Processing Granada

Cross processing  is the deliberate processing of photographic film in a chemical solution intended for a different type of film. The effect was discovered independently by many different photographers often by mistake in the days of C-22 and E-4. Color cross processed photographs are often characterized by unnatural colors and high contrast.  I've made some cool images using this process.  But there is a risk of ruining the developing machine.  I've since stopped doing that. 

Marylee

"Now where did I place the key to me Aratech 74-Z Speeder Bike?  Hate when that happens."

Last Leaves in Bunratty

I shot this image back in November of 2016.  Somewhere close by the Bunratty Castle in Ireland.  The original image was shot with a  14 mm wide angle lens but I didn't know how to edit it.  I might have tried several times but they were utter failures in my opinion.  Lately, I've gone back to it and decided to massively crop it to show just the leaves with a bit of reflection.  I think this works.  What do you think?

Hope your day is going well.

Healthy Balela Salad

A good way to start the week.  Healthy eats.  It is very easy to make.  Drop some fresh lettuce on the bowl.  Dab a bit of Ranch Dressing on the lettuce.  (Any dressing would do but creamy white dressing makes it more photogenic.)  Sprinkle with Garbanzo beans, black pepper, lemon juice,  parsley, salsa, a little bit of this and that.  Garnish with home grown Cherry Tomatoes.  Present everything on bamboo mat.  It's ready to go.  Oh but wait, first document the meal - take a food selfie with the iPhone 7 plus.  Bon Appetit.

Please, Sir!

I'm reminded of a scene in Charles Dickens' novel Oliver Twist, where the main character innocently ask the wicked Master Bumble for more food.   This became a big hit movie when I was growing up.  In the movie, some boys draw straws to see who will ask for more to eat, and the job falls to Oliver. He goes up to Bumble and Widow Corney, who run the workhouse and serve the gruel, and asks for more.  Enraged, Bumble takes Oliver to the governors to see what to do with him.  And so begins Oliver's adventure.

Instagram No 180811

The Eye of Liverpool

I've edited this image so many times.  There is a natural version, where the sky is blue.  There is a sunset version, where the sky is magenta.  Now obviously is the Black and White version.  I like all the versions.  It's that saccharine sentimentality that one doesn't get tired of - as opposed to becoming sour in time like wine turning to a vinegar.  I wonder why I said that.  Maybe it kind of sounded smart.

There are hundreds of Ferris Wheels in the world.  Arguably, the most famous is the Eye of London.  But I think the Eye of Liverpool - although not as famous - looks better than the Eye of London.

Taken with the iPhone 6 some time ago.  I had just started shooting with the smart phone, and found it to be a great companion when traveling.

Hope your day is going well.

Baby and Grandmother

A precious moment.  I couldn't resist taking a picture of the baby and the grandmother.   Taken with the iPhone 7 plus after church service.  The cameras on the mobile phones have come a long way.  Of course, smart phones have ruined serious photography since almost everyone can take a picture nowadays.  The good and the bad of technology advancement.  Oh well.

Hope your day is going well.

To Each His Own at the Airport

I thought I shot this at the Los Angeles International Airport but looking at it again I may have captured it while waiting for our plane at the Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport.  Named after Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., assassinated at the tarmac of the same airport in 1983.  I remember that day.  Most of us were all shocked.  Ninoy was returning to the Philippines despite repeated warnings that he will be assassinated.  It was commonly believed that President Marcos had him killed.  

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A Theory on Six Strings

I didn't have a story on this.  Initially I thought of calling it "Am I Blur?"  - a parody of an old ballad "Am I Blue?"  I wonder how many people can guess what is this image.  Does it look like a row of cotton swabs that were dipped in blue green colored liquid?  Or does it look like parallel futuristic bridges where in cars and transportation are reduced to microscopic sizes in order to avoid grid lock traffic?  Or does it looks like a close up of what is inside Donald Trump's mouth after eating pizza?

Enjoy your day.

Old Faithful

My pair of old faithful shoes at his dying breath.  He served me well.

About a Boy

It was the year when yesterday becomes the following day.  Planet Earth has a dilemma.  Famine has been eliminated.  But the more people ate the more they lose weight.  Worse is they are being blurred out into oblivion.  Only Al Gore can save the world.  But he’s still living and getting fat in the future.  It might take decades before he comes to the past.

The boy in the image grows up to be Al Gore, savior and president in his own mind.

Which way to MacDonald’s?

Helga Checks Her Messages

Looks like Helga is pretty amused but one can only wonder what it is that she is looking at the moment.  Her name is not really Helga.  I just made it up.  She looks like a Helga.  The image is just a random shot I took while in Central Europe.  I want to say that it was in Budapest.  But I also think that it could have been in Vienna.  Can't be too certain.  It doesn't matter.

Hope your day is going well.

Leg and Two Bicycles

All right, what a lame title.  But I can assure you that the bicycles and the lady who is walking are not lame.  Taken on a sunny day in Northern Italy.

Hope you are having a great day.

Performing Churchill

We were promenading inside the Charlie Chaplin museum at Corsier-sur-Vevey, and noticed that Winston Churchill was performing in one of the rooms.  The lighting was outstanding so I had to take a picture of the Prime Minister.  Don’t know why or what he was doing.  Seemed out of place.  But it made for great photo op in my opinion.