Buko Juice

Sundae Bloody Sundae

We took a break at the Pulitzer Fountain before entering Central Park.  Of course, it did not stop me from capturing a moment that will remind me of this place.  It was September 10 and New York City is preparing for commemorating the 9/11 attacks.  There were a lot of people in the city, but that did not stop this New Yorker to enjoy the weekend and enjoy her sundae.   She was wearing a bright red dress and was eating a red-coated ice scream which reminded me of a popular U2 song.

Amazed

As we continue our trek to Central Park we passed by a crowd of people checking out the sights at St. Patrick's Cathedral.  It was September 10 and NYC is giving honor to their policemen and firemen who served as one of their heroes during the 911 attack.

As we walked our way through the crowd, I saw this woman checking out St. Patrick's Cathedral.  As she looks like she was in awe of the structure of the church, I was in awe of how her tattoos complimented her skin and her dark hair.

Entourage

My second day in New York City involved a lot of walking.  Our agenda for that day was to go to Central Park, take pictures and enjoy its scenery.  We stopped at the Rockefeller Center to take a break from our walk but that did not stop me from taking pictures.

I saw a group of beautiful women walking at the halls of Channel Gardens.  I'm glad that even if we took a break, I had a moment to keep and make this place memorable to me.

Hmmm

"Concrete Jungle where dreams are made of, there is nothing you can't do"

As the song goes, NYC can really be a jungle.  Big streets and huge buildings filled with people can be confusing.  I saw this lady figuring out where she is and if she's in the right way.  I was blessed that she stopped in front of me and captured her moment.

Redhead

The traffic lights and pedestrian lanes are a friend to me. It gives me opportunity to capture pictures of people.  When I saw this lady with her distinct fiery red hair right across the street, I immediately took my spot and waited for her to cross.

It seems that people here are always on the go.  It's either they are carrying their phones answering text messages and emails or carrying a drink to satisfy their thirst and cravings.  This lady was carrying a tumbler that might have a coffee or a tea in it.

I waited for her to come closer, but I waited too long and she noticed me...

Footprints

How often do we see somebody take their own picture with their iPhones, digital cameras, or even SLRs? In this age and time, probably a thousand times.  I did not have the chance to take a picture of myself with the Empire State as my background but it was kind of refreshing to see this girl who was probably doing low cost  backpacking all by herself but did not even think twice about making a footprint at the Rockefeller Center.

Headache

As we turn our way towards 7th avenue,  I saw this lady trying to give her head a massage.  It could have been a hangover from last night's party or she is just having a bad start on her day.  She must have had her breakfast at Bagels & More to ease the pain on her head or just bought a bottle of water to make her feel better.

The Call

She could have been in an argument or confused on the message that she is receiving. She might be experiencing a bad signal, but the picture clearly says that there is something wrong with her call.

See-Break

There is one rule in riding the Grayline bus: “Don’t stand and take pictures!”  This is for the reason that you might get hit by the traffic lights.  There is one exception though, you are allowed to stand and take pictures if there is traffic and when you are on a stop light.

When the bus stopped, I immediately stood up and saw this woman getting ready to start her c-break.   She lit up her cigarette anticipating the wind which will try to blow the flame on her lighter.  Indeed, the stoplight was worth looking forward to.

Modern Jog

A few blocks away from Banana Mornings Lady, I saw this woman doing her morning jog.  I immediately setup Nonnie and captured the moment. 

For me the picture represents the modern woman, keeping herself up with the fast-paced lifestyle of the city.   In her gear includes an iPod that probably pumps her up in her workout.  She might be taking the opportunity to keep herself healthy or maybe just maximizing summer, knowing that fall is just right around the corner.

Banana Mornings

The morning Gray line bus ride was a treat.  I got the chance to explore the city with a tour guide explaining each land mark of the Big Apple.  But more than the historical information I got from the bus ride, I did get a good seat to take pictures of people and women in the street.  I’m glad that it gave me a different angle and a different perspective.  It gave me the chance to capture candid shots.

While our bus is moving away from the fashion district, I saw this woman eating a banana and holding a cellular phone. It may be her breakfast or her snack.  She may be late or catching up with an appointment and a morning fruit treat is all she needs.

Waiting

See, Hear, Feel is a collection of photographs of women in New York City.   Inspired by Garry Winogrand’s “Women are Beautiful”, I opted to take pictures of people and women during my visit in the Big Apple.

My first post is a picture of a woman waiting for the traffic light to clear while we are waiting for our Gray Line bus ride. 

Initially, the woman was facing away from me.  I waited patiently to get my photograph and I was blessed that she looked at me before she crossed the street.

The wind was blowing swiftly and she almost blinked because of it. Instead, it was my camera that blinked and captured the moment.

A Slice of New York

During my trip to the US, I was preparing my self to do street photography.  I was not concerned on taking shots of the tall sky scrappers of New York or the world renowned landmarks of the city. But I was more interested of the people in it. The people who I have taken pictures of will remind me of the places I’ve gone to in the city.

This special Project Rembrandt was inspired by Garry Winogrand and our very own Danny Santos. 

It was another busy day at the city and there were a lot of people.  These people who consist of tourists and locals are enjoying the last days of summer.   Again, it was hard for me to approach a stranger, specially when I am not on my own turf.

The night was nearing and I still don’t have my picture to keep.  My friends and I opted to look for a pizza place where we will eat dinner.   It was this pizza place in 8 Avenue near the 47^th street that captured the attention of our hungry stomachs.

We ordered two pies and it was devoured by a group of 6.  As we were about to finish our dinner, I saw this cheerful man who bakes the pizza we ate. Without any hesitations I approached him and asked “Is it alright if I take your picture?  I want to remember this place by taking a picture of you."  Ben smiled and said yes. 

I did not take the picture I usually do, but this captured moment shows the glare of the bright lights in the city and the kitchen of the pizza place, which perfect for my taste.

Ben, thank you for being a good sport and allowing me to enjoy your delicious pizza.  Until my next visit!

The Mr. PR Man

He is one of the most colorful persons I have encountered; a good talker, cheerful guy, who usually captivates people with his wit and funny jokes.  Some might find him brash at first, but once you get to know him you will find that he is easy to talk to, one who shares his lessons and experiences about life.

When he passes by our corridors, he never fails to greet his colleagues.  He always shares a smile, a tight shake hand, a wave, a salute, a hello or a big smile.  He is there to give you a small talk, an insight and a good laugh.  I can say he is a people person and sometimes I think if he would run for political office one day, there will be a great chance of winning.

When I asked him to be a part of this project, he immediately said yes without knowing the details of it.  When I said that this was for Project Rembrandt, he already thought of the idea that I will take a photo of him.  He even had a funny way of saying he was busy and told me that he is not wearing his best attire and said if we could do it the next day.  I laughed and said yes.

It was the first time in this project that I took a photo of a person taller than me and it was kind of difficult to frame him in the picture.  The camera was in a slight upward angle and I took several shots just to get the right one.

Thank you Rene for being part of this project and I hope I shared something different from the talks, good laughs and insights you shared with me.

Eye Candy

Upon knowing that she will be leaving, I thought about including her in Project Rembrandt. At first I was unsure to ask her and did not know if she will say yes.  I am not good in convincing and talking to people, but I said to myself that I will give it try. 

So, I approached her and started a conversation.  I asked her “When is your last day?”, even if I knew it beforehand. I explained to her my project and asked her if I can take her portrait.  She smiled and said yes.  She also said that she knew about Project Rembrandt because she saw it on my Facebook. It made me happy because someone is looking at your work.

Although we only shared small talks, occasional greetings and smiles, I know that she is someone who can lead and direct people. I know that she can speak Italian and at times I wonder how she learned the language. During company events and parties, our cameras captured her constantly.

I hope this simple picture will remind you of what you did in leading your team and leading us during company events.  God bless you in your new career, Candy!

Two Friendly

On my way to work, I was thinking of who I should approach to have my portrait to keep.  Should I go out during my break and wait for that person in Emerald or Ruby?

When I was about to reach San Miguel Avenue, two young ladies called my attention.  They told me that my bag was open.  I asked them a favor to help me close my bag and they smiled and closed it.  I said thanks and went on my way to work. 

When I was a few meters away from them, I thought that this was an opportunity to ask for a portrait of a total stranger.  So, I went back, called them and explained what I do in Project Rembrandt. Then I popped the question, “Can I take your picture?”  They were nice people and said yes to my request. 

As I started taking shots, they were trying to pose on their best angles and started smiling.  I was a bit nervous and had a terrible camera shake because it was the first time I took pictures of real strangers. I told them not to smile and just to look normal, for me to appreciate their facial features. After the photo shoot, I thanked them and gave them my blogsite’s address.  I told them that I will try to post their photos tonight so that they can view it immediately.

It was a good way to start the working day.  I may not see these two friendly people again.  But I’m glad that for that brief time they have shared their kindness while I shared my captured moment.  I hope you will like Project Rembrandt!

Merienda Lady

Just to keep me pumped up, I chose someone who is not a total stranger to me.  Initially, I thought of getting a portrait of Pip, a manager of one of the restaurants in Ruby Road.   But he was not available yesterday and they said he was borrowed in another branch to relieve for someone.

Then, I saw this lady selling packed lunch and merienda.  I was with a friend that time and he suggested asking her instead.  I approached her and tried to make a short conversation.  After that, I asked if I can take her a picture and explained that I am trying to document people I meet and encounter in my daily life.  Without any hesitation, she said yes to my request.   It was 10:30 am then and we agreed to meet again by noon at Ruby Road. 

By noontime, I went down to see Ann. As I went out of the building, I saw typhoon Falcon gaining its strength.  I looked around and saw people who were having their cigarette breaks; there was no sign of her.  For a while, I thought she wouldn’t show up anymore until somebody called me.  It was Ann; I was relieved and excitedly took pictures.  Her dark brown eyes and hair will make one remember those actors in Boys over Flower, a Korean Teleserye.  Big thanks to Merienda Lady for granting my request and for having the patience to pose despite the wind and the stormy weather.

An Angel @ Down Under

Ric Simbol’s recent picture in his project 365 album inspired me to pursue my first entry here at Project Rembrandt. His picture was also inspired by a Filipino in Singapore (see Danny Santos) doing portraits of people in Orchard Road. I thought it would be a great idea to take pictures of people I encounter in Ruby Road and Emerald Avenue.

Today, I brought my camera and my 50mm hoping that I can have my portrait to keep. I said to my self that I should start easy and not go for a total stranger. So I asked a cigarette vendor, who always sees me pass by at Ruby Road, for his portrait. I failed to convince him and opted for someone else to have his photo taken. I thought of this lady who works in the canteen where we buy food.

I was with a friend when we asked her to take her picture. We approached her like we are going to buy something but instead asked her, “Ate pwede ka ba naming picturan?” (Can we take your picture?). At first, there was this rejection, but while she rejected us she also smiled and asked if we are going to do something bad with her identity. We told her that we were documenting people who we encounter in our daily life, people who affect us and people who share a smile with us whenever we buy food. Finally, we’ve convinced her that we are not going to do anything to harm her. She was not a stand out and she does not have blue eyes that will make your head turn. She is just a simple lady, who works at a canteen that you rely on every time you feel hungry.

Thank you “Ate” for filling our stomachs with your delicious pork chop every Thursday and thank you for being my first entry here at Project Rembrandt!

The Project Rembrandt

April of 2009, when I first met Nonnie.  I immediately took him out of his box and examined his every detail and his every feature.  Back then, my first subjects were still objects at home.  I took pictures of different things -- flowers,faucet, rusty objects, cars and a lot more.  I think everything that finds my interest, I take pictures of it.

I noticed though that I took a lot of still objects but there is still quite a big number of pictures that includes people in it. People that I've come across in life through special events like birthday parties, team buildings, Christmas parties, and even persons I barely knew whom I met during vacations and out-of-towns.

I first thought of creating an album in my Facebook page and tagging them so that they can view their portrait shots.  People just love pictures, it creates joy when they see that they have nice photos of themselves.  Plus, you can share it with a number of people you know.  

I named this Facebook album "Project Rembrandt".  I named it after one of the greatest painters and portrait painter of all time, Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn.

Now as I continue this hobby of capturing moments, I want to write a blog of people that I come across with. People that for a moment have shared a good laugh, have imparted small talks and big ideas.

I wish to share good photos to good persons that I meet.  Welcome to Project Rembrandt.