I don't know what it is...

This photo has a shallow depth of field. As per Photography principles on DOF, it appears that this photo was taken using a large aperture. The depth of field is very thin because the background behind the subject is heavily blurred. It also appears that the photo was taken close to the actual subject, hence, the shallowness of the DOF.

I chose this photo because it definitely caught my attention. I don't know what it is, that's why. :)

A Photo Hunt: "The Last Goodbye"

Source: http://g8.no/index.php?showimage=314

I was searching through Google just about any photography websites when I ran into a page holding the nominees of The 2010 Photoblog Awards. I chose ten photoblogs with interesting names. From someone who’s not really into Photography, I was more than amazed with the photographs I’ve seen. Honestly, I’ve never done this thing before. I’ve never given time to eye for photos thinking that it wouldn’t fascinate me. But when I was looking through the pictures, I realized that “photoblog hunting” could be a better stand-in for wasted time in Facebook and Youtube.

Among the hundreds of photos I browsed, I chose this photo called “The Last Goodbye” by five people who consider themselves as “dark creatures”: Terje, Heida, Steinar, Joey and Patrick. Their group is called The Gate and they run the photoblog The G8 under the motto, “The photographer doesn’t matter here…the photo does.”

I find this photo very interesting because every time I look at it, I feel like I’m being pulled by the picture. Something in it is trying to get me into the waters. I also admire the vividness of the colors and how the photographer was able to capture the motion. The photo has a very sluggish feel, yet very inviting. Among the hundreds of photos I chose from, this one left the strongest effect.

Community Mapping

Experience is the best teacher.

Listening to lectures on community mapping and doing the actual object - AS LIKE AS CHALK AND CHEESE!

What is community mapping for you based on your experience in the past two exercises?

It was a rainy afternoon. We were on Carlo's Everest with cellphones geared up from the left and right sides. Guided by a map, we set out from Xavier to Corrales to Juan Luna to Velez to Xavier again.

In the past two exercises, I have realized that community mapping is not an easy task. Assessing what my group have done, I think it could have been better if we trekked (minus the rain). We should have done it slower and had a closer look on the buildings and establishments.

I now understand that community mapping indeed stimulates debate as a basis for joint planning. The activities made me sensible of some things the community has to have. In community mapping, different perceptions are paralleled in the end.

How do you think can it be applied to your community?

I think it could be applied by having youths participate in the activity. Maps are provided by barangay officers but it would be a lot better if youths would be exposed to the community even more and have them realize their views of the area.

reality seen by a shutterbug through pros' masterpiece...

the photo exhibit entitled "mindanao war" is indeed a window of reality beyond doubt.

everything is excellent. i was overwhelmed with divergent emotions upon looking at the photos.

amazed and mournful. at the same time.

reading the news in print and seeing the news on tv didn't give me the feeling that i felt while i was looking at the photos. remorse was all over, which enforced me to think over where i got that instinct. and later realized that perhaps it's the guilt of not being able to feel that much at the first time that i became aware of the raging war in mindanao.

i have been writing about peace in mindanao for years. but it's only now that i felt hurt and crushing sympathy for the thousands of innocent people being caught between the war.

lastly, i genuinely look up to all the brave photojournalists who were very daring to risk everything to let people like me realize things that should have been realized long before.

my MDG choice.

the environment is the concern of every living creature.

many of us have remained indifferent and unaffected by the sordid state of our environment. we have chosen to go on with our lives undisturbed while a series of environmental-related tragedies unfold right before our very eyes. we must constantly remind ourselves that our existence as a civilization greatly depends on the environment that sustains us.

the seventh among the eight millenium development goals of the united nations is my MDG choice.

with the current state of our environment, there is a compelling need to heighten awareness among the people especially the youth of environmental issues confronting us, and thereby, motivate us to take action in protecting our environment and natural resources.

goal seven of the MDG is a guiding venue for us to promote a sense of responsibility and the realization of our critical roles in environmental protection.

i still believe there is hope in our midst - the society's coming together in the MDG is witness to this hope. we need to express our collective concern. when we all come together to work, a promising future awaits.

When a seed grows...

Plant. Water. Grow.

When a pumpkin turns into a magnificent carriage, or when a mouse turns into a coach... That's simply it. Perhaps "development" is all about making something more productive or even a promotion for improvements, but if we only look through it in a bit depthless point of view, everything around us that changes for the better is actually development. However, we often search for something big that we neglect to see the small betterments around. Development therefore goes along with recognition..



~han!~

COMMUNICATION is the channel for the torrents of the rain.

In connection with literal "water," the word "channel" is used to refer to a waterway, a watercourse or an established stream of water. In larger sense, the word "channel" is used to describe a means of conduction, a course into which something may be directed, or a route which anything passes or progresses.

In my definition, communication proves the overriding purpose of something; like the rain which produces vegetation. In whatever ways we define it, communication will always be something that makes the good better.



~han!~