vm 2008-101

It has been quite a while, nearly half a year to be exact, since I last posted on this photo journal. I thought it is about time to come back to it.

My heart has been filled with so many mixed emotions since last week - that was the time I decided to take some time off from Flickr. It has not been easy. I have been enjoying the "company" of so many wonderful friends. And I have been feeling more creative than ever with my photography. But somewhere inside me there was this nagging feeling of wanting to step back a bit. To take in all the things that have come my way these past months. I consider myself blessed for being able to see the world in my own way and share it with others. But with that blessing comes the "burden", imagined or real, self-imposed or expected, to always be on top of my game.

vm 2007-117

I oftentimes focus too much on the obvious, in photography and in life. But little by little, I am learning to focus more on things often ignored but equally essential. Like these calyces of a rose. Were it not for them this rose might not have survived the elements when it was yet a bud. And so as we enter a new year, it is but fitting for me to think about re-focusing on things often overlooked yet just as relevant and just as important in the whole scheme of things.



Image: A red rose
Camera: Canon Rebel XT
Lens: Canon 100mm Macro

vm 2007-116

Last Wednesday (December 5) I celebrated my birthday. It was a quiet day. A time to be simply thankful for all the blessings in my life. A time to believe once again in the possibilities and not so much in what cannot be. A time to remind myself that time is fleeting and I must always do my darndest to do what needs doing and say what needs saying. This is the very reason for the image. Reminds me of Simon & Garfunkel's song, Leaves That Are Green:

"...time hurries on, and the leaves that are green turn to brown.
And they wither with the wind, and they crumble in your hand..."



Image: Withered leaf
Camera: Canon Rebel XT
Lens: Tamron 18-200mm

vm 2007-116

Today is the first day of December. How could the days go by so quickly? Later this afternoon friends, old and new, will gather once more here at our place for our annual holiday get-together. There should be plenty of food, and of fun. The dance music is ready, and so is the karaoke. That's the reason why I was running errands most of the day yesterday - and it was raining like crazy. I didn't mind the rain though. It has been a while since it rained here in southern California. So instead of "tears from heaven", I looked at the rain as "blessings from heaven". Here's a shot through my windshield . . .



Image: My windshield
Camera: Canon Rebel XT
Lens: Tamron 18-200mm

vm 2007-115

I thought I would be posting more pictures the last week or so. But again, "matters of consequence" got in the way. Today, though, I want to make sure I post at least one image. This one I took just yesterday when the sun was just about to set. There are so many simple yet beautiful things around us for which we need to be thankful. And on this Thanksgiving Day I am counting my blessings and expressing my gratitude for being in this world, filled with loving family and friends, and yes, even strangers, who sustain me throughout this journey called life.


Image: Flowers by our driveway
Camera: Canon Rebel XT
Lens: Tamron 18-200mm

vm 2007-114

I know, I've been AWOL for sometime. Was out of town, then got a little bit sick, lost my voice (after a lengthy karaoke session with friends) then got busy with work and school. But I'm back and will be posting some pictures I took while in Las Vegas . . . but you'll be surprised, they're all "nature" pictures. Before I do that, let me post a group picture of my Shoot & Critique Photography Class (the class just ended last Tuesday). Took this at the Disney Music Hall in downtown Los Angeles.


Image: Photography class group photo
Camera: Canon Rebel XT
Lens: Tamron 18-200mm

vm 2007-113

Here's another shot I took of Alenka. Light is key in photography. After all, the literal meaning of the word (in Greek) is "to draw with light".


Image: Alenka
Camera: Canon Rebel XT
Lens: Tamron 18-200mm