Age is A Number...

You get irritated easily. You worry about your health. You try to tick everything off your "Bucket List". You think that your generation is a lot better than today's generation in terms of music, culture, playtime, social behavior and just about anything. Ah yes, how times have changed.

As I look into my wonderful (?) blog and get that warm fuzzy feeling on my posts, I realize my anger on almost anything that I would rant. I am slightly embarrassed that I would say something like that, although there are still some posts that I firmly stand on. That's why I tried to be objective rather than subjective recently. Have I mellowed out? Yeah, you could say that. But why? Age does that to you.

As you grow older, when your age no longer belongs to any of the dates on the calendar, you realize that the things that you are ranting about are just a waste of your time. You care less about the bullsh*t on the world and prioritize on security, health and family. So does this mean that you regret those things? Heck no.

Like Eminem when he was really famous back in the early 2000s, he said some nasty things about his Mother, Homosexuals and just about anything he can stab at. Fast forward a few years later, his music has direction. He wrote a song apologizing to his mother. He performed his hit song "Stan" Live with Elton John, a famous homosexual. He keeps on saying on his music that he hopes that he is helping today's bullied kids that they are not alone. His music is still angry, but not fuming mad. That's what I feel right now. Sometimes you need an outlet for your anger to know yourself and find meaning to your life.

Wow. You know, I never ever thought I would be something like this, like an Ex-Con who found Peace, A Purpose. I guess I found out that there are some things that you cannot take control of, that you just have to let it slide instead of ranting about it and be labeled as a "Le Douchebag". 

Well, we could go with a few liberties, like I can poke some things, things that a lot of people can agree on (like Traffic at EDSA, perhaps?) so-funny-because-it's-true (observations at public commutes) and the like. As I would like to think, be like Eminem: Angry, but not Furious.

Next time maybe I'll try to be like Bruce Lee.

- "the king"

Rant Resurgence

                    

 - It can be very difficult to make another post about ranting about society's problems, but all one can do is check any social media and watch yourself roll your eyes countless times.

- Selfies, Check-Ins, Trolling, Sharing Useless stories ( not unless it's 8fact or 9gag.com ) taking pictures of EVERYTHING and liking your own status update or photo are what comprises of Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram and almost any social media websites.

- But in every "lemon", there is always a "peach" in those websites, like Traffic or weather updates, inspirational stories and quotes, your best friend getting engaged/ promoted/ giving birth and free links to recent movies does make checking out your profile worth it.

- I do love this photo blog, called The Social Climber, that pokes fun at people who are in need of a good smack to the head for being too full of themselves. Do check it out if you have the time.

- That aside, I've seen the comic strip that replaced Pugad Baboy in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, and... the humor is just not there. It's like you get it, but it's just missing a comic flair. Inquirer is missing a large hole in their comic strip department.

- I also remembered a dialogue from The Walking Dead writer/ creator Robert Kirkman that the comic book industry needs to create all-new characters and all-new stories. Writers and artists need to stop making a 37th version of Batman and start making a new character altogether.

an original character by Jamal Yaseem Igle.
Be like this guy. 

- Fast food restaurants need to have diversity in their menus. Or at least have McDonalds' menus be more than just Chicken and Burgers.

- All reality shows ( Billy the Exterminator, Storage Wars, Cake Boss, Pawn Stars, Wheeler Dealers, Amercian Chopper, WipeOut, Survivor, Toy Hunter ) have some form of "scripted situations" that make these TV shows watchable. As long as you accept that, you'll be fine. I mean, just look at Brandi Passante alone.. HOTCHA!!!

- South Korean "accidental" model Jinri Park should go back to the Philippines after her DJ job, 2 Photobooks and several magazine appearances and a TV gig made her famous here. Going
back to the roots, as they say.

- Politics? I said this again, and I'll say it again:  Flying F*ck Politics

- And since I love railroads since they remind me of winding road that has been a recurring image on my "The Torpe Road" series ( start reading the famous series HERE) , here is a beautifully-shot picture of model Susan Coffey ( psstt.. check out her Facebook page HERE or her deviantart HERE.

- "the king"

A Clueless Guy's Experience on a DSLR Photoshoot

"DI PORKE'T NAKA-SLR KA PHOTOGRAPHER KA..."

"YOU'RE NOT A PHOTOGRAPHER, YOU'RE JUST A KID WITH AN EXPENSIVE CAMERA"

"PURO KA AYOS NG SETTINGS NG DSLR MO, MAKUKUHANAN MO PA BA AKO SA SUNSET???"


Often that's what you would usually hear when someone's taking pictures using a DSLR ( digital single-lens reflex ) camera. They would lug their 5-pound camera, go crazy over the fixing of the settings like shutter speed, focus, which lens to use, aperture etc. and take almost anything they would deem as artistic. That is what usually one encounters as someone who has a hobby or someone seeking a professional job like this, but when you would look at it, every kind of hobby does get it's share of critics. Everybody's a critic, or I should say everybody CAN be a critic...

So I was surprised when I was given a chance to observe a photoshoot last Saturday by my college friends. They were supposed to be just taking photos of the sunset on the Baywalk area at the SM Mall of Asia, but my reliable friend got a "booking" from a model that they know previously and she agreed to meet us there. Imagine this: me, the most-hated ( well, probably ) person in the blogging community ( again, I'm just speculating... ) in an event that is most likely to test my ranting skills ( or skillz, even... ).

But no, I'm not one to rant senselessly this time, I'm already past that stage ( ? ) and felt that writing about what I've observed and take pictures of a "behind-the-scenes look" and what I can learn from my friends seemed a better blog post, especially with DSLR Photography drawing some flak from anyone that is able to type on a keyboard.

We met their model a bit late in the evening in a burger restaurant, and found out that the shoot is free of charge. It turns out my friend scours Facebook for any potential models with no money involved, willing to pose in front of a camera  for portfolio purposes or for something to add to their Facebook photo album. They would identify themselves as serious photographers and ask for a photoshoot appointment. Some would decline, others would agree and the "models" would refer them to their friends and in turn they could hone their photography skills better. There are instances where you can "see a lot more" from your model "anatomically" but you just have to be professional in the strictest sense or suffer the circumstances ( like a sexual harassment suit, for example )

Truth be told, there are some photographers that tag along in a photoshoot just to take pics of chicks ( wow that rhymes!!! ). You could almost get away with it w/ just a a few snapshots. But then I realized that this is also an art form in itself. It takes years of practice and dedication just to take the perfect shot, to know when to use a setting or a different set of lens. I remember the late rapper Francis Magalona having some really great photo-compositions during his time on an Elite Photography Club. I told that to my friends and they said that for every 1 or 2 good picture that you have, you have 150-300 bad ones. Which is why it is best to take a lot of snapshots to get a lot of good shots ratio.

After a brief introduction with the model and digesting some of the patties and assorted onions and lettuces that we ate, my friends took some quick shots with the model at the Baywalk area, often fooling around with the shots and making quick jokes and all. One of my friends told me that this is something like a "dry run" before the serious one. It's like checking what setting works for that particular day and all. After a few minutes of the "dry run" I immediately noticed the seriousness of the shoot, so I just observed and helped carry some of their stuff.

I asked my friend if the photographer or the model is the one who suggests what pose to take. He said it's both. I saw that on this photoshoot my friends are the one asking what pose to take for the model. One of my friends also told me that to get what you want from the model, you also need to have that mood as well. That means you must be happy if you want the model to be happy, a bit serious if you want the model to be serious, etc.

Usually photographers go to great lengths just to get the right shot. I find that true in their photoshoot. They would ignore the large number of people in the Baywalk area and their self-being for that "shot of the day". I mean they would crouch or sit on the pavement like this:

Just to get something like this:

Speaking of shots, my friends also told me that most photographers edit their photos first before showing it to the world. Nothing really drastic, really, just a few crops, resizing, lighting and some slight fixing of the  features of the model using a photo-editing software. ( Heck, I edited all of these photos you see here on my iPhone... ) And most importantly, they would place their "signature" on the photos, because very artist knows credit is very important.

So there. at the end of the day, they were happy with their photoshoot and I learned a lot from the photographer's POV. I became humbled from the experience and remembered the famous saying "Don't judge someone until you've walked a thousand miles under their shoes". Who knows, maybe one of these days I would buy my own DSLR and also take photos of some models. If I could contain my libido, that is.

Maybe I should take yoga or tai chi as well first...

- "the king"  

Ranting 101

While it can be pretty easy to make fun of anything that you saw or heard, it can be difficult to to do it  responsibly... There are the ire of people who watch your every move or someone who is against it in the first place. Believe me, I've had my share of violent reactions on my posts. While I could brand them as "jerk" or "b*tchin' mother**ckers", I realized that they have their own opinion, and you have to respect that.

Opinion. Responsibility. Those are words that are often tossed around that is taken for granted. But when given a lot of thought they have a lot of weight that they can be very powerful allies on writing. Or anything that you firmly believe in. As a seasoned (?) blogger here are some tips that you can use next time you have something to say: 

- Use the "WHY?"

   

 A normal citizen would just say that "this suckz LOLz" but a responsible or well-versed person would say          "this sucks, here's why... Too often we never give out a reason why we hate this, against it, etc. and just say something immature (*cough* 9gag). Giving out a reason would at least give more weight to your opinion. 

- Two Sides of A Coin

No matter how much you hate a certain subject, always give out good points, no matter obscene it is. Give the reader something that they can (partially) agree on and would make your conviction better.

- Cite Examples

It doesn't really have to be something that needs reference (but must not be entirely fabricated) but it's better if you give out situations and similar statements from fellow bloggers. Just to let lazy people who care less about other blogs know that you are not alone.

Just to give an example of "responsible ranting" (if ever there is one) here are some instances:

I'm sure she will get her just desserts for fooling a nation, but she 

made a very big impression being president for 9 years. Plus, 

she made neck braces fashionable. 

A very well-versed man. He had his shortcomings and can be a jerk, 

but you can't help but listen to him. And you can say that you

more manlier than him...

 I'm sure the Santiagos have every reason to attack Tulfo,

what with their privacy and all, it's just that it is very 

improper to use force in that situation. 

Some say that he just wanted to remove Western influences on a Muslim nation, 

and that is a noble cause. But his methods of sending a message is wrong.

His 12-inch 20,000php ++ action figure is pretty cool, though.

See you next post, b*tches...

-"the king"