Xander Angeles's Creative Lens Series - Boudoir Photography

I was like a kid in a candy store. It was like my first day of school again when I got the chance to be with my idol Xander Angeles and his protege Niko Villegas. Two of the best fashion photographers in the world. Doing this to give back something to the craft that made them who they are today is commendable. I was in for something big and I know how lucky I am to even get to know these people; let alone shoot with them this weekend. I wasn't disappointed because they delivered as expected on the workshop. Who am I to second guess the Jedi Masters (ha-ha!) I REALLY learned a lot... and here's a rundown of the day.

I woke up around 6am (not excited huh?! =P ) and to tell you honestly I did read off a couple of things a few weeks before I got the slot. It pays to be prepared and I don't wanna look clueless right off the bat. Xander Angeles, Niko Villegas and Daryl Quioge was at the door of The Picasso Boutique Residences when I arrived. I think I was a little late (around 10 mins) which I apologized for (thanks to Makati City's one way streets!). It doesn't take a genius or a lot to research about what boudoir photography is; and I would pretty much get this combined with wedding photography packages in the future. When asked one by one about what it is and what's it all about, I think I had the right idea what it was used for in the olden days. Boudoir is French for bedroom. This is a "suggestive" and sexy shoot made for soon to be wives as a present to their husbands right after ceremonies. This is something for them to remember too on what they looked like before they get into the motherhood business of it all.

Starting with this concept, we need to make use of lights. It is important to set the mood in photography and you use this to enhance her assets and create drama. Doing the make up for us in this shoot was Ms. Michelle Literal, if you are going to shoot something exquisite as our Brazilian Model (of which I'm going to show you after minor post processing) you need to have a make up artist that can do it flawlessly. Every setup and shot we had the MUA went in and retouched the model probably to create consistency to the overall look and get her hair in place. It is so important to also have art direction and styling involved even before you execute the concept. We had so many lights to use but I chose to have one light done on my first setup. To be able to create the drama and shot that I want I wanted her to lean on a wooden plank and have the light have some well lit and some covered in shadows. Emphasis would be on her face and body. I had a really yellow to near orange background and I didn't choose to have it softened. I blatantly had it on hard lights so the shadow didn't get diffused light but total cuts with it. It ended up with details still but I had the darkness I was going for. The light became so bright that I thought I had sunshine inside the room. It was nice to see the whole perspective of the first shot done sunny since my foreground had that color I mentioned. Some problems with posing cutting off of other body parts off the frame but I still had to have her shot there so I could get post process wise details of what would be sexy and attractive in print. I was planning a layout and it is important to have those done first. In 10 frames or a little more than that I had to do it. I wasn't rushed but I chose to be inside the limits of the challenge and get me some of the money shots without thinking that I can manipulate them on the computer after wards. The result in this case were photos that I couldn't do anything with anymore because they were already good right there and then. To say the least, I was happy with that but if I had more time I would probably have had her pose more in different frames. This was actually the second time that I used gels. I never had one of my own and since they just had their creative lighting session last week they had this shoot using those for the background. It was nice to see the effects while lights were being diffused by glass over at the bathtub. I was looking at the others who had their lights setup differently and I learned a couple or two from that. The output was awesome; we got the best shots uploaded on the computer for post processing I guess. I'll wait for that too.

What have I learned?! There's a lot actually.

1.) Create Drama with Lights
2.) Getting gels and using them on creative setups. I learned where to buy them too! ^_^
3.) Maximizing all details before shooting, getting the best MUA, Stylist, Hairstylist and Production Design, Location
4.) Planning schematics of lights
5.) Posing to accentuate body
6.) Deconstructing Photos - which is important so it would be second nature to you!
7.) Lighting makes a difference
8.) Using same set of lights but on a different angle
9.) Using Fill Light and Soft Lights to see details of the subject
10.) Making photos 3 dimensional
11.) Using warm and cold lights
12.) Rim lights
13.) I used some of the lenses Nikon had there too, you should definitely switch to Nikon if you haven't done that yet! =)
14.) Meet Joe Black can change your life! Ha-ha!

I wouldn't want to go into minute details anymore because it would spoil the fun if you guys plan to have the seminars with the masters. There's another one this weekend and I hope you guys try to get that or any of their future ones. It's all worth it believe me!

I would like to thank the other photographers who attended this Boudoir Workshop. I must say you have lots of great shots too. I had a really nice LEARNING time with you guys. Thank you also to Sir Niko Villegas for teaching creative ways in shooting, I'll never forget the water bottle and Vaseline! Thank you also to my idol Xander Angeles, you just don't know how much you have inspired me and my work. I'll definitely do my best from hereon and get to the NEXT level. I know there are still new things to learn but I'm glad to get the best of them from you guys at Elite! =) Thank you!

PS
Thank you also to Sir Nick Tuason and the people behind Digital Photographer Philippines for hooking me up on this awesome opportunity! I'll show my shots later! =)

Increasing Your Word Power

I always knew that there was a bigger world out there for me! It's one that you can find in books and literary work. It would not be the same in reality and evidently there is a big difference; a huge difference. I learned that early on when I was a kid when I began to write essays. It makes me think so much more of my life and ideologies. I learned a lot when I was growing up. I was dreaming of getting laurels of my own since I got into writing and I knew how important it was for me. It took me off some dangers in my other subjects and compensated me in words. I guess only half a brain works but it’s really good that it concentrated on what I think matters most. I got into a job easier; I got all my reports well written and have lots of friends since my communication skills are above average human understanding to say the least. I became more of a warrior with words and I did put it to good use. I was able to write for a couple of essay contests in high school... and people took notice. If they needed essay help they would rather go to great minds on line or people like me. They probably chose the first one since they are easier to deal with. I wouldn't blame them believe me! Ha-ha!

I like writing more of an education essay since it would deal with theories and how to prove them rather than something fictional. I was a fictional writer too in college but I never won any contests of that nature. I think I did a pretty good job with it but I excelled in topics that dealt with real people. It can either be autobiographical or what not just as long as it serves the purpose. Maybe I can get in it as a ghost writer if the price is right for me. I would not be surprised to get my own criticism essay someday if that day comes but I figured that it’s just part of the drill. If I need professional looking ones I would look for institutions in the industry like Essay Champions and seek improvement in this craft. People in the educational system might need their help too. It would be best to consider giving them the job instead if they wouldn't be able to do it themselves. Quality wise it’s going to be grand since folks from universities in the UK would do it! I’d rather let an expert do it than have myself seen ridiculed by other people. Wouldn’t that be something you would want to have?! It’s an easy life and peace of mind!

That’s one of the reasons why I love what the one above gave me; a working brain and liberty to write as anything I wish to be!






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The ELITE... X Factor

Tomorrow is one heck of a nervous day for me. I am going to meet my idol in photography again. This time it's not just for the ordinary autograph but I'm going to be there shooting with him in a workshop. I hope I get to justify my photos and be at par with the best ones there. I think I can, I think I can ahaha!

The reason that I'm nervous is that I probably don't have the same cameras or lenses that they have. I have proven to some that its really not the camera but dang they probably have full framed ones and professional grade too. I probably will harness doing the shoot with my prime lens and the kit lens but I will ask how to do portraits with my long ziggy too. Ziggy btw is my tele lens which is a 70-300mm. It's last hundred is pretty good in bokeh or depth of field views. Though the drawback is the shake I will have to take a little more effort reminding myself how it would actually affect the image. I think I'd be better off with the prime lens. I'm charging my camera the whole night so I won't run out of batteries. I need this to last the whole day... and so does my flash. If my hunch is correct its quite near the Salcedo park where there is a whole eating extravaganza. I want to really do this and OMG please help me to do this right. I hope I won't be shy... I really want to learn. Tomorrow is going to be weird... I'm going to be a nervous wreck and I hope this doesn't jeopardize my chances of learning with the great Xander Angeles. I'm even nervous tweeting him hahahah!

I just hope this 18K worth of a workshop will be well worth it and get me to a level that I haven't been in before. =)

You Can Help!

I am a trained Red Cross volunteer and it has been a passion for me to be here since I was in 7th grade. Imagine the number of years I've spent with peers and medical professionals. I'm not in that field since I got a Computer Engineering degree in college instead. Although a geek, I never stopped going to various organizational causes that the PRC starts. If you know how it feels to help someone in need when disaster or calamities strike then you probably have a clue of what I'm talking about. The importance of disaster preparedness and providing health care to the less fortunate should be a priority of every public or private corporation. I always make it a point to do my share and help out. I also try and educate my friends by exposing them to activities like medical missions and relief operations. The local government and my own congressman are putting funds to make sure their constituents are well taken care of. This is one lesson we shouldn't forget because if you got healthy people, your workforce is also the same.

They also got me to take charge of the first aid supplies. In some instances we have to even travel 6 hours by foot in order to reach remote areas in the province since there are no formal roads built for them yet. It is a hard task but if there is no effort from the government and foundations that dedicate time and resources; they would not be able to survive. In times of natural disasters, calamities where lives are at stake we all need to help out each other. Getting them proper protective equipment and materials to save more lives is necessary to prevent the inevitable. I feel the need to get more people involved by sharing what I have and getting the information out. God made us human so we could think and fend for ourselves; and that includes getting the best supplies for these situations. Places like 1staidsupplies.com would be a great place to start! They've got one of the best sets I've ever seen so if you want to start and help please get us one of these!





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