tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1885027202193653522012-02-01T17:43:11.678-08:00Atom Magadia's Blog: Articles on Photography, Cinema and the Visual Arts; Movie Reviews; Photographer and Filmmaker profiles; Photographic and cinematographic techniques and technologies; Cameras; Photography and Movie news; and commentaries on life and the world in General.Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.comBlogger1281100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-54440858473668929572012-02-01T00:12:00.000-08:002012-02-01T17:43:11.714-08:00

The Exhibit at the Center for Photographic Art in Carmel, California The first time I came across Wynn Bullock's "Color Light Abstractions," I literally gasped at the simplicity, breath and magnificence of this largely forgotten, ground-breaking body of work.  In 2010, the Bullock Family Estate started a traveling exhibit of the newly scanned high-resolution prints of "Color Light Abstractions"

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-15363628739703443672012-01-23T00:12:00.000-08:002012-01-23T18:46:55.179-08:00

One of the biggest stories of the New Year, is Eastman Kodak's recent bankruptcy filing.  It made headlines the world over because it symbolizes the end of an era-- the end to the Age of Film Photography.  To film users everywhere, it was a death spell.  As a fan and Kodak film user, I mourn the good old days when film was the norm and great film stock was available everywhere.  I started my

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-22600366591727432832012-01-06T01:21:00.000-08:002012-01-06T01:27:03.185-08:00

The best way to start 2012, is by sharing some humor.  Here are some photography related videos guaranteed to make you smile... Canon vs. Nikon extreme version: Shooting Models without Photoshop: How to get good pictures of yourself: Flash that smile: It's the photographer, not the camera (featuring David Bailey): HAPPY NEW YEAR to all! --videos taken from YouTube.com

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-64327905958307708752011-12-11T17:55:00.000-08:002011-12-11T18:26:00.931-08:00

Ribbon-cutting for "Grounded 1" last Dec. 7 I have been a practicing Photographer for more than thirty-three years.  Photography started out as a hobby at the age of eleven, and it has been a constant presence in my life ever since. When I turned professional five years ago, I decided to keep a part of my photography personal and experimental.  “Grounded: Meditations on the Terra Firma” is my

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-87804782335806284012011-11-17T16:04:00.000-08:002011-11-17T20:27:12.342-08:00

My new Fine Art Photo Series - "Grounded," will finally be shown to the public.  This first installment of an ongoing Series, is a collection of 18 Art Prints featuring photographs of Los Angeles County streets assembled in a quartet.  Inspired by the avant garde photography of Aaron Siskind, "Grounded" revisits the possibilities of Abstract Expressionism in photography, using the most elemental

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-76785942316463370232011-11-07T21:19:00.000-08:002011-11-07T21:33:33.749-08:00

When I found out about this... I couldn't wait to blog about it too! RED Digital Cinema has finally unveiled its long promised "ultimate camera," the RED Scarlet X, immediately after Canon annouced its new EOS C300.  The Scarlet has been hinted about for more than 3 years, but has not been formally launched until a few days ago.  In the wake of Canon's reveal, RED immediately responded with the

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-26846307179921866202011-11-03T23:11:00.000-07:002011-11-04T10:41:43.116-07:00

When I found out about this, I couldn't wait to blog about it! As a hybrid photographer/cinematographer I was somewhat personally disappointed by the new Canon 1DX that came out a couple of weeks ago.  It is impressive for what it can do (perfect for wildlife, photojournalism and sports), but I felt that it somehow stood in the middle of nowhere... The fastest still Pro at this point, yes, but

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-602749954026878312011-11-02T01:00:00.000-07:002011-11-02T20:36:29.097-07:00

Aaron Siskind was a photographer with a Graphic Artist's "Eye."  Best known for his Abstract Expressionist photographs, he was associated with the Abstract Expressionist School of New York (art movement) in the 1940s and 50s -- which included close friends Franz Kline, Barrett Newman, Adolph Gottlieb, and Mark Rothko. He worked as a high-school english teacher, before receiving his first camera

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-52474076850656631232011-10-18T09:49:00.000-07:002011-10-23T10:25:10.132-07:00

Canon, Inc. just introduced its newest "flagship" professional DSLR model, the EOS 1DX. It succeeds both the 1Ds and the 1D lines, combining the best of both worlds -- high-quality image with high-speed capture. The "X" in 1DX designates the cross-over or the merging of Canon's two pro digital lines; "X" also represents the 10th generation of professional DSLRs from Canon; and finally, "X"

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-36219933593439415292011-10-05T18:26:00.000-07:002011-10-05T18:32:49.716-07:00

Steve Jobs - computer icon, media innovator and Apple Computer co-founder, died early today at age 56 after battling pancreatic cancer for several years.  He stepped down last August after handing the reins of the company to current Apple CEO, Tim Cook.  A Beatles fan, Steve named the computer company he co-founded with Steve Wozniak after the Rock group's Apple Records label.  An innovator,

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-6552686704209635832011-10-04T14:22:00.000-07:002011-10-04T19:41:19.914-07:00

Apple just introduced the new iPhone 4S, the newly updated version of its popular smart phone.  As a photographer who uses the iPhone regularly as a camera (I've used all 4 previous models), I am happy to announce an upgrade on the camera of our favorite pocket/everyday phone-camera. The camera on the iPhone 4S was upgraded to 8 megapixels from the 5 megapixels of the iPhone 4 (rear/main camera

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-62192661730342752962011-09-26T02:30:00.000-07:002011-09-27T02:41:15.878-07:00

(photo by Anne Prado-Magadia) HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUDDY! My son, Ari (Renato III), turned 7 today.  We had a big party for him last Saturday in my parent's home.  Most of his classmates and friends attended, and everybody had great fun (one fell into the pool, another ran naked in the garden and a couple of them wrestled in the mud). I am proud of my son, who is not only bright and artistic, but is

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-62230504282619473662011-09-19T03:33:00.000-07:002011-09-23T18:07:23.415-07:00

A thousand plus naked volunteers flock to the Dead Sea Last Saturday, September 17, one thousand two hundred people (men and women aged 20 to 60 years old) flocked to the Dead Sea in Israel to get their photos taken in the 'buff.' Most Photographers are happy to have a camera and a nude model, but 44 year old Spencer Tunick likes his pictures populated by hundreds, if not thousands of naked and

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-43833554446827363332011-08-19T03:33:00.000-07:002011-08-20T03:59:35.109-07:00

The Fathers of Photography: Louis Daguerre and William H. Fox Talbot Happy World Photography Day to all my fellow photographers, photo enthusiasts, and shutterbugs! Today marks the one hundredth and seventy second year since the invention of Photography.  172 years ago, Louis Daguerre and William H. Fox Talbot gave the world the ability to capture images.  We have come a long way technically (

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-89440451555487863692011-08-08T05:55:00.000-07:002011-09-27T02:42:26.843-07:00

Ten Years Ago...        I became a father.  It was a defining moment for me. Today, my daughter turned 10, so I decided to give her something different.  Instead of the traditional card, I decided to give her a "Birthday Comicbook," chronicling her first ten years of life (through my eyes of course) and to celebrate a decade of fatherhood. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!   The ten years I've spent with you,

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-86658792695848830232011-07-26T19:25:00.000-07:002011-07-31T19:23:55.102-07:00

Esy with "Thing With No Name" director and Co-Producer Sarah Friedland Esy Casey is a 30 year-old Filipino-American filmmaker who has been making waves in the Indie film circle in the last 4 years.  A visual artist who also does graphics, illustration and photography, Esy loves telling stories and is genuinely interested in the lives and cultures of people from all over the world. The daughter

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-18295910457846635802011-07-14T07:07:00.000-07:002011-07-14T07:06:20.067-07:00

Driving my cart at 2 years old (with my brother) This blog officially turned two years-old today.  I cannot believe how fast time passes. It has been an unusually eventful year, punctuated by the nearly fatal stroke I had last year.  Thankfully, I am finally back on my feet (literally) after months of therapy.  My year-long recuperation forced me reevaluate my priorities.  I am beginning to 

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-47921510479946342092011-07-09T01:44:00.000-07:002011-07-09T02:12:14.573-07:00

The Space Shuttle Program's last flight blasted off yesterday in Florida for a 12 day mission to the International Space Station.  The lift-off of Space Shuttle Atlantis marks the end of America's 30 year old Space Shuttle program.  It has been a fruitful 30 years of labor, highlighted by the Hubble and the International space station, and I salute all the astronauts, engineers, scientists and

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-78582007792231630312011-06-26T07:47:00.000-07:002011-06-26T07:47:42.940-07:00

My big Canon When it comes to Photography, my father and I hardly see "eye to eye."  He considers Photography the hobby that has taken over my life.  But he sent me this email today that had me in stitches.  For the first time ever, we connected (about photography) and I thought it was worth blogging about. WARNING - subject matter might be offensive to some people. The camera my father gave me

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-6937663112895564602011-06-06T21:22:00.000-07:002011-06-07T00:54:56.081-07:00

It is Apple Computer WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference) time again and the tech world is abuzz with the latest Apple tech news. This is the annual event most IPhone and Mac lovers wait for, since it has been the traditional venue where the newest version of their favorite gadget is unveiled.  But this year, the company decided to delay the unveiling of their latest hardware to give

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-45080346030019113442011-05-23T01:01:00.000-07:002011-05-23T07:22:01.483-07:00

The Jury headed by Robert De Niro The controversy filled 2011 Cannes Film Festival ended yesterday with a Palme d'Or for Terrence Malick's  much talked about "The Tree of Life."  The eleven day (May 11 -22) festival of World Cinema also saw Jodie Foster's bizarre "The Beaver" starring Mel Gibson, Michel Hazanavicius' surprising black & white silent movie "The Artist," Lynne Ramsay's dark drama "

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-27084299789073430372011-05-09T20:11:00.000-07:002011-05-10T20:01:17.340-07:00

The master at work Influences to our own photography comes from a wide variety of sources depending on our inclinations.  I count Jim Marshall as one of my main influences, not only because of my interest in 'Rock/Music Photography' as a specific specialization, but also because he was such a terrific master Portraitist.  Like the best portrait painters (and photographers), he captured the

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-8687722787619252692011-04-29T11:11:00.000-07:002011-05-09T20:51:28.815-07:00

My favorite "lomographic" camera, a 1930s Zeiss Super Ikonta I turned 44 today... which also means that I have been tinkering with Photography for 32 years now! Thirty-two years ago in 1979, my father gave me my first camera as a birthday present.  It was a Canon FT-QL SLR that he purchased a few years back, but hardly used.  I did not know then that the gift (more of a hand me down really) would

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-54519676442740626832011-04-22T08:33:00.000-07:002011-05-10T20:03:18.820-07:00

Chris Hondros on Assignment Tim Hetherington in the War Zone Last Wednesday, two top photojournalists were killed in the rebel-held city of Misrata in western Libya.  Libyan dictator, Moammar Gadhafi had intensified his weeklong assault on Libya's third largest city.  The photojournalists were traveling with some rebel fighters to cover an incident in Tripoli street, where some of the most

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-27244248700782933452011-04-04T03:34:00.000-07:002011-09-27T02:43:09.256-07:00

My wife and I took our family to Singapore for a minivacation last week with my mom. The kids have been working hard in school and we all needed a break from our regular routine.  Singapore turned out to be the perfect destination for all of us -- it was just three hours away and it had a lot of new attractions we have not yet seen. I have been to Singapore several times, but my last trip was

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-51937338547023251202011-03-17T00:22:00.000-07:002011-05-10T20:05:54.460-07:00

Douglas Kirkland Shooting Marilyn Monroe This entry is a follow up to my article last Feb.13 on Douglas Kirkland. Although I have written about Douglas even before then (Sept. 12, 2009), I find it hard to condense everything I would like to convey about this talented Artist in a few short commentaries.  So I am adding a short interview and a brief video that might give you a rounder portrait of 

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-20639492909109836942011-03-07T23:11:00.000-08:002011-05-10T20:08:04.062-07:00

The rivalry and friendship between Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse has facinated me for years.  These titans of 20th century art have influenced and inspired each other to push the bounderies of painting to its limits... and brought their art to its inevitable conclusion -- Abstraction.  "You've got to be able to picture side by side everything Matisse and I were doing at the time," Picasso said

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-4610360196096984552011-02-27T19:44:00.000-08:002011-05-10T20:09:18.594-07:00

It's Oscar Night once again and Hollywood is concentrated on the intersection of Highland Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard.  I am excitedly awaiting the results of this years hotly contested awards ceremony since this year's nominees represent some of the best new filmmakers and actors of this new generation (almost half of the acting nominees are younger than 40 years old). Price Waterhouse

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-16759882834221539312011-02-23T06:47:00.000-08:002011-05-10T20:11:32.098-07:00

Although I watch the Academy Awards almost every year, I am ecstatic about this year's race because the films competing against each other are extraordinarily good.  Almost all of the movies nominated for "Best Picture" are what most people would consider "Art House Films" -- my preferred genre. This year's line-up also represents some of my favorite directors in contemporary cinema -- Darren

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-32055721292934507252011-02-13T07:19:00.000-08:002011-05-10T20:12:53.351-07:00

Douglas and I Tonight, for the first time in the history of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC), it is honoring a "Still Photographer" for his contribution to the art of cinema -- the great Douglas Kirkland. I am thrilled about the award because I have been a Kirkland fan eversince I was a teenager (imagining all those photo sessions with beautiful actresses and models), also because I

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-11123546050725469062011-01-05T08:44:00.000-08:002011-05-10T20:13:42.261-07:00

My colleague and fellow Advertising Photographers of America (APA) member Micheal Grecco, is having a photo exhibit from January 15 to February 25 at the Edgar Varela Fine Arts gallery.  Images from his documentary and book "Naked Ambition - An R rated look at an X rated industry" will be on display. Reception: January 15th, Saturday 6-10pm Address:  Edgar Varela Fine Arts (EVFA) 727 S. Spring

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-45921572850923611552011-01-02T09:19:00.000-08:002011-01-02T11:42:01.722-08:00

RJ Guitar queue on the day of the sale 2010 has been an eventful year for me.  It will always be known as the year I survived a stroke... and consequently, I will always remember it as a major turning point in my life.  With this traumatic episode somewhat behind me, I wanted to end the year in a happier note.  Here is my quiet and (thankfully) uneventful, yet merry, Christmas holiday in a

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-32912221937157100202010-12-19T23:11:00.000-08:002010-12-19T23:22:04.033-08:00

Photo by J.P. Prado The "Gift of Sight" is a grace from God that most of us take for granted. Yet as visual artists it is the most important tool we have aside from our imagination (mind). We must always be grateful for this ability, for it it through this faculty that we perceive our realities as well as express them.  Can you even contemplate the irony of Beethoven and his hearing loss? 

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-43474831473035211342010-12-13T03:11:00.000-08:002010-12-13T03:26:23.096-08:00

Atom and his guitars I haven't been doing a lot of photography eversince I was discharged from the Hospital for my stroke. But I have not been idle either.  Aside from writing and physical therapy (and constantly visiting doctors), I have been learning to play the guitar. My cameras have been banned, so I had to find a new way to amuse myself.  Unknown to a lot of people, I used to sing (in

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-87181364344689614162010-12-02T22:10:00.000-08:002010-12-03T07:17:11.349-08:00

I have always been facinated with the 'interior lives' of Artists and the processes by which it contributes to their 'Art.'  Danny Gregory's book, "An Illustrated Life," gives us a unique glimpse into Creativity and the creative process through the personal sketchbooks and illustrated journals of Visual Artists, Illustrators and Designers. This book is 'eye-candy' for the visual connoisseur

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-80530057859265828102010-11-18T05:33:00.000-08:002010-11-18T07:10:43.015-08:00

The Space Station hovering 200-250 miles above the Earth The International Space Station has been in the news lately because of the spectacular photographs taken by its resident Astronauts.  The high resolution photographs by the first three resident space station crews, totaling 13,442 images of the Earth, were amazingly sharp and accurate to spatial resolutions up to less than six meters! The

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-12833874250421980352010-11-10T03:03:00.000-08:002010-11-15T15:57:26.068-08:00

I have a growing classic camera collection. Every since I turned professional in 2006 and was required to go digital (Advertising and Editorial Clients require digital files nowadays), I became nostalgic about film photography and all the equipment that came with it. So I started buying a few of the older cameras I have always wanted.  Before I realized what was happening, I had more than 50

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-11348878445979441492010-11-03T11:28:00.000-07:002010-11-05T01:06:31.455-07:00

Paranormal Activity 2 should be rightfully called, "Below Normal Activity." Because nothing happens in this film (even in the meager instances that they do). When I came up with my own Movie Rating System, I actually never imagined using my lowest rating of "Sleep Aid" for any film-- Simply because I am a filmmaker myself and I respect the effort and determination it takes to get any Movie (no

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-8561391221349576972010-10-31T06:49:00.000-07:002010-10-31T06:49:48.670-07:00

"The Huntress" from my new series "Goddesses" HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO ALL! 2010 has been a real eventful year for me... Thank God it's almost over. Unlike previous Halloweens, when I actually went out with the kids to Trick or Treat, I had to stay home this year.  Although I have been dismissed from Occupational Therapy, I still have a long way to go in Physical Therapy before I can have my old

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-71942455403659774352010-09-25T20:15:00.000-07:002011-09-27T02:43:59.131-07:00

The kids in Los Angeles last year. I had my stroke in the early morning hours of August 8 last month, in the exact date of my daughter's birthday.  It was a good thing we celebrated it the day before in advance, since most of the family spent that day in the emergency room of the Makati Medical Center. Today is my son's birthday and I am still in the process of recovering... My kids in my

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-87535045632141584252010-08-24T18:57:00.001-07:002010-09-01T20:28:57.442-07:00

Right after surgery with Popular Photography Magazine. Three weeks ago, I had an unfortunate mishap... After an unusually eventful week, I woke up in the middle of the night feeling odd... as if I could not control my right hand. Waking up in a sweat, I tried to sit up, but I kept tumbling over. I started to become alarmed. I kept trying to sit upright, but I could not manage to make my body

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-29492191158906881462010-07-18T17:52:00.000-07:002010-07-18T18:44:16.742-07:00

I just finished publishing volume 1 of my advertising and portrait photography work using Blurb.  Ever since my son accidentally broke my main external hard drive (containing my original RAWs), I have been trying to puzzle back together a record of my older work. After coming back to Manila, I was able to find some old CD ROMs, prints and miscellaneous copies of my old photographs, which I have

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-23815473497154503762010-07-14T01:37:00.000-07:002010-07-14T01:48:38.489-07:00

HAPPY BLOG ANNIVERSARY TO ALL! It has been exactly one year since I started this blog.  After 90 entries (not all of them interesting to many), I am still having a lot of fun blogging about my life-long passions of Photography, Cinema and the Visual Arts.  I am quite certain, because I am now blogging just after suffering through 15 hours of  heat in a citywide blackout (the whole of

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-78519581075687415682010-07-13T01:01:00.000-07:002010-07-13T01:01:35.102-07:00

Comicbook author Harvey Pekar, died yesterday morning in his Cleveland home.  The actual cause of death is still currently unclear, but it was known that Harvey suffered from high blood pressure, asthma, depression and prostate cancer. According to his third wife, writer Joyce Brabner,  he went to bed around 4:30 pm Sunday in high spirits.  She found him dead, sprawled between the bed and the

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-91308646362851096922010-06-30T09:09:00.000-07:002010-06-30T09:34:42.880-07:00

Actor Martin Landau and me Last November 14 and 15, I had the priviledge of attending "The Total Picture Seminar"-- A seminar I still regard as one of the best seminars in filmmaking I have ever attended.  Hosted by multi-awarded Hollywood veterans: Martin Landau, Mark Rydell and Lyle Kessler, the seminar delivered exactly what it advertises, "a total picture" or rather an in-depth look into the

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-30674984970173172132010-06-29T21:12:00.000-07:002010-06-29T21:12:43.935-07:00

Expectations are high as Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III took the oath of office as the 15th President of the Philippines at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta Park this noon.  Promising a new era of good governance and a corruption free government, he has set a high bar for his term.  Winning the elections literally on the coattails of his famous parents, patriot and martyr Ninoy Aquino and former

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-5909512801914946512010-06-14T18:55:00.000-07:002010-06-14T18:55:58.588-07:00

Kseniya Simonova, the 2009 winner of the TV show "Ukraine's Got Talent," is an amazing sand painter. She started drawing with sand after her business collapsed during the 2008 financial crisis.  With less than a year's experience with the medium, she entered the competition and emerged in first place, taking home 1,000,000 Hryvnia (approx. USD125,000).  Her talent is a testament to the

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-46785779160049427522010-06-09T00:51:00.000-07:002010-06-09T21:55:50.238-07:00

Christmas in June ???? For Mamiya RZ photographers, it certainly is! Mamiya just announced a dedicated digital back for Mamiya RZs in a kit called "RZ33" (bundled with a RZ ProIID body). The RZ33 kit includes a Mamiya RZ ProIID camera body with 33mp focusing screen, Mamiya cable-free Digital Integration Plate, Mamiya DM33 digital back & battery, battery charger, FW800 cable (for tethered

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-24302342513373249492010-05-31T08:39:00.000-07:002010-06-09T21:30:02.436-07:00

Work and play can definitely coincide side by side... that is what I learned after covering the recent "Wolfgang" concert last May 15 in Manila. Anne interviewed the band for Sandbox Productions (Smart Cellular Phone Data) and I took concert photographs. It was my first official 'concert assignment' and I was hyped to the max. The concert was broadcasted online to 22 countries and since the

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-36996800874729841532010-05-24T20:25:00.000-07:002010-05-24T20:28:17.606-07:00

Congratulations to all the winners of this year's Cannes Film Festival. Thai Director Apichatpong Weerasethakul Palme d'Or: "Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives," directed by Apichatpong Weerasethakul (Thailand). Grand Prize: "Of Gods and Men," directed by Xavier Beauvois (France). Jury Prize: "A Screaming Man," directed by Mahamat-Saleh Haroun (Chad). Best Director: Mathieu Amalric

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-43474794716071234172010-05-20T12:06:00.000-07:002010-05-20T12:17:42.064-07:00

In Paris, a few hours ago, a thief broke into the Museum of Modern Art and got away with five modern masterpieces nearly worth half a billion Euros. Among the stolen pieces are paintings by Picasso, Matisse, Leger, Modigliani and Braque. A lone thief, disguised in a hood and face cover, was captured by the museum's security cameras leaping through a broken window.  The security system of the

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-73390670865985990152010-05-16T10:43:00.000-07:002010-05-18T20:01:23.050-07:00

Acknowledged as the oldest living Director in the world, Manoel de Oliveira is still making movies at the ripe old age of one hundred and one. Born in Cedofeita, Porto - Portugal on December 11, 1908, he has been making films since 1931. His most recent work, "The Strange Case of Angelica," was premiered last week at the Cannes Film Festival. According to the centenarian, the idea for the movie

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-49252747820303825862010-05-04T00:24:00.000-07:002010-05-04T05:16:42.754-07:00

Dicapac WP-610 For a few dollars, anyone can waterproof, weatherproof or dustproof their cameras with a Dicapac waterproof case.  Made from high-quality PVC with Silicon and TPU Rubber, it is the perfect camera housing for swimming, snorkling, diving, boating, camping, skiing, rafting or simply as a proctective covering against rain and dust. It is currently available in twelve different

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-85558617889895135432010-04-28T20:57:00.000-07:002010-04-29T20:51:19.917-07:00

Age, like anything else in life, is a matter of perspective (at least to me). I turned 43 (years old) today, but I don't feel more older than 30 years old inside. Some might say I am in denial, but I choose to see it more as evidence that our 'souls' really are eternal -- Hey, it's my birthday and I can view it any way I want. Anyway, I finally made my logo official by getting it tattooed on

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-12860456234990422912010-04-26T07:07:00.000-07:002010-04-29T20:52:29.220-07:00

Mel Brooks finally gets a star on the "Hollywood Walk of Fame" in Hollywood Blvd. In a ceremony last Friday in front of the Egyptian Theatre, the 83 year old Actor/Comedian/Composer/Screenwriter/Producer and Director was in top form, entertaining the crowd with songs and jokes he is well known for. A much anticipated addition, the famous boulevard would be incomplete without a "star" from this

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-45280439550463101722010-04-20T21:38:00.000-07:002010-04-26T07:08:12.503-07:00

I have been high on HDSLR technology for the past year. But I did not expect it to catch on this fast.  Carl Zeiss has just endorsed this growing market segment with a professional line of lenses specifically geared to these lightweight hybrids. The company just introduced a new line of lenses with interchangeable lens mounts called the CP.2.  It offers great flexibility, enabling the 

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-84871796657186368602010-04-18T09:30:00.000-07:002010-04-21T20:41:13.372-07:00

Wayne Martin Belger in his studio/workshop Fine Art photography can be as unique and original as the artists themselves.  A few can be more extreme than others, if not in technique or concept, at least in approach. Wayne Martin Belger's approach to his work is both unique and intriguing at the same time.  Instead of concentrating on technique, which most of us are concerned with, he has chosen to

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-58868448664407111302010-04-08T22:15:00.000-07:002010-04-09T07:01:14.606-07:00

After doing some storyboarding for my movie projects and realizing that I can still somehow draw, I decided to personally illustrate my first Graphic Novel idea.  It might take a year or more to finish one book (at the rate of about three pages every a week).  But it would give me complete control over my story.  At first, I wanted to write a novel based on my "serialized" story idea. But I

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-67892410232508188502010-04-05T04:29:00.000-07:002010-04-10T23:23:23.608-07:00

Since my last entry was on Portraiture (more than two months ago), I am restarting this blog with a portrait.  Anne shot this portrait of me earlier this year, while I was working in our studio in Pasadena. 2010 has been a very hectic year so far, and blogging has taken a backseat.  Well, things are finally settling down again into a more comfortable routine and I promised myself to blog more

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-63716612438821818872010-01-20T23:28:00.000-08:002010-01-20T23:33:13.463-08:00

Here are the 'couples only' pictures from our family portrait shoot.  This time around, I am actually behind the camera.  I opted to provide each couple with two shots one in Color and one in B&W.  The Color shots are more quirkier/modern and the B&W are more formal/classic head shots. I lit these pictures naturally with one big light source to emulate a large window...  I normally light my

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-64248383339968215072010-01-15T20:34:00.000-08:002010-01-15T23:49:35.599-08:00

First off... I want to apologize for my long absence from blogging.  Like for most people, the Holidays are a hectic time for me.  Aside from the usual hustle and bustle brought about by numerous parties and the distribution of gifts to friends and business clients (not to mention the kind people in my children's respective schools), my whole family flew in for a visit and for the first time in

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-27023402806799218372009-12-19T01:31:00.000-08:002009-12-19T02:01:20.140-08:00

When I saw this in Yahoo, I could not believe it.  I just had to blog about it! A guy from Uruguay named Fede Alvarez made a $300 4-minute sci-fi video on giant Robots and spaceships invading Montevideo (Uruguay's Capital) and uploaded it on YouTube Thursday and by Monday, his emailbox was loaded with bonafide Hollywood offers. A bidding war ensued and Sam Raimi's Ghost House Pictures signed him

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-88704354936008336922009-12-10T13:22:00.000-08:002009-12-10T13:29:21.866-08:00

Liu Bolin is a Beijing based artist/photographer, from the Shandong Art College with an MFA in Central Academy of Fine Arts.  He started his "camouflage series" as a protest against the government when it teared down his art cooperative building to make way for the Olympic edifices in 2005.  He says that his work is a statement about how ordinary people do not fit in modern chinese society and as

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-50315506981845964362009-12-06T12:36:00.000-08:002009-12-06T12:50:00.091-08:00

My parents Vicky & Ato Magadia Last Saturday morning (Manila time), My father Renato B. Magadia, Sr. was honored by his alma mater, the University of the Philippines College of Business Administration, as a distinguished Alumni Awardee.  It is an honor given once a year by the College to its most esteemed alumni. Aside from my father, there were only five other receipients this year (2009):

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-34197860336248440602009-12-03T23:04:00.000-08:002009-12-03T23:04:00.520-08:00

I have been busy the last couple of weeks starting a new "Lifestyle" Blog/Ezine with my wife Anne, called Sense Style and Substance. Anne is a widely published "Feature Writer" for glossy magazines (actually a better writer than I am willing to admit) and we have always wanted to collaborate on a project.  After several months writing about photography and cinema on this blog, I thought it

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-54575804121983680392009-11-30T19:39:00.000-08:002009-11-30T19:46:31.964-08:00

I will be shooting a micro-budget digital feature early next year, and I am looking for a good digital Cinematographer and a realiable AD. Cinematographer/Camera Operator - An experienced Cinematographer/Videographer would be my ideal. But since I am a photographer/cinematographer myself, proficient camera operators and videographers are also welcome.  As much as I can do the cinematography

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-44048270122453558022009-11-22T21:01:00.000-08:002009-11-23T08:06:40.687-08:00

Former LVN star Bernard Bonnin died last Saturday morning at age 70; and award-winning actor Johnny Delgado died last Thursday at age 61. My family and I would like to extend our condolences to our sister-in-law, France Bonnin-Magadia and to her family and extended family.  We are sorry we could not be there, but our prayers are with you. Bernard Bonnin - Filipino Actor (Sept. 1939 - Nov. 2009

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-17913024839419164042009-11-18T12:22:00.000-08:002009-11-18T13:11:33.792-08:00

Photo by Richard Avedon If you are a fashion/beauty photographer or if just love models (like I do)... this is a great website for you. Modelinia.com is all about models - Articles, Pictures, Videos you name it.  From Supermodels, past greats and new faces, it is all here -- Fashion shows, behind the scenes, photo shoots, parties, beauty tips, you name it. Here is are some sample videos from

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-13573730567125860942009-11-16T19:20:00.000-08:002009-11-16T19:41:14.593-08:00

If you have been wanting to photograph or video tape a meteor, tonight might be your chance. Take your cameras and tripods out, there might be an amazing meteor shower coming your way. One of the best annual meteor shows, the Leonid Meteor Shower, is happening between 1am and dawn.  NASA predicts 20 to 30 meteors per hour over the Americas and 200 to 300 per hour over Asia.  The Leonid stream is

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-28121623877875150642009-11-14T22:40:00.000-08:002009-11-14T23:09:15.556-08:00

Indie legend Roger Corman, Actress Lauren Bacall and Cinematographer Gordon Willis are receiving their Oscar trophies tonight. For the first time, since the award was instituted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in 1948, the honorary Oscars will be presented in a separate ceremony from the televised 82nd Annual Academy Awards, to be broadcasted on March 7, 2010.

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-51379576008295604452009-11-11T13:01:00.000-08:002009-11-11T17:13:20.095-08:00

I know that the IPhone is one of the most versatile gadget out now, but this is just insane (pun intended)! I saw this first on www.handheldhollywood.com, my favorite blog for everything IPhone. The video was part of a 24-hour competition between two bands to see who could produce the most viral video. This video, by the South London band "Mirrorkicks," gets my vote! -- it is both creative and

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-45180405879922692022009-11-05T23:11:00.000-08:002009-11-07T23:59:43.275-08:00

The latest Indie phenomenon to hit movie theaters worldwide, "Paranormal Activity" is making independent cinema history.   It is currently number one in the box office.  And as of yesterday, it has grossed $86,944,269 in the United States and Canada alone, making it the most profitable (box office sales to production cost) independent film ever, toppling long-time cult favorite "The Blair

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-30431252695579270142009-11-05T01:21:00.000-08:002009-11-05T01:47:47.230-08:00

The Owle Bobo is an IPhone 3Gs camera mount/stabilizer equipped with a 37mm wide-angle/macro (.45x) combo lens and a high quality vericorder microphone.  The sleek futuristic case is constructed from anodized billet aluminum and features an accessory shoe, as well as several "screw-holes" that can accommodate a tripod/monopod or any other gadgets or accessories you want to attach. I have seen

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-48036861031189512482009-11-02T20:37:00.000-08:002009-11-02T23:15:20.098-08:00

Carl Zeiss, Inc. just announced the newest addition to its ZE Series Lenses (Canon EF Mount), the Distagon T* 2/35 ZE. The Zeiss Distagon T* 2/35 ZE is a 35mm standard wide-angle prime for all film and digital Canon EOS cameras models, with a wide aperture of f/2.  It features a moderate 53 degree field of view (horizontal) with very minimal distortion, perfect for commercial, travel and

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-49070679182426961602009-11-02T18:36:00.000-08:002009-11-02T22:56:54.278-08:00

Halloween was very different for us this year.  Instead of dressing up to 'haunt' the neighborhood for candies in the traditional way, we went to the shopping center instead. We have a favorite 'Trick or Treat' street we regularly go to.  It is so popular that it is literally overflowing with kids.  But with the spectre of the H1N1 virus hovering over our heads, the risk of contracting the 

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-35241831615075170292009-10-29T19:44:00.000-07:002009-11-01T13:02:53.109-08:00

Michelangelo Antonioni’s “Blowup” is a cinematic masterpiece that has withstood the test of time. It is as relevant now as it was in 1966. It has inspired and influenced countless filmmakers, as well as sparked heated debates among movie aficionados. It is a very potent work of art that either agitates or aggravates its viewers into spontaneous applause or inordinate disdain. I just

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-80244864532425616142009-10-23T02:22:00.000-07:002009-10-27T10:42:08.780-07:00

[This entry was set for 10/22/09 but was delayed for several hours by a Blogspot system error] Earlier today, Mamiya (USA) introduced four new Digital Backs: the DM22 (22megapixels), the DM28 (28megapixels), the DM33 (33megapixels) and the DM56 (56megapixels).  Earlier this week, the company also introduced four new cameras with basically the same model numbers -- the reason for this is because 

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-4160823776258602112009-10-20T02:02:00.000-07:002009-11-01T12:43:00.246-08:00

A few hours ago, Canon Inc. released a new Pro DSLR "the Canon 1D Mark IV" to replace its previous Canon 1D Mark III model.   It features a new 16.1 megapixel APS-H CMOS sensor with improved ISO sensitivity from 100 - 12,800 (standard) to 50 - 102,400 (expanded).  It also features dual DIGIC 4 image processors, full HD Video and improved AF points. Like the Mark III (its recent predecessor),

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-76484721932845817292009-10-18T21:44:00.000-07:002009-10-27T10:45:29.934-07:00

David Hockney has been painting with an IPhone for more than a year now. He discovered an IPhone application called "Brushes" and just started to doodle, sending 4 or 5 of his spontaneous "sketch-paintings" per day via email to a group of about a dozen friends -- from where the electronic paintings eventually find their way out to the rest of the world. David has created hundreds, maybe even

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-52208275852328022682009-10-16T23:52:00.000-07:002009-10-16T23:56:05.613-07:00

Not a real Black Hole by definition, but rather an electromagnetic device (mimicking a Black Hole) that traps light, was built by two Chinese Scientists from the Southeast University in Nanjing.  It works at microwave frequencies and may soon be extended to trap visible light, leading to a more efficient way to harvest solar energy. I wonder if this would also lead to applications in "the Art

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-38361489836457571502009-10-13T13:48:00.000-07:002009-10-27T10:46:44.281-07:00

Like most fashion photographers, I aspire to shoot for the top magazines.  Vogue is one of the oldest iconic fashion bibles in the whole world, and arguably the most prestigious.  Its roster of celebrity photographers are the world's most celebrated -- Annie Liebovitz, Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, Helmut Newton, Steven Meisel, Bruce Weber, Patrick Demarchelier, Mario Testino, David LaChapelle,

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-40758452222264032312009-10-08T00:12:00.000-07:002009-10-27T10:47:27.747-07:00

Legendary photographer Irving Penn died yesterday (October 7) in his Manhattan home at the age of 92. Known for the stark Euclidean-simplicity of his compositions, Irving Penn transformed the mundane into beautiful abstract photographic masterpieces. He was born in Plainfield, New Jersey in 1917. Although he started taking photographs in the late '30s, his original ambition was to be a

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-90444640642320459002009-10-04T23:50:00.000-07:002009-10-27T10:48:17.134-07:00

"Captive Wildlife Photography" is a sensitive issue for Wildlife Photographers. I stumbled on a good blog entry by Wildlife Photographer Paul Burwell today on this particular issue:  http://www.paulburwell.com/blog/2009/09/hey-you-whered-you-leave-your-integrity/comment-page-1/#comment-1047 On the blog, he questions the integrity of photographers who claim to shoot in the wild, but actually

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-59754837389733797412009-10-02T09:33:00.000-07:002011-09-27T02:45:53.008-07:00

Are these Super Hero and Super Villain outfits for sale? Has this Recession forced Superman, Batman, the Joker, Nite Owl II and Ozymandias to give up their secret identities? I spotted these authentic "original movie costumes" at a Department Store in the Century City Mall recently. "Superman Returns," "The Dark Knight" and "Watchmen" DVDs are available in Amazon.com. -- Shot and edited

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-86344366094810007142009-10-02T09:29:00.000-07:002009-10-02T09:29:19.354-07:00

I am proud to announce that "Atomic Vision" (this blog) is now a featured Blog on Alltop, a leading news aggregator online.  It is listed under filmmaking and photography.

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-70769058058196636352009-09-27T12:45:00.000-07:002009-10-27T10:50:05.060-07:00

Dubbed the worst flood in the Philippine Capital for half a century, tropical storm "Ondoy (Ketsana)" devastated large portions of Manila and 25 other provinces yesterday. 12 hours of downpour dumped more than a month's worth of rain, leaving 80% of the city submerged and at least 106 people dead and missing. Here are some photos of the devastation, courtesy of the photographers from the 

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-81432262881593247312009-09-22T18:44:00.000-07:002009-10-27T10:50:50.302-07:00

The Leica D-Lux 3 is a camera I swear by.  I take it with me everywhere in a leather holster attached to my belt.  Aside from a slight bulge, the camera is so light and compact it has become my favorite "everyday camera" -- it is inconspicuous and can easily fit in a pocket.  Although I have been shooting with my IPhone lately for non-work related photographs (some of which have actually ended as

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-18756235849818823272009-09-19T15:33:00.000-07:002009-10-27T10:51:52.190-07:00

Quentin Tarantino’s newest film “Inglourious Basterds” pays homage to the Italian Spaghetti westerns and to the 1970s World War II Macaroni combat film “Inglorious Bastards” by Italian Director Enzo G. Castellari that Quentin absolutely adores. Like most of his films, the movie is an eccentric blend of influences from various genres, styles and cultures amusingly spliced together to create

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-40708912341074747962009-09-17T23:15:00.000-07:002009-10-27T10:52:32.506-07:00

I found this blogged on the "Strobist" Blog of David Hobby. I instantly fell in love with the technique -- shooting a video on a still camera's frame-rate (a Canon 1D Mark III at 10fps with Profoto Pro-8A airs, later inserts with a Canon 1Ds Mark II), absolutely brilliant! Not exactly "convergence," but effective none the less. It is a great example of creativity and technical prowess over plain

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-31845214033082808222009-09-12T16:11:00.001-07:002009-10-27T10:53:21.958-07:00

One of the most prolific Motion Picture Stills Photographer in history, Douglas Kirkland is a legend in Hollywood. He has been photographing movies and celebrities for over 50 years. Born in Toronto in 1934 and raised in Fort Erie, Canada, he took his first picture with a box Brownie at the age of 10. Two years later, he was shooting with a 4 x 5 Speed Graphic sheet film camera. He started his

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-73630353121137096252009-09-08T11:44:00.000-07:002009-10-27T10:53:54.063-07:00

Last Sunday, my daughter was the Guest of Honor at the Portuguese Bend National Horse Show, held at the Rolling Hills Estates in the Palos Verdes Peninsula. She awarded the Gabriel C. Duque, Jr. memorial trophy with Childrens Hospital LA Head of Radiology, Dr. Marvin Nelson. Seeing her award that trophy brought tears to my eyes... The annual Horse Show is sponsored by the Peninsula (Palos

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-43583446897399295372009-09-05T23:53:00.001-07:002009-10-27T10:54:37.099-07:00

I had a great time taking pictures at the Petersen Museum today. Aside from cameras, I am facinated with cars and motorcycles... The museum houses more than 150 rare and classic cars, trucks and motorcycles -- from historic to vintage, from unusual and rare to famous Hollywood legends. Here are some of them... Oh, I almost forgot... they do have fun things

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-27439129044668069402009-09-04T11:33:00.000-07:002009-10-27T10:55:12.859-07:00

As a camera enthusiast and collector, a "new camera launch" always excites me. Being a Canon user since the old F-1 era, Canon camera announcements are an extra treat. I don't upgrade my photo gear every time a new model is announced... I usually skip one generation before I trade-in my cameras for better ones. The introduction of the new Canon 7D last Tuesday is timely -- I am ready to upgrade

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-15700357526260856262009-09-02T16:44:00.000-07:002009-10-27T10:55:43.214-07:00

Alexis Tioseco, a Filipino-Canadian Film Critic and Nika Bohinc, a Slovenian Film Critic and freelance writer, were murdered yesterday (tuesday night-Manila time) in their home in Quezon City, a suburb of Metro-Manila, Philippines. According to the Police report, the couple was gunned down as they were entering their home. Both died of bullet wounds, victims of a violent burglary. Three gunmen,

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-48768485057041123042009-09-01T12:26:00.001-07:002009-10-27T10:56:50.656-07:00

"District 9," a late-summer Sci-fi thriller produced by Peter Jackson and directed by South African first-timer Neill Blomkamp, is surprisingly good. It may well be the best Blockbuster movie of this summer. Set in Johannesburg South Africa and shot/edited psuedo-documentary style (with lots of news clips and video interviews), the Apartheid undertones are immediately recognizable. The

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-20001458560422806402009-08-29T22:15:00.000-07:002009-08-29T22:37:27.821-07:00

I just finished working on these photos... I will be posting them tonight on my website.We had a lot of fun working on this shoot.Model: Natalie Anne WallemanHair & Make-up: Victoria RubellStylist: Anne Prado-Magadia--Shot with a Canon 1Ds Mark II, 24-70mm 2.8 L lens.

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-88514595587552816832009-08-27T10:31:00.000-07:002009-10-27T10:57:57.162-07:00

I found this hilarious clip from a Nikon user's website... I tracked it on Youtube. I think the Nikon D3x is a fantastic camera. It is just good fun to laugh about the current megapixel and technological race happening between Camera manufacturers and how they got all of us caught up in this frenzy. --Video clip taken from YouTube, posted by cndlpwr.

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-60267886387862736392009-08-26T17:12:00.001-07:002011-09-27T02:46:39.228-07:00

We were a little late coming home from work and my daughter took it upon herself to prepare a meal... Introducing the "Ham, apple, pickle, Butterfinger, potato chip sandwich with ketchup and mustard supreme surprise." The weirdest part is that my wife and I actually ate it. Love truly does conquer all... -- Shot and edited with an IPhone (3G).

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-49402539490015193682009-08-23T13:11:00.000-07:002009-10-27T10:58:42.021-07:00

The Cannes Film Festival 2009 highlighted the talents of two up and coming Filipino Filmmakers, Brilliante Mendoza and Raya Martin. Brilliante Mendoza won the Best Director Award (a first for the Philippines) for his indie feature "Kinatay" -- beating an illustrious field of directors, which included Ang Lee, Pedro Almodovar, Ken Loach, Alain Resnais, Quentin Tarantino, Jane Campion and Lars Von

Atomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10414076490243544079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188502720219365352.post-74973244201332995042009-08-22T22:19:00.000-07:002009-10-20T02:15:57.917-07:00

I just saw this on the net... A Canon 5D Mark II fitted with a Panavision Primo 11 to 1 zoom using Panavision's EOS adapter. I know that the 5D MkII is a good camera, but this is just a bit too much! Like a monster truck, it works... but the setup actually nullifies the utility and purpose of the machine and what it was originally intended for (a convenient "COMPACT" camera you can easily carry

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