Sara Black Workshop in Ateneo de Manila University

One never stops learning. Even if, say, a photographer already has put years of experience into his portfolio, the photographer can still benefit from someone else's knowledge.

I have several years of photography already with me, but I'll be naive if I say that there's nothing anymore more for me to learn. It simply isn't the case.

So, several weeks back, when a photography workshop by famous fashion photographer Sara Black became available, I immediately signed up for it. (I have to thank the wife for finding out about said workshop.)

The workshop was done in Ateneo, one of the prestigious universities here in the Philippines. There, I met other people, ranging from enthusiasts, to semi-serious people (I think that was just me, hehehe), and people who already own studios and have extensive portfolios. The age of the attendees range from college-age students to people who already benefit from their extensive life experiences.

It was a nice event, relaxed, and I was able to connect with some of the participants. It was a nice, friendly atmosphere and I believe everybody enjoyed their day.

We were asked to photograph some table-top items and we were also asked to photograph one another. After the shoot, the group, led by Sara, critiqued each other's photos. I learned a lot from the comments and, I believe, I took more from the workshop than I was able to give back.

As a Canon-sponsored event, there were Canons everywhere. After the workshop, we were asked to pick one photo from the shoot and the guys from Canon printed it out. I gave my print out to my lovely model.

It was a very nice experience and I sure would sign up for more workshops in the future. I learned a lot and I was able to make, hopefully, lasting connections.

And special thanks got to Leann for being our gracious model. And thanks Albert for being the leader of our group.

And of course, thanks Sara for being generous with your time and knowledge.

------------

Gear used to make this post:

-- Canon 5D Mark II (article)

-- Canon 24-105 f/4L IS USM Lens (Long term review)

Additional photos shot with an iPhone 6+ using the iOS app Hipstamatic

A Visit to Seam Reap

My wife, her family, and I went to Siem Reap some months back. It was a very wonderful experience to see temples that have been in existence for hundreds of years. It was also wonderful to know that they try their very best to protect and preserve such treasures.

If only all countries and cultures have the mindset of preserving the past...

Food was great, the people were welcoming.

Overall, it was a really very nice experience.

These are my photos of the visit. It took me a long time to post these but they are still well worth it.

------------

Gear used to make this post:

-- Canon Powershot G15 (Reviews Part 1 and Part 2)

Mizuno Wave Inspire

Brand loyalty is very big for me. If I find a brand that I really like, then I settle on it and buy its products time and time again.

When I was younger, I discovered Levi's pants and I rarely buy another brand's pair. I recently just discovered Converse Chuck Taylor shoes, the low top one, and I feel I will keep on buying this after my first pair gets worn out. I always buy The North Face jackets and my Timbuk2 bag was replaced by another of the same brand. I am very loyal to Canon and I have DSLR bodies, lenses, speedlites and even point-and-shoot cameras from them.

And of course there is Apple. I never had any brand loyalty when it came to computers and I cannot imagine being loyal to Windows XP then. But, one fateful autumn day in 2006, when I held my first MacBook, the white polycarbonate one, I never looked back.

Now, I have an iPhone, an iPad (where I am typing this), a MacBook Pro and several iPods.

And now there's another brand that I feel I will be very loyal with...

As I detailed in this blogpost, I discovered the Mizuno brand while I was looking for a good pair of indoor shoes. So, when my running shoes gave up the ghost, after I tacked on almost 400 kilometers on it, I decided to look at Mizuno again.

The wife and I went to a Mizuno store near our apartment. I looked at the available running shoes on display and I found one that I liked aesthetically - it had orange streaks. I asked the store clerk for a pair and I tried them on. Boy was I surprised! I instantly liked it! The fit, how it reacts when I walk, the looks.

It was love at first fit!

Walking with this pair of shoes is close to heavenly... I feel like I'm walking on marshmallows when I walk with this pair. And when I run, the feeling is no different. The shoes hug my feet and, because it's so light, it doesn't feel like I have lead on my feet when I run.

The top of the shoes is made up of breathable materials so your feet won't overheat when you run. This pair of shoes is even ideal when you do a lot of walking throughout the day!

You really can't go wrong with this pair!

Now, a slight con...

The insole of this pair is on the thin side. So, when you use this for a lot of running, then I suggest you wear a pair of thick socks. Either that or you replace the insole with gel-based ones. For walking, the insoles are fine as they are.

But other than that, this is one pair of shoes I absolutely love!

I don't think I'll change to a different brand of running shoes soon... Mizuno has proven so far that it is a good brand and, in my book, this goes a long, long way...

Highly Recommended!

So get yours here:


 


------------

Gear used to make this post:

-- Canon 5D Mark II (article)

-- Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro IS USM (review)