"smile, it's me Amani..."

"... Mateen's day to rock"

"... what now?!?"

what now?!? (iPhone)

12/14/09 will be remembered as the official day Photo A180 ended! Mixed emotions of sorts; go home early and not camp out in the dark room, no assignments to turn in vs. sleepless nights of conceptualizing the next project and cutting window mat boards. These are the things that I have to go through every day for the past 3 months.. my life was A180, I breathe and live (and smell) A180! Ask my wife if I existed from September 2009 - December 2009 and she'd probably say "Who's Maurice?".

Just like elementary school where every child is excited to get done with school and spend summer somewhere else... I felt otherwise. I was not the first student to jump off my seat bolting out the door, nor did you see a genuine smile when asked "are you happy this is over?". I was sad to know that this run is now over. When I can clearly remember not wanting to sign Agatha's contract to be part of this class, to dropping this subject on week 2 to get my full refund. I now look back 13 weeks after to ask myself "How did I get through this class?" and "Why did I stick around for 11 more weeks?" when I have pretty much decided my faith of not continuing. Why go through long nights at the dark room; hustling and jostling to get your prints done... calling in Monday afternoon to get a low reservation number, to checking the studio schedule to make sure you secure one. Why bother make friends with people in the cage who are actually amazing people to know. Why burn away your Saturday scheduling a remote shoot and after run back to school to process your films. Why... why... why?

It was plain and simple... Family. I've meet great people in this class that it did not feel like school atmosphere, instead it was a family gathering less the dining table. It was the feeling that you know someone has your back, that if you fall behind... rest assured someone is there to pick you up. Agatha has become an amazing "mother" making sure everyone becomes successful with their responsibilities as her "sons" and "daughters". My family had one cool and collected brother (Ricky), a sister who neutralizes our emotions (Shannon), and a sister who is driven and motivated to make this family successful (Lan).


I am glad to have met all of them, and be part of this family which not only existed in school... but will continue to exist as we take our own journey's in life.

... now what? It does feel weird - coming home early, no shoots or assignments to worry about, the smell or developer/fixer on your fingers (my fingers tend to smell more - thanks to that leaking film canister!), the line at the cage.

I guess I have to savor the temporary month vacation before I go back to school on February. 'Till then... I will miss you guys... and see you all in school!

* Stay tuned... I will continue to keep my blog updated :)

"thou shall not photograph a duck..."

Lake Arrowhead 2009 (iPhone)

Well, photography guru told me not to shoot "a duck"... so I am shooting "a group of ducks". Hahaha!

... this one's for you Duck Lady!!!

"...weekend planning 101"

How to enjoy your weekend (after A180)

1. Drive to Lake Arrowhead

2. Wake up to this...

Lake Arrowhead 2009 (iPhone)

3. Hit the double diamonds!

Snow Summit 2009 (iPhone)

4. Relax and enjoy the ride :)

"... a lesson for flying outside the box"

Paper Airplane, Michael McMillan (iPhone)

It's been a while since I last cleaned my office space. I normally do a monthly routine on getting my stuff organized, however being occuppied with school and life hindered me from doing so. Today however, I found something that caught my attention. People who know me well attest that I am no bookworm.

I found this book entitled "Paper Airplane: A Lesson for Flying Outside the Box" by Michael McMillan sitting in my drawer. I do remember seeing this book 5 years ago when I first started working at my current job. I decided to borrow it for me to read. Well, it sat in the darkness for 5 long years and now has seen the light. It's no accident that I found this book again as I have been contemplating to re-acquaint myself in reading.

I promise to share what I have learned after my read just like school... remember book report :)

"... rainy days and Mondays!!!"

".... walking around, some kind of a lonely clown, rainy days and Mondays always get me down"

I wish I was a fish so I wouldn't worry about getting wet, or busting out my umbrella. Wonder if they get cold too?

"hello winter..."

As I bid farewell to another Summer that blew by faster than expected, today I have embraced Winter the way I wanted it to be. Paula and I went to Snow Summit to start our snowboard season. Conditions were amazingly great considering it was still "off peak". We were zipping through lines, shredding the mountains with no obstacles ahead of us. We're sore... but good sore! Off to more mountains; Big Bear for December... Whistler for January... Mammoth sometime next year. Woot!

"... the island"

Tagaytay, Philippines

I guess I'm just an Island boy after all :)

"... let's party"

Boracay, Philippines

Good news... I'm coming home for Ricky and Divina's wedding at one of the island beaches of Philippines. Bad news... my wife is not coming with me :(

Ricky and Divina has been one of our good friends both at church and at photography school. They will be tying the knot on January of 2010. I've promised them that I will be there, and my flight is almost finalized to leave and witness their special day!

See you guys soon :)

"... forever young"

Forever Young by Alphaville

Let's dance in style, lets dance for a while

Heaven can wait we're only watching the skies

Hoping for the best but expecting the worst

Are you going to drop the bomb or not?

Let us die young or let us live forever

We don't have the power but we never say never

Sitting in a sandpit, life is a short trip

The music's for the sad men

Can you imagine when this race is won

Turn our golden faces into the sun

Praising our leaders we're getting in tune

The music's played by the madman

Forever young, i want to be forever young

Do you really want to live forever, forever forever

Forever young, i want to be forever young

Do you really want to live forever

Forever young

Some are like water, some are like the heat

Some are a melody and some are the beat

Sooner or later they all will be gone

Why don't they stay young

It's so hard to get old without a cause

I don't want to perish like a fading horse

Youth is like diamonds in the sun

And diamonds are forever

So many adventures couldn't happen today

So many songs we forgot to play

So many dreams are swinging out of the blue

We let them come true

Forever young, i want to be forever young

Do you really want to live forever, forever forever

Forever young, i want to be forever young

Do you really want to live forever forever forever

Forever young, i want to be forever young

Do you really want to live forever, forever forever

Forever young, i want to be forever

"without a paddle..."

"almost there..."

Paula waiting patiently

My memory has failed me a lot of times, yet I remember clearly what Ms. Agatha forewarned her A180 (Introduction To Professional Photography) students - "Do your laundry, change your car oil, do what you need to do... once this class starts, it's all about A180". She wasn't kidding that's for sure! I remember sitting at the back of the class on day 1 being given the option of signing a binding contract, a contract to be part of her class. I looked around and saw everyone signing their life away, only expression I had was "are you freaking kidding me?!?"... I was tempted to autograph as Jacob Black or Edward Cullen at one point.

I jokingly tell my class and friends that I have filled for temporary separation from my wife since I rarely see her. Photography has consumed most of my life that at times, I have forgotten to cut my hair, or get a clean shave. At times my full time job of being a number cruncher has suffered too.

Well... I am almost there! 2 weeks to go and my life goes back to normal. It will be a sad day come final week of school as I have loved the A180 class so much, I have made amazing friendships, I have been part of a supporting family, and I have been under the wings/supervision of a great mentor.

Would I take A180 again just for fun? You betcha! ... would I recommend this class? For sure! Would I forget A180? It has a special place in my life and heart...

"... art of bouldering"

Terrence, Corona Del Mar

My cousin knew I used to climb. I did well at it as my spidey/monkey senses kick in whenever I get strapped, and smell the climbing chalk. This day was different... Terrence never told me they climb with no ropes. That for me is like climbing naked; I have fear of heights for crying out loud.

That day, I decided to just shoot away despite the want of climbing. My senses told me otherwise.

"... no vacancy"

Space for one more?

NO VACANCY... I was excited to enroll for Spring '10 semester, to be greeted with "0" slot available for "Fashion Photography" class. It's all good, I am for sure petitioning for this class. Go Fashionista!

"... meet Fabrizio"

Fabrizio of EF1 Motorsports (photo taken by Lan Nguyen)

Fabrizio of EF1 Motorsports was kind enough to become my next victim... of being photographed for my Environmental Portrait assignment. After being declined 3 times, I was a bit weary if I would be able to find someone to shoot for this assignment. Turns out, one of the founders of DPE Wheels Jojo Cagungun, knew a mechanic where most of his wheels and cars are being serviced. Jojo knew I got turned down a couple of times by other mechanics, and when he said he will help me find one... he was not kidding.

Fabrizio's garage was what I envisioned from the start; car lifts, dollies, tires, cherry picker, engines, and power tools. The photography team came down there as planned, talked to Fabrizio, and scouted for locations. Fabrizio was kind enough to let us roam the garage despite his people working on different projects (the only thing we couldn't do is to go under the car lifts). The shoot lasted for an hour and a half, no strobes/tungsten needed due to skylights... must I say that I love skylights!

My heartfelt gratitude to Jojo of DPE Wheels, Fabrizio of EF1 Motorsports, and Lan for assisting me with this project.

"photog wanted... photog spoted"

Can you spot the photographer in this photo?

"pray hard, work hard..."

"... walk with me"

Shot this at probably one of the lowest point in my A180 school. I felt helpless and useless with all the rolls I have shot for one of my project. Nothing creative was coming out from me at one point, it was a "PHD" feeling... Press Here Dummy! I started questioning myself, seeking for answers how to solve what I was experiencing. At 11:00 pm... I decided to take a walk around our neighborhood. I carried with me "Bella" (501 Hasselblad) and walked to wherever the road leads me. I told my wife to find me in case I do not come back around 12:30 am just to be on the safe side. Upon my "journey", I encountered this bridge. I have been planning to shoot this bridge before but never had the time and opportunity. Then I realized that sometimes in my life, answers are very elusive to find... yet I just need to take a moment and not force the issue. It took me at least 2 years to shoot this bridge until that night. My plan to shoot it never was meant to be, and yet I was able to shoot it at the least expected moment...

"zen ROCKS!..."