Reymon de Real PhotographySAFAUXRI
Posted on September 23, 2016
I have always wanted to experience a safari adventure but when friends told me about camping out in the wild I immediately crossed it out of my bucket list. Camping for me includes hot showers, plush towels, soft beds and 24-hour wifi access. Thankfully, Disney had me in their thoughts when they built an African safari at their Animal Kingdom park in Orlando, Florida. The 15-minute tour takes you through forests and grasslands filled with “free roaming” animals for an Out of Africa experience. The photo above was taken at the grasslands sections with these rhinos crossing behind our tram. Luckily, I was sitting on the last row thus providing me an unobstructed view of a great photo opportunity behind me.
TEMPLE OF HEAVEN
Posted on September 17, 2016
This replica of the majestic Temple of Heaven in Beijing, China is found in the heart of Walt Disney World’s EPCOT Center in Orlando, Florida. The park has a world showcase complex featuring pavilions representing individual countries. The China pavilion features a paifang at the entrance as well as shops and restaurants showcasing Chinese art, cuisine and culture. The Temple of Heaven is the entrance to a 360-degree cinematic tour of China, which is the entertainment highlight of the pavilion. The tour takes you around China visiting natural and man-made landmarks as well as provide a basic understanding of the Chinese people and their rich culture. This pavilion is my favorite part of the park and I took this photo using my iPhone 6.
OF LIGHTHOUSE AND SEA OATS
Posted on September 11, 2016
I have always been fascinated by these rice looking grasses growing along the shorelines of South Florida beaches and love how they turn gold during the summer reminding me of rice fields back in the Philippines during the harvest season. I recently learned that this grass is named sea oats and is mostly found in the southeastern United States from Virginia to Florida. I took this photograph in the island of Key Biscayne from across mainland Miami and in the background is the historic and 191-year-old Cape Florida Lighthouse. It was quite a struggle taking this photograph as my autofocus was going insane switching focus from the sea oats in the foreground to the lighthouse in the background. I tried to be creative with this composition and I’d like to believe I did okay on my first try. What do you think?
CASTEL SANT’ANGELO
Posted on September 8, 2016
The Castle of the Holy Angel in Rome, Italy was originally built as the mausoleum for the Roman emperor Hadrian and his family as well as for the emperors who eventually succeeded him. The place has been looted centuries ago so the urns of the emperors have never been recovered. Eventually, the castle became a fortress for the popes before being converted into the museum that it is today. I never got to step inside the museum as I was hurrying for my guided tour of the Vatican, which was about half a mile away from the castle. I took this photo hurriedly while crossing the bridge so this is my only photo of this ancient Roman landmark. Perhaps on my next trip to Rome I can finally step inside and take another photo of this historic building at a better angle.
CHANDELIER MANDALA
Posted on September 5, 2016
The opulence of the Château de Versailles in Paris, France can never be captured in a photograph. One has to be there to experience the luxury and lavishness of the place and understand the kind of lifestyle the French royals once lived. I found myself exploring one of the many rooms of the palace when my vision got diverted into a heavily decorated ceiling with a crystal chandelier suspended right above me. At first thought, the whole vision reminded me of a mandala, which is a geometric and religious symbol of the universe in Indian religions. In the case of my photograph, I decided to name it a chandelier mandala…a symbol of a lifestyle that most of us will never get to experience.
SUNSETS ON CRUISES
Posted on August 30, 2016
I never anticipated I would enjoy cruising considering my first experience was quite an unpleasant one. However, despite my nauseating initiation into cruisedom three years ago, I eventually learned to love it and have been on five cruises so far and looking forward to my sixth in a few months. The photo above was taken on the top deck of the Celebrity Reflection during my cruise in the Mediterranean two years ago while we were tendered off the shores of Santorini, Greece. The sun was just setting behind this world renowned Greek island when the sky suddenly turned into a beautiful canvas of pink and gold splashes. I always enjoy walking around the top deck of a ship at sunset with the hopes of witnessing a beautiful celestial phenomenon for my eyes to enjoy and for my camera to capture.
ANCIENT EPHESUS
Posted on August 27, 2016
The ancient city of Ephesus in Turkey remains at the top of my list for the best places I have ever visited in my entire life. I have always been fascinated by ancient cultures and what I saw in this archeological heaven blew me away. Built in 10th century BC, the city featured an advanced acqueduct system, mosaic-tiled sidewalks, a hospital, temples, schools, public baths, library, theaters and an amphitheatre with a seating capacity of 25,000. My hometown was founded less than 100 years ago and we don’t even have an amphitheatre. The photograph above shows the Library of Celsus, which was built in memory of Tiberius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus who was a former governor of Roman Asia. He was buried in a sarcophagus beneath this library, which used to house almost 12,000 scrolls. Ephesus may not be familiar to a lot of people, but if you remember the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World…this city used to be home to one of them…the Temple of Artemis.
WORLD TRADE CENTER MALL
Posted on August 25, 2016
The World Trade Center Mall reopened Tuesday last week after more than a decade since its destruction during the 9/11 attacks. The mall is a part of the entire World Trade Center complex featuring an architectural masterpiece of a roof, which looks like the wings of a bird in flight. I visited the mall last Friday and the interiors were quite impressive although I think it looked too sterile for a shopping complex. The mall also serves as the transportation hub of downtown Manhattan connecting pedestrians to various train stations. The whole complex is still in construction mode, however, a good number of retail stores are now open to the public. The best feature of the complex is the glass spine of the roof, which provides visitors a view of the Freedom Tower just a few feet away from the mall.
NEW YORK TWILIGHT
Posted on August 21, 2016
I’m in New York City for the weekend for some touristy stuff thus my missing a photo post or two for a few days now. Yesterday, I revisited the top of the Rockefeller Center to photograph the NYC sunset. After lining up for ages, walking through a labyrinth of walls and riding the speedy elevator to the 67th floor…I finally made it to the first ledge of the observatory. The observatory provided me with a 360-degree view of the city, however, I decided to focus my camera on the southern side of Manhattan to capture the Empire State Building and the new World Trade Tower just as the sun was setting. The view from the top was amazing and viewing it during twilight was such a breathtaking experience. It was also awesome to see the city lights slowly turn on one by one like Christmas lights on a tree just as the cloudy skies slowly turned darker each passing minute. I took a number of photos and this one turned out to be my personal favorite. I hope you guys like it too…would appreciate your feedback. Thanks.
THE WALL
Posted on August 16, 2016
The thick walls of the Fort San Cristobal in San Juan, Puerto Rico protected this former Spanish settlement for centuries from foreign invaders. This once military complex is now a museum under the United States National Park Services and is one of the most visited heritage sites in Old San Juan. Last February, the Eastern Caribbean cruise I was on made a brief stop at this US territory giving me ample time to explore the neighborhood close to the port. The fort was conveniently located a few minutes from the ship so I braved through the humidity and found myself standing in front of this behemoth of a wall. At the gate, I noticed the golden light of the setting sun casting geometric shadows while making the walls glow creating an interesting photo opportunity for me. The rich blue cloudless sky also made the golden yellow walls of the fort pop out in this photograph. Unfortunately, my cruise only stopped for a few hours so I never really got to explore much of Old San Juan. I hope to visit again someday and maybe include a visit of the El Morro for more photo opportunities.
ROMA DI NOTTE
Posted on August 13, 2016
My first night in Rome was spent leisurely exploring the city and visiting famous landmarks close to my hotel. Fortunately, I was staying right behind the Pantheon so almost every landmark was just within walking distance. My steps took me to the Piazza Navona and the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps and the Piazza del Popolo and all the way to the Victor Emmanuel Monument and the Capitoline Hill where this photograph was taken. It was also a good opportunity for me to burn my first Italian dinner of pizza, pasta and wine. I was never a fan of this photo, however, the sky looked amazing so I decided to feature it today. Rome is such a beautiful city and every street corner transports you to a different time in history. It is also impressive to see how this city have managed to save and protect its heritage sites effectively. Seeing Rome for the first time was a dream come true moment for me…and in a few weeks, I will relive that dream again.
VIEW FROM MY TABLE
Posted on August 10, 2016
My Friday nights are usually spent at a favorite restaurant to celebrate the end of another work week for some munching and sipping. About four Fridays ago, I had dinner with neighbors at this Fort Lauderdale landmark restaurant called Seawatch. This restaurant has balcony tables offering a spectacular view of the ocean and the beach. Initially, I was annoyed about the palm leaves partially blocking my view but decided to include them to add an interesting touch to my composition. I always sit at this section of the restaurant as the view de-stresses me from the crazy week that just passed. The salty ocean breeze and the amazing view transports me to a lalaland until my favorite plate of crunchy calamari gets served…then I float back down to reality.
PARIS IN PINK
Posted on August 8, 2016
The elegant and sophisticated city of Paris was my home for a week in the summer of 2015. It was my first trip to the French capital and I made sure to visit every major Parisian landmark during my stay. On my first few hours in the city, I visited the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower as both monuments were just a few blocks away from my hotel along Avenue Kléber. The Arc de Triomphe was quite majestic in the middle of this roundabout providing a gateway to the world famous Avenue des Champs-Élysées. This monument, which is a museum with access to the rooftop, was built in honor of those who fought during the French Revolution and Napoleonic wars. When I took this photo, I forgot to remove a filter on my lens thus looking a little pink-orange…and so did every other photo I took that day. 😬😜
VENETIAN CAUSEWAY
Posted on August 4, 2016
I took this photo 5 years ago the day I bought a tripod camera stand and just a few weeks after I bought my first DSLR camera. A friend joined me for a photo walk of our neighborhood to play with our new cameras when we found ourselves on the Venetian Causeway, a bridgeway which connects mainland Miami through the Venetian Isles composed of 6 artificial islands all the way to Miami Beach. During this shoot, I was still ignorant on how to set the manual mode of my camera so I used instead the night mode feature out of convenience (horror!). I also made sure the bridge was empty of vehicles and pedestrians when I took the shot in order to create the deserted atmosphere of the photo. This shot never really caught my eye until a few days ago while reviewing my photo bank that I realized it has an interesting look to it. I attempted to convert it to black and white, which turned out really nice, but decided last minute to post this colored version instead.
PLEASE VOTE FOR MY PHOTO “THE OMEN”
Posted on August 1, 2016
PLEASE VOTE for my photo THE OMEN on The Weather Channel 2016 Photo Contest by clicking on the link below:
You will need a Facebook account to vote and please make sure that you open the link on Safari or Internet Explorer in order to vote as friends were having problems voting via the Facebook App on iPhone or iPad. Please share on your Facebook page and encourage your friends to VOTE as well. I greatly appreciate your help and support. Thank you very much!!!
FIRST YEAR ANNIVERSARY/ FONTAINE DE TOURNY
Posted on July 31, 2016
Today, I decided to feature my cover photo on this post to celebrate my page’s first year anniversary. This photo of the Fontaine de Tourny was taken during my trip to Quebec City, Canada in 2013. I love how the statues glisten under the fountain while the water carelessly sprinkles all around them. This has been an amazing twelve months since I launched my photography page and so far the journey is still a long way to go. So far, my page has published 163 posts which attracted 6,840 visitors and 17,100 views as well as received 10,470 likes and 1,230 comments. Furthermore, 5 of my photographs have been featured in the Sun Sentinel travel page and 4 have been printed in the Lifestyle Section of their Sunday edition. One of my photos also won in Peter Lik’s “This Is Home” photo contest where I received an autographed copy of his photography book, Las Vegas. I have to admit that despite all of these mini achievements in a period of one year I am still not that confident with my photography skills. I still continue to explore the capabilities of my camera and experiment with new techniques that I learn online. Although, I remain determined to continue with my photographic journey and I am taking you all along on this adventure that we started a year ago. You all have been very generous expressing your appreciation for my work through your constructive and inspiring comments, which encourages me to continue snapping photos of wonderful places and share them all with you. Thank you all very much for your support and I hope you will continue to pay my page a visit!
FONTANA DEI QUATTRO FIUMI
Posted on July 28, 2016
The Fountain of the Four Rivers created by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in 1651 is the centerpiece of Piazza Navona in Rome, Italy. This was the second major landmark I visited in Rome after the Pantheon, which was right behind my hotel. This impressive work of art represents the four major rivers of the four continents where the pope had supreme religious authority. These rivers are the Danube representing Europe, Nile representing Africa, Ganges representing Asia and Rio de la Plata representing the Americas. I was overwhelmed with emotions being in Rome for the first time and at the same time seeing all these monuments that I’ve only seen on pictures and films. Rome is such a beautiful city and photographs do not give justice to its real beauty. I may have taken at least 200 photos during my first five hours in Rome and I feel like I have not captured enough. I look forward to my next trip to Rome in a few months and I hope to capture a few more hundred photos to share with you all.
WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK
Posted on July 26, 2016
While exploring the charming neighborhood of Greenwich Village in Manhattan, I found myself stepping into this park featuring a huge square marble arch and a central fountain attracting a good number of people obviously there to take advantage of the cool waters and escape the summer heat. The park is named Washington Square Park in honor of George Washington, the first president of the United States of America. The park is also adjacent to the New York University (NYU) campus, in fact, the square is surrounded by a number of NYU buildings. This square also draws a huge number of tourists being one of the many famous landmarks in New York City. I remember this park very well in the movie I Am Legend starring Will Smith with those zombies giving me quite a few good nightmares. Thankfully I did not photograph nor encounter any during my walk around that park.
AYASOFYA
Posted on July 22, 2016
The Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya in Turkish), which means Holy Wisdom, is a grand piece of architecture that beautifully defines the Istanbul skyline. According to our tour guide, it was originally an Orthodox church which was turned into a mosque and eventually converted into a museum. It was truly a humbling experience to stand before this ancient wonder and be able to walk along its endless halls and explore its grand chambers. Inside was generally empty except for a few relics and lighting fixtures, however, the walls and ceilings are covered with a spectacular array of religious artwork. It was fascinating to see Christian and Muslim symbols beautifully complementing each other. I think the world can learn from the walls of Ayasofya on how to coexist harmoniously despite our differences. Sadly though, recent developments in Turkish politics may eventually lead to reviving this museum back into a mosque. I just hope the people of Istanbul decide to retain this as a symbol of secularism where people from all faiths can enjoy the beauty and wonder of this great human achievement both in construction and architecture.
SAX AND THE CITY
Posted on July 18, 2016
It was my first trip to New York City and a visit to Central Park was obviously inevitable. It was quite an adventure walking through the maze of busy streets and skyscrapers and then finding myself standing at the edge of this oasis right at the heart of a concrete jungle called Manhattan. I immediately dashed for the park and found myself walking through landmarks I was familiar with from watching movies and tv shows since I was a kid. While exploring the park, I found myself at this underpass with a man and his saxophone right by the entrance of the tunnel. I paid him little attention until I was at the other end of the tunnel when I looked back and saw this beautiful silhouette-like image of him romancing his saxophone. Too bad I missed to capture the moment when he arched his back and pointed his sax up in the air.
THE LIGHTHOUSE
Posted on July 14, 2016
While cruising out of Nassau, Bahamas, our ship sailed past Paradise Island before heading out for the Atlantic Ocean towards our final destination. At the tip of the island before the open ocean was a lighthouse standing in solitude as if sadly bidding us goodbye at the same time wishing us a safe sail home. Upon further research, I discovered its name as Paradise Island Lighthouse although it is more commonly known as the Nassau Harbor Lighthouse. This piece of architecture was built in 1817 making it the oldest lighthouse in the Bahamas and the oldest surviving lighthouse in the West Indies. I took this photo 2 years ago using my iPhone 5 and is quite impressed by the color quality and sharpness. I can’t wait for the release of the iPhone 7 with hopefully a better camera as it comes very handy on days when I feel too lazy to carry my DSLR around.
EYEing LONDON
Posted on July 10, 2016
During my trip to London last year, I made sure a ride on the London Eye was part of the itinerary as I wanted to photograph the city from above. I booked their “Champagne Experience” assuming there would be fewer people as it costs more and probably no kids due to the alcohol thereby allowing me to move around freely and take photographs from all angles without elbowing my way to the front. I also scheduled the ride to synchronize the time my capsule reaches the top and the sun setting in this historic and magnificent city. The best thing about the champagne experience is that you don’t have to line up outside like everybody else. Instead, they appointed a waiting room with a bar at the ticket center and a guide will walk you to the capsule who at the same time will serve as the bartender during the ride. The whole experience was fun seeing London and its famous landmarks from above and watching the lights around the city turning on one by one. The only downside was the glass casing of the capsule was a tad dusty so all my photographs turned out a little hazy. Anyway, this photo I’m posting came out as the most decent one capturing another capsule, the river Thames and the illuminated Big Ben on the right. The London Eye experience was worth every dollar spent and next time I visit London I will try it again but will no longer go crazy with the photography. I will instead spend all my time enjoying the breathtaking view and cheer the sunset with a glass of bubbly or two.
4th OF JULY
Posted on July 4, 2016
Today the United States of America is commemorating that fateful day in 1776 when thirteen American colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence and formed this great nation by declaring freedom from the British Empire. Being of Filipino descent, this date is also significant in my home country’s history as this commemorates the day the Philippines ceased to be a US territory and became an independent nation. This year I celebrated the 4th of July at a friends condo where we had an amazing view of the fireworks from his building’s rooftop. As I was taking this photo, I noticed lightning flashing inside this huge dark cloud in the distance creating an interesting backdrop to the fireworks. This photoshoot was a true test of my patience as I wanted to capture the lightning together with the fireworks and it took me 165 shots to finally capture this. While everybody was busy lighting fireworks, nature also joined in and flashed her spectacular version of fireworks display. Happy 4th of July to everyone!!!
ISTANBUL
Posted on June 30, 2016
The great city of Istanbul has recently been a victim of unnecessary violence resulting to a wasteful loss of innocent lives. However, I do not wish to dwell on this negative incident but instead focus on what is positive about this mesmerizing city. I visited this mystical metropolis two years ago on a cruise and had the best trip of my life. The colorful culture, ancient architecture, rich heritage and friendly people makes Istanbul an amazing destination for those who want to see a perfect blend of east and west as well as that of the past and present. This photo was taken at the top deck of the cruise ship while docked at the Istanbul Cruise Port, which is located right at the heart of the historic section of the city. The tower on the left is the Galata Tower, which is a medieval stone tower built to spot fires and now home to a restaurant, cafe and a night club. Istanbul may have hit a road bump a few days ago but it will bounce back just as it did for centuries. Stay strong Istanbul…I will see you again, soon!
LILY
Posted on June 28, 2016
I never had a pet my entire life and the decision to have one was totally unexpected and unplanned. I did not anticipate that a trip to the Broward Humane Society would transform my life significantly…in a good way. The decision to visit the pound was made after I saw on their website a litter of 8 cute puppies. Curiosity may have brought me there but somehow I had a hint of suspicion that I may end up taking one home that day. Imagine my disappointment when the receptionist informed me that all puppies have been adopted except for one and that I was 5 minutes late as someone just confirmed to adopt the last puppy. With a heavy heart I headed back to the exit when suddenly this woman came running towards me. She advised me to stay put as she was trying to match the puppy with her dog and in case of a mismatch I can adopt the puppy instead. I immediately requested to meet the puppy (a female) to check how she would interact with me and as soon as they laid her on my arms she immediately started licking my face and climbing all over me like she has known me for so long. I felt a strong connection with her and I knew at that very moment that she was meant to be my pet. The woman who was supposed to adopt her saw everything and happily gave her up to me. I immediately rushed through the paperwork and scooped her out of the pound just in case the woman changes her mind. I decided to name my new bestfriend Lily after the beautiful flower which symbolizes purity and perfection. This happened almost three years ago and Lily and I have been inseparable ever since. We have been through a lot together and I know we still have a lot to go through. Lily is a Chiweenie (a mix of Chihuahua and Dachshund) and today is her third birthday. I am featuring her on my page to celebrate her special day, her presence in my life and for the unconditional love she showers me everyday. Happy Birthday, Lily!
MORADA BAY
Posted on June 24, 2016
Morada Bay Beach Cafe in Islamorada, Florida was a pitstop during my drive home from a weekend of fun and sun in the island of Key West. This restaurant, which was highly recommended by a coworker, does not only serve delicious meals…it also offers a breathtaking view of the bay from your table. The tables, chairs and umbrellas are painted with bright colors providing a festive atmosphere and complementing the spectacular scenery. I was truly lucky to arrive before the lunch crowd and got to photograph the place empty. This place will now be my official stop next time I drive down to Key West in the future.
SUMMER SOLSTICE
Posted on June 21, 2016
Summer has finally arrived and what better way to present it than a beautiful sunset on a tropical island in South Florida. This photograph was taken during the last few minutes of sunset just as the sun was about to take a bow before diving deep into the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. It was also great to capture the golden lights of the sun in the horizon at the same time capturing the deep blue expanse of the upper sky behind a bravura display of wispy clouds. Lastly, the silhouette of boats sailing across the ocean provided a sense of adventure as well as a romantic perspective to this composition. What a beautiful world we live in and I find myself very lucky to witness breathtaking views like this as it also continues to fuel my passion for photography.
KEY WEST
Posted on June 18, 2016
If you are looking for white sandy beaches, colorful coral reefs, breathtaking sunsets, rich culture, top rate dining and laid-back island vibe…then Key West, Florida is a must visit for you. The adventure begins when you drive down from Miami through the Overseas Highway passing through hundreds of islands home to amazing nature reserves. The long and slow drive ends in the island of Key West also known as the Southernmost Point of Continental USA and just 90 miles away from Cuba. A trip to Key West has become part of my annual tradition and each trip is just as wonderful as the previous ones with new places to explore and more photographs to capture. The photo above was taken at the pier of The Reach Resort by Waldorf Astoria where I captured the emerald waters, sapphire skies and lime-colored buildings of a nearby resort. I was also lucky to capture this seabird soaring in front of me adding a touch of nature in this photo of a tropical dream. So if you are planning to visit South Florida, don’t miss a chance to drive down to Key West and let this spectacular view greet you everyday during your stay.
SUNSET WEDDING
Posted on June 14, 2016
A wedding is a beautiful celebration of life and love and is probably one of the most unforgettable moments in every couple’s life. I witnessed one this weekend as the ceremony was right below my room’s balcony, which had a great view of the resort’s beachfront. The wedding was celebrated just as the sun was setting in the horizon providing a spectacular backdrop and a romantic touch to the occasion. The whole scene inspired me so much that I immediately grabbed my iphone and captured the moment on panoramic mode sweeping from the wedding party, the beach and water to the setting sun in the distance. May this lovely couple be blessed with all the love and happiness in the world throughout their marriage.
PIER AT THE REACH
Posted on June 11, 2016
I am currently in Key West, Florida for the weekend for some sun, surf and munch. I was a little worried that the weather would be horrible as we just had a tropical storm a few days ago. Thankfully, the Sunshine State lived up to it’s name and blasted this island with lots of sunshine and some nasty humidity. Key West is the southernmost point of continental USA and is one of the most visited places in Florida. It is a very picturesque island town with an old world feel to it inspiring the likes of Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams who onced called this place home. Today, I decided to enjoy some island sun and beautiful blue waters by taking photographs of the pier at the beachfront of The Reach Resort – Waldorf Astoria. I am not a beach person so I happily stood by the shore and took a few panoramic photos of the pier using my iPhone 6. After a few sweaty attempts to capture this photo, I immediately headed back to my hotel room for some much needed airconditioning and lots of pillow time…this is how I spend my vacations. LOL!
HALL OF MIRRORS
Posted on June 9, 2016
The Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles was constructed in 1678 during the reign of King Louis XIV of France. It is the central gallery of the palace and features 17 mirror-clad arches reflecting the palace gardens from the 17 windows across the hall. When I took this photograph, I wished the entire hall was empty although the chances of achieving that in the most visited place in France was beyond impossible. I visited Versailles during the last few weeks of summer right about the end of tourist season and yet the place was packed with tourists from all corners of the globe. I guess I’ll just have to be content with capturing this famous hall with a good number of faces expressing fascination and awe over the opulence of the French nobility. The last royal residents of this palace was the family and court of King Louis XVI and his infamous wife…Marie Antoinette.
WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY
Posted on June 5, 2016
The United Nations General Assembly established in 1972 the World Environment Day to create global awareness about environmental problems around the world. The celebration is observed every 5th day of June with a specific theme and a host country. This year, Angola is hosting the occasion and the theme is “fight against the illegal trade in wildlife”. I have already posted my very few photos of wildlife so I’m using instead a photo I took of this waterfall at the Morikami Japanese Garden and Museum. I also decided to add an old Native American saying, which was supposedly spoken by Chief Seattle, although no one really knows its origins. Anyway, regardless of who spoke this saying the message remains the same that we are all responsible for the preservation of our environment and the protection of every life on it. In my part of the world, there is a huge debate about climate change with a significant number of people denying it and insisting it’s just a hoax. I believe this is a cause that is not negotiable and shouldn’t even be debated upon and politicized. Regardless of our political views, nature in itself must be protected and preserved for the very survival of humanity and its future generations.
FIERY SKIES
Posted on June 2, 2016
One of my favorite photography subjects is the sunset as it always bring out a multitude of rich colors creating a kaleidoscopic sky that can inspire the lover, artist, writer, poet and dreamer in each one of us…or in my case, the photographer in me. The beauty of a sunset is further magnified by the presence of cloud formations as they add depth and dimension to the multihued sky. This photograph is one of my personal favorites as this made the sky look like a painting creating a moment that was worth capturing and cherishing. I took this photo somewhere in the Mediterranean Sea while cruising around that part of the world during the fall of 2014. Rarely do I encounter sunsets as visually stunning as this so I’m glad I was there to capture that polychromatic moment.
MAGIC KINGDOM
Posted on May 29, 2016
The Cinderella Castle is the very heart of Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in reference to its location and it being the access point to every themed land in the park. I took this photo of the castle from Main Street USA, a street lined with shops depicting early-20th century small-town America and inspired by Walt Disney’s childhood. I was about to head out of the park when I decided to take one last look and saw the magical magnificence of the illuminated castle in the distance. I thought its light blue illumination made it pop out in the darkness while the golden lights of the Main Street buildings framed it beautifully from both sides. Truly a beacon for every child’s dream (and adults too).
BLUE MOON
Posted on May 25, 2016
The full moon last Saturday (May 21,2016) was called the Blue Moon being the third of four full moons this Spring. Each season has three full moons but every two to three years, a season may have four making it a special and rare occurence thus the phrase “once in a blue moon”. Apparently this year, the full moon in the month of June is about 11 hours earlier than the start of Summer making it the fourth full moon for Spring. So when I heard about this on the news I knew very well that I had to photograph this moon. I drove to the beach with hesitation because it was raining that afternoon and the sky was partly cloudy. I was expecting a disappointment, however, the moon found its way out of the clouds to greet me. It was an amazing experience standing in an almost deserted beach watching the full moon slowly float up from the horizon. I will have to wait for another two to three years to witness this celestial show again.
VILLAGE LAKE BY DOWNTOWN DISNEY
Posted on May 21, 2016
Every time I visit Orlando, I always allocate one night of my trip for an evening of strolling and dining in Downtown Disney. This huge collection of shops, restaurants, bars, cinemas and arcades wrapping around a lake (named Village Lake) is the pitstop for visitors after a day in the park. The place has been recently renamed to Disney Springs but I prefer the old name because just like every city downtown, it is the very heart of the entire Disney complex. I took this photo on my way to dinner after noticing the beautiful colors in the sky just as the sun was about to set. The rich and bright colors reflecting on the water transformed the whole lake into a spectacular canvas of red, purple and gold. The amusing part of this photo, which I took in 2012, is that this was taken using an iPhone 4s.
WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL
Posted on May 17, 2016
The National World War II Memorial in Washington DC was built to honor and remember ALL Americans who served during the Second World War. It consists of 56 pillars representing each US state, territory and protectorate involved in the war as well as a pair of arches surrounding a plaza and fountain. As a Filipino, it was heartwarming to see a pillar for the Philippines as my home country played a significant role in winning this war in the Pacific being an unincorporated territory of the United States until our independence in 1946. This photo was taken during a trip to Washington DC to conduct personal business with the Philippine Embassy. It was my first time in DC and gladly a friend based in this city was kind enough to tour me around giving me the opportunity to play with my camera. I do hope to return again in the future to explore more places to photograph in this beautiful and historic city.
WINDSOR CASTLE
Posted on May 14, 2016
The Windsor Castle is the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world and it’s where Queen Elizabeth spends most of her private weekends. The castle has been the family home to British kings and queens for over 1,000 years. During my visit to Windsor the queen was not around, which is signaled by the Royal Standard flag flying from the castle’s Round Tower. My tour of the castle included viewing of the royal apartments, state rooms, galleries, changing of the guards and the magnificent St. George’s Chapel. I joined a guided tour of the castle, which I think is the best way to experience it as you hear a good number of royal trivias and learn a generous amount of information and history about this famous home. Furthermore, being part of a tour allows you to skip the long lines to the ticket booth which can take at least an hour of your time. The castle is a reflection of the massive wealth of the British Royal family and throughout the tour I kept imagining how fascinating it would be to be a royal…even just for a day.
ROCKS OF AGES
Posted on May 10, 2016
The Stonehenge was created by a culture that did not leave any written record so every assumption about this ancient structure is debatable. During my visit to this famous site, our tour guide mentioned that this was once the site of musical concerts…made me wonder how many seasons of Stonehenge Idol ran on this site. People also say that a visit to Stonehenge is like taking a spiritual trip…however in my case, it was more of a photo opportunity trip. The site is surrounded by a cordoned pathway to prevent visitors from touching the rocks and this photo was taken at the section closest to the ruins. Seriously though, I did feel a strong force of energy and an unexplained sense of joy while walking around this site. This has been on my bucket list for a long time and I am certainly very glad to finally write it off.
MOON FOR NISHKA
Posted on May 5, 2016
Early this year, I found myself in Leesburg, Florida to become the godfather of my friend’s daughter during her baptism into the Catholic faith. My goddaughter’s nickname is Nishka and I consider it an honor to be asked as her godfather. The baptism party gathered friends from different parts of the state and it also served as our mini-reunion. After the baptismal party at a hotel ballroom, we moved to my friends home for more food, drinks and karaoke (it’s a Filipino thing. LOL!). While everybody was busy singing and partying, I stepped out into the backyard and was greeted by this bright and beautiful full moon. I took a few shots and all I got of the moon was a solid ball of light. I decided to take a separate photo of the moon to capture more details and superimposed it on the foreground photo for a better effect. I was never a fan of manipulating photos so I was quiet hesitant to post this. However, I saw a photo of my goddaughter earlier today and decided to go ahead and dedicate this photo to her…thus the title of this post. May she grow up to be as lovely as the moon on the night of her baptism.
ISLAND OF THE WINDS
Posted on May 1, 2016
The island of Mykonos in Greece is famously referred to as the island of the winds but in Greek mythology, it is also known as the location of the great battle between Zeus and the Titans as well as the site where Hercules killed the giants after luring them out of Mount Olympus. I visited Mykonos two years ago and fell in love with this beautiful and mystical island. This photograph was taken at the town’s main section facing the Aegean Sea where this little boy was running around driving a flock of sea birds out into these beautiful blue skies. Luckily, I was about to snap my camera to photograph the town in this angle so the birds in flight came as an added bonus.
FLAMME DE LA LIBERTÉ
Posted on April 27, 2016
The Flame of Libety Memorial in Paris, France is a replica of the flame on the torch of the Statue of Liberty in New York City. It is common knowledge that the Statue of Liberty is a gift from the people of France to the people of the United States of America. On the other hand, this memorial is actually a gift from International Herald Tribune (an English language newspaper in Paris) as a token of thanks for the restoration work on the Statue of Liberty by two French businesses that did the artisanal work on the project. The Flame has also become the unofficial memorial for Princess Diana who died on the tunnel right beneath this flame in 1997. I visited the memorial on my first day in Paris and my only wish for this photo was for that tree and lamp post blocking the Eiffel Tower to be gone. Glad also that there was nobody there to block the memorial as this usually gets filled up with people laying down flowers and cards for the late princess.
SEA FOAMS
Posted on April 23, 2016
A few hours ago I made a last minute decision to drive to Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, a small town north of Fort Lauderdale, Florida and 10 minutes away from my house, to try to photograph the moon rising from the horizon. The town’s beach area features a pier, which I decided to use as subject for my photography. While waiting for the moonrise, I practiced photographing the waves trying to capture them in a foam-like effect. This one is my favorite as the spread of the waves were consistently the same from where I was standing all the way to the pier. As for the moon, I found out that moonrise was at 9:12PM and I already made dinner plans so I decided to pack up and head back home. I’ll just do my moon photography on the next full moon.
FORUM MAGNUM
Posted on April 19, 2016
The Forum Magnum, popularly known as the Roman Forum, was the heart of ancient Rome where commercial and political activities were once celebrated. Today, all that remain are the ruins of ancient buildings that once stood proudly around this historic square. I took this photo during a guided tour of the complex and I fortunately made the right decision to join one as it provided me with tons of history and trivias about this site. The tour lasted about 4 hours and culminated at The Colosseum, which is only a few steps away from this huge complex. This, Vatican and the Colosseum are probably the most interesting places I visited in Rome…although, there really is nothing in Rome that is not interesting.
LIVIN’ ON THE EDGE
Posted on April 14, 2016
In the Greek island of Santorini, low-lying and colorful cubical buildings cling on the side of the remnant of a volcanic caldera hundreds of feet above sea level providing an unobstructed view of the Aegean Sea. The island also boasts of its beautiful sunsets and due to the layout of the buildings, you get a front seat view of the sunset anywhere you sit. Tourism is the island’s major industry and it has been ranked as the world’s top island by travel magazines and websites. When I visited this island more than a year ago, I exhaustingly maneuvered myself for hours through narrow alleys with sharp turns and steep climbs in order to truly experience the essence of this ancient municipality. Unfortunately, my feet started killing me way before sunset so I decided to head back to my cruise ship and skipped the chance to witness one of the world’s most beautiful sunsets. I guess I now have a good reason to revisit Santorini in the near future so I can finally photograph its famous sunset.
MUSÉE D’ORSAY
Posted on April 10, 2016
The Musée D’Orsay is a museum in Paris, France showcasing the largest collection of impressionist and post-impressionist masterpieces in the world. The building used to be a train station and is one of the most visited museums in Paris due to its large collection of works by painters like Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne, Seurat, Sisley, Gauguin and Van Gogh. Inside the museum is a viewing deck where you can look down into the main gallery and that was where I took this photograph. I personally enjoyed viewing the works of Monet, Renoir and Van Gogh…perhaps because they’re the more famous ones…or maybe because I am just one art ignoramous. LOL!
WHERE DREAMS COME TRUE
Posted on April 7, 2016
During my interview with the company who hired me for work in the United States, the interviewer asked me where in the USA I would want to relocate and I replied “anywhere near Disneyland”. It may have sounded funny for the interviewer but I was dead on serious about living close to a Disney park. When I was 10 years old, a neighbor gave me a pictorial souvenir of Walt Disney World and I grew up staring at the photos dreaming of visiting it someday. Disney World was a childhood dream that always lingered deep inside my heart and mind so imagine my joy when the interview ended with a job offer to sunny Florida where Walt Disney World is located. My work assignment was in Miami but it was good enough for me as Orlando was just a few hours drive. Since my move to Florida, a visit to Walt Disney World has become part of my annual tradition and each time I step into the park and come face to face with Cinderella’s Castle, I pinch my arm to remind myself that everything is for real. I know I have come a long way from being that kid who once dreamed of coming to Disney and I am very proud to say that through perseverance and hard work I eventually made that childhood dream come.
TORII
Posted on April 4, 2016
The torii is a traditional Japanese gate usually found at the entrance of a Shinto shrine to mark the entrance to a sacred place. Contrary to tradition, this torii is found at the entrance to the Japanese Pavilion of EPCOT Center at the Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. I took this photo using my iPhone 6, while in the middle of a thunderstorm, and the park was gray and misty with rain falling down like crazy. Surprisingly, the dull and hazy background brought out the deep red paint of the torii creating a beautiful contrast in the photograph.
CITY OF GOLD
Posted on April 1, 2016
The Palace of Westminster and the Big Ben are iconic landmarks of the British capital and are probably the most photographed in the world. The palace is known as the heart of British politics as this is where the parliament of the United Kingdom meets. The city of London is very rich in heritage and amazingly the past and the present blend together harmoniously. It was an overcast day when I took this picture and the cloud filtered the sun turning everything the light touches into gold. I also accidentally forgot to remove the filter on my camera for this photoshoot resulting in a rich golden shade to the composition. I initially ignored this photo as I thought it was too golden, however, I realized that gold would be the best color to feature the home city of one of the world’s oldest monarchy.
THE PANTHEON
Posted on March 29, 2016
The Pantheon in Rome is an ancient structure constructed around 127 AD by Emperor Hadrian. It is one of the best preserved ancient buildings in Rome and was continuously used throughout its existence. The building is now a Catholic Church and houses the tombs of two Italian kings (Vittorio Emanuele II and Umberto I) and that of the great artist Raphael. The square in front of the Pantheon is called Piazza dela Rotunda and features a fountain surmounted by an Egyptian obelisk. This is the first place I visited in Rome just because it was right behind my hotel. The place is a major tourist attraction so it can get really crowded and one may have to line up to get inside the building. The square is surrounded by restaurants and cafes where you can drink and dine al fresco as well as have fun people watching. I took this photo when I was still experimenting with the manual mode of my camera and two shots came out surprisingly good so I decided to combine them to come up with this. I’m going back to Rome later this year and this time I know my manual mode better…let’s all hope I come up with better shots this time.
