My First Photography Job

Taking pictures has always been my favorite hobby since high school. And it grew more when I took up Advertising in College and Photography is one of our subjects. But during that time, digital is not popular yet. But I'd say that, before, it takes more talent to take photos than today using digital plus the magic of Photoshop. I admit that digital SLR (single-lens reflex) is more flexible, more creativity and more freedom when taking photos. Plus, again, the wonders of photoshop. But during my days (which makes me feel old, yay!)...these additional tools are not available. And yet, you can produce amazing photos. I don't exactly know how I'd feel about professional photographers today using all kinds of "magic" and enhancements to make their photos look great. I know it's a great advantage and I am considering to use it too. But then, how would you really judge a great photograph?
Well, i was watching this program on TV last night called PICTURE THIS. And it's a competition of amateur photographers. They were given different subjects and it's up to them how to interpret them in a photo. Of course most of them use "special effects" thru photoshop. Like the one contestant, her original shot is gloomy and dead...but thru photoshop, it made the picture very vibrant and beautiful! So how would you judge that? Is that really a good picture? Is she really a great photographer? Hmmm....you tell me.
But I'd say if you're doing commercial photography, photoshop is a MUST. If you'll do it as a job like covering events such as wedding, I'd say magic tricks is very helpful. If you want to sell your business, do it. But when it comes to competition, I'd say, it's best if the pictures are "untouched"....That's when you will determine who's got the "good eye"...who's more creative and who's studying their lessons very well.
Here is my first official photo job....it's technically "untouched". Because I have no photoshop, though I will and must have it, ha! The Lafrinere family(from our congregation)asked me to do their family portrait in the beach. I edited some using Windows photo gallery, etc...just the common thing that comes with any computer. But no photoshop. I am pleased whatsoever. They are the most wonderful models I'd say. No hesitations, they just do whatever I asked them to do, no divas hehe....And they are all beautiful!
So now I would probably take this seriously....more research, more practice, more advice from pros. Thanks to Jackie, ,my friend. For giving me tips. She's a pro and takes awesome photographs!
Enjoy....

Be Obedient and Push

Jehovah told a certain man that he had work for him to do. This certain man had a large rock in front of his house and Jehovah explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might. The man did this, day after day. For many years he toiled from sun rise to sun set, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all his might. Each night the man returned home sore, worn out and feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.

Seeing that the man was showing signs of discouragement, Satan decided to enter the picture and place a few thoughts into the man's weary mind: "You have been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn't budged. Why kill yourself over this? You are never going to move it." This gave the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure.

These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man. "Why kill myself over this?" he thought. "I'll just put in my time, give the minimum effort and that will be good enough." And that is what he planned to do until he decided to make it a matter of prayer and Take his troubled thoughts to Jehovah.

"Jehovah, I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do what you have asked of me.. Yet, after all this time I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?"

Then Jehovah responded compassionately, "When I asked you to serve and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to me, with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back is sinewed and brown, your hands are callused from constant pressure, and your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. Yes, you haven't moved the rock but then all I ever asked was that you be obedient and push. It was through your works that you exercised faith in me.

This you have done, and now I will move the rock for you."

At times, when we may tend to think little of ourselves and our service to Jehovah and we become disheartened and discouraged, we need to remember what Jehovah asks of us and that is just simple obedience and faith in him.

By all means, exercise faith that moves mountains but know that it is still Jehovah who does the moving. When everything seems to go wrong, just PUSH.. When your job gets you down, just PUSH. When people don't react the way you think they should, just PUSH.. When people don't treat you kindly, just PUSH. When people reject you in the ministry just PUSH.

PUSH = Pray Until Something Happens!!!

The Reunion

Again, another late posting. It's because I have to do a lot of digging from the "old chest" first before I decided to write this. Last August 31st, a childhood friend of mine named Erlie came to visit America for only a "week". She's now based in Stockholm, Sweden and working as a Marketing Manager in Ericsson. After about a brief stay here in Florida,we flew to New Jersey, where another old pal is waiting. And that's Nelly. And this is something special for us three. We haven't seen each other for 8 years. Specially with Nelly. She's been here in US for 10 years now i think.
So like every girls do, we did a lot of catching up. Never in our wildest dreams that we will meet here in America. Never in our wildest dreams that we'd get to see the Statue of Liberty (we only see it in the movies). And we never even thought that the statue is actually "green". Get to see Washington Monument, Capitol bldg. The White House, Lincoln Memorial and all that! Plus the disappointing reality of New York! Makati and Ortigas is nicer, i should say.
But the highlight of the tour....and a dream come true for us is...the Watchtower Headquarters tour. It is every member of Jehovah's Witnesses's DREAM to go there. Getting to visit the 3 buildings located in New York, one in Brooklyn and two in the upstate NY, which is beautiful...Wallkill and Patterson. It's truly an amazing experience. A real wonderful experience to share with our loved ones and friends back home. And that's what I am excited about. In a few weeks from now, Me and Erlie are going back to Manila, our hometown in the Philippines. Me and my husband Steve had a privilege of taking a vacation with a good friend. So, the anticipation of sharing my experiences here in US to my family is exciting. Though I have mixed emotions because my mother won't be there. It makes me really sad. Just thinking about it makes me emotional. I don't know what my reactions will be seeing her in "urn".
Anyways, let's go back to our reunion. I had dug up some "young" photos of me, Nelly and Erlie here. Plus the latest ones. Hoping we'd have another reunion soon....one week is simply not enough. We'd like to thank Nelly's husband Craig for driving us around and for putting up with us, ha! The girls never seem to get tired. Despite the whole day full of activities, we'd still do karaoke at night and rock their house down, and sleep till the wee hours in the morning! Well, sorry Craig, 8 years is a lot to make up for only a week!
Well, enjoy the photos....:O) Have a great weekend everyone!