Defining moments.

"Let your experiences define you, shape you, and make you the photographer you want to be." 

-Jasmine Star 

I wanted to admit to you something. When I started to learn photography in 2009, I told myself that I'm never goin' to spend a penny to attend any seminar or workshop in photography coz why spend  one when there's a big free source of information out there and just be patient to ask Mr Google, right? Hehehe But then also, I couldn't just afford it yet. However, when there's a rare opportunity of a free online workshop --- yes, unbelievably FREE! --- I wouldn't wanna miss it especially if the instructor is the person who's made mountful of influence to many aspiring photographers like I am.

I hope you've heard of Jasmine Star by now. I keep blabbing about her on my previous post and I went all star struck (you can't imagine how i jump off my chair that time haha) when she left a comment on my blog. Am I vain? Well, maybe I am and I don't care. Ahahah 

So anyway, for the past few days, I had the unimaginable and priceless experience of learning from her via CreateLive Show. My world felt like it stopped as I was following the show. It was about 5 amazing days of epic event where Jasmine covered a real time wedding photography coverage (from preparing a wedding shoot to finish!) and in between that she had all the amount of energy and courage to open herself up and although my style now is different from Jasmine's but she shared her work ethics, branding and everything else that any photographer can learn from. Just imagine how all stressful it must have been for her with all INTERNET watching her every move and listening to every word she said and she even admits that for real in the internet, goes to show she's just being true to herself and keeping it real! That's one of the many things I picked up from her --- K.I.R (Keeping it Real!)

And like her, I prefer shooting more in natural light where I am more inspired to compose my images. My weakness is low light and strobing is the last thing in my mind. I do have few favorite strobe artists (if that's what you call them) and I really have my hats off them. But given circumstances perhaps, I got a basic flash experience but to shoot entirely with flash will never be my favorite thing. Well, not really 'never' haha. You get what I mean. I thought I'd let that out in the open for everyone to know. =) 

That's a screenshot above from Day 1 of the webinar. She talks and resonates powerfully. I can even still hear her voice on my head in between my thoughts. Ahaha =)

So yeah, I'm sending off my undying THANK YOU to Jasmine Star for being such a total blessing and way beyond inspiring and I've said it over and over again how she's become my SUPERHERO. It's never enough to really describe her. One thing for sure, she's just fired me up with more courage to pushing myself in becoming a better photographer, coz seriously, there's tons tons tons of things to learn yet. 

*i'm gonna just tear up right here, right now so excuse me! haha* 

p.s. First photo above is a pile up of old minibooks I rummaged that only cost 50-freakin-cents each ahahaha and the lil camera on top is actually a pencil sharpener gift I got for my bartday from a good photographer friend Vanessa. Loveee love love! 

Wherever, Whenever

"Some cause happiness wherever they go;

others, whenever they go."

-Oscar Wilde

I got stuck on what best title to put for this post today...and oh, I wanted it to rhyme happily! Teehee!

I've been thinking to have this as another naive project, specific just on Fridays, to post my random still shots and share inspiring thoughts with everyone. Well, something I've already loved doing I guess, but this time, I'll try to be consistent. (warning: last time I checked with me being consistent was doing a Project 365 that has been way overdue now haha) Oh well....

And also, a funny thought, in this way, I'Il look forward for Friday's post and feel like we get to have coffee/tea ....and well, maybe weave 'dreams' together - wherever you are - hmmmm...

{30 minutes just passed.....}

Okay, you know what...forget the naive Friday project.

We can weave dreams together anyday I want. Hahaha

Age.

Happy happy birthday to my bff Yvonne Kristy!

I couldn't wait to give her the birthday present I've long prepared to give her. =)

You'd think the image above is one big book. 

Well, yeah it is a sort of a book but it's really not.

It's THIS AMAZING THING ever created that I want one for myself too one day. 

And it goes perfectly for Yvon's macbook..
and I luv her more than just because she bought us Lisa Ono concert tickets last April hehe...
need I mention she's one of those friends you can always tag as BESTEST! Yeyyy!!!
♥♥♥

I know, you're droooooling now,too. 

Should I just keep this for myself now? *eyes rolling* 

Hahahahahahahah

Golden and Eternal.

I was on the way to the bathroom and stopped over the dusty window against the early mornin' sunlight. There was a lightbulb moment and I couldn't help immediately but grab my camera and the husband came askin' "what are you doin' there?" Hehe

I thought if it's hard to put all things in words,  so I did this. =)

I  actually jumped out of bed happily so early today after staring toooo long unbelievably at this one particular email reply I got from one of my GREATEST INSPIRATION EVER and my heart screamin' (it seems it always does!) --- I am just THANKFUL eternally for the Universe that keeps flowing so much inspiration around me since the day I pick up photography! Pretty much my heart can almost explode from meeting and knowing so many many wonderful beautiful people anywhere and that including those toooooo far for me to throw a hug! (if you're reading this now --- YES, you are one of those beautiful people!).

And you know, quite honestly --- Life's becoming more and more rewarding just like that!
*feeling so soppy now....sniff...excuse me*

BIG Thanks Noa from Featherlove for the kindest-encouraging-tear-jerking-words in my mail today.
I never would have known you,too if not because of dearest Kat from RocknRollBride.
And I never would have had the courage to write to you,too if not because of good friend Emma's inspiration and write up about you.

You all make my heart jumpy!
♥♥♥

Chase your Dreams.

Quote love and inspired deeply from a great writer/friend, Tinay Buenavista.

My vintage-find-oxford-fave-pair! =) Oh they make my feet happy!

I even had that wee thought i don't mind having these as my wedding shoes.

Aha moment there! Hehehe

Yesterday we had a really fun spontaneous shoot at a lovely couple's cozy home (pillow fights and all that *wink* ...will post a preview of that soon)!!!

And then, tomorrow, off to a fun fair shoot at Universal Studios Singapore!

Oh la la! Have a happy weekend people!

Let's all keep chasing our dreams! ♥♥♥

We LEARN.

Off from work for two days, apparently I'm getting ahead of everyone's weekend. =)
And I got awfully lots lots of oh-happy-busy things on my to-do-lists!!!

Yesterday night I went out with the husband hunting for vintage items again --- well well, of course we've found pretty pretty wondrous things and bought a few (including a treasure box) which I'll post one of these days soon. *wink*

And guess what? My heart fell out and my jaw dropped all the way down (haha!) when I couldn't believe my eyes holding on a probably 100-yr-old camera (a Daguerreotype i think!)) at a vintage store. If only I could afford one for a lifetime keepsake!!!! I even saw torn paper notes of the photographer (May He/She rest peacefully) dated 1910 inside the leather box. I got all suddenly wishful he/she could have been my great great greaaaatttt grandparent --- imagine all my goosebumps!!! Hehe and oh I wish I have taken a shot but I left my trusty camera at home =( Of course, I'm plotting to get back there soon! *wink*

The image above by the way was taken during one of my client shoot.
I miss playing so I finally bought a chess board and has reminded the husband I have used to beat up my father when I was in grade school so he better gear up! *grin grin* Ahahahahah

Spreadin' la la la ♥♥♥

Railway Hunt

PICTURE THIS OUT:  Me at the center of this railway, on my knees to take a low angle shot...and little did we know, a train was fast approaching only few seconds away from where I was. Talk about serious adrenaline rush, oh yeah! you bet! My knees were all shaking after running to save our lives! Hahaha

Let me do a little playback. Yesterday the husband and I went hunting for an abandoned railway in Singapore. Prior to this, I did google searches in the passed days and thus how I got directions how to go there.

Few minutes of walking, and there it was ---- a magical rustic place. *BIG GRIN*
Well, it is magical for me --- I can only imagine infinite things to do a shoot here! Teehee!  

This was the first abandoned railway we found though. The 2nd part of our hunt was finding that other railway (first image above) with longer tracks. All along we thought, it was also abandoned ---apparently NOT!

I SWEAR ---- as I was running away from the tracks, everything seemed in slow motion. Teehee! My life before me almost flashback in an instant ---now the weirdest part? I couldn't remember being scared though! After being safe, couldn't help but laugh out loud with the husband who also ran opposite of me when everything happened too fast! Haha!

I know this isn't something I should tell to my mother, I can't imagine how'd she'll react so I hope she'll never find out. Ooops! =)

And I know, I shouldnt be taking this lightly now that Thank-God-no-limbs-were-broken-or-so! --- all points taken, BIG LESSON learned --- never will I stay on a blind corner again and uhmmm, --- watch out for trains! =)

*BIG PHEWWWW*

On the comical side of it all, believe it or not, I just never felt more ALIVE than ever before. =) 

Pictures of me taken by the husband and around this time, the train has gone by. 

Can you tell by my expression any aftershock? *grin grin*

A sobering thought...

There's something I've been wanting to shout out but I can't yet. =)
My heart's beating like a jungle drum but I'm keeping it between me and Mr Universe for now. *wink*

I know He knows the longings of my heart.
So today, i keep my hands up to Heaven...and await when my stars align again.

I got this gut feeling it's really pretty SOON.
♥♥♥ 

For the hand that rocks the cradle...

I recall I'm not the Mama's girl type. I grew up more close to my Papa. Oftentimes, I'd run being scolded all the time by my mother during my childhood, well --- I wasn't exactly your 'most behaved' daughter,too. Haha But to cut this story short, I love her more than she'll ever know, even how much I thought I hated her for not giving me always what I wanted back then. Her unspoken love showed much on her undying efforts of making sure we, her children, grow up as what we are today --- a firm believer of the greater good. =)

This is the part where I am now teary eyed ---- I do miss her, being away from home.
I called her yesterday but didn't even manage to greet her ahead (I was holding up the thought of it). I wanted her to think we didn't remember what today is, after all these years, we're not used to celebrating Mother's Day anyway.

But actually, I asked my brother to buy her a surprise *wink*.
So later, I'm giving her another call --- say, let's hope no cryin' at the other end of the line. huh? =)

Happy Mother's Day my Mama Lucing!

And to All that have and will Rock the Cradle!!!! God Bless YOU for ruling this WORLD! ♥ ♥ ♥

New lovey logo! ♥ ♥ ♥

Yey! new lovey logo ....looks familiar?
Well im not sure if anyone has the same out there...but i'm still bragging this! hehe

Uber thanks to a husband whom I didn't know has so much talent than what he already have...Wehehe *hugs to hubby*

He handrawned with his wacom toy...do zoom in to view the tiny details!
So what dya think?

P.S. Image taken from my recent trip at Disneyland, Hongkong last April 16, 2010

The Eye traffics in Feelings.

(View in Big Black)

Hellloooooooo!!!!
I'm screaminnnnnnnnnngggggggg by now! =)

In the latest news (as far as I'm concerned hehe):

1. I remember seeing some of my photos (not just once) were used without permission, I felt disheartened somehow. It was actually Oh-kay to borrow without telling me,but hey, a little credit won't hurt, would it? But I guess there will always be those times when it's just out of your control and can't blame anyone. *sigh*

2. On the lighter side of this all, I can't wait to fly back again to Cebu next weekend to work on some urgent matters for our church wedding preparations (kinda sudden trip) --- so Yeah, I'm sooo over the moon now. Teeheee!!!

3. Pending edits to finish from a family shoot and engagement from the past 2 weeks -- giddy to upload bubbly love love love!!!

4. I just crashed out something from my bucket list few weeks ago ---- *hesitant to share this but my heart's almost gonna explode haha* ---- I passed an audition to join a class I've been utterly dreamin' for a loooong time since ---- KENDO. Yosh! To pursue enrolling or not, I'll find out by April soon. *BIG GRIN*

5. And speaking of April --- I'm spending Spring in Hongkong! Yeyyyhooo!!!

Alright, I've talked too much.
CMD+TAB *eyes on Photoshop now*
Edit edit edit. *hugs everyone*

Fragile Things.

"Hearts may break, but hearts are the toughest of muscles, 

able to pump for a lifetime, seventy times a minute, and scarcely falter along the way. 

Even dreams, the most delicate and intangible of things, 

can prove remarkably difficult to kill."  -N. Gaiman

My 2nd Gaiman book and I'm still not yet even way half of it and already it has whet my appetite for more!!! =) And 'delightfully enchanted' is perhaps just another understatement for Gaiman's works, I know that now and I wish I knew before then, I could have finished more of his collections by now. =)

I've taken this shot the same day I went biking last Monday morning. It was such a quiet breezy mornin' I didn't expect anyone else would find me there but one stranger noticed me while he passed by the same park and ask what I was doing, seeing me so engrossed on the ground. Teehee! So in a bit shy tone I replied, "Oh, uhmmm, just shooting some leaves." Ahahaha He also wanted to warn me not to just leave my mobile phone on the bench which was few meters away from me, so yeah it was clumsy to do realizing someone else could have snuck it away! Ooops! 

Anyway, I was thankful no one did and grin happily to the stranger. I carried on and left the place when it was almost time for lunch. =)

In Memory

In memory of Linda Ponce (one of my childhood bestfriend Zadee's mom) who just recently passed away. My deepest condolences and heartfelt prayers goes to her and the rest of the family.

It's been a long time that I haven't seen Zadee since I moved to SG and she herself moved to Dubai to work. I am somehow still glad to hear her voice this morning and that she's staying VERY strong amidst this loss --- as much as missing her,too,  I only wish I was there to hug her now back home.

I also wanna take this time to pray fervently --- more than ever these days ---since there was that terrible Haiti earthquake (and we know history has even more)...and now Chile.... it's awfully sad but we can only do as much as we can in our own heartfelt ways. =(