Validation

A short film by Kurt Kuenne

Having problems with making people smile? You gotta watch this film. Every photographer worth a damn should learn from this guy. When shooting portraits, talk to your subjects, coax them, make them at ease, make them smile, or smirk. Or cry, be mad. Or whatever. Key here is to connect and bring out true emotions that you'd wanna capture for posterity.

Learn to talk and give compliments.



I need a compliment, too. Hit me with your best shot. :p

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Orfa - Miss Loay Pageant (sample edit)

by Ryan Macalandag

Orfa - Miss Loay Pageant, originally uploaded by Ryan Macalandag.

Location: Casa Filomena
MUA: Bukton
Stylist: Mark
Director: Jorindel
Assistant: Atupz

Lighting: one (1) SB-25 silver umbrella, front and above of model.

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Glimpses of My Father's Barrio

Photography by Ryan Macalandag

These are some of the images I took when I last went home to this little barrio in the mountains of Danao, Bohol, Philippines. My father is from here and he was speaking at the elementary school's graduation ceremonies when we went.





First thing you can really notice when coming here are the kids running around playing. My earliest recollection of my first visit was when we went into this little barrio through a curvy, swervy, narrow heckuva road and out of nowhere pops out this little place crawling with children. The little critters were following the pick-up truck we were on. They didn't see motorized vehicles too often during those times.



That's my pop in the middle of the huddle with our lunch of fresh water crabs and shrimp.



Me with a few of my cousins.

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Design Study From A Salvaged Photo

Fashion Photography by Ryan Macalandag



Lighting Info:
Nikon SB-26 w/ umbrella camera right and above, white background, one reflector camera left and another down below.

Post Process:
Actually this photo is a throw-away..way too overexposed..i just did some major rescue photoshop...but couldn't salvage her other arm..thus the crop.

I still have to get the name of the model, director, stylist and MUA.

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Magtanim ay di biro kung ika'y batang walay ligo

Photo by Ryan Macalandag



This kid should be in school. Period.

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Posh Models Cathy and Fer

Fashion Photography by Ryan Macalandag

Bohol's modeling scene is picking up pace. Headed by EJ Relampagos, one of Tagbilaran City's up-coming-and-already-there fashion designers, Posh Models is an agency to watch out for.

Here are some recent photos from a shoot we did in Dauis, Bohol.







Photo shoot for POSH Model Agency

Models: Cathy Remperas & Fermary Baliquig
MUA & Designer: EJ Relampagos
Hair Stylist: Daryl Espinosa
Photographer: Ryan Macalandag
Assistant: Atupz Paredes
Location: Dauis Church, Bohol, Philippines

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Lighting info:
One (1) SB-28DX triggered via Cactus RF, umbrella/bare where applicable

Post Processing through Lightroom

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Foto Fuze! Photo Clinic on April 19th

by Ryan Macalandag



Fotofuze! is a 4-hour photography clinic that covers basic photography solutions to some common challenges in taking pictures. Participants will also experience a real-time shoot and a photo critiquing follows. The clinic will be conducted by Bohol photographer Ryan Macalandag.

The photo clinic will be held on April 19, 2009 1-5pm at the 2nd floor of Marbella Plaza. Registration fee of P200 will cover snacks, venue and workshop materials. Only digital SLRs or Point-and-Shoots are allowed. Limited to thirty (30) seats only. Please register in advance at BQ Fuji Center or visit ryanmacalandag.blogspot.com.

This event is organized by POSH Events and sponsored by BQ Fuji Center & DesignDepot Graphics.

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These Hills are Chocolatey in the Summer

Bohol Landscapes by Ryan Macalandag



This is a shot of a lone Chocolate Hill all ready for summer in Sagbayan, Bohol, Philippines. One of the 1000 plus hills, this will turn back to verdant green when the rainy days come in July.

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Ryan in Lomo

Lomo photos by Liza Macalandag



I very seldom get photographed since I'm mostly behind the camera that's why I was glad I found Liza's lomo photos of me when we went to Pamilacan (an island off Baclayon in Bohol) to shoot for a resort there. That is Francis, my cousin, assisting me.



Here are some of the photos from this shoot:





View related posts list to see more Pamilacan photos.

For more lomo photos, check out Liza's Bohol Lomography blog.

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BangBang Dos! Finally! (repost)

by Ryan Macalandag

Finally! It's out. In a couple weeks time, BangBang Dos the second compilation album of all-original songs by eight (8) Boholano bands will be launched. The album launching will be held at Martin's Music Bar on March 21, 2009. Show starts 8pm.

Score your tickets now before they're all sold out. Tickets at P50.



Keept posted for news and updates.

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Video: Tiny Dancer by Elton John

Video grabbed from Youtube.com

This is a definite "fixer-upper". This is one of those songs that just brightens your day (I hope) no matter how low you are at. Go on, take a hit.



Lyrics and more videos of this song after the jump.


"Tiny Dancer"

Blue jean baby, L.A. lady, seamstress for the band
Pretty eyed, pirate smile, you'll marry a music man
Ballerina, you must have seen her dancing in the sand
And now she's in me, always with me, tiny dancer in my hand

Jesus freaks out in the street
Handing tickets out for God
Turning back she just laughs
The boulevard is not that bad

Piano man he makes his stand
In the auditorium
Looking on she sings the songs
The words she knows the tune she hums

But oh how it feels so real
Lying here with no one near
Only you and you can hear me
When I say softly slowly

Hold me closer tiny dancer
Count the headlights on the highway
Lay me down in sheets of linen
you had a busy day today

Blue jean baby, L.A. lady, seamstress for the band
Pretty eyed, pirate smile, you'll marry a music man
Ballerina, you must have seen her dancing in the sand
And now she's in me, always with me, tiny dancer in my hand

(end lyrics)

Here is a video clip from "Almost Famous" where Tiny Dancer is used as a "fixer-upper". This clip is after Russel's "I am a golden god!" scene.



Here is another from Dave Grohl.



So, uhm, how's the high?

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Happy Valentines!

by Reg & Ryan



Hey friends! May your Heart's Day be filled with love and compassion as you celebrate it with your partners, lovers, friends and family. Happy Valentines everyone!

From us, Ryan and Reg. :)

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Videos: Pachelbel's Canon in D

Grabbed from Youtube.com

Yeah, it's a classical piece, I know. But, listening to this song sometimes gives me the chicken skin. I had found this Korean guy on Youtube who plays two guitars at once playing classical and I saw the Canon amongst his playlist. It's quite amazing really.



(Click the link for more.)

And so I searched some more and remembered that Canon was one of the OST for the Korean (another Korean!) movie "My Sassy Girl" - my all time favorite romantic-comedy movie of all time. And found this clip.



I almost cried with that one. I think that modified version was in C not D. But it was lovely none the less.

I scanned and searched some more to find this beautiful beautiful version. This is an audio only video (what's up with that?) done with violins/cielo as Pachelbel originally had written it for.



Now, I cried on that one. Literally. Literal tears welled up and literally rolled down my literal cheeks. Made me miss my wife.huhuhu

Anyways, let me leave with this clip from Rob Paravonian, a less-known comedian from the states but still very funny. Here's his take on his most hated "one-hit-wonder".



There. I hope you enjoyed all the videos. Thanks Youtube! :p

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Sinulog 2009 Celebration

Festival Photography by Ryan Macalandag

I've never really shot the Sinulog Festival before. I forgot my reasons for not going. I was probably just lazy. But anyways, this year, together with more than a thousand other photographers, I registered for the "photo contest". I reckoned it would be cool to shoot the Grand Parade with an all-access ID. So off I went.





Actually, "off I went" when the thing was already half finished. At around 10am Sunday, I was still at home in Tagbilaran City, watching the mardigra on TV. I did not leave until 11:35 (Oceanjet) and arrived Cebu at 1:40 in the afternoon. From Pier 1, the roads where already packed with people. I walked about 2 kilometers to Abellana through Colon. I arrived 3pm half-wet from rain and sweat.









The Photographer-Videographer ID was very useful indeed. First, it got me inside the grandstand where the "dance interpretation" contest for all the contingents were held. And of course, in the streets where the crowds are thick, I can just flash my ID and we were let into the route where the dancers do their thing.

The ID was also helpful to let a few friends in. But that was not entirely legal I think.



Anyways, I wasn't really in the mood to shoot until the last dance troupe, so I went with Bea and Teo to Maud's place just near Jones (French invasion). The streets were still very crowded.

When we got to Maud's, everyone took a nap while I reviewed my 200 or so photos from the day's shoot. Bea had over 2000 photos. I really helps if you get there early. Bea was there already from the start.

For dinner, we went to Yellow Cab Pizza in Mango Avenue. We walked the whole stretch from Jones too! It was just crazy all over the streets with throngs and throngs of people walking to Mango or Ayala where the street parties where.







After a rather hefty Meat-lover and Garden Fresh pizza dinner, we again schlepped our way to The Outpost in Lahug (there where no taxi's anywhere because of the traffic!) where we were to meet Manu, Didin and Scott, more friends from Bohol.







Outpost was relatively quieter than in Mango or Ayala. The band line-up for the night was mostly reggae or thereabouts. Marla, Scott's "friend", did vocals for Island Joe a ska band.

Kadangyan and Mungkanghan, both enthno-tribal-worldbeat bands also played. And of course, Budoy's Junior Kilat also performed on stage.

We went home after Budoy and a few bottles of Coors and Cerveza Negra at around 4am already. Whew! Pit Senyor! indeed.



To view more photos, please visit: my Flickr or my Picasa account

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YorDaddy Band Promo Photo Shoot

Band Photography by Ryan Macalandag



YorDaddy broke into Bohol's underground music in the second half of 2007 creating a few songs with catchy tunes, witty lyrics and some pure Boholano rock n' roll goodness. With songs sung in Bisaya, the group wants to promote local pride and spread Boholano music to the whole world.







For more information on the band or for gigs and bookings, please visit their MySpace account.

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