JCBulatao Photography.

I was walking around the mall today after work (forgetting to do what I needed to, which was do actual shopping VS window shopping) when I happened across the Olympus promo booth in the 5th level of SM Annex. It seems like the newest in the E series of camera bodies has recently been launched. It's chunky, it's solid, and let me tell you, it's what I want! True, I said the same about the E3 way back when (about 2 years ago), but when technology moves forward, your tech-lust must move along with it. I've only just read the preview at dpreview.com, and while the E-5 isn't leaps and bounds different than its predecessor, like the E-3 was with the E-1, it's a sensible enough upgrade. Key differences include a newer sensor (12.3MP vs. 10MP), a wider flip and swivel rear LCD, SD card storage instead of the harder to find XD, and movie mode (720p 30fps). You could say they took the advancements and changes that they made in the lower end models and applied it

It's arrived! It's here! I ordered a YN-560 from Tay Hua trading corporation the other day. Used their order form, paid through the bank in the morning, then they shipped it same day. It arrived Friday afternoon. Some back-story for the interested: I've fiddled with Yong Nuo flashes before, though mostly with YN-462 (which is a fully manual guess-what-intensity-I'm-on kind of flash) which I either bought for my friends, or for myself which I eventually sold to friends and/or relatives.While the YN-462 basically satisfies a person's need for off-camera lighting, it's lack of zooming capability, and the guesswork nature of its intensity input leaves much to be desired. I personally think it gives you bang for the buck though. Having sold all of my YN-462s, and being stuck with a burnt out Sunpak and a vivitar with a broken shoe, lighting-wise I was left with my FL-36R. A flash is a flash is a flash mind you, but I'd rather that I keep the TTL-capable

I've previously written about some sites that I wish I authored, or sites that I feel are great resources for anyone who's into photography. I try to regularly read the entries. While I tend to gloss over some entries because they may not apply to me or my situation or my preferred line of photography, I try to glean as much info as I can and apply them, when possible, to my photographic life. I was reading through Strobist's Monday entry and I was blown away by the videos of this guy, Dave Black, who's using 8 sets of SB-900s, an SU-800 commander,  one RadioPopper transmitter, two receivers, two FourSquares and two sets of Michael Bass fiber optic bundles (it'll be the first time I've encountered all of the names of those things save the SB-900s so I won't blame you for thinking "HUH??"). He uses those 8 speedlights as fill lights for action shots at distance. WOW. You can read the actual article, entitled "Hangin' Eight, with David Bla

My cousin and I met up last night. Checked out Votre, this bar at the corner of Sergeant Esguerra and Eugenio Lopez. They were featuring Dong Abay last night. Was able to catch him and Coffeebreak Island, the band that opened and backed him, perform several new songs as well as some Yano classics. He sang "Perpekto", "Senti", "Banal na Aso, Santong Kabayo" and "Kamusta Na".     I gotta say I'm not a big fan, or at least I never took the time or made the effort to follow him or his bands, but there's just something about a live performance that really gets you, viscerally. Was armed with my e410, and 28mm manual OM lens. Due to the spectacular lighting at the venue, I opted to go up to ASA 1600, making my shots grainy. Eventually I opted for pop-up flash use since I didn't bother to bring my hot shoe flash, but then better for you to be able to see what I heard yeah?

The Christmas scene on Granada Street.

Good lord. It's been months since my last post. It seems getting assigned to the newest branch of The Picture Company really got me busy. And no photos to show for it. :) Well, maybe I ought to ask... until then, we'll see. For now, random lights. Out of focus Christmas lights, Granada Street

Hi folks, I know I haven't been posting much of anything lately. My bad. I should really get back on the horse. But not right now at least. This pseudo post would like to disguise itself as an example of how much fun someone can have with a couple of bits of headgear, a camera, a plain background, a very steady-handed friend (or camera on tripod with remote), and almost any photo editing software you might have available (downloaded a freeware gif maker for this exercise). But really, it's just me making faces with different, um, things on my head. Enjoy!

I promised a friend I'd blog about the food I encountered while I was away, and to try and tell her what's in each dish. Honestly though I don't think I'll be much help with deciphering the ingredients or how they were prepared, and I wasn't exactly comfortable with taking my camera out at the local Mamak stall, but I've taken photos of some of what I ate, some of which were my own preparation. Basically this is a peek at what I was eating while in KL. Click to enlarge photos. On one of my first evenings in KL, Michelle and Reza took me out for dinner at one of the Chinese restaurants close to the condo. I forget the name, but we had the following. *Deep Fried Sotong *Chili pork, Sweet and Sour Pork, and Kangkong.  I realize that, save for the chilli pork, we repeated that meal in Petaling Street. My first Friday in KL involved being at work early for a staff meeting, though my shift was from 2 to 10 that night. I had some time to explore the mall and that