Brand Americana

pano_brand_final, originally uploaded by photosorcery.

First crack at making a VR image handheld. A few fixes here and there, but i was pleased of the outcome of the image. VR image from this rectilinear image come out very well.

Raise 'em as high as you can

DSC_2268, originally uploaded by photosorcery.

I was invited to be a part of a Baptismal Ceremony. Lighting inside the church was surprisingly good with all the natural light coming in from all corners. More images on my flickr account.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/photosorcery/sets/72157607984840981/

Photography Sells

DSC_1990, originally uploaded by photosorcery.

Photography surely does sell, doesn't it. This storefront looks like it came out of a magazine. Lighting is perfect and all I had to do is snap that camera. Less is more, evidently so, when it comes to billboards. - Primm Valley Mall, Las Vegas.

Fashion Mall Panorama

Fashion Mall Pano, originally uploaded by photosorcery.

Very easily done, 3 images handheld (with a basic understanding of the nodal point) at 12mm DX format. Its fun implementing this technique on uninteresting compositions and see what you'll get.

Vegas - Fashion Mall

DSC_2134, originally uploaded by photosorcery.

We got to see how they turned the center space into a runway in a matter of minutes. Models pop-up from the ground floor and into the runway. See more of the images during our trip. http://www.flickr.com/photos/photosorcery/sets/72157608118498460/

HDR Frenzy

outside_looking_in2, originally uploaded by photosorcery.

Cathedral Tower, originally uploaded by photosorcery.

Framed HDR, originally uploaded by photosorcery.

Here are some HDR collections from the same place (Downtown Cathedral). Enjoy !

Downtown Cathedral

cathedral+autopano, originally uploaded by photosorcery.

To Whom the Bells Toll, originally uploaded by photosorcery.

Pano shot of the old Downtown Cathedral in Bacolod. This is in front of the plaza. People engage in sleazy business transactions near the plaza during wee hours, ironically located in front of this magnificent Cathedral.


Second picture was a fluke shot. I wanted to take a picture of this gorgeous church bell. After I saw someone sleeping, I got really excited and anxious to take multiple exposure shots.



Autopano software was used to generate this panorama.

Cadiz Old Port

pano_old_pier, originally uploaded by photosorcery.

I decided to take a few shots while crossing over this bridge in Cadiz City. They recently constructed a huge port on the other side of this channel.

Its weird going back home after almost 10 years. Im dazed and confused the first half of my trip... observing mostly with little participation.

Cornell Swimming Pool

cornell_swimming, originally uploaded by photosorcery.

Nostalgia once more! Pano shot from the top floor of Cornell Swimming Pool. 10 minute drive from our Cadiz vacation house. This is my happy place. Almost drowned several times when i was a kid, but its all good.

There used to be a diving board and used to be a lot deeper over 10 feet deep. Now they constantly shallowed the whole pool to about 5 feet.

Thats my cousin Basti in the middle of the pool.

Hand held pano shot and stitched using CS2. I really can't spend more than 10 minutes on each photo so pardon me for imperfections.

Bacolod City - Best Place to Live in the Philippines

Bacolod City topped the list of “Best Places to Live” by MoneySense magazine.

Most Competitive Mid-Sized City in the Philippines for two consecutive years.
Based on the results of the PCCRP for the years 2003 and 2005, Bacolod City ranked high in all criteria from among the cities under the mid-sized category. These are non-metro cities with a population of more than 200,000.It ranked highest on Infrastructure and Quality of Life.

Most Business Friendly Local Government Unit in the Philippines
Bacolod bested 130 other cities when the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry declared it the “Most Business-Friendly Local Government Unit in the Philippines” in 2007. It was the second year in a row for Bacolod to be named the “Most Business-Friendly City in the Visayas”. As the regional winner, it became a finalist and competed with the other regional winners and was chosen as the national winner.

To checkout the full write up, visit www.promdiliving.com

http://www.promdiliving.com/2008/03/19/bacolod-city-best-place-to-live-in-the-philippines/

Chicken House Inasal

DSC_3114, originally uploaded by photosorcery.

Bacolod's Finest barbecue chicken (Inasal) can only be experienced at "Chicken House". Is it just me or the rice itself tastes 10 times better? I kid you not!

One thing I truly miss about Bacolod is the local flavor, and your experience would not be the same without dining at "Chicken House".

Tell them that Leo sent you and get a discount! JK.

Talisay Ayala Plantazionne Club House

DSC_3005, originally uploaded by photosorcery.

Quiet neighborhood and 10 minutes away from the hustle & bustle of Bacolod's laid back lifestyle. Truly impressive to see such developments in Bacolod.

Like they always say around here, "Everywhere in Bacolod is 5 minutes away". This is a bit far don't you think? Seriously?

Rock Star

Rock Star, originally uploaded by photosorcery.

"Remember this face!" ... he personally called me to get his picture taken when i got out of the car with my camera.

What defines happiness? Im guessing, probably not money! Im just happy to take his picture.

Location: Downtown - Plaza Mart... Bacolod.
Processing style: JoeyL's Mud Grundge trademark

Mahjong Ivory Tiles

DSC_2010, originally uploaded by photosorcery.

Beware of this fun yet addictive past-time most Filipinos play. Originated from China, brought to the Philippines by Chinese merchants and settlers. A game of Skill, Strategy and Calculations.

Place I Stayed in Bacolod

gra'mas_casa, originally uploaded by photosorcery.

For those of you unfamiliar, Bacolod City is in the provice of Negros Occidental, Philippines. You probably don't care much about it, what's it to you anyways.

This is a pano shot of the place i stayed for 2 months. Its Grandma's House... had plenty of fond childhood memories here and i couldn't wait the next day to go around this massive residential area and take my first few shots.

Plenty more to come, i'll be busy posting when i arrive back in LA, please be patient.

Wedding Day Photo of the Year 2007

I stumbled upon a great site and story that moved me. These pictures made me feel that i was at their presence, as a spectator witnessing an incredible love story. The photographer who captured this amazing moment in time is Rob Sigler.

Read about the photographers nostalgic tale:

Two summers ago, I received an inquiry to shoot a wedding in Philadelphia. The bride-to-be, KC, said both of her parents were in poor health, so she was unsure about the actual date. A few months passed, and KC called back and explained that her father's health was quickly deteriorating, and "because they are too sick to travel, we are bringing the wedding to them." KC, an only child, was insistent that both of her parents were able to attend her wedding. She called again that day and said, "Are you available Tuesday?"

I said sure, and cleared my schedule for the day.

KC quickly put together a small wedding ceremony in her parent's hometown. It was going to be a nursing home where her father had just been moved. At this point, KC was frazzled, so I was happy to do anything I could to help her out.

On Thursday night, the phone rang. It was KC's fiancé. He said that KC's mom (who was recovering from a recent stroke) had just fallen and broken her hip, and the wedding (for a second time) was cancelled. He said they were just going to have a small ceremony in her hospital room as soon as possible. By this point KC was completely devastated. I felt awful for them both. What is supposed to be an incredible experience for this young couple was turning into disaster.

I called him back, and told him I would be more than happy to come to the hospital and shoot the ceremony. He said thank-you, but no thanks. I understood.

Five minutes later, the phone rang again. This time it was KC asking me to come down to the hospital.

So, I packed up my bag, and off I went.

When I got there, the nurses were fashioning bed sheets to create an alter, and KC's mom was in bed and in obvious pain, yet she was dressed in her attire that she would have worn in Philadelphia. Several hospital staff members gathered around the room of the door to catch a glimpse of what was probably the first wedding ever in this hospital. Their hands were filled with Rice Krispies to throw at the end of the event.

As KC walked into the room with her father, a nurse sang "Ave Maria." The ceremony was beautiful. There were no ice sculptures, no flowers (except a few from the gift shop), no limos, but the love this family had for each other was more beautiful than any traditional wedding "thing." There wasn't a dry eye in the room, including mine.

This experience really made me think about my life, and think about what we do as photographers. It's so easy to get caught up in gear, flashes, trashing dresses, etc., and lose sight of what we are really doing. I walked out of the hospital knowing that I had just captured an amazing moment for the family that can now live forever.

Here are a few more pictures from the ceremony.

Read the entire article at: DWF Photo of the Year 2007