Lone Photowalk with the Jupiter-9 (Feb. 12, 2011)

[cmontoya]

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I finally had time to test the manual focus lens Jupiter-9 85mm f/2. It was also my first time to do a photowalk downtown alone. I wasn't scared at all. I was scared to ask the pretty Chinese lady in Sto. Nino whether I could take her photo though. Ha ha. I lost my touch.

In-Camera

1. Daylight
2. Aperture @ F/4

Lightroom 2

1. Exposure correction (but not all)
2. Default tone curve: medium contrast (except for some that were backlit)

Adobe Bridge
Batch save as smaller size JPG files (quality: eight)

Weakness: Haze T_T

I have a total of 29 photos to share so I hope you guys don't mind if I share them all gradually.

Please visit my flickr page if you want to see the larger versions: Flickr: carlo_montoya's Photostream

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1 A boy and one very big fish. Captured inside Fort San Pedro.



2 These lanterns would probably look better at night when they're lit (obviously).



3 This building must have been shot hundreds of thousands of times by different tourists. Sigh, only if I could be so popular. Ha ha.



4 The customary flower shot. I like flowers.



5 I always shoot chains when I can. I don't know why I like them.



6 I noticed that old lenses produce the best yellows compared with modern lenses. That or it's just my imagination.



7 I assume these are those fibre-optic light thingies. Also a good candidate for low light photography.



8 Guess whose feet are those. Do I have clean toenails? They say women look at those too to identify potential mates.



9 Another flower shot. Didn't I just say I like them.



10 I took a photo of this guy while he was taking a photo of me. He must have found me attractive.

[cmontoya]

Here's set 2/3 of the lone photowalk

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11 This blind man sang,

"I walk along the city streets you used to walk along with me, and every step I take reminds me of just how we used to be.
Well, how can I forget you, girl?
When there is always something there to remind me. Always something there to remind me. ..." (joke)

I gave the fella 20 bucks for making me feel young again.



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12 The belltower of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral. I've never been inside one. It would be great to ask for permission to go up there huh?



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13 Do angels really have wings? If they're real, they're said to travel at the speed of thought so I doubt they need wings.



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14 This man looked like he has a BIG problem. And when people have BIG problems, they ask God for help. I'm at an age when I question things about the universe. Why are we here? What happens when we die? If there is no heaven, then what's stopping all people from living an 'evil' life. Life can be so mundane but it can also be so mysterious. I need answers to many questions myself. I need to know the truth so I can be set free.



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15 I wonder if this is what Jesus really looked like. According to the Bible, he had an unremarkable countenance. He was ordinary looking. He certainly didn't look like Brad Pitt.



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16 Religious statues give me the creeps. I must be watching too many horror movies.



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17 I so love the design of this wall lamp. It's truly a work of art.



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18 "I had to pay the woman who owns these two bucks (1 buck per candle) to 'pray' for me. She didn't even ask for my name so I don't know how that would help me. I don't even know how divine intervention is supposed to work. Does a deity influence people's thoughts? Like, ""Hey, Carlo's boss, give him a salary of 1 million pesos per month." I certainly doubt that.



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19 I consider this one of my best captures to date. He he.



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20 One of the many old women selling prayers. Can't people just pray directly to whatever deity they believe in?

[dbgg1979]

Carl, thanks for sharing and I love the series, specially set 2/3. I like the photos and the message you have in your caption.

I also do solo photo walks down town, my own version of a get away and get unplugged from the busy weekdays.

[nyabinghi]

Here's set 2/3 of the lone photowalk


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14 This man looked like he has a BIG problem. And when people have BIG problems, they ask God for help. I'm at an age when I question things about the universe. Why are we here? What happens when we die? If there is no heaven, then what's stopping all people from living an 'evil' life. Life can be so mundane but it can also be so mysterious. I need answers to many questions myself. I need to know the truth so I can be set free.

@Carlo: Kani bai, Nindot ni. Thanks for Sharing.

[cmontoya]

@Brian: Thank you for visiting. I'm still getting used to the focal length of 85mm. It's definitely not for a 'group hug'. Lisod na gani ko fit ni Mama Mary ug ni Sto. Nino. As for the captions, well, graphics and text go hand in hand. I can do without the text but I'd also like viewers to know my feelings, opinions, etc., to put the photos in context so to speak. While pictures speak a thousand words, a picture with a few words speak millions.

I invited some newbie photographers in our office to join me but they probably had prior commitments. I prefer company during photowalks but not too many. 2-5 is enough, otherwise, we'll get in each other's frame or we talk more than we shoot, he he.

@nyabinghi: Thank yo for dropping by too. I like photos like these too but I didn't take too many of them as I'm still earning to focus properly with the new lens. I've read that it's great to also do a "photosit". Just sit or standby in one location and shoot events as they happen. One doesn't have to 'walk' to do street photography. I might just do this next time. The intersection of Colon and Juan Luna would be a perfect start. I hope I can do this with you guys sometime in the near future?

[hayden]

I never had the courage to do a lone photowalk in the streets of colon. Nice set boss carlo

[cmontoya]

@hayden: It was still morning. I'm not sure if I'd have the courage to ply the same route at 10pm to 3am. Kani mga orasa daghan pud makita na dili makita daywalkers Dapat naa ta kuyog naa licensed .45 cal or maski 9mm, he he.

[cmontoya]

Last set of this series. It was fun taking out the Jupiter-9. I'll probably still use next time because I still need to get used to it.

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21 "F is for friends who do stuff together
U is for you and me
N is for anywhere and anytime at all down here in the deep blue sea"



22 Pay for a candle, light it, and pray. I just don't get it.



23 Reusable schmucking machine. Just buy these candles once, collect the melted ones, and make new candles. Man, I should start my own religion.



24 I chanced upon a feeding program near Magellan's Cross. People really need help but for some reason only a few really do something about it. I for one am a confused bastiche. I want t help but I don't know how. I'm not rich and even if I do help, will I get something out of it except a "good" feeling. If there's no heaven, where will I get a reward for doing good deeds. Ha ha.



25 Another recipient of the feeding program. She's one of the many dancing prayer ladies in yellow. I don't know what makes them different from the others. Probably Cory Aquino's fans. Tie a yellow ribbon…



26 Ooh, crayons.



27 A stamp maker's hands.



28 The owner of the hands. He was kind enough to let me shoot him while he's working. His friends kept teasing him to smile.



29 A shot from inside a jeepney. I wanted to shoot the cute college student in front of me but I didn't feel particularly brave today plus it would be dangerous for me to initiate some kind of conversation with single ladies alone. The temptation would be too great to start playing with fire. Mwa ha ha.



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[arisarnado]

kuyog na ko sa sunod boss carl, the zenit 11 has arrived

[edwin_sn]

nice set bai