For the Love of Photography

I end my day with the best thing I love to do. This is my latest posted photo title. I titled it as such for it is what I have felt and able to rationalize what the bird must have felt during this moment. This was taken a few hours ago in SM MOA. Flying and fishing, is what I think this bird loves the best to do.

I was in Corregidor earlier for a trip but to be very accurate, only for photos. It was a very fulfilling day of photoshoot. The island is really a treasure of our country aside from its pretty site, it is an island that is full of history. After Corrigidor, my friend Richard hitched me to MOA. Running low in budget as I was I didn’t want to take a cab as CCP was a place of almost no public utility vehicles except for Taxis. I wanted to go straight home and rest after a time of sunburn, docking, walking, running, climbing from shooting here and there. Yes, it was tiring to have a trip in the island probably due to the warm weather that we have now. Yet, when I was about to go down in MOA, Rich suggested to snipe at the Ice Rink then when I’m done, it will be time for the sunset. The idea gave me a smile, Oh yeah! That is brilliant. So I did just that. Sniping at the Rink but I was early for the sunset. So I had the 2nd degree sunburn in the baywalk along MOA. I can’t believe I am so tan right now! Nevertheless, all of these have not stopped me from doing what I love to do the best. Shooting..or Photography to be accurate. This time, I have discovered that one of the hardest things to shoot are the birds. They have really caught my eye and I wanted all the details I could get from them but it was not easy. I have to shoot 20 to 50 only to get 2 or 3 stunning shots. I went home with aching feet, legs, shoulder, right arm, right fingers, and right eye. All were caused by Nikky. For us, there is such thing as rant when we don’t like what we do, but when it thrills you, no one can stop you. Will the global financial crisis stop me from upgrading our gear? I doubt it if there’s no big reason for it. Will my aching arms and feet stop me from getting the best angle for one single photo? Again it is a no. Will your aching shoulders, stop me from bringing 1 flash, 1 camera, 3 lenses, 6 batteries , lens hood and a diffuser to maximize the use of my DSLR? It is an unending no my friends for I am happy with what I do. I am fulfilled every time I squeeze that shutter release with my index finger. I am delighted for every breath taking photo that I have made. All for the love of Photography! If you, my fellow photographer, haven’t felt yet, numbness and pain from your fingers to shoulder blade in your shooting arm, then, I guess you have not shot enough.

When do I stop? I stop only when God asks me to. I stop only in my dire need to stop. But today, I am firm..there’s no stopping. But I hope to have a budget for a new external hard drive. Darn these hard drives, they get easily full when you shoot raw! LOL!

My day has really ended with the best thing I love to do..Unlike the bird, my best love is photography. Before I end, I am thinking, of all the pains of being a photographer, do our DSLR ever rant? Well, in my case, if Nikky can just speak, she would have long told me, "Jay, you love me yet you overuse and abuse me". All I can say is thank you Nikky and thank you Nikon for being at the heart of my images.

Thank you O God for photography and your perfect creation! 

Always your One Shot, One Kill Photographer,
Jay

Canon or Nikon, is it really a big deal?

I'm not writing to wage war on which is the better camera. I only want to set the record straight of all outstanding debacles on this two rival camera makers. I am a part of a lot of photogroups in multiply and same issue comes up. In my flickr group, flickristasindios, there was also one! I can't help but just laugh out this unsettled debate. Funny, how the thread in indios went..does canon have a blender? LOL! does nikon have a printer? does canon have a microscope? LOL! Really a never ending war! hahahaha.

I'm not saying I was not a part of all this chaos, though, I would like to admit, I have grown up. As I mature in this photographic exploits of mine, I realized, does it really matter? We all love our camera, and we all have reasons why we have such as our chosen gear to love. I love photography, no doubt about it but what awakened my sleeping passion for it was my friend Jo. I have chosen nikon because of her, inspired her great photos and d40x which she gladly have me use before along with her expensive lens. Sadly, she is sick and can hardly shoot nowadays. I hope and pray you get well soon dear. How about you? Why did you choose such? Was it just because of technology? The latest model? Whatever your camera is, make good use of it. It doesn't matter if it is a Canon or a Nikon, what matters is if you know how to use it. Maximizing its potential thru your mastery of its metering, focusing, exposure and focus locks, exposure modes, light meter, histogram and so on. Not all who have cutting edge equipment can justify its cost by their work. There are a lot who uses a d40 or a 450d who have better photos than that of 50d/d90 users. Well, of course with the exception of the newbies as your first 10,000 shots are believed to be your worst.

For all those planning to get a DSLR, posting a thread "Canon or Nikon" is not advisable. It creates an unharmonious relationships between photographers. Decide for yourself, it's time to grow up and make every decision of yours count. Accept it if you made the wrong choice or not. But the bottomline is, everything is not about the camera.

Lastly, I still want a Nikon no matter what. This will be my next acquisition if I can tolerate it, I just don't know when! Perhaps, May! Bonus time!!!



I take it from Tirong, my fellow flickristasindios.."wala akong pakialam sa camera mo." Haha. So long folks!

Cheers,
Jay

Let There Be Peace On Earth - Vince Gill