Lantaw Bukid Resort, Davao City

Another holiday. Another getaway to relax from city life. We chose Lantaw Bukid Resort, located at Los Amigos, Tugbok District, Davao City. A 30-minutes to an hour ride from downtown area, depending traffic situation. I think it is called Lantaw Bukid because "Lantaw" in our dialect here means "look" and "bukid" means mountain. And it's true. Overlooking nature.

Lantaw Bukid Resort has many amenities. There is a small pond for fishing "Hito" (Catfish), and also for boating. It has also a pool area for adults and kids. The kiddie pool is amazing because there is a fountain at its center. There is an open playground for all ages!

I love this place because it is very peaceful. Away from busy streets and traffic. Away from a stressful living just for a day. It is a fun way catching up with friends and family members. There are cottages if you just want to sit down and have a chat while eating. Or do some adventure or just swim and feel the heat of the sun.

I love Davao City! There's no place like home...

Camiguin (Island Born of Fire)

Camiguin is called "Born of Fire". Located in the Northern Mindanao, Philippines. It was created by volcanic eruptions and land movements. It is a small island with lots of natural resources. There are hot and cold springs, waterfalls, mountains and beaches. I like here because they have a simple living and peaceful atmosphere for the residents.

The famous Katibawasan Falls.

Sunken Cemetery. The large white cross is very historical. A cemetery was gone because of the eruption of Old Vulcan Daan in 1871. Very nice place especially during sunset.

White Island. Well, literally, it is white because of its sand. It changes its shape and size with the season. No trees, no shade.
But its worth coming for!

The place is very beautiful! You'll never regret staying in Camiguin!

Photonaturalist

I got this site from my younger sister. She knows that I love nature. So she send me a pdf. Its all about 13 tips for a better wildlife photography. And so I visited the site. And bingo! All that I need to know about nature photography. There are tips, photos, free e-books, etc. Photonaturalist: tips and tutorials for better photography by Steve Berardi.

To all photographers. To all nature lovers. To all photonaturalists. Hope this site will also inspire you.

Amazing Nature

I'm an avid fan of National Geographic Channel Asia. I really like how they took shots. I am amazed how they got their best shots. Two thumbs up for their professional photographers!! And so, here I am, inspired.. I am sharing some of my collections.

Spider... This one is really big from ordinary spider we saw in our backyard or attic. At first, I'm afraid to get near. But hey! what's the use of the zoom of the camera???? hehehehe

This snail really caught my attention! A snail gliding on a stem! Captured moment i guess!

One of the eagles living in sanctuary here in Davao City.

Get Closer to Your Subject

Almost any shot will look better if you take two or three steps closer to your subject. Filling the frame entirely with your subject will make a terrific difference to your photos.

Alternatively, instead of moving closer, use the Optical Zoom of your camera to get a close up shot. Don't use your Digital Zoom as it will degrade your image quality.

When taking shots of family and friends, most people place the subject's full body in the frame, or place head and arms in the shot. Instead, fill the frame with your subject's FACE only - particularly if they are smiling or are in a moment of reflection.

Why does this work? With less clutter in the image, there's less to draw the eye away from the main subject of your photo. Also, human faces (particularly children's faces) are something we all feel pleasure looking at.

If you can't get close enough when you're taking the shot, you can zoom in later using photo editing software - crop out everything except the subject's face and see what a difference it makes.

When using the viewfinder for close shots, be careful of Parallax. Because the viewfinder is not at the same position as the camera's lens, centering the subject in the viewfinder may mean it is not centered for the lens resulting in an off-center final picture. Most digital cameras now come with an inbuilt LCD screen. You can eliminate this problem by using the LCD - which shows you what the lens sees - rather than the viewfinder.

Nature Photography - Experimenting with Nature

Nature photography is one of the best ways to create an appreciation of nature, whether that nature photography is flowers, landscapes or animals.

Nature photography can be one of the most rewarding - and one of the most frustrating - types of photography. Wind can cause blur, not only with too much motion in the flora, but also making it difficult to depress the shutter smoothly. (If background is unimportant in your nature photography, consider a light tent to reduce wind and to block out background.) Sunlight also can cause problems in nature photography with too much exposure. Experiment to find what works best with what you want to accomplish through nature photography.

One thing that you'll want to be able to do with nature photography is to take close-ups of flora. Make sure to have a zoom or macro lens. A tripod is helpful to stabilize the camera in nature photography. Tripods that have a rotating central shaft allow you to get in closer.

Experiment with angles in nature photography. The most common angle in nature photography is looking down from the top. This has the advantage of being able to photograph flowers that are very close to the ground. Try eye level or photographing upwards for an interesting and unique shot.

Try differing backgrounds in your nature photography. If you have nothing in the background, context is hard to determine. Too much in the background, though, will detract from the main focus of your nature photography. However, by zooming in closer, the background will become softer. Your main focus, then, will stand out in sharp relief.

Another way to experiment with nature photography is with camera position. Most photographs are horizontal. See what kind of self-expression you come up with by simply rotating the camera 90 degrees.

With practice nature photography can become second nature.

Sugar In The Sea

And they too were lifted up
As the promise always said
And the labels that belonged
Are laid to rest and gone
And what happened in the glistening
Was the gentle sweet relief
Now brilliant tiny stars
On the gentle midnight reef
And thoughts and remembrances
Like fire all a glow
Now imprints for our hearts to hold
Of them that had to go
No solitude or singleness
No searching for the calm
No tears and labors emptiness
No hatred to disarm
Desire and all restlessness
Now sugar in the sea
And so, my friend, we wait behind
Till we can be so free

Life's Little Moments

The tiny grip of an infant's hand,

The smile on their face the first time they stand.

The joy on your face for the first laugh they make,

The pride you feel for the wobbly steps they take.

The first tear they shed over a skinned-up knee,

For all the things your there to see.

The happiness a smile can bring,

When a bedtime story is a necessary thing.

And when their teens and yell at anything you do,

Your grateful for the occasional I love you.

The joyful day she walks down the isle,

And all you can do is stand there and smile.

Now your little girl is a mother too,

And finally understands what you went through.

The cycle continues, never ending,

And you played your part with love and understanding.