Boni Station

This is the view of the MRT tracks up on Boni Station. I was amazed by the scenic view of EDSA at this late part of the day. Those red streaking tail lights and the yellow head lights is really nice to look at. Divided by the tracks, theres this vanishing point just after the curve. This is my 2nd time to glimpse this part of EDSA from this point of view and I cant help myself to take a snap. This picture is one of my favorites in my Project 365 album. Hope you like it as well.

Earth Hour

One hour to make a difference. An hour that affects change. One small deed done by a lot of people is an act that may save us from something unearthly. I dunno your views about earth hour but come on guys,its just one lousy hour. An hour of quiet candlelight moments. An hour of peace and sounds of kuligligs. An hour stuck in mute. Sort of a therapy actually. Its my first time to do take a photo of something during earth hour. I thought of something like this… the candle with glass resembles the sun that radiates the earth with its heat. If it turns out really hot, the encyclopedia will burn and that’s a catastrophe. =)

Moments After

It’s the end of the day and still no project 365 photo. So I made sure to take a snap of something before I leave the office. This is a top shot., angle lookin down from the ceiling on monochrome – just to add a little character coz the scene is kinda simple. But the best thing about this is the scenes after… that made my night really special. :)

Tanay, Rizal

Tanay is just a marvelous place to visit. Yesterday,Me and my photography infused friends, gave a visit to a place the locals call “Parola” or Lighthouse. I have been to places like this before which I usually take it for granted more often ignored. Things changed yesterday coz everything that seems ordinary meant something special. Perhaps it’s a sign of aging...hope not :) What am I talking about? Life at its simple ways is sweet. People fishing., kids playing kites., farmers taking care of their crops. Its so simple. No complications., No technicalities. Just plain oL hardcore soil drenching living

. I dunno why am I getting amped on watching snails walk on dirt, lime green colored rice fields or kids playing mataya-taya. Like I said it sweet and simple. One of my favorite sites there is the Lighthouse itself. You’ll see a lot of silhouette shots of it, for me its a personal favorite. Backlit by the colorful hues of the sky. Those gradients of orange.,purple and blues..is just breathtaking. I found myself in some sort of a misery when my foot got soaked in that moist., mushy .,unknown goo drenched earth. Deceiving from afar, the soil seems solid. Still playing safe., I stepped on a rock to give me ledge on shooting a specific foreground.

To my dismay, the rock sunk and scared the shit out of me coz I nearly fell down. My white shoes turned dark khaki.. its crazy. Good thing I brought those Korean baby wipes from the office to wipe some of my miseries. The day ended with a fabulous Japanese dinner at Omakase in Tomas Morato. I ordered my favorite jap dish the tonkatsu. What an interesting day. Its like a good photo, filled with a lot of elements. Elements like traffic, sunsets, witty friends and good food.

Thanks to sir allan for again the pro tips in landscape photography. To pads and marco who takes photography to the next level and takes me with them and to our good Lord who brought light and colors for us to capture. I really had a great time. Till our next shoot!

Dasol, Panggasinan

Dont know where will I start my story. Still thinking of the right words to say. The weekend where my feet touched the sands of one of the most peaceful beaches in the country. A place where time stopped.Where beauty is scattered in all places and all sorts. Moments worth reminiscing. Memories, etched from a place called Dasol, Panggasinan.

Photography helped me rekindle those precious moments. That splash of saltwater right beneath your toes as the "banca" travel the very calm waters and fishes starting to sprung out the water. That sunset that simply takes your breath away as it sets slowly. Radiating with its pink., purplish hues that painted the sky like magic. Sounds emo isnt it? Its unusual, simply out of the ordinary. An experience that made me feel more alive.

I would like to thank Mr Allan Barredo, a great photographer, a fellow mountaineer and an artist behind the lens. Through his work and dedication in he showed us the beauty of our natural resources. His work inspired me because a breath-taking landscape photo is not easy to capture. You have to endure a lot. Pain, hunger, blood sweat and tears.. A lot of sacrifice for that perfect shot. In those 2 days of traveling, it gave me huge respect for the people who take photos of these majestic places. Opens windows, opens opportunities, showing the people that there are places here in our own country worthy of visiting. Thank you sir Allan for the experience.

Of course, none of these wouldnt be possible without the efforts of Shena, who organized the trip. To my fellow photographers, Pads, Marco, Allan, Erwin, Mel, Kits, Lester, Angge.. to our lovely models., Tet and Abby....to sir Buboy for all the tips on strobes and to our driver, kuya Roel. I had a really great time. Also., to the people who owns the rest house., i may not know their names but i thank them so much for their hospitality. The food was awesome.

Dasol, Panggasinan

March 6-7, 2010

QCAA Volleyball

QCAA Volleyball Games
November 21 and 22 2009

These kids are really amazing. They are the future! Im not really into volleyball but watching these guys and girls play gave me a lot of interest on the sport. The last picture is a shot of Number 13 spiker Calicdan from Claret Highschool. You got to see him jump! He has this wicked spike that blows faces away. The games happen at Tivoli Royalle Gym at QC. To see more pictures., visit http://qcaa.multiply.com

A Visit to Sta.Mesa

A Visit to Sta.Mesa
November 8, 2009

Chicco

Flesh, Dark Clouds and Basketballs

Sir Nathaniel Salang's Nude Photography Class Batch 1

Sir Nathaniel's Yashica TLR

Saturday. What a weekend! Just had my first nude photoshoot under Sir Thaniel Salang at UP Diliman. I never felt nervous shooting with the camera. But as time goes by., it felt natural. We were 15 photographers out there. Kudos to sir thaniel for directing the "traffic". Thanks also to our fellow photographer Glenn for directing the lights of our photo shoot. Galing! Our model was very professional and very easy to work with. Hope to take her photos again someday.

After the photoshoot, I still have time to go to the QCAA games. Its been one of my great passions shooting ballgames specially the QCAA coz i love these kids perform. They give all their heart playing the games. In this shot, St. Claire and Angelicum is battling out for that semifinal s lot. St Claire won and what a game they played. I love this shot coz of that stretch.

This guy sure hell can play. He's fast, Very tough when he's in the air. Angelicum's star

Nice stretch. This guy can fly.

St. Pat's ace guard Masanque makes a lovely dish to his team mate after his awesome drive

This guy, I only know his Surname, Masanque of St. Claire, got game! After a nasty fall from the ellimination game against Ateneo, that gave him a dislocated elbow, he gave us a damn show as he showed us his hang-time moves against the big guys of Angelicum. He plays gracefully. Dribbles without effort. What a great player.

Star player of the game. St.Pat's Madamba, intervewed by UNTV

Sunday, I attended mass early and right after, I went straight to Tivoli Royale to cover the Final 8 of QCAA games. But before that, I dropped by Mcdo, grabbed a Double Cheeseburger Meal on the go for lunch and munched on melted cheese right at the parking lot. Im shy eh.. haha. Then as i entered the gym (with my iced tea), st claire, elementary, is playing. My favorite player, Mada mba is again racking the scores as he scorches the net with his three pointers and lay-ups. They won the game that made their team advance in the playoffs.

Gabo, shows us how to do it

Gabo, #7 player of St Vincent, is one of my favorite players in the league. If you look at him, he seems skinny but when you see him play., u'l just stand in awe. He's so agile. When he moves, theres no effort. He just glides and slices the defence up. In a normal game, he scores above 30 points, dishes out 10 more assists and can rebound. This guy is fun to watch. I hope he wins the MVP award.

This is the last play of the game were a crucial foul was called.

This will be the cheesiest picture u'll ever see in QCAA ever

The game between ICCS and St Vincent was "the game" of the season so far for me. The game was so close. St Vincent has the twice-to-beat advantage but team ICCS never thought of it as a hindrance and gave the best game of their lives. ICCS won in a cinderella fashion! There was even a little controversy on the last call of the refs and they even have to look at the tapes that the media crew took. What a close game it was.

show me the replay

Next week., its the final four for the HS division of the boys. Favored ateneo faces the underdog ICCS and Defense crazy Claret will face the miracle boys of St. Claire. Im gonna be there to cover the games. Its gonna be crazy!

. . .

Its monday, and there are things in the office that doesnt seem to be going pretty well. After all the issues that has been going on, Ayla and Jolly, submitted their resignation. Theres this huge cloud above our workplace and i dunno if things will still work out. For all I know., im go ing to miss these two special people., specially jolly who gave me this job. They are good people. But sometimes, good people has their own limits. Gonna miss those giggles at that part of the room. Im gonna miss Ayla's choppyness. =/

Ayla and Jolly, Mt Gulugod Baboy summit

For all its worth, I had a great time working here in SBM. I met great people who are not here anymore.. From Big tall Mark to always cool Cristel and to babe magnet Pao., to Bass strapping Anna..then Pabling Nick...then Jolly and Ayla, these guys..they are amazing...its been an honor working with them... and Im afraid, the list will go on.

fallen leaves and almost dead bonsai. is this a sign?

Like my boss's Bonsai, its leaves one by one withered and slowly dying (and i think its already dead). If everybody will leave, what will happen to us now? What will happen to the company? What will happen to me? I dont have any plans of goin anywhere. I dunno where should I go. I was actually thinking of becoming a full time photographer...but i dont know how am i gonna start...

Oh well.. Its been one great ride.

Gone Nude

Gone Nude

October 17, 2009

My 1st Nude Photoshoot, under the supervision of Mr. Nathaniel Salang. I was kinda nervous shooting someone naked but as I went along, everything seems to be natural. I love it in monochrome. Gives a little drama. The highlights and the curves stand-out. Id like to thank Sir Thaniel for teaching us how to do this properly. Thanks also to Glen, who held the lights all through out the shoot.

Copyright © Mac Centeno