Photobin: My New Portable/Home Studio

Studio Photography by Ryan Macalandag



I had made myself a portable/home studio to add to my gear list. It's not the expensive studio equipment but instead the cheap yet sleek and portable. I can bring it almost any where.







I had purchased a background stand in Manila last December from Hobby Depot for a very reasonable price. I also bought background sheets from a local department store. Bought the stiff sheets for cross stitching. Made nice backdrops too.

I had also purchased an old SB-24 online for a steal. I now have 3 flashes including the SB-600 and the Vivitar 283. Cool. Strobist.hehe

The photos above are just some initial experiments. Had some good shots too. Lighting really made the photos pop I think.

Note to self: get real models next time.


For more of this set, please click here.

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Photobin: Crosslighting Excercises

Photography by Ryan Macalandag



Crosslighting is one of the basic lighting techniques in flash photography. This technique involves using at least two lights each on the opposite sides of the subject. This creates a very sculpted look for the subject.

For this one, I used two small portable strobes. One SB-600 with an omnibounce on camera left and one Vivitar 283 camera right. Both are positioned slightly behind the subjects axis.

Shot using a Nikon D80 fitted with a Nikkor 50mm 1.8 lens.

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Photobin: Diwanag Dancers

Event Photography by Ryan Macalandag



The Diwanag Dance Troupe is the in-school dance group of the Holy Name University in Tagbilaran City, Bohol. Their repertoire consists of local traditional dances and highly-conceptual, theatre-style sets.

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Video: Stock Photography

So this is how they do it, huh?

Notice the huge-ass "white backdrop softbox" and the large octa-box being used. This is to create the "white and clean" effect evident in most stock photos.

When lighting like this DIY-style, just get a bigger substitute for a softbox and everything will be perfect. I think. ^_____^

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Photobin: New Year's Day Shots

Photography by Ryan Macalandag

What better way for a photographer to start a new year than to do a photoshoot with friends and family. This was exactly what I did. To my amazement, I got a handful keepers from the day's shoot.







For more of this set, please click here. Happy new year to all of us! :)

portraiture, kids, children, portraits, family, lifestyle photography, ryan macalandag

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Photobin: Buildings in the Metro

Architectural Photography by Ryan Macalandag



I had always wanted to take photos of buildings. The architectural design is outright pleasing (as an architectural draftsman myself back in high school) while the mystery and aura of buildings as "vessels of people" just amazes me.

Thus, when I, with my wife, went to Metro Manila last December, I was perpetually on the lookout for my building shots. Here are a few of my selections.









We had just passed by some of these buildings on a Taxi. But I was amazed with my Nikon D80 which was not only quick to AF but speedy and fairly accurate (with practice) exposures. The taxi drove quick so I had to take grab shots only.

Pretty decent, eh? For more of this set, please click here.

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Photobin: Jasper, photographer

Jasper used to art-direct our shoots way, way back when we were still regulars at LifestyleBohol and even when we worked together (he was my boss, kinda) at the City Hall before doing special projects for the mayor. But then he had to go abroad and to look for work. In Thailand, he now teaches high school, mentoring Thai students, while speaking perfect (native tongue) English. Jasper's from Spain so that shouldn't be a problem. At all.



And so after a year (and some) of living it out in Thailand, he's back home for the holidays. He visited us at our apartment because 2. he wanted to drink beer and 1. because he wanted to have his picture taken. He's vain like that you know.hehehe

And of course, I had to show him some Strobist-action there and taught him a few
new lighting tricks I learned online.



Uhm, so yeah, I still suck at doing the (said) new lighting tricks. Well, that or I just needed a proper model to work with. (hehehe) It must be the beers though.

It has to be the beers, yeah.

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Personal: One too many holiday meetings!

I'm complaining though. Holidays are meant to be spent with friends, family and long lost friends and family.

Last night, together with a few photographer and videographer friends, we had a simple and quaint dinner at a "floating raft" in Villa del Sol. There were seven of us - me, Ryan Li, Meljun Daniel, Jude Montejo, Jeramil and the Joels (Diccion and Jumamil. Talk was free so we had a lot. That and some beers.





We planned to make the group regular with regular monthly meetings, activities and stuff. I say, it's about time. In an industry that is so small and cramped, it is just but proper for everyone to be friends and huddle where everyone can have fun and learn from each other.



That's Joel Diccion right there having a great time.
More photos here.

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Lifestyle Bohol Meet-up

I was already a bit tipsy from the "camera club" party but I still had to go to Asiatika at the MetroCentre Hotel to meet some friends too. Jasper, who used to write for LifestyleBohol, just arrived from Thailand after a few years working there and had wanted to see everyone.





There's everyone. I didn't stay for too long though. Just had me some ample time for this pictorial...hehehe They had wanted to go sing videoke or sumthin. I went home earlier.

Oh, well. That won't be the end of it though. I suppose there will still be a lot of meet-ups and parties to go to as the holiday season dwindles down. (Fingers crossed.)

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Photobin: Ryan by Reg

Photo by Reg Estorba-Macalandag
Edited by Ryan Macalandag



Here's another portrait of me before the year ends. Reg, my wife, tries her hands in photography and shot this picture of me. Of a number of shots, she chose this shot. I look goofy here, don't I? Oh well, she's the photographer.

Used here is my new Nikkor 50mm 1.8 which is quite sharp at f/2.8. People say it's soft at 1.8-2 but i think it's just camera shake 'coz at these apertures the DOF can be real narrow. I tried it with some strobes at the biggest opening and had some sharp shots too.

Oh well, as if I don't Photoshop. :p

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Strobist: Annie and Elizabeth, Minute-by-Minute

Strobist: Annie and Elizabeth, Minute-by-Minute



A lot of people have been trying to figure out how it is to be a "professional" photographer. Annie Leibovitz is seen here in her top form.

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