OSB DIGITAL
BASIC PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP

(COURSE OUTLINE)
INTRODUCTION TO PHOTOGRAPHY
PHOTOGRAPHY AND PHOTOJOURNALISM DEFINED
KNOWING YOUR CAMERA
TRINITY OF A GOOD EXPOSURE
UNDERSTANDING LIGHT AND SPEED
COMPOSING AN IMAGE – RULE OF THIRDS – LINES – SHAPES - COLORS
HANDS ON PHOTOSHOOT
CRITIQUE OF THE PHOTOSHOOT
(END)

AN INVITATION TO JOIN 

Owen S. Bayog (Photojournalist) is inviting you to join his POINT AND SHOOT (Basic Photography Workshop) here in Bacolod City. The Pocket Workshop will enjoin all photography enthusiasts that have basic photography tools, such as point and shoot and DSLR cameras. The workshop aims to boost the shooting skills of the photographers/hobbyists/enthusiasts without having to take out deep from their pockets. The workshop fee is pegged at P500/participant and the location/venue of the workshop will be sent only to those who will register and willing to join the said activity.

Unlike other photography workshops, we will not take a lot of time sitting on a classroom venue for hours of lecture – instead we would like you to shoot photos and later on have it assessed by the group. 

Discussions and hands on photoshoot, knowing the capacity of your gear and how one could get the optimum value of the images that it could make. Composition, knowing the light source and emphasis on the elements of a good photo will be the highlight of the workshop.

HOW TO JOIN AND RESERVE A SLOT

The Basic Photography workshop dubbed as “POINT AND SHOOT” will only cater to 10 participants. Interested individuals may confirm their attendance by sending an email to rem.ibrado.bayog@gmail.com.
You may also confirm via SMS – 09232489977/09199613997/09179282488.

MODE OF PAYMENT

Participants joining the workshop may pay in cash at the determined date and venue of the workshop.

Note: The organizers of this activity will rely on the responses gathered after a week of promoting this activity. Venue for the said workshop will be sent to your email/facebook when the target number of participants (10) will be reached.

"Na'nam, A Feast of Negrense Flavors" A Window of Opportunity for Bacolod

I remembered a casual conversation with a friend about Bacolod Tourism and how it could be boosted.  It’s actually mind-boggling for me as I can see that there is only quite a limited number of tourist destination/s (I’m not sure whether to use the plural form coz I can’t think of any as of this writing…).  As far as I know, Bacolod is a liveable city and has ammenities for conventions & seminars, PERIOD. 

Chicken w/ quail Eggs Wrapped in
Tugabang Home-made Dough

Until I remembered, “Hey, idle me! Tourism is not only about beaches and high-end recreation facilities! It could also mean other things!” And thus,  it came to me that here in Bacolod, we offer superb dishes that could melt the hearts of guests from neighboring provinces and even nearby countries for that matter. Pushing a  little bit more  and Bacolod can take off as the “Adventurous and Distinctive Palate’s destination.”

Recently, I was asked by my husband Owen to check out a local cooking competition since he knows I’m really into food. Since it’s my day off, I decided to tag along. It turned out to be the newest cooking competition category initiated by The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Negros Occ (HRANO) called of "Na'nam, A Feast of Negrense Flavors".  It was no ordinary cooking “show” where we just get to see how the common chicken/pork/beef dishes are prepared.  It was challenging because the participants, consisting of not only culinary students but also catering experts,were to use local produce such as Ubad (core of a banana stalk), Takway(gabi shoots), Kadyos (pigeon pea)  and Tugabang (jute leaves),veggies that can easily be found in any market here in Bacolod.

"KBL"

"KBB"

I was amazed of how they concocted unique dishes from these rather regular vegetables.  They were able to enhance the flavor of each ingredient and my gosh, the dishes looked spectacular! It’s as if I’m sitting on a classy restaurant, a bit hesitant to try the food so as not to distort the beauty of its presentation.   

The regular KBL (Kadyos, Baboy, Langka) was greatly modified by the cooking enthusiasts. One used crispy liempo instead of the regular boiled pork. Another KBL became KBB (Kadyos, Baboy, Balagay (winged beans). There was also a one of a kind dish called Chicken w/ quail Eggs Wrapped in Tugabang Home-made Dough.  I wouldn’t have thought tugabang would be a tasty herb in bread until I tried this.  And how about the Takway with Mashed Kamoteng Kahoy in Taro/Sampaloc & Taro Kamias Bud Sauce.  It would easily beat mashed potatoes anytime!


The Participants had their taste of excitement, as they waited the result as to who will be the ones to vie for the first prize of P5,000 + Plaque. One thing I noticed though was that everyone seemed to have a good time especially the students who were there to share their creativity and culinary potentials. I guess it wasn't really the prize but most of all the camaraderie they experience with their peers as they work hand in hand in creating their respective masterpieces.  5 Finalists were chosen and will be competing on the final cooking showdown to be held at Robinson's Place Bacolod on March 5, 2PM.

Ubad Bola-Bola in Sweet & Spicy Sauce

This event has certainly opened new possibilities to Bacolod. If we can concoct a wide variety of dishes that would become Bacolod’s array of specialties (other than the famous Chicken Inasal and Piaya of course), in no time, Bacolod will be more famous not just in October for the Masskara Festival but all year round.


Two thumbs up to the organizers of this competition.  May this event be a gateway to all those who have “magical ladles” that they may share their culinary expertise and who knows? Their dishes may be the key to a brighter tourism business of the City of Smiles. Happy Thoughts. :D

Photo Credits: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Owen-Segovia-Bayog-Digital-Photography-OSB-Digital/165973370085590

Junior ProScrappers (Do They Have A Choice?)

Owen and I were wandering the streets on an early morning drive when we saw a crowd of like 30 on an uneven vacant lot along the road.  as a photojournalist's instinct, Owen decided to stop and further observe on what the hullabaloo is all about.  After a few minutes, a private dump truck arrived and then there was chaos.  They were actually "Pro-Scappers" waiting for the golden loot to fall on their feet.  It was dangerous enough to see them walk either barefoot or with just very thin slippers for they might walk on sharp, rusty metals, more so the sight of riskier scrappers who mightily stand  facing the back of the truck just to be first in line to get their hands on the "finest merchandize".   Such a typical scene of a daily scavenger hunt.

But wait, something was wrong. I saw unwanted characters in this sight of the daily grind. Children as young as two were all over the place. Some were even playing as if they were just on a local playground.  The slightly older ones were carrying metal scraps and seemed to be in a hurry to secure their bounty and go back to explore some more.

I was engaged on small talk with Jun, one of the locals and he mentioned that these children are already "pro-scrappers".  I was surprised that there was a term for this job and even more aghast that there is no age limit to be qualified for this position. 

These children are supposed to be in school if not then what are free public schools for? They may be outstanding in arithmetic (thanks to the very early exposure on the buy-and-sell business) but what about other things like better comprehension and a possibility to grab a scholarship when they graduate in high school in the future?

Jun said that some of the parents prefer to take their kids out of the school zone and instead include them in their business arm so that they can earn more if more "staff" can find loot for the family. Who doesn't want to earn 600 -700 a day, tax-free anyway? But what they failed to realize is the danger they are exposing their children not just to tetanus but also death. 

I understand that 700 is 700.  Who doesn't want to earn more in the crisis that we're all facing.  But as parents, please, let's not forget our responsibility to our children.  We did not bring them to these world to be our assistants.  We have the obligation to provide for them, nourish them, educate them and the list goes on and on and on.  

It may be too late to lecture on responsible reproduction but it is never too late to correct our approach in ensuring our children's safety and future. 

The said dumpsite will be closed by its owners next month so goodbye 700.  and so the search for a new profitable location begins.  I hope these adults have saved enough to sustain their needs until they find their New Canaan.  As for these children, the best of luck. I know that they are learning about life the hard way but I do hope that they will cease the tradition and become good parents when they grow up, good enough to know what parental responsibility is all about. 

Photos by: Owen Segovia Bayog

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Owen-Segovia-Bayog-Digital-Photography-OSB-Digital/165973370085590

Thinking Out Loud (Reposted)

(I wrote this last year as an advice to my then, broken hearted daughter in an attempt to give her a piece of my mind…that there is more to a man than just his looks or popularity.  I am now sharing this to everyone as we celebrate Valentine’s Day. A reminder to those in love as well as to those who are still in search for one.)

"Find a guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot, who calls you back when you hang up on him, who will lie under the stars and listen to your heartbeat, or will stay awake just to watch you sleep... wait for the boy who kisses your forehead, who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats, who holds your hand in front of his friends, who thinks you' re just as pretty without makeup on. One who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares and how lucky he is to have YOU... The one who turns to his friends and says, “that’s her..."

I came across this quote amongst the hundreds that were posted and this made me pause and assess if this makes sense or not. 

I don't usually write about my thoughts but this, I consider to be something that is with great urgency and needs to be shared and pondered upon.

When we were little girls, we used to love fairy tales, always dreaming of finding our prince charming and live happily ever after. We would picture our true love to be the most handsome, dashing, sweet and brave knight that would sweep us off our feet. We actually believed that the cute guy-next-door character in romantic novels would make us the happiest. But lo and behold, this is not true all the time.

At my age, (I'm 37 by the way), I have proven this to be fictitious and absurd. It doesn't follow that if one is harmless-looking, charming and smart, he can make his woman happy. Looks can really be deceiving. And the ugly truth about it is a lot of women are still into this unrealistic vision of what they want their partners to be.

"Find a guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot..."Being "hot" fades in no time, faster for those who can't afford botox and lipo. Being beautiful is timeless because he sees through you and not just your temporary physical attributes.

"Find a guy...who calls you back when you hang up on him..." A guy calling back shows not only patience but also has the ability to sense that she only demands importance and wants her point to be heard.

"Find a guy...who will lie under the stars and listen to your heartbeat, or will stay awake just to watch you sleep..." This may be cheesy, especially to the teenagers nowadays, but they fail to see how a man can spend a lot of minutes or even hours of being inactive, without expecting any responsive gains, for as long as he is beside his love.

"wait for the boy who kisses your forehead, who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats, who holds your hand in front of his friends, who thinks you' re just as pretty without makeup on." This is not entirely for the sake of showing you off as a trophy. PDA (Public Display of Affection) could sometimes be an avenue for the man who could not contain his passion for his princess. And whoever said that kissing a forehead is only for gramps and grannies? This is one gesture that shows great respect, sincerity and purity of his intentions. I definitely wouldn't mind it at all. 

"One who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares and how lucky he is to have YOU...The one who turns to his friends and says, that’s her...""He should not be scared to profess of his undying love and devotion through words. Men have always felt lame if they are vocal with how they feel, but if your guy does not hesitate to say it, give him full credit because he deserves it! He is definitely more of a man than the others who act otherwise.

Many would think this note may be full of nonsense but is it? I certainly beg to differ. Women are often blinded by a man's physique that sometimes the more important considerations are neglected. I don't have the reverie to wake women up and face the reality, however, I would like them to weigh options and see where they could be happier. 

 As for me, I found THE ONE and I am thankful that he showed up in this lifetime.

Bouncing Through in 2011

KuNG Hei FaT CHoi! The Year of the Metal Rabbit has already commenced! The year that is expected to be more peaceful, abundant and guess what? Less stress! It promises us the chance to reward ourselves with the much deserved R & R (Rest & Relaxation).  The perfect moment to reap what we have and will still sow in 2011. Relationships will blossom like spring time for those who have long been searching for love and companionship. The food business will hit the jackpot too and if a lot of people will follow their signs, it’s automatically going to be a good year for me as there will be more restaurants to visit and dishes for me to feast on. 

But enough with the intricacies of astrology. Although it promises a lot of optimism, I wondered how the Bacolodnons celebrated the Chinese New Year, whether “Chinoys” or the pure bred? My curiousity was satiated when I myself joined the festivities at the Lacson Strip on the Annual Bacoloadiat Festival last night. 

The Chinese-Filipino community has done a fine job in their effort to showcase the Chinese culture from the dances,  the brilliant hues of the traditional costumes, glowing lanterns, to the ambrosial flavors of the Orient and of course the much awaited fireworks display. 

The huge crowd that included both young and old alike have filled the streets with fun, laughter and endless food munching (including me as I devoured the sweet and cheese powder covered yellow corn. Really yummy!!!).

As much as I wanted to ambush the Chopsticks Alley which was like two blocks away from where I was standing, I was mugged by the site of the local streetfood that was just so hard to resist. Just looking at them gave me a different sense of satisfaction. Amongst my favorites include the famous fishball and kikiam stand, the colored buko juice with red gulaman, the bright yellow color of the hotcakes (that were not really hot then), the sliced papaya and Indian mangoes , and of course the rising popularity of the P12 jumbo hotdog on a stick!  This site alone commanded me to let go and ignore the bustling human traffic. The air of the festival was a blast. 

Specific areas were made venues for show bands that performed their respective genres and made my food hunt even more enjoyable.  I would occasionally stop and have a blast looking at people of different ages as they take pleasure listening to one kind of music. Such an interesting site of unity it certainly is. 

Afterwards we all settled at the Lagoon for the much awaited fireworks display.  People from all walks of life busied the pavements as they seemed to search for the best spot to get the best view of the pyrotechnics.  At first it seemed forever to wait but eventually, me and good friend Katrina got entertained just by watching kids frolic,  couples embracing each other without minding that they are way too early for Valentine’s day and even those who excitedly have their pictures taken with the different animals of the Chinese astrology. 

The fireworks display left the crowd in awe.  It’s as if grand chandeliers filled the dark skies. But for me, I was more fascinated observing these facial reactions and somehow wondered, what could be playing in these kids’ imagination while being tongue-tied with the amazing lights.

This event in general was a wholesome family one.  Fathers carrying their kids on their shoulder to avoid being crushed by the semi-human stampede while the moms were making sure that their kids don’t get messy with their icecream.  The young ones were also in a party mode and seemed to love the elbow-to-elbow scenario.

This is how my first Bacoloadiat Festival came about. Fun-filled, exciting, and definitely stuffed.  I hope next year, I’ll have my first experience at the famous Chopsticks Alley, this time, not only with Owen and Nadine but also with Cassie. Happy Thoughts! :D

Photos by: Owen Segovia Bayog

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Owen-Segovia-Bayog-Digital-Photography-OSB-Digital/165973370085590