The Light In The Church Hallway: lucky charm

When I first joined the competition at the Livermore Valley Camera Club (LVCC) in October 2008, I wasn't sure what picture to enter. So, I did the "Eeny, meeny, miny, mo" from my 8x12 print in 10x14 mat collection...and wished that I will get at least a favorable review."

After seeing colorful and Photoshop-touched pictures in the club, I started to have doubts in my work. But there was John, the competition's manager and my favorite "real" professional photographer in the club, who had expressed his appreciation in my work from the very start.

.....Lights off, the judge approached the center stage, looked at the picture on display, carefully examined it and gave her comments.

Much to my surprise, the judge, a professional photographer from Sunnyvale California said:
"This picture has caught my eyes from the moment it was put on for display from where I was seated at the back. The light in the hallway coming from the window is true photography. True photography is all about light. It's perfectly framed, very detailed - the lines on the floor, the walls, and the plants. Very relaxing and meditative. I like it."

The Light In The Church Hallway picture was chosen 1st place for the Basic Print Pictorial that night and was sent out to compete with the other winning pictures from the other 20+ camera clubs in Northern California - became 2nd place for November 2008 competition at Northern California Councils of Camera Club (N4C). It will be competing for the N4C for 2009 annual competition.

Not only that I gained recognition and customers support from this image (as this was my 2008 bestseller), I also gained my self-confidence back. A friend from work (Nancy) once told me that The Light In the Church Hallway picture is my lucky charm...I think it really is!

[click the above title The Light In The Church Hallway to know Livermore Valley Camera Club (LVCC) and the NEWSLETTER Valley Zoom lists the monthly competition results, click on the image to enlarge].

Fabio: the fibroid

Five years ago, I had a nasty fibroid removed through Myomectomy surgery. It was a small muscle, for unknown reason, grew right beside my uterus. I, later on gave my fibroid a name Fabio [yup a guy's name].

Highlights of my Fibroid Crisis:

• 5 months in pain (4 months pre-op, 1 month post-op).
• Drank >10 bottles of water in one-sitting and not allowed to void until l have my ultrasound done.
• hot flushes at age of 32 as side effect of my hormone "buttocks" shot (to shrink Fabio before surgery).
• was in general anethesia.
• spent 3 days in hospital dosed with Morphine and other pain relievers.
• had the tiniest "bikini cut" which wearing my two-piece swimsuit didn't bother me at all.
• it's my priviledged that the doctor who operated me is one of the top Reproductive Endocrinology Infertility surgeons in the country.
• Fabio was as big as a baseball and there were other li'l ones found and removed during the surgery.

My friend Emma was with me during the surgery (thanks sis'!). When she was about to take this picture, she paused laughing at me and said "Chu of all the sick people here in this hospital, you're the only one who wants to have your picture taken and all-smiling!"...I replied to her "Despite of my pain, I am happy as it's my 1st US hospital experience, so can you please take my picture now for "documentation".

"Documentation" ~ is what photography means to me. To document LIFE and anything that catches my eye.

At present, Fibroid is back ~ let's call him "Fabio Jr." this time. It doesn't bother me right now and hoping he'll just shrink as the time goes by...

[click the above title Fabio The Fibroid to get to know him]

Mt.Whitney: scaling the peak

I decided to add this article that I wrote to document my 1st hike in Mt. Whitney in 2008. Hiking and Photography comes together ~ they're both my life's passion. If it's about hiking, you'll see names such as Uma, James, Saurab, and V on this blog - they're all my hiking buddies. But if it's just plain photography trip, my travel companions, my cousins Dollie, Jeff, and Remy are my supporting characters. Let me now walk you through to Mt. Whitney...

Rising to 14,494 feet, Mt. Whitney is the highest peak in the lower 48 states and the crown jewel of California's Sierra Nevada. It encompasses one of America's most beautiful alpine settings and provides a variety of aesthetic routes on superb granite. Interestingly enough, the lowest point in the United States (Badwater Basin in Death Valley at -279ft) is only about 90 miles from Mt Whitney—quite a contrast don’t you think?I've been hiking for 3 straight years and have thought that it's about time to take the big leap. For some, they'll hike up Whitney in one long and grueling day from the parking lot at Whitney Portal, situated at 8,360' above sea level. This involves an aggregate elevation gain of approximately 6,400' (including about 300' or so on the descent) in a 22-mile round trip.

We set out to fulfill a goal that started as a notion. In February, we put in for our permit using the lottery system and were lucky enough to have our first choice granted. Early this year, we began to train as hard as we could by working out at the gym and by taking long hikes in Mt. Carmel, Mt. Diablo, Mt. Tam, Yosemite's JMTrail and and as far as Hawaii. The Whitney trail is obviously very strenuous and most people take a couple of days to hike the entire length. We decided NOT to join the death march of tackling the trail as a day hike – we did it for 3 days. There are lots of switchbacks, beautiful lakes, meadows, waterfalls and wildlife encounters and most exciting of all were the creek and snow crossings. Slow in the ascent, l was left behind from 99 switchbacks to the summit. I never felt alone in that journey as l have my way of connecting my spirituality to the Divine Person and to Mother Nature. We all agreed that we are responsible for ourselves, concede when necessary and reach the summit no matter what. So l took my time not rushing, kept on hydrating myself and kept self-motivating as much as l could. I set aside my hobby for photography on my way to the summit so l could make it there at a decent time. I even once questioned my existence "Is this really me getting close to the summit or did l fall off those cliffs and died? Is it my spirit who is climbing?" - So I pinched myself , l felt the pinch and convinced myself that it was really me. I even tested myself to rule out pulmonary edema from altitude sickness by spitting. If there's no blood then l was clear. I was convinced again that I was doing great so l kept on going even though l was really tired on those endless ascents. Then l let my "sense of spirituality" kick in. I found myself praying for my family and for myself. Then l thought about my "late" mom and let my emotion got carried me away. I was surprised to see my friends Uma & James waiting for me before the summit. James was worried about me all along but Uma was not because she knows that I am persistent.

Compounding the difficulties associated with the length and elevation of the trail is that timeless scourge of the mountaineer -- altitude. Because the Mt. Whitney Trail ascends to the highest point in the continental US, oxygen is a priceless commodity. Much of the trail -- including the last several miles to the summit -- where every step is a challenge - I reached the summit on June 27, 2008 and embraced the "blinding" beauty of the wilderness. I survived this adventure for a lifetime and am looking forward to doing it again.

So, l would like to share with all of you my favorite quote from John Muir which l was able to share with Uma. It answers the question what it drew me to endure the hardship of scaling the peak and why l ventured into the vertical wilderness of this earth:

"Everybody needs beauty and bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to the body and soul."

[click the above title Vertical Wilderness to see Mt. Whitney pictures]

Yosemite Accident: Is life a joke?

If i have to remember all the good things in my life, my February 2008 Buckmeadows-Yosemite accident always kicks in. Irony?...you'll know why later. Somewhere along the road, I believe that a companion Spirit is protecting us every step of the way.

Lessons from my Yosemite Accident:

1. Never take Hwy120 in Wintertime esp. during Chinese New Year!
   It's safer to take hwy140 Mariposa - better drive, better view and that's where I can get free decorative rocks for my backyard project.
2. Never trust a high mileage car (100,000+).
3. Do not pollute the mountains, Mother Nature has its way to curse you back. [Uh uh...not me, it was somebody else].
4. Make sure the accident site is accessible to landline phone. [Verizon: Can you hear me now?]
5. If you see the white sky, it's the airbag that deflated...You're not in heaven yet Baby!
6. Keep sane so you can salvage all your belongings. Otherwise, they'll be finder's keeper.
7. Trust a stranger. Good Samaritan still exists!
8. If your car is wrecked, it's OK as you'll get a new one (and a new car loan - oh boy that sucks!). All material things are replaceable. LIFE is not.
9. Legalize your Will esp. if you're in the US.
10. Enjoy and cherish LIFE, even though at times you want to give up. Living is important and everyday is a GIFT.

Is life a joke?...because I had planned to attend a photography class in the park but ended up photographing my own accident. It's inconceivable!

"I like living. I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely, miserable, racked with sorrows, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing." ~ Agatha Christie

[to view pictures of the accident, click the above title Lessons From My Yosemite Accident]

The Spirit In Me: wind

The picture below was taken way back November 1972 of me and my mom at my grandmother's house. [though l appreciate what digital photography can offer, l am until now attached to the Old World feeling from any old photograph]. On the back (not shown) has mom's handwriting for dad, which she sent this to him, who at that time finishing his contract as an overseas merchant marine/seaman oveseas [dad was not around when l was born]. So, this picture travelled somewhere, travelled back home with dad, and now it's with me!

Until now I keep on wondering if there was any occassion on that day (how l can remember, l was that "cute li'l innocent" 10 months old baby). Maybe we were just visiting grandma or maybe that was the day l was released from the hospital after getting sick. Mom told me her ordeal when she almost lost me and how frightening it was going out to take me to the hospital during the Martial Law [Former President Marcos declared Martial Law in Sept 1972]--- well my friends, l made it, alive and kicking and still surviving!

We didn't have anything "extra" in life. But she was always around despite her busy schedule as a working mom and filling in for dad (when he's overseas) making sure we're all (3 children) healthy, safe and educated. As the closest child , l saw and shared life's happiness and hardships with her. For what l have thrived and learned in life, it's all because of her.

Mom never found out about my "serious" photography. How l wish l discovered it sooner but deep inside l know that she knows. She's like a Wind ~ l never see her but feel her for her spirit lives in me. I lost her in 2006 but it opened the door to my talent...my passion...my happiness.

[click the above title "The Spirit In Me" to play "Gone Too Soon" song that l lovingly dedicated to her. click the picture to enlarge - sorry was not looking, camera shy at that time]
"When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us." - Helen Keller

About Me...

This is my 1st blog and hope l can keep up doing this. In 2008, l wrote my short-bio when l launched my 1st photography exhibit. It's about my self-discovery that led to a passion ~ photography. It does not contain anything about my life growing up in Manila, nor about the cheers and tears of migrating and living in the United States, nor about my family, and nor about the X-men in my life. So, here it is and hope "About Me..." and my future blog and pictures will inspire you and pick up the good things that l learned in LIFE.


About Me...

My purpose in life is to live, to love and to experience life in a way that is uniquely mine. I discovered my passion ~ photography, and soon realized it is a blessing from Above. This talent which allows me to recognize what it is to capture, to treasure, and to share moments of pure beauty for which there are no words. Photography has been in my blood since l was a child. Growing up, l used to borrow a camera from my cousin because our family could not afford one. Finally in 2001, l got my first real camera as a gift, went digital in 2006 and upgraded to DSLR in 2007.

I started taking landscape photography when l also started my other passion ~ Hiking allows me to discover hidden wonders that very few find. And now, I am extending that wonderful sense of discovery and excitement and turning my "photographer's eye" towards capturing people, by including Portrait and Wedding photography in my repertoire. I am thankful, thankful for God's gifts, I am thankful for the wonders of the world, and most of all l am thankful for my family and friends who support me.

In Yosemite National Park in February 2008, I had a life changing experience. I had planned to attend a photography class in the park focused on the magnificence of nature, akin to the techniques used by Ansel Adams. Instead, on the way, l barely escaped death in an automobile accident that dramatically changed everything. I thought deeply about what is truly important in life. No accident will stop me from returning to my favorite park and taking pictures. I have become more inspired and passionate about photography and the magic it allows me to "Express Myself".

To improve my skills and to advance my knowledge and experience in the wonderful world of photography, l have joined the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) and Livermore Valley Camera Club (LVCC). I also attend Nikon School every year. I continue to read everything I can about photography and take special joy in practicing and endlessly experimenting, seeking new angles to illustrate the wonders of life.

I do hope my pictures will intrigue you and express a small part of the beauty I see in our World.It is honorable to be an Artist ~ spreading beauty and light is as necessary as oxygen and food.

[click the above "About Me..." to view some of my pictures]