create

my Goddaughter, jasmine, was born today :)
she came into this world at 5:07 in the morning, weighing 6lbs 6oz.
i can't wait to meet her!

checking my inbox this morning, i find the press release for an art show that i am in,
and am reminded again about the beautiful, painful, and necessary role of creation.

*

WOMB of CREATION

A month-long exhibit by GABRIELA NETWORK, Los Angeles honoring Pinay Artists

The essential power of creation lies within the wombs of women. From the womb, humanity is born. And thus, the root of the imagination can be traced back to this site of creation.

In this month-long exhibit, GABRIELA NETWORK highlights the artwork of four Pinay artists. As an organization focusing on the empowerment of women we recognize that women in the arts are still being overlooked, especially Filipinas. Honoring the power of women to incite inspiration within the community through art we hope you are moved to discover more about the role of women in the arts by the pieces which are displayed here each week.

For more information on GABRIELA NETWORK see www.gabnet.org.

GABRIELA Network is a Philippine-US women's solidarity mass organization. GABNET provides the means by which Filipinas in the US can empower themselves, functions as training ground for women's leadership, and articulates the women's point of view. GABNet effects change through organizing, educating, fundraising, networking, and advocacy.

...

this brings up all sorts of things for me as an artist, as a woman, as a filipina, as a person.

it's something beautiful to reflect on this morning~
i'm realizing how fortunate i am to have this sphere of amazing women around me, surrounding me with inspiration, love and support.

from intimately listening to marie digby and emm gryner sing at the hotel cafe to sharing pita and greek fare with misaki, her daughter, and friends at cafe ambrosia... to celebrating my best friend's birthday with dinner on a balcony and having fun at the bella maven photo shoots with joyce and loralei... almond tea with heather in irvine... i feel super blessed.


go team!

breathe and stop

"Breathe and Stop, for real and give it what you got
Give it what you got, give it what you got
If you on the block then give it what you got"
- q tip "breathe and stop"
truth be told, i'm still holding out.
i'm not sure what it is that makes me hold back...
it's that gasp that i take before i press the shutter,
that split second of hesitation.
i see it in my photos.
it's so annoying!

i pray for the confidence to give it ALL that i've got.

i felt that today's shoot was the closest i've gotten to the images that i have in my mind.
(in terms of personal artwork, of course)
somehow, i let go, and to me, my work seemed more true, more free.
there's a slight bit of hesitation,  
but the colours i captured, the textures, the emotions, the depth..
moved me.

yes, i'm interested in a 'pretty' picture,
but there is so much more i want to convey.
there's a story, a longing, a fleeting feeling that i aim to capture.
to get under, to deconstruct.

i am enamored with this photo i took of liliana today. 

needless to say, i'm feeling much more at ease with my photography.
(even if it's portraying an awkward moment/situation).

give it what you got,
give it what you got

bella

means beautiful.

fresh outlook

i had a bit of rough start to the weekend...

thursday evening i was feeling ache-y and turned in early (8pm).
when i awoke on friday i wasn't feeling any better and started to have chills and cold sweats.
i stayed in bed for HOURS. i was in and out and feeling really dazed.

thankfully, by saturday, i was feeling ok.

... and my weekend got better

- i got to see old college friends i haven't seen in about a year
- i went to beatrock in long beach for the 1st time to see the 'pound for pound' pacquiao art show
- i caught the tail end to the dodgers/cardinals gave with mum and nick on the tele
- sunday school went well
- dim sum with mum
- friend got a job! congrats girl :)
- i had the opportunity to 'practice' shoot abby, who is an overall kick ass person.

we spent an hour (really, 15 mins shooting, 45 of (mostly me) yapping. oof) outside in the fresh autumn air. somehow, that time shifted my perspective. needless to say, i got these great shots:




looking at them, there's this vivaciousness i'm loving!


anyway, its giving me this new outlook.

i'm excited to channel it!

*

two shoots today, both a bit of a challenge.

i wasn't feeling 100%, but i thought i'd give it my all anyway.

i felt a sense of urgency to take the following photos, one subject would be moving soon and the other is scheduled to go on vacation.

carolyn & ryan:

i LOVE this shot:


david:

jayson

earlier this week, i had the opportunity to shoot jayson, a family-friend i grew up with, but haven't seen in over 10 years. we hit up magdalena in pasadena and had pizzas and empanadas, sangria and iced tea, loud conversation and shared personal triumphs.

after, we walked through old town and shot in an alley filled with lights and shadows and amazing color. here are a few of my favorite images from that shoot:


the actual shoot itself took no longer than 20 minutes, but it was fun and i am happy with the results.

magandang umaga

means 'good morning' in tagalog. 

i woke up surprisingly early this morning (5:30am), which is something i haven't done in months.  it was pleasant to witness the stillness of the morning, and be apart of the quiet and clarity that comes with waking before the sun comes up.  

to celebrate the sweetness of a saturday morning, i headed to the beach. 

i walked the pier, strolled past various shops (photo 2 is really cool, tho somewhat shocking at 7am), and ate breakfast with my sister. it was nice.

unfortunately, i forgot to bring my camera, so the above photos were blackberry storm camera phone ones.          

i wish i had brought my new lomo fisheye along... the film that i bought was for outdoor/brightlight~ perfect for the beach! but instead i got all excited and started taking photos indoor, in low light. only a few came out right (duh! haha). i took a photo of a photo, so the quality isn't the greatest, but you get an idea. the shot is pretty damn cool in person, and it's of the stargazer lilies that my boyfriend gave to me. :)                                                  

needless to say, i'm excited to use the fisheye more~ 

explore!