Monthly Archives: January 2012

Yours Truly as a Chinadoll at the NYC Village Halloween Parade

When the sun and moon combine to create a hallows’ eve that sets it apart from the rest of the nights, you’ll ‘wanna’ spread the news, especially if it happens in New York city.  Add to it another strange phenomenon, like snow in October, well, it’s about time I blogged about it!  So let’s see where I can begin again, having left this blog alone for three months.

Figuratively, there was a total eclipse of my wants that took place just a week before Halloween, 2011.  I booked a workshop headed by Manny Librodo, whose works gave him the following he deserved as an iconic photographer specializing in the use of ambient light in photographic portraiture. With that, I didn’t mind the excuse of also spending time with good friends–old and new, in NYC.  It promised to be a week of absolute fun in the big apple!  I looked forward to some real work and play!

I arrived in Brooklyn on Friday, the 28th, where I slept the entire day away.  That time, I was nursing a bad cold that made me lose my voice, just a few days before I managed the plane ride. The spirit was all too willing, but the body was weak.  It seemed to me, I was always dealing with a physical hurdle, each time I went on trips, but little did I know, I had a lung problem.  Unimportant to explain this for now, what was on the agenda then was all too valuable for me.  So I rested and stayed in.  It was going to be a weekend of progressively learning a new photographic style, and of how to post process accordingly.  Ideally, we all wished for an overcast day of natural light, but it was wet, cold and the snow kept coming down.  For October, it was unheard of in the history of New York.  It was also the snowiest October day since records kept from 1869.

Artist Photographer Manny Librodo

It was an exciting Saturday, nevertheless, and the day held promise between all the amateurs and professionals who shared in the same interest.  All the same for the mentor who is an extremely talented man, he himself said on his Facebook wall that it was the coldest day he had ever conducted a workshop under.  And there was no stopping!  Through constant sprints into Dunkin’ Doughnuts for heat, coffee and sugar, we did what we had to do!

Manny is a kind, helpful and wonderful person.  He is both a teacher and an Artist–a mentor who goes about his life, seeing the world mostly through his lens, creating and recreating.  In the span of two days, I gathered enough momentum, learning that life affords us the people we need to meet and know, in order that we may grow, learn and be blessed altogether with little details.  Yes, he was about the details.  His work usually projected life, but he also delved into the fantasies of possibilities–which I liked the most.  Possibilities excite me. Nothing bores me faster than anything shaped by a cookie-cutter or standard approach. I also happen to be a very detail oriented type of person.  Therefore, I knew, I was in the right place at the right time.  I felt blessed to have met him, and hope to cross paths with him again.

What a photographer must do to get a shot. That's me, third from left with a one handed shot using my heavy but cherished Nikon D700. Photography: Pads Padaca

Photography: Pads Padaca; Courtesy of Suzette Solinap Catong *Many thanks!

Luckily, I didn’t have to drive around Brooklyn, or take cabs for that matter.  I was able to carpool with one of the participants–the ever respectful Jof Panlaqui.  Through it all, the workshop was a comforting place with exuberant spirits of common ground.  Most of us were Filipinos, if not all.  It was fun looking over and comparing photos with petite Suzette Solinap Catong.  I got to know and became friends with MUHA (make-up-hair Artist) Belinda Watts who flew in all the way from Pakistan, and I had breakfast and a wonderful chat with Sandy Alonzo at a nearby deli.  Kevin Alano remained the impressive group organizer who brought in pizza for what we now all call…”the pizza session,” regardless of how glued to the screen we seem to be in this photo.  I also got to learn that some people just prefer black and white photography.  Elmer Quianio won’t have it almost any other way!

The models were very cooperative, patient and obliging.  And yes, I noticed everything, all the way to the absolute willingness of a male model to brave the cold in the snow without his shirt, and then be commissioned for after shots (again) despite the feat of ice landing on his eyes, hair and just about all over, without taking a break.

Clearly, ideas unfold, come rain or shine, hail, sleet or snow.  On revelations, Manny himself admitted to constantly having attended workshops, staying open to knowledge, even as a teacher.  I concur, as we have to move through changing of times and technology.  Also, we never know by what path inspiration will awake us to or arm us with a whole new way of looking at the world before us.  Above all, there is no replacing hands on experience and constant practice of our craft.  Even doctors have to constantly practice medicine.

But passion must go beyond our craft, for relationships make for the essence of life, despite what we do.  So I went on to spend quality time with a couple of friends.  From Sunday night, I proceeded to further enjoy all the rest of life in the city that doesn’t sleep.  Lunch and dinner services were attentive at Stonepark Cafe, as well as at the Peruvian restaurant of Food Network’s “Chopped”  winning chef– Miguel Aguilar at Surfish Bistro.   There was also that quaint French restaurant whose name I can’t remember for the life of its lobster salad that suited my taste.  I  missed the cooking demonstration class by Master Chefs, Massimo Botturo and Mario Batali, but we still ate pea raviolis, lobster and asparagus tagliatelle,  clam pizzas and arugula salads with freshly grated Pecorino and Parmessan cheeses at The Plaza Hotel.  Altogether followed by a nice walk around Central Park, it was a memorable time with my good ole’ friend, Lesley Soo, whom I’ve known for 30 years!

The New York Plaza Basement

City Church - Unoccupied for Wall Street

Rooftop Bar on 5th

Now onto acknowledging a real city highlight– there was Jenny Wu!  We were giggly over raspberry mojitos on the rooftop of 230 on 5th Street, while beyond us, the Empire State building was aglow in orange for Halloween night.  There, she handed me my new fish eye lens that I had sent over to her office from New York’s B&H!  Sweet as the lens was, the night was more fun getting to know each other more, that we ditched the Village Halloween parade shoot for later.  We simply took our time, but we got there alright!  And with half an hour’s worth of being paparazzi, we still were able to collect enough photos for down memory lane.  Surfish Bistro was absolutely delicious where Jenny and I shared the same food interest: Mussels, ribs and Paella, all light and tasty without overpowering heaviness, yet offered an adventure into flavor with every bite.  What a great night it was!

Here are a few shots from the Halloween Village Parade, where everyone who was anyone was there.

Jack Sparrow was there.

Even Diana Ross!

Paparazzi for the Walking Dead

Whoopie Goldberg, New Orlean's Chef Alfred Singleton and Rihanna!

The Phantom of the Opera

Gene Simmons of KISS and his son Nick

And Lady Liberty gone Emo.

Lastly, I realized, that though the city is more like a constant shot of B12 into your system, it’s the familiar element that makes it quite endearing. Even the pretzel and roasted chestnut stands were as much the same kind of  nuances I appreciated in cities like Hong Kong, Bangkok and Paris! To have been afforded the travels I do, I’m happy to really SEE–goodness projecting itself in so many forms of effort.  Art was distinctly…everywhere.  Making pretzels and roasting chestnuts is an art!  Building and trading is an art!

After five good days, I went on home to prepare for the upcoming holidays, with memory cards filled with movement and color.  I was amazed at the joys I amassed, especially having cultivated my art and a few really good relationships.  However, nothing could have prepared me for the surprise, that my photo of model–Hilde Skappel, taken during the workshop, would go on to win First Place at BetterPhoto.com’s  international competition.  It was announced just before Christmas, and it certainly made for a very happy one.  After all, there were more than 13,200 entries!

This was my third award within the year.  My first was a second, the second –a first, and the third, a first.  Go figure!   LOL  In the company of great mentors like the award winning Manny Librodo himself, I’d say, this was a trip well worth the effort, the cold, the inconvenience and altogether craziness of New York, as I enjoyed myself anyway–despite all of its oddities, including October snow with my lung problems.

Heading back to San Diego, as I initially wrote this blog on iPad, I was thinking, I ♥ you, NYC!  You gave me a really great time!

And with this, my special thanks also goes to our fabulous models:  Hilde Skappel, Sharri Sutton and Clyff Millett.  Below are some of my favorite shots.  Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow, for absolute warmth still comes from the heart.

"HILDE" 1st Place at BetterPhoto.com's international competition.

Models Clyfford Millett and Hilde Skappel

Model: Clyfford Millett

Model: Sharri Sutton

Sharri

Model: Sharri Sutton

Model: Clyfford Millett

Model: Hilde Skappel

Model: Hilde Skappel

In closing--the view of the Empire State Building from my friend's apartment where I stayed.