Happy to be learning the basics of Photography today :-)

I haven't dared to touch my Nikon after three weeks of buying it for photography class in school. My digitally-challenged self refused to meet halfway with the manual that came with it. Hahaha. Photography class (finally!) awhile ago was great. We were taught of the basics like: the ISO (or the International Standard Organization, like I think you don't know, eh?), Aperture, and the Shutter Speed. Also, the Rule of the Thirds, Symmetry, and the Lines. Now that's what you call helluvah necessities. Sir Meo told us that we're half-equipped with the essentials. Oh yes it is, dear. And today I happened to learn the ropes. Stiiiiilll sucking it in. But I can't figure out why some of my clicks are still blurred, not quite how I pictured them to be considering I'm using a D90. Note to self: MASTER THINGS OUT. Nevertheless, these were how my first shots turned:

I purposefully picked the purple flower and put it by the wooden bench with drenched water. I don't know if it looked good, but it made me feel like an artsy person. Hahaha.

On tapping doubts.

Yes. Curiosity might have killed the cat. But at least, he died nobly.

"Keep Calm and Carry On"

As I've been a Tumblr nomad the past few weeks, the pretty and inspiring pictures had me clicking Next and Next and Next. With the clicking repeatedly showed various "Keep Calm and Carry On" photos and some others, actually, a whole lot of other editions such as Keep Calm and Have a Cupcake, Keep Calm and Dance, and so on. It made sense. No, those words didn't come from Coco Chanel, Oprah, nor Barack Obama. It originated from the British government's Ministry of Information in the eve of the war of 1939 against the threat from the German invasion. It was produced along with two other posters: "Freedom Is In Peril" and "Your Courage, Your Cheerfulness, Your Resolution Will Bring Us Victory". Almost two million copies of KCCO bearing King George VI's crown were printed but weren't distributed as the war didn't progress. It was kept for years and [the box] was found by a bookseller named Stuart Manly. He and his wife didn't know a single thing about it as they had the rest of the print-outs auctioned off. Mr. and Mrs. Manly kept a copy and posted it in their bookshop. The rest was history. I figured it was a good everyday reminder - maybe that's why it was reblogged and reblogged and transformed into diverse versions of Keep Calm and insert-what-you-think kind among Tumblristas. Lately, I was surprised to learn that it has its planner version for next year. Cool right?! Since I'm a planning psycho (read: Platonic planner), this suits me. Little did I know (and thanks very much Mr. Amazon.com for that) that it also has its book version, and this 365 Days motto thing that sells for just around 13 dollars. Perfect for everyday self-boost. I'm definitely jumping into the bandwagon and start the year right.

"And as I stood there I realized something I've forgotten a long time ago. Sometimes in life, there really are bonds formed that can never be broken, sometimes you really can find that one person who will stand by you no matter what, maybe you'll find it in your spouse and celebrate it with your dream wedding but there's also the chance that the one person you can count on for a lifetime, the one person who knows you sometimes better than yourself, is the same person who's been standing beside you all along." - the wedding planner from Bride Wars

WISDOM

Wisdom - Introduction from State Library of New South Wales on Vimeo.

50 of the world’s most inspiring and iconic figures over the age of 65 share their words of wisdom. Wisdom is a multimedia exhibition that features extraordinary large-format portraits and documentary footage of interviews created by award-winning photographer and filmmaker Andrew Zuckerman.

INFLUENCERS

INFLUENCERS TRAILER from R+I creative on Vimeo.

INFLUENCERS is a short documentary that explores what it means to be an influencer and how trends & creativity become contagious today in music and fashion.

Directed by Paul Rojanathara and Davis Johnson, the film is a Polaroid snapshot of New York influential creatives (advertising, design, fashion and entertainment) who are shaping today's pop culture.



Follow INFLUENCERS on http://www.facebook.com/influencersfilm



Music credits:

© Robert Glasper - No Worries / Blue Note records

© Passion Pit - The Reeling / Frenchkiss records

Because darling, you made the right choice.

Credit: Kat for the tagging

This was one of the littlest things I was looking forward to on my birthday. Fairly because I crazily snap happily when reading free 'fortune cookie'-like stuff.

Blinked.

“Thinking is easy, acting is difficult, and to put one’s thoughts into action is the most difficult thing in the world.”
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Father and son

You know what? By the time that a man realizes that his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he is wrong.

Wisdom I can't get over with. Happy Father's Day to all dads!!! And because it is...

something kilig that I found on Tumblr

There's one thing I wanted to say so I'll be brave

"There’s one thing I want to say so I’ll be brave. You were what I wanted. I gave what I gave.I’m not sorry I met you. I’m not sorry it’s over. I’m not sorry there’s nothing to save.”

- Your Ex-Lover Is Dead, Stars

I'm inviting you...

Come, come, come :) We're staging Paris 1832 on May 29, 8pm @ Onstage, Greenbelt 1. :) Hope to see you there :) Bring your best friend, your mom/dad, your gramma, your lesbian lover, your soon-to-be blockmates, anyone who wants to be treated to a day of dramatic fun :)

CONTACT: 09156301333

When chocolates teach you the best things in life

Originally written on: 13 May 2010

You know those little words of wisdom you find on Dove's chocolate wrappers? They taught me the biggest lesson I needed to learn today: Volunteering can change your life. Nuggets of wisdom - yes, and nuggets for pounds (hello, the thrill of reading random new phrases delight me.. so I cannot resist the urge to open the fridge, twist open that jar and.....

Metaphorically: you can never expect everything to land on your feet
Literally: you'll keep on reading the same page of the book until you brave to turn a new leaf
Essentially: nothing will ever happen if you don't move
Simply: just do it

They say that everything happens for a reason, so I believe that I opened that wrapper for a reason: to finally grow out of the rusty shell I've been hiding for so long. To finally tap into my passions. To play with both my strengths and weaknesses. To immerse myself into the world I pictured myself in.

And I guess I would never realize it until I took the chance to open that fridge, forget about that stupid diet, and drown thy glutton self.

Quick! It's Marc!!!

Been on with my Twitter 2 days ago. Suddenly felt the urge to touch it after 6 months of hiatus. And look what I found today!!!!!!

Hah. I smell that someone's gonna spend more time on Twitter and be an instaaaaaaaaant-stalker. (Part-time job this summer. Why not? ROFL)

The Sean Covey Leadership Training

Something arrived in my e-mail today. And by some chance, it wasn't one of those chain e-mails.

Well, it was some sort of a chain e-mail. But this was way useful.

Having read the book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey some 3 years ago before I hit my teenage year, I have been mesmerized at how I could really change myself and be more productive in this society. But, that was some 6 years ago right now and I needed something to furnish that thought again. In my school, there were Leadership Trainings held once for school organizations officers. And from what I heard, this coming 23rd they will be sending a few SCC and VOX (school publication) officers to the De La Salle Greenhills for the Leadership Training Camp. And since I know that I would be quite far in the line because they cannot send the whole troop (I am a VOX staff writer, and there would only be about 2 VOX eds they will send: the editor-in-chief and the associate ed-in-chief), I will be taking advantage myself.

My Mom read about this advertisement in the Philippine Daily Inquirer and pursued me to attend it with my cousins. And yes, thank you too Mom, I will.

Sean Covey was perhaps labeled as my favorite author since then. I have not any chances in reading the books of his dad, Franklin Covey. But indeed I could tell they would really be of great help. So for those who are also interested, do take note of this:

Perhaps, it's time to step-out of our shadows and labels and take the lead.

See you guys and good luck.

Hear Her Say

I have seen the difference it makes when a person believes in herself. It elevates them and propels them. They know they deserve better so they aspire to do better in everything.

VOX PUBLICATION '08-'09 now on-line

VOX Publication 2008-2009 finally unveils their interactive account.

VOX Publication is a Saint James Academy official school paper. With the Multiply account that is, in minutes, could be flickering your screens -- is an interactive account for Jamers who would like to be updated with recent and future happenings of VOX. Bonafide Saint James Academy students are free to submit their articles for the school newspaper thru voxesnyo.multiply.com, or just hang around and talk about anything under the sun. VOX aims to reach out to students through the online account. Invitations for Contact are strictly limited to Jamers who are currently enrolled in the school year '08-'09. Welcome guys! Yipee!

[ a n o n y m o u s ]

In a brief conversation, a man, speaking to a woman, was out to pursue the question,

"What kind of man are you looking for?"
She sat quietly for a moment before looking him in the eye and asked,
"Do you really want to know?"

Reluctantly, he said, "Yes" as she began to expound..

"As a woman in this day and age, I am in a position to ask a man what he can do for me that I can't do for myself.

I pay my own bills.

I take care of my household without the help of any man- or woman for that matter. I am in the position to ask, 'What can you bring to the table?'"

The man looked at her. Clearly he thought that she was referring to money.

She quickly corrected his thought and stated, "I am not referring to money... I need something more. I need a man who is striving for perfection in every aspect of life."

He sat back in his chair, folded his arms, and asked her to explain.

She said,

"I am looking for someone who is striving for perfection Mentally. I need conversation and mental stimulation. I don't need a simple-minded man.

I am looking for someone who is striving for perfection Spiritually because I don't need to be unequally yoked... Believers mixed with unbelievers is a recipe for disaster.

I need a man who is striving for perfection Financially because I don't need a financial... burden.

I am looking for someone who is Sensitive enough to understand what I go through as a woman, but Strong enough to keep me grounded.

I am looking for someone who I can Respect. In order to be submissive, I must respect him. I cannot be submissive to a man who isn't taking care of his business. I have no problem being submissive... He just has to be worthy.

God made woman to be a helpmate for man. At this point, I can't help a man if he can't help himself."

When she finished her spill, she looked at him. He sat there with a puzzled look on his face, and exclaimed, "You're asking for a whole lot!"

To which she gracefully replied...

"Only if you think I'm not WORTH a lot." :)