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“Imagining a life spent by the beach with every surfing adventure, a lifestyle that revolves around finding and riding wave after wave — knowing that that sort of high is simply within reach — and the utter simplified life, consciously relaxing your mind and forgetting all the other life matters as you paddle out to meet that wave you’re going to ride.

I’m no longer surprised why there are folks who choose to live to surf.”
– Siargao, uncovering the life in and around the ocean

I still wake up to the call of the waves, sometimes. Yes, my heart’s set on answering.

I’ll see you again, Siargao.

Trivia: Photo taken at Cloud 9, Siargao, Philippines; October 2011.

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• la Mère et l’Enfant
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Trudging through life with the knowledge that this bit of space I occupy is lost in the colossal tract where a million of other folks, who are seemingly larger than life, with voices louder and more significant than mine, reside in. Sometimes, I wish to remain in the shadows, but there are times when I do seek to scale the canyon and challenge the norm. If only my courage won’t fail me each time I take that first step.

It always comes back to being someone ordinary wanting to be extraordinary; constantly failing, sometimes succeeding. Subdued by the ache, freed by the pen. So, thus I write.

I write a letter.

Dear kind sir,

Always a friend,
Sasha

Trivia: A little photo experiment on masking identity; Photo taken in Caleruega, Nasugbu, Batangas, Philippines; February 2011.

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The strangeness of reality would often catch me unaware. Random events would come as a surprise even when there’s familiarity. Life, mine in particular, has almost always been oddly discomfiting — seemingly leading me towards a different direction each and every time.

Music labels each path I take. I allow it that much power. In the moments I spend alone, thinking and writing, it accompanies me. Affects my mood and pen. Inspires every creative cell in my being; reflected in my personal style, in my writing, and in my photos.

I’m finding more and more time for music and writing. I’m finding more and more time for myself and my thoughts.

A new road. A change in direction. In time, things will make sense. Music will provide the spark; inspire each time I pick up my pen, face my laptop or look through the viewfinder. Each step I will take will be driven, energized and affected.

How about you? What sort of music are you listening to today?

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To celebrate endings and beginnings. Memories and hope intertwined. Laughter and tears. Love. Sweet, air-in-your-lungs love. It has always been about love.

We were but little girls when we first met and known each other till we were women. This was all part of the dream. We both knew we all will come to this. At least, that was a common assumption.

That day sealed a thought. Terrifying, unthinkable, truth. I was never meant to go last. I was meant not to go at all.

Trivia: Taken while the bride, a long time friend, walked down the aisle at her wedding which took place in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, Philippines; March 2010.

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• The Pursuit of Love
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It’s fascinating to watch two-year olds while they go about their day. Everything’s interesting. Everything’s frustrating. Communication is extremely amazing. Yet their shortcomings don’t stop them from surviving. They learn to adapt no questions asked.

Looks like they know how to live life more than the adults.

This photo is one of the more softer looks I’ve seen on my feisty little cousin. I’ve always been interested in taking snaps of her as I try to perfect the technique in capturing her beautiful innocence. This is also my way of experimenting with Black & White photography.

Trivia: Photo of my 2-year old cousin, taken in my room; Paranaque, Philippines, March 2010

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• The beauty of being empty

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I wonder if I truly see the true beauty of the mundane. A life we consider extraordinarily dull may just be a rare gem for others. Do we pause and say thanks for letting us get a glimpse of their treasure?

We scoff at the everyday rustics of the roads we take in life. Are we really all that far above them? Perhaps if we take a moment and let the flare of light get pass the reflection of ourselves that we seem to have mired our vision of the rest of the world, we’ll see that moments pass in a blur and yes, taking stock in the little things will eventually count.

Life is like that it seems.

Hey, Mr. Man: That day made me long for you to come and take me home a little more than usual.

Lead me to your door, take me where you are.. at least for just a while.

Trivia: Taken whilst in transit along the rural roads of Laguna headed back to Manila; April 2009.

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Persistent. Fearless. Resilient.

Crafty. Independent. Gorgeous.

Looking at those eyes you’ll see that she’s one intelligent lass. At 21 months, she’s already starting to learn her ABCs.

A little girl with a ready smile. Adorably sweet. Incredibly cute. Wickedly smart. Crazy beautiful.

Takes after her Tita perhaps? LOL.

Trivia: Photos of my niece, taken at Glenelg, South Australia, December 2008.

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Capturing the movement is like defining the wind. Quick and unseen, you have to rely on instinct and senses. But nothing is impossible, that much I have learned.

Your composition will help create character to the unseen force. Just let it be your friend.

Two years have come and gone. Time like the wind will forever be unseen. But again, it’s up to you to define it.

Trivia: Taken with a Sony DSC-T50; November 2006.

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If you’ve been taking photos for a long time, you’ll agree with me when I say that light plays an important role in each photograph. It can set the mood, create shadows and, yes, illuminate specific areas. It helps create shape and dimension on the subject. The perfect light, albeit ambient, for that perfect composition can also be very elusive.

Another photo session had taken placed last Friday for a few of my blogs. It started out as a simple photo feature of a costume idea, an angel wing. Then it progressed into a beauty feature before I wrapped things up.

I had initially planned to use the morning light streaming in through a set of windows in my room like I always do. I would normally be satisfied but that morning, I had a hard time producing something that I was happy with. So, then came an answer to my quiet prayer to ease my frustration — mirrored sunlight.

I was blinded by the light coming from the rising sun that bounced off from one of the mirrors in the room. But seemingly like the blinding bright light, my face lit up in surprise and delight when I saw the first few sample shots.

From the cold, white light to warm, yellow ones, I was able to take photos that flattered and highlighted the colours of the makeup I was wearing. I had snapped photo after photo like a mad woman for as long as the light was present.

The photo on the right is a sample of a photograph taken without the mirrored sun. It pales in comparison, eh?

From experience, I would’ve come up with a different set of photos had I been under direct sunlight. It had worked to my advantage that the reflected light only illuminated particular areas of the space and kept the rest in shadows. Had I used a flash, even if it were a speedlite capped with a diffuser, I still wouldn’t have been able to take these sort of photos.

Trivia: Session was for an FOTD (Face of the Day) at Beauty Bento Box; Fashion features seen in Style Manila and Tops 2 Bottoms. Taken between 6am and 7am in my room; October 2008.

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Yes. Let’s call it a severe case of narcissism. But isn’t it fun to take your own photo, sometimes?

Out of something that can be categorised as ordinary, I had found myself having fun in the process. This is one of the moments wherein I love what I do and that’s not just because I get to take photos of myself but rather to explore the idea of confidence and inner acceptance.

Can you smile naturally while worrying if your imperfections will lay bare for the world’s scrutiny? Will you be able to produce self-portraits with ease and comfort? Will you be able to look at your photo and see what a beautiful creature you are?

All of creation is beautiful and it’s true that it’s only through your own eyes will you be able to see it and believe. Without such faith in that truth, the picture you paint in your life will only reflect the ugliness of its absence.

Life is beautiful. Live it. And learn to love the beauty in you.

Trivia: Session was for an FOTD (Face of the Day) at Beauty Bento Box. Taken around 9am in my room, I must say that there’s gorgeous light streaming in around that time in that bit of space; October 2008.

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• Anonymity and an open letter

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