Monday, December 31, 2012

arvato Masquerade Christmas Party

Preparations. The hard team at work, a few hours before the party. 

Before you go over the 400+ plus photos in this post. I hope you take time to read what I have to say first. :p 

Ahem** When I first read that the Christmas Party committee was looking for a photographer from the employees. I thought to myself, poor guy (whoever that would be) I pity the guy who would volunteer for such a task since I know how tiring it is to cover an event. If you were an employee and you are also the official photographer you certainly would not be able to enjoy the party since the responsibilities of a photographer can be overwhelming- there is definitely no time to party, let loose and have fun. 

But then I thought why not volunteer my husband? 

In case you didn't know, my husband is a freelance photographer and even if this gig is pro-bono [AKA TY (thank you) ang TF (talent fee)] I was going to ask Paul (my husband) to go on leave anyways since we would be checking in the Remington, so might as well get him the photo gig, it would inevitably mean more exposure for him as a photographer. :) 

So I hope you guys take time to like our Facebook page here. You can follow us on twitter here. If you have any inquiries about photoshoots or event coverage just contact us. ^_^ 

By the way, we had some trouble uploading some of the photos with our official watermark, although some of the photos are watermarked. Please keep in mind that all photos are by: PCheng Photography :) Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New year to all! ^_^ 

Official Event Coverage brought to you by: PCheng Photogprahy. 

and now for the photos! Enjoy :) 


The calm before the storm. Candles light up a dark Republiq club before the festivities begin. 

Friday, December 28, 2012

Our Adventures: Resorts World Manila + Movie Review: The Hobbit

Lights in the sky. The signage for Resorts World shining bright against the night sky. 


Paul and I have always been making fun of the airy ad for Resorts World Manila. (Resooorts Whoorld Mhanilaaahhhh), we'd have laughs when we would imitate that catch phrase, so imagine our reactions when we found out that our company was having our Christmas Party in Republiq (a club in Resorts World Manila). We basically had more reasons to say Resooorts Whoorld Mhanilaaahhhh 


The Hotel 

When I heard that we were having our Christmas Party at Republiq, I immediately researched into having a room booked in a nearby hotel. 


I learned in my research that there are 3 hotels in Resorts World Manila: 

The Remington Hotel (affordable hotel) published rates: P3,900.00/night

Marriott Hotel Manila (5-Star business hotel AKA- expensive) published rates:P P8,500.00/night 

Maxims Hotel (All suite luxury hotel AKA - really expensive) published rates: lowest price is P15,800.00/night.  

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Nifty Nails: Product Review: Wide Nails PP401

Wide Nails. Face it with one of my Rei Ayanami figures. 


During my last trip to the Face Shop I decided to break my P100.00/polish rule and I purchased the Wide Nails variation of the nail polishes. This nail polish is for P295.00. So how was it different from the other P100.00 polishes? Well the brush is actually more flat than the ordinary polish. This actually made the application of the polish easier. 

The polish I purchased had the code of PP401. It had a bluish and violet color to it which I think is more suited for more formal occasions but it still has a playful shade which won't make you look too old. It also has a shiny look which makes it more appealing. 

Would I purchase another polish from the Wide Nails series? Well when I think that I could have already bought 2 other polishes at its price, maybe I wouldn't be too quick to break my P100.00/polish rule next time. :p 

Book Spotlight: A Feast for Crows

Weather worn but well loved. 


I always find it easier to write when I am currently reading a book. I'll try to make it a point to read a book moving forward-and of course to share my reading experiences with you guys and just like one of my favorite Game of Thrones characters said: "A mind needs books like a sword a whetstone". 

My mom would always tell the story of how a 9 year old me, asked for books for one Christmas. I got from 'Santa' The Little Women and Daddy-long-legs. 

I have always been fond of reading and as a consequence have poor eyesight, although I don't know what the grade of my eyes are all I know is I sometimes miss Jeepneys since I can't read the signs. 

So despite the poor eyesight I still love to read and my eyesight would most probably become worse but that won't stop me from reading more and more books!

So I just finished with A Feast for Crows which is Book 4 of 'A Song of Fire and Ice' by George R. R. Martin. I'm already done with the first three books- A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings and A Storm of Swords.  I did get hooked into reading the books due to the largely popular series- Game of Thrones and I also got my office mates hooked with the series :) 

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

7th Christmas Toy Fair: Tips and Buys

Girls! Girls! Girls!!! Lovely figures during the Toycon 


Christmas is the time when kids happily get toys for gifts but of course there is that child in all of us and even the 'big kids' AKA adults can also have a Merry Christmas with their kind of toys. 

And the best place to get the best toys at the best prices? Is none other than the 7th Christmas Toy fair! Which is organized by Collectibles Unlimited Association. You can check out their Facebook page here

For the employed it is a great place to finish...err...spend your 13th month pay and for the students it is a great place to spend your early pamasko from Ninong and Ninang. ^__^ 

I'll be honest with you, I'm just really a newbie when it comes to collecting toys (Wait! Don't close the window!) You might be thinking on what authority then do I have to start blogging about events like this? Well (hear me out) even if I am still a beginner when it comes to collecting toys it doesn't mean that my love for them (anime and the geek genres) is anything but new. 

So I've recently just started collecting toys and figures and I bought a couple during the Christmas Toy Fair. As usual, Paul and I came from work so we were pretty much done for the day. 

Monday, December 17, 2012

Alfhie & Kat. 12.15.2012

Love is in the air. 
Last December 15, 2012 our very good College friends Alfhie and Kat got married for the second time. Isn't there a saying that goes that 'love is the sweeter the second time around?' I guess the same can be said about weddings. Especially if you will be marrying the same person. ^__^

We were guests at the wedding so there was no pressure about taking photos. Actually we were a bit late to the ceremony since we came from our department's Christmas party. Unfortunately we also had to pull a 'eat-and-run' routine during the reception since Paul still had work in the evening. 

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Photo Insight:Lights

In case you guys are wondering - this is Paul writing (for a change) I thought to myself that most(if not all) our blog posts doesn't have much information on how the photos were taken. 

So I think I'll start my 'how to' section with this post, and call blog posts focusing on Photography 'Photo Insight'.  I'll put in what I did on the photo(before shot, EXIF data, and what was used) I'll critique my work and you can join in on this as well (be gentle please). 

The lighted path.
Lights and greenery - Louisse Private Resort
ISO 100, 15 sec, f/9 at 18mm




Back story:  My wife's co-workers were planning to go out and have an overnight stay some place out of town.  The original plan was a road trip to Cavite.  When my wife caught the news, she suggested a resort that they already stayed in and it was in Taytay, an hour drive from Eastwood, Quezon City.  They agreed and arranged an impromptu get together since they didn't have to report for work for the long weekend. (Thanksgiving Weekend)  And that is the reason why we came to Louisse Private Resort - to P-A-R-T-Y!

Working in low light situation has always been difficult for people who would like to get a decent photo.  You'll either get a blurry shot, or will be needing some flash.  

The question arises: What if you don't want to use your flash and prefer to use natural light? 

PREVIEW: Ica behind the Lens Tagaytay Part 2


It can't be helped but there are times when Paul is not with me on trips and I have to be the one to bring the camera and take pictures. 

For some time now, Paul has been teaching me how to take photos but of course he really is the photographer between the two of us. Of course it helps if I know a few principles in taking photos. 

Last December 1, 2012 we took a few guests on a trip to Tagaytay after work (if you notice in the blog) we were also there a few weeks before but during this trip we were lucky enough to be able to watch a cultural dance troupe who performed cultural dances while we were having our lunch at Taal Vista Hotel. 

Of course our guests (one American and another German) were thrilled to be able to witness dances all over the Philippines- the courtship dances from the mountains, to the Spanish inspired dances of Manila, to the graceful movements of the dances from Mindanao to the heart stopping national dance-Tinikling. 

Here are some of the photos I was able to take of the dances. It was against the light so I decided to shoot with monochrome colors. It was a great photography experience for me. I was also the one who did the post-process in the photos. :) 

Since this is just a preview of the photos, here are just a few of what I have been able to finish. :) 

Are the photos worthy to have the PCheng Photography watermark? ^___^




Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Movie Musings: My thoughts on the Rurouni Kenshin (Live Action) Movie

Caution: Contains spoilers and Anime comparisons 



One of the first promotional material for the movie. From the movie's Facebook page

This is more than just a movie review since I will not only be talking about the movie itself but I will also be blogging about how a decades old hero still has a presence years after his ideals and principles touched the lives of a generation of  children who have now grown into adulthood.

All in all I could sum up my Rurouni Kenshin (Live Action) Movie experience in the words of my sister 'It was my childhood coming to life'. 

Creator Nobuhiro Watsuki wrote and illustrated the manga in 1994 and it ran until 1999. An anime series was developed and was shown from 1996 to 1998. The series was not only a big hit in its' native Japan but in other countries as well. It is one of the most recognized anime titles all over the world. 





3 Mediums of Himura: The reluctant assassin. Haunted by his past, Himura seeks to atone for his sins by wielding a reverse-edged sword to help people in need. He has graced pages of a well loved manga, appeared in a well accepted anime series and is now alive on the big screen and fans have followed him no matter what medium he is featured on. 


Source. Posted on the movie's Facebook page

More than a decade after the manga was released, news of a live movie production took the Otaku world by storm. 20-30 year old fans of the series were very vocal about their excitement to see their beloved samurai slash his way on the big screen. 

Promotional material from the movie. Source: Rurouni Kenshin the Movie Facebook page.
FROM ANIME TO MOVIE: Fans have been raving about the spot-on casting of the characters. From Satou Takeru playing the legendary assassin (sometimes clueless) Kenshin Himura to Kikkawa Kouji playing creepy villain Udou Jin'e. (Yes he did lick his sword like that). 
Promotional material from the movie. Source: Rurouni Kenshin the Movie Facebook page.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Isay's 20th Birthday/Post Process Fun



I've recently discovered the joy of post processing photos.Sometimes other people hold on to our cameras and take photos. So when we get the camera back there are so many photos to choose from :p 

Paul has been trying to teach me how to take photos with his good old Canon 500D, but I haven't really caught on to the lessons, especially when it comes to the settings. (My mind goes blank when numbers are involved.) What with the F stop, shutter speed, ISO and so much more. 

It's always been a struggle for me to follow and navigate through the settings. That's why I've always had a more behind-the-scenes contribution when it comes to Paul's shoots. There are times when I am a secondary photographer to Paul and I just lucky and get good shots during those times. 

At least with my new found joy of post processing I have another contribution to the photos that we enjoy sharing with you guys. So here are some of the photos I've post-processed recently. 

My sister had her birthday last October 30, (yeah these photos are already late in the post-process and uploading). So the friends of my sister just went trigger happy with our camera and here are some of the photos that I also post-processed. 





Paul uses Adobe Lightroom when he edits his photos. So I've also been learning how to use it also. Another application we use is Pixlr.com which is basically a site which allows you to put your photos in a collage and to also add borders/text and other images.