Thursday, December 07, 2006
A LOVELY DAY WITH FRIENDS
I’m sure everyone would feel the same way I did yesterday. After seeing Sidney of My Sari-Sari Store once again and Jeff of The Dubai Chronicles for the first time — both have been blogosphere friends for a year now — indeed, it seemed as if I had known them all my life, which makes spending time with them in person even more special. We were also joined by Orly, Jeff’s friend from Saudi Arabia who also happened to have hailed from my father’s province of Zambales.
We all met at eleven in the morning in front of Quiapo Church yesterday. We stayed within the vicinity of the church for a good hour or so — taking photographs and trading technical notes about our Nikons. When it comes to street photography, I have to admit that Sidney, Jeff and Orly have a way with people; able to subtly coax them into agreeing to strike a pose for them. On the other hand, I had to piggyback on their charms if I wanted to take some people shots.
We then headed to Manila’s Photographers Haven — Hidalgo Street. At one of the photo equipment and accessory shops we walked into, Jeff had to contain himself from buying more accessories than he had planned — a typical bug that afflicts most photo enthusiasts. Sidney and I only purchased a mini bag of silicon gel to put inside our camera bag to protect the camera and lenses from harboring fungus due to the local humid weather. I did price some accessories, though, which I really needed.
From Hidalgo Street, we headed towards Plaza Goiti (now Plaza Lacson) in which the guys had fun taking several pictures of the plaza itself, as well as the two calesas and their drivers. Sta. Cruz Church and its plaza were next; afterwards it was on to Chinatown. Before reaching the eatery at estero, we looked for Melai’s mother who works in the area to introduce ourselves and take some pictures to send to Melai later on. Unfortunately, much to our disappointment, her mother wasn’t there yesterday.
We enjoyed a leisurely lunch at the estero, but were too starved to think about taking some pictures of the food before feasting on them. We were halfway through them when Jeff remembered to pull out his camera to take a couple of shots.After our hunger was satiated, what came next was an extended discussion on culture of the countries that we all have lived at besides our beloved country of birth.
It was absolutely an exhilirating day with good friends; something I truly needed in order to recharge my spirit.
Thank you, Jeff, for the wonderful T-shirt from Dubai; thank you, Sidney, for the wonderful book on Photoshop CS2; and thank you, Orly, for joining us and making it an even more engaging get-together!
posted by Señor Enrique at 7:50 AM
26 Comments:
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said... ei Eric, next time I might be able to join you! too busy these days. btw, i tried to post pics of our own manila trip last weekend but there's an error with blogger so I just thought of how to go about it-- saved the draft then went home! :)
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Señor Enrique said... Hi Tito ... how about let's hire a van with driver and invite some blogger friends to join us at AVILON ZOO! We can ask everyone to chip in a certain amount to cover all transporation, driver and gas costs. this will be more economical and environment- friendly than driving individually and meeting there.
A pot luck picnic would also be fun, but would there be enough room in the van for both people and foodstuff? How about one of those coasters?
What do you think? Ferdz? Iskoo? Basey? and everyone? Maybe sometime after the New Year's?-
said...
That was a fun outing indeed!
Hidalgo Street ... I shall note that down and drop in when in the Philippines!
Eric, maybe you could get out more bloggers and have a shutterbug day! Just an idea though. Hehe.
I love the pictures by the way. The first one looks really beautiful.
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Señor Enrique said...
It is truly a wonderful idea to shoot with fellow enthusiasts, Kyels, because I, personally, learn so much from them.
As for organizing a trip, come to think of it, the Flower Day in Baguio has always fascinated me, but turned-off because most nice hotels are fully-booked. I prefer leaving Manila at midnight; get there around 6am, spend the whole day shooting in Baguio; then come home around five in the afternoon; and get back home in Manila before midnight. I will start sending out feelers and if enough are interested, organize a special bus trip! In this case, a photo enthusiast can even take his family or friends along to Baguio.
Yes, You have got to check out Hidalgo Street because from what I understand, the prices here are lower, except in Singapore.-
said...
That must have been fun meeting friends you met on line. I think I would also enjoy meeting and having lunch with you and others I have met through blogging.
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Señor Enrique said...
You cannot come to Manila and leave without joining us for lunch, Irene! This is a must ... hehehe!
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said...
Nice! You guys look like you had an exciting time shooting around Manila.
I was a bit surprised as well on how receptive people there when you take their pictures. They actually want their pictures taken! Must be because Photogs frequent the area.
I'll try to see if I can post pics of Manila within the week. :D-
said...
kanta ako ng Sayang na Sayang lang!!! akala ko magiging bida na nanay ko dito sa blog mo lol!! anyways there's always a next time diba :)
uhmmn I had a share of photos taken down that sidewalk, yung pinuntahan nyong pwesto ng nanay ko, minsan nagdadala din ako ng camera dun bago ako gumawa ng isda na binibili ng mga chinese na suki, in fairness maganda talaga silang kuhanan :)-
said...
sounds like a nice alternative to all the problogging get-togethers. if any of you ever go to toronto, drop me a line.
but i guess you guys are real pros when it comes to photography. there's no group picture! =)-
abet said...
Eric,
and thanks to you for sharing it with us here your readers....waaaaa daya nasa manila ako di man lang ako nabulungan hehehe...bagay baka maalangan din ako kasi mga photography buff lahat e wala ako masyado alam jan e..ma bore lang kayo sa akin hehehe..nice pics btw...salamat eric!-
said...
that'd be nice eric. Now you're getting the groove of it organizing trips. I can also ask my other photopals (non-bloggers) to join. I used to do these kinds of organized tours some time ago when I wasn't so busy. Now I can't go on extended leaves :(
a daytrip or weekend getaway is more like it
btw, Ferdz and I met online via a travel yahoogroups a few years ago (when I was just a silent bloghopper). We co-moderate the explore-philippines yahoogroup :)-
Sidney said...
Eric it was nice to meet you again. Indeed it was a fun day! Thanks for the lunch at the estero. I really enjoyed it.
It was a pleasant walk with like minded people and once again it struck me that the beautification of Manila is a fact and in full swing.
I was also glad to meet Jeff and his friend Orly. Their photo equipment made me salivating, but since they are such creative photographers they need it more than me.
Anyway I hope to join you on another photo shoot in the future!
No group picture because the four of us are camera shy!-
Señor Enrique said...
That'll be nice, Ferdz. Please share with us how you saw Quiapo and the other parts of the city. Maybe one day we'll all go on a shooting trip together.
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Señor Enrique said...
Hayaan mo, Nalen, one of these days makikita din namin nanay mo. Siguro maaga dapat para madatnan siya, ano?
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Señor Enrique said...
I didn't know you're based in Toronto, Vonjobi.
Anyway, unlike Spike Lee, Francois Truffaut, and Martin Scorcese who would at times step in front of the camera, we are more like Kurozawa who are content behind the camera ... hehehe.-
Señor Enrique said...
Pwede ka naman kumuha kahit disposable camera lang, Basey, eh :) Next sama ka sa amain, ha?
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Señor Enrique said...
Wow! You were really into it, huh, Tito? Not that I am too busy, but I'd prefer if possible to do day trips. The idea of going to Baguio for the Flower Festival for a day is something I'd go for.
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Señor Enrique said...
Yes, Sidney those gears thay have were awesome, espcially the lenses ... hehehe.
Have a safe trip and most definitely we'll go on another one after the holidays.
Thanks again, Sidney!-
Photo Cache said...
what a lovely day you had. glad you finally met your cyberpals. nice photos too. did you take photos of each other or say one with y'all in there? share naman.
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Señor Enrique said...
We're camera shy, Phot Cahce! hehehe
But yes, we had a wonderful time. So when you come home for a visit, you'll have to join us photo shooting as well!-
carlotta1924 said...
wow senor ang saya naman ng trip nyo! parang gusto kong sumama one time =)
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Señor Enrique said...
Hayaan mo, Carla, pagbalik ni Sidney mag-plano tayong mag-outing at photo shoot. Isama mo brother mo. I'll keep everyone posted.
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said...
ei! I posted a pic of Ferdz in my blog :)
he even asked me to take a picture of him at the Rizal monument but the DOF was too shallow, only rizal was in focus and not him. It's because I have dioptric adjustment in my camera (i wear glasses) and using his cam i wasn't able to see if his picture was blurred because all of the scene was blurred if I don't have my glasses on
basey, trips are not mostly for photographers. You can be the model or mostly "cameo" apperances. We're not also professionals :)-
Señor Enrique said...
I also have dioptric adjustment on mine, Tito, which prevented Sidney from taking a shot with my camera. I saw the pic of Ferdz ... hehehe!
That's right, Basey can ba a model!-
said...
ay hindi po mga 2:30 to 3 PM ang dating nya sa Ongpin kasi naghihintay pa sya ng isda from Batangas ng tanghali e
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said...
OMGG am from the philippines andd i lovee it theree but i amm here in englandd doingg my modelingg butt i hopee too movee soon :D xx
