Stand-by

Current workload is taking-off that I always lost count of the days, weeks, and months. I am still on probationary period, so I have to do my part to get that regular employee status. During the first week of April, I went to Thailand for a business trip. It was also the same week that I was featured again at Poets United. I am so sorry I wasn't able to reply to each and everyone.

a world in two hues

alternating black and white

computer keyboard

/totomai

My blog is still breathing, but a bit in coma.

/totomai 
2018/04/28

Eleven

E L E V E N  Y E A R S .

Yes, that is eleven years of shooting, blogging and distilling thoughts. As you may already know, I started blogging when I was jobless. Since then, I made sure that at least I have one post per month though the number of posts per year dramatically decreases. I am sorry, I have been saying this every blogsary.

Salaryman

This morning I was awakened by a strong earthquake, two minutes ahead of my daily alarm setting. I immediately sat on the edge of the bed. While waiting for the shakings to stop, the ghost of the March 11 earthquake flashed back. As soon as the earth stabilized, I switched on the lights and proceeded with the routine of a salaryman. Shower. Eat. Travel. Work. Eat. Shower. Sleep. Pretty exciting life, right?

photo by Noemi

Underworld

In the Philippines, November 1 and 2 are public holidays. We usually take this chance to go and visit the cemeteries, and pray for the departed. Of course, we also look forward in meeting our relatives during these days. It was always a sort of mini-reunion. When we were kids, I and my cousins would collect the molten candles and shape them into balls while our parents prepared some sticky rice and other traditional Filipino food. We would end the night with ghost stories and spirit games.

Majesty

Unlike last year, I did not attempt to chase the last sunset of 2015 and the first sunrise of 2016. I spent most of my time in bed. I met some of my friends though on January 2, strolled along Enoshima Beach and waited for the sun to set. It was freezing but, strangely, relaxing.

Enthusiast

I got this book as a birthday gift from a friend who jokingly challenged me afterwards that I should make my own version after reading it.

 

Eighth

Let the fireworks begin to celebrate the 8th blogsary of totomai.net formerly known as Distilling Thoughts. Yes, for 8 years, I had at least one post per month and I hope to continue it for the coming years.

Colorless

Most of my photos are in color. Most of them are vivid, vibrant and loud and only a small percent of my photos are in black and white. At times I feel that these colorless photos have lots of stories to tell and are more accessible to relate to. Maybe because colors can be distracting and may lead your eyes away from the story. Life itself is basically black, white and grey. Splashes of colors depend on our palettes.

As Ted Grant says : “When you photograph people in color, you photograph their clothes. But when you photograph people in Black and white, you photograph their souls!” 

Of course, I will still continue taking photos in color and may convert some of them to black and white.

Colorless

black coffee with milk

stains on the sink, polka dots

snow falling outside

 blur of city lights

two transparent umbrellas 

separate train routes

 a flickering bulb

hums of leafless trees, footsteps

on empty car park

 three-colored rainbows

 in grey, black, white paradise

of color-blind spirits

 /totomai 

Even though I have thousands of colored photos, I decided that my first photo book, “Filtered Precipitates”, to be in black and white. 

This is a special post in reply to a special prompt in D’verse. Can’t wait to read the poems and hope that my photos serve as temporary muses. 

 /totomai 

2015/01/20

Selfie

It was simply called self-portrait back then.  But because of the social media frenzy, the term selfie was born and became the common term for self-portrait. The word was so popular that it was even picked by Oxford English Dictionary as the "word of the year" in 2013.  

Kinchakuda

If you want to experience spring once again in these late summer-early autumn days, then go to Ikebukuro station and take the Seibu Ikebukuro Line to Koma station. In less than an hour, you will find yourself in Kinchakuda-Manjushage Park.

Kinchakuda-Manjushage Park extends along a pouch-shaped rice field embraced by the Koma River. It is just spectacular to see over a million red spider lilies blossoming out together in Kinchakuda along the river. The best time to view the blossom is from the middle of September to the middle of October. more here

 

Spread

“Which of my photographs is my favourite? 

The one I’m going to take tomorrow."

  - Imogen Cunningham. 

That is one of my favorite photography quotes. It always reminds me to continue shooting, to be creative in every opportunity and that every tomorrow has a new subject to offer.

for macro monday

Seven

Seven years. 

Yes, that is seven years of shooting, blogging and distilling thoughts. As you may already know, I started blogging when I was jobless. Since then, I made sure that at least I have one post per month though the number of posts per year dramatically decreases.

Vintage

Autumn is my favorite season. It is also my ultimate muse. I always feel that during this time I ooze with creativity and ideas just keep on popping. And one way to translate these ideas is through a photo shoot. I don’t shoot for a living, I only shoot to release the accumulated stress I have being a salaryman. I posted a casting call in Model Mayhem and was fortunate to get positive replies from models in Japan, among them is Artemis Bare.

re-written fairytale
a path of fallen yellows
an autumn farewell

6

I was jobless when I started blogging. That was six years ago, March 9, 2007 to be exact. Though there is a steady decline on the total number of posts each year, I am proud to say that I have at least one entry per month - a total of 72 consecutive months of distilling thoughts.

 

photo by KidPerez

Kybele

While I was finalizing my itinerary for Europe, an idea suddenly popped up – a fashion / model photo shoot. I showed Kat my portfolio and asked her to help me find model(s) who will be interested in posing in front of me. She found a very much willing and interested Kybele. Her portfolio opens with “ “Hi. I’m Kybele and I am awesome” and with that I immediately contacted her and presented the concepts I had in mind. It’ all about COLORS! Her excellent port is consistently on the dark side so I thought it would be a good chance to add some vibrancy. 

   

inkpot's now empty
colored blood stains forever
a part of one's soul

Yokohama

Last week, I and my friends went for a walk around Yokohama area. It was just an out-of-nowhere plan but it turned out to be a rewarding experience, after all, it's been a while since we last saw each other. What was intended to be a photo walk became a never-ending eat-a-t(h)on.

We always meet around Tokyo and Chiba so we decided to go to Yokohama this time. Yokohama was my first home in Japan way back 2003 until 2005. Despite living in Chiba since 2005-2006, 2008 up to the present, there is something about Yokohama that's very special. Maybe I am just biased since my life in Japan started there.

Instead of showing the architectures, or other tourist spots in Yokohama, for this entry, I decided not to go with usual. Last Sunday made me realized, and I am declaring it now that Yokohama, is the City of Love in Japan.

two souls meet on earth

respecting destiny's wish

two one-winged angels

Lots of couples are sharing sweet moments together at Yamashita Park. And while I was checking all the photos I took, I was surprised to see lots of couple shots.Must be my shutter's fault. Ah, they didn't really care about the scorching temperature.

I have been saying to my friends that I wanted to abuse my cameras since months had passed without using them. Last Sunday, I was on a paparazzo mode. You just don't know how much I like taking candid shots / moments than posed or staged ones. Candid shots are more real, more natural. Photographs aren't lying about it either.

At some point I feel that I am invading their privacy. In order to be not much guilty about it, I just shoot from behind. Actually, from behind shots is one of my favorite photography subject. One of my friends told me if I approached any of my subjects and tell them that I took their photos. I could have send the photos to them in return, she further said. It was a good idea, I thought. I will try it next time, once I got the strength to talk to strangers.

Last Sunday experience reminded of the photo above which I took last 2006. And its significance? Probably someone had already declared Yokohama to be the City of Love. Or not. Yet.

/totomai
07/09/11

Four

Wow, I can't believe I missed my 4th Flickr Birthday. I must have been very busy with other things during that time. Even for a while, I have forgotten the existence of my flickr account. The addiction has certainly died down but I'm still hoping that I will have this interest to continue to post one photo a day to share to my friends in flickrville.

Four years, 1565 uploaded photos, 4 cameras.

Earlier today, while relaxing after cleaning my place, I started browsing my flickr account and it was like a time travel. I can still vividly recall how, where did I take these photos. Seeing these photos again, I thought I should have save them properly. A few weeks ago my external hard drive crashed containing thousands of photos I took for 4 years. I am trying hard to recover these files.

I started with a Casio EX-Z40, Nikon D80, Ricoh GR III and a new one which I forgot.

In celebration of my 4th flickr birthday, allow me to share the 10 most popular photos in my flickr photo stream. Let me take you back from year 2006 to 2010.

Shoe, uploaded May 1 2007, Casio EX-Z40

Bouquet, uploaded Oct 23 2006, Casio EX-Z40

Fantasy, uploaded Oct 29 2008, Nikon D80

At Day's Break, uploaded Nov 13 2006, Casio EX-Z40

Gundam, Jun 27 2009, Nikon D80

Poppies, Apr 16 2009, Nikon D80

Deep, May 4 2007, Casio EX-Z40

Serenity, Jul 15 2008, Nikon D80

Penguin, Sep 26 2006, Casio EX-Z40

Farewell, Aug 5 2009, Nikon D80

Going through my online photo album again, a spark of inspiration enveloped me. Although time is not allowing me to take hundred of photos nowadays and my photography muse is currently in coma, I will try not to stop clicking even it will produce a good or not so good shot. It is a good stress reliever.

And before I end this blog, here's the very first shot I uploaded in flickr. LOL! Indeed, photographs are time travel machines.

Totomai will still continue to point and shoot. In every opportunity that comes his way.

/totomai
08/21/10

Bayanihan

Last year’s Bayanihan Photo Exhibit, a showcase of photographs from Filipino photographers in Japan, was a success. Since then, a second part was highly anticipated. However, planning for the second salvo was not an easy task. It would take numerous pairs of hands to start the ball rolling. And true to the concept of Bayanihan, more or less twenty hands joined forces in taking the lead to make this event possible. It took almost a year and half since the last exhibit but everything’s now falling into right places. Mark your calendars, and expect to be spellbound by the array of photos from August 11-15, 2010 at Kawasaki Art Garden, Kawasaki-Ekimae Tower River Bank 3rd Floor (same venue of last year’s).

By the way, what is bayanihan? For the curious minds,

Bayanihan (pronounced [bajɐˈnɪhan]) is a Filipino term taken from the word bayan, referring to a nation, town or community. The whole termbayanihan refers to a spirit of communal unity or effort to achieve a particular objective. more here

From the very minute 2nd Bayanihan Photo Exhibit opened the invitation for the submission of entries, there was an outpour of positive replies and support from photographers in Japan and Philippines especially after informing the fact that this exhibit is not only to merely parade their photos but, in one way of another, to be an instrument in helping various charities. Other than the photographers, some offered pledges to realize the group’s objective. This year, photos will be on sale and part of the proceeds will be donated to the chosen charity. At least 100 photos of Philippines as well as Japan will be displayed in A3 sizes.

A visit to the exhibit would mean a visual travel to two countries, visa-less, and with the photos as your tourist guide. And as stated above, beyond these photo displays is the intention of the group to help various charitable institution.

Do you part, SHARE A HAND : IT’S BAYANIHAN.

totomai
08/09/10

PS

Personally, I wish that this exhibit will be as successful as the first one. In that way, we can look forward to Year 3 and can continue to help. Positive thoughts until the closing date :-)

Update

Two days after I posted Unmasked, a blog entry / rant about not receiving my prize 5 months since the winners of a local photography contest were announced, I received an email from EPSON REP (ER) that my prize from NIKON is already ready for pick-up. I am not sure if any of those two firms read my blog that prompted them to do action or just purely coincidental.

April 14. Part of the email says,

I received a text message from Nikon yesterday stating that the check is ready for pick-up. Thus, he said that the winner should be the one to claim it. I informed him that you are not in the Phils.

Now, NIKON wanted me to claim the money personally. I replied citing that I already forwarded my bank information late last year to them (EPSON) since NIKON plans to deposit the money.

April 15. Got two emails from ER.

I just found out they will surrender the check to us here in Epson. Let me get back to you regarding this.
-------
I'm waiting for feedback from Nikon. They initially want someone to pick-up the check. We'll see if we can just be the one to do the bank transfer. FYI.

Everything was still unclear. I didn’t reply this time.

April 20. I received an email from another EPSON Rep (AER) stating that they already brought up the issue again with NIKON. I thought, it is not yet settled.

I was informed regarding the prize from Masskara Photo Contest.My apology on this matter.

The prize comes from Nikon(Columbia Digital) and not from Epson. I have already brought up the concern to them and in order for this to be settled immediately. We have asked NIKON to deposit your price today. Again my apology.

I replied, asking them to inform me if they have deposited the money already.

April 22. I received another email from AER

My apology for this incident sir.I will arrange it personally sir for this to be resolved immediately. I will accompany them to deposit your prize. I personally thank you for the patience you have given to the situation. I assure you that these things will not happen again.

I told AER that my brother informed me that an additional 16K were entered to my account. I asked AER to confirm if this money came from NIKON and to inform me if the prize money was deducted by some tax or something, and by how much.

April 23. AER told me again that the prize came from NIKON and not from EPSON. In the email, AER included NIKON REP (NR) for them to answer my query.

Dear NR,

Kindly ask your staff to email (me) re the details on how did you compute the deduction of taxes.

AER

No reply. Nothing. Last April 27, 2010, I followed-up again and told AER that maybe the tax deduction was 20% (4000 pesos) that is why I only got 16000 pesos. But no reply from both parties. Until now. Or perhaps they are still calculating it.

Anyway, I am still thankful to have received the prize money I fairly won five months ago. The hassles brought by this contest in claiming the prize money won’t be forgotten easily.

Of course, I would like to thank everyone for the support and for sharing my blog post to their personal sites / blog sites. I still believe that this not-so-immediate action done by the sponsor was due to the fact that they were able to read my previous blog as well as your comments.

totomai
05/01/10

Phoetry

Well, well, it’s been more than a week since the new year but I haven’t blogged anything. I have been thinking on what to write for the past few days and finally decided to showcase my 10 most popular photos in Flickr last 2009. It is easier this way, after all part of this blog is about photography.

At the start of 2009, I promised to post photos I took in 2009 only to my Flickr account. Of course, I wasn’t able to hold on to that pledge. I uploaded photos I took from 2007 and 2008, because at some point I ran out of photos and lost interest to photography for a month or two.

unending shutters
indurated by seasons
own masterpieces

Allow me to present my photos of 2009.

Taken at Tachikawa, Japan during the farewell party of one of my friends. Perhaps the appeal of this photo was the backlight, highlighting the stems of the poppies.

Taken at Shinjuku, Japan. I thought converting this shot to black and white was a good decision after all.

Taken at Odaiba, Japan. I usually struggle with night photography that’s why for this shot I tried using my 50mm 1.8f portrait lens. This is my most viewed photo of 2009.

Taken at Tachikawa, Japan. I think flower photos are quite popular in Flickr. These two shots were taken the very same day as that of the number 1 photo.

Taken at Chiba, Japan. I used my macro lens for this shot. While everyone was busy during the party, I was busy taking shots of this guitar. Its one of my personal favorites of 2009.

Taken at Tachikawa, Japan. I dedicated this shot to my two-friends. I even made a haiku for them.

Taken at Shinjuku, Japan. I was aiming to take a photo of the tree when suddenly an intruder came rushing. LOL! Glad she did.

Taken at Tokyo, Japan. Sshh. This was taken in our office. I was assigned to take the ID photos of my officemates and during breaks I thought I have to shoot something.

Taken at Tachikawa-Japan. I think this is one of my most successful photos of 2009.
-----

Other thoughts for 2009

Taken at Asakusa, Japan. I took this photo last 2008 and uploaded it this year as a tribute to Pres. Corazon Aquino. This photo hit the front page of Flickr explore.

Taken at Bohol, Philippines. I think around October or November, I was surprised that this photo had thousand of hits per day because I uploaded it last 2007. I followed the photo stats and it led me to Yahoo Philippines website. It was on its front page.

A similar picture of this won 2nd Place in Masskara Photo Contest. But until now, I haven’t received my prize yet.

I decided to have this entry in order to get inspired this 2010. Its already January 9 and haven’t taken photos this year, so yeah, I am still uploading old photos to my Flickr account. I hope this year, I can still capture poetry in my photos --- Phoetry.

Somebody please inspire me too.

/totomai
01/09/2010