The Fourth Is Now With Us

October 8, Saturday

Ateneo Campus,  Loyola Heights

Fireworks and Friendly Faces

{The Beauty [and challenge] of Manual Photography and Using Available Light }

- Pictures are RANDOMLY arranged -

As a journalist I never alter my photos.
[ I don't even have Adobe installed in my computers]

I do tweak [enhance] them - contrast, hue, midtones, cropping -
[but that's about it] using only Windows Picture Manager [comes with Office].

No filters nor flash here, just technique [diskarte].

 

 --- The Fourth Is Now With Us ---
Gotta See It To Believe It.

--- A Kiss is a Kiss is a Kiss ---
Sam YG gets one from Jaz.

I heard Nike sponsored the whole set up [ lights, audio and all] for the night.

--- Payong Kaibigan ---

--- Angelica, Sandra , and Momo [Monique] ---

--- Death First ---

Did I get that right ?  Congrats  to the Badminton Team !

--- Rookie of the Year ---

--- The Big Fella ---

--- The First and Second placers on Wet T-Shirt contest ---
Yup, there were only two contestants.

--- Take Three ---

This is the third photo of these two High Schoolers in my blog.

These girls have their posse photo [taken at the Araneta]

[they were a fivesome]  posted on my Finals Game 1 blog entry.

 --- The Man of Few Words, Emman Monfort, utters a final few ---

 I remember, as clear as though it was just yesterday, Kirk's first two field goal attempts as a rookie [It was vs DLS, Season 70, July, 2007] which were

air balls.  I also remember how the DLS gallery mockingly jeered those misses.

 It has been a Long 5 years Kirk -- You've persevered and performed, probably way beyond your potential -- And you did get the Biggest Laugh in the last four where you won the Gold for the Blue and White.

Team Ateneo had Faith in you from the very start --

As the whole Ateneo Community did, and still do, now that you're moving on.

 The Finals MVP, Nico Salva, makes a BOLD Promise.

Slaughter Man Greg, for Salva's promise to come true you need suit up again next Season 75 !!

_____

That October evening, I managed to find a spot on the platform where the audio and lighting people were set up.  'Twas just too damn crowded everywhere else.  Even nearly fell.  On the platform, there was barely enough space too, [as expected] since there were a couple of kids and two photogs, Arvin Lim and a lady photog.  The drizzle was a real bummer, umbrellas were cropping up everywhere, obstructing the view of the stage. Managable enough, I thought, at least I brought my telephoto lens.

Then, I thought -- two kids crowding my front -- why not ask them to turn and face me ? -- got my wide angle lens -- 2 Clicks -- Presto ! -- My first two real good photos of the night ! 

Thing is,  absolutely LOVE crafting images like this. What might seem as a lucky, even random shot is really a smartly executed ad-hoc portrait of two 3rd Graders.  Their names are Lucas and [damn, forgot his nickname !]. 

Absolutely no flash here - Tent lighting bright enough [fortunately],

backlighting spilling from the stage area even brighter [great !!].

Yup, the Force [Meralco] was definitely with me that night.

Then I turned and photographed the other kids

behind me. Maybe not as cool as the

Lucas and friend photo -  but good enough for me.

--- Nathan ---

Nathan may not grow as tall as Greg Slaughter but

if if learns to play as well as Kiefer Ravena, [and enroll at Ateneo]

he just might end up being cheered as a champion on the

 Bigger Stage someday.

Who knows.


--- Now, come the bigger kids ---

---Two exceptions to my rule ---
Photo above and below were taken with flash

I absolutely HATE having to use flash, BUT certain situations warrant it.

On my way to the Ateneo Grade School Grounds, this is the first group of Ateneans I photographed.  They were hanging out [drinking up] some distance from the parking lot where most people were.

Below are Rick Olivares and Ryan Buenafe [last Season 73's Finals MVP] 

with some friends. Buenafe is not as overweight as some people 

have obviously exaggerated.  He looks very trim.

Are you eyeing a Five-Peat, Ryan ?

--- And now, back to regular available light photography ---

--- Benjo ---

--- Ang Sarap Maging Atenista ---

Ateneo de Manila Director for Alumni Relations, Romy Dalandan

with colleague Marko Caluag.

On my way out with Rick, bumped into
Gwynn, Von, Tonito, Bacod, and BJ and took my last photo .
Good Times !!!

I want to cap this entry with a wholesome
image of these two 3rd Graders.

Future Blue Eagle Champions ?
Why Not ?

brosi gonzales

P.S.

There are no repeated postings of the same photo in this blog entry, as what might appear to be, at first glance.  When shooting some of the group photos,  my camera was on motor drive.

All JPEGs in this entry, as in ALL my entries, are compressed files.  My raw JPEGs go as high as 

8.50 MB in size, which are impractical to post.

I used a low-end Nikon and a high-end Canon digital SLR that evening.

Powerade vs Shopinas & Petron vs B-Meg

October 5, Wednesday

Cuneta Astrodome

As I entered the Cuneta Astrodome last Wednesday, I was eager to see how good the lighting was.  Yup, it was like they said it was - good.  But aside from that -- the general condition of the  place, the poor architectural layout, the clearance between the rows of chairs, not to mention their dilapidated condition, [one had to be a skinny 80 pounds, probably, to negotiate going to one's seat], the players' dugout, the parking area access, but most of all -- the semblance, if any, of proper security - for the players and for the patrons alike -- just plain HORRIBLE.  Ibang klase talaga.

But since I came there to photograph the match - the abundance of light was my foremost concern.

Here are some match photos from Powerade's win over Shopinas, and that of Petron's over B-Meg.

Powerade-98    Shopinas-87

Elmer Espiritu elevates and pumps.

Marcio Lassiter evades Espiritu.

Rudy Lingganay doesn't score that much, 6 points,

 but does a good job manning the point.

Gary David's 31 points makes him match MVP.

Petron-73    B-Meg-69

Rey Guevarra tries to go baseline.

Chris Lutz with a gutsy drive.

This is definitely not a shining moment for Arwind Santos.

Neither is this. [Arwind misses an unmolested shot]

[That's more like it, Arwind]

Santos blocks a Raymundo drive.

Danny Ildefonso outhustles Mark Barroca in this sequence.

Alex Cabagnot proves steady on the clutch, particularly in the 4th Quarter.

brosi gonzales

Urban Landscape - Lee Pipes

The Lee Pipes Ad

A good five minutes away from where I stay [South Bay Gardens] in the Sucat area is the American Apparel main office [located on the West Service Road] in Metro Manila.  This outfit produces Jag, Von Dutch, and Lee Jeans products, among others.  Within the premises of AA is a huge "billboard structure", for lack of a better description [actually nowadays billboards are obsolete, huge tarpaulins, or large format ads are the norm].

Taken with a wide angle lens.



On this structure, AA paces their ads, changing their tarps occasionally [every couple of weeks] to showcase the different brands they produce.  My favorite AA tarp was the Lee Pipes ad, which was displayed several months ago. I simply found it so hot, meaning so cool - that I had to photograph it using a telephoto lens and a wide angle lens.  Used the JPEG as a wallpaper for a while.  At present, there is a JAG ad on display, but it can't compare with the impact this Lee Pipes image had on me.

Taken with a telephoto lens.

brosi gonzales

My First PBA Shoot



October 2, Sunday

Araneta Coliseum

I shot my first ever PBA Opening and Match last Sunday, barely 24 hour after I covered the 4-peat Championship by the Blue Eagles, on the very same hardcourt.  Except for Sel Guevara, Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Nonoy Baclao, I practically don't know anyone from the PBA [of course I know the photogs from the dailies, because they cover the UAAP too].

Yes, I'm covering the PBA officially for Mr. O, my boss - meaning the first order of the day for me is to produce images tailored for his requirements, and for him to use at his discretion.  But, as far as this blog is concerned, the context will be that from the point of view of a "curious onlooker on the inside", for lack of a better description.  It won't be a game recap sort of thing, though I'll put in a few basic stats an updates.  It's just that, a dairy of sorts, an online journal [isn't that the basic definition of a blog?].

Whilst "working", I'll strive to IMPROVE my sports photojourn skills, make a few friends, network, have a few laughs, and enjoy the PBA.

--- The Commissioner ---

Mr. Chito Salud

--- Old Blood ---

Hall of Famer Alvin Patrimonio acknowledges.

--- New Blood ---

Rookie Paul Lee attacks.

Lee made an impressive debut, leading all scorers with 21, in Rain Or Shine's
opening day win over the Ginebra Gin Kings [94-93].
Intal and Caguioa led the Gin Kings with 16 pts. each.
The match was headed into overtime but JC missed a free throw,
with a second left in the game.

brosi gonzales

UAAP Basketball To Move To MOA

 

October 1, Saturday

 

If The Plexiglass Could Only Talk

After several years [a decade +?] having the Araneta Coliseum as home,the UAAP Basketball Games is set to move over to MOA's [spanking new] Arena next SY 2012-2013 - UAAP's Season 75.

I started covering UAAP Sports last Jan., 2009 [UAAP Football] and have eventually shot UAAP Volleyball, Beach Volleyball, Softball, Fencing, and Table Tennis, Taekwando, and Basketball [spread across venues like the Araneta, the Arena in San Juan, the Philsports Arena, the Ateneo Football Fields, the Blue Eagle Gym, and the UP Softball Field] since.  Being witness to the Blue Eagles' 3-Peat and 4-peat Basketball Championships was really something, considering I was present in all the game dates [except for 1] - doing what I do best -
taking photos -- and making acquiantances, friends, and memories along the way.

My 2 UAAP Basketball Seasons in Araneta, were relatively short, but I knew that I would miss the ever so colorful UAAP crowd in the Araneta Coliseum setting.

So, before proceeding to the dugouts, [after the last Ateneo players trickled out after the 4-peat frenzy] I took a photo of the South Goal, with a strand or two of the nylon net hanging and a REFLECTION of the small crowd on the backboard, and the 24 second clock [off] on top.

 [I knew I'd be back the next day to shoot the PBA, but I knew it would be a totally different crowd  -- and chapter of my career]

--- Reflections On Plexiglass ---

Gotta Move On

brosi gonzales

Last Day - UAAP Basketball

October 2, Sunday

The Arena, San Juan

Moments After and Moments Before

--- Tamaraws Take the Trophy Away From the Falcons ---

--- Moments After ---

After two years of heartbreak, losing finalists to the Adamson Lady Falcons on both occasions,  the FEU Lady Tamaraws finally bring it home --

---> the UAAP Ladies Basketball Championsip.

It couldn't have been more dramatic, down 0-1, the Morayta Belles

won two straight convincing wins over the formidable Lady Falcons.

--- Moments Before ---

Right after the FEU win over Adamson, the NU Bullpups had already been

psyching themselves up - I made sure, I snapped an image or two of the Bullpups [who were just a win away from their FIRST ever Championship]

[I had so wanted to witness it] before I left The Arena.

Gave a few brief words of encouragement and luck to NU Bullpup

Big Man Paolo Rivero before rushing to Araneta to

officially cover the PBA Opening Day ceremonies and Match.

Told him to visit this blog [I had featured NU's two victories over DLSU, their defeat at Game 1 by the Tamaraws, and their triumph over the same Tamaraws to arrange a Winner-Take-All Championship Game vs FEU].

brosi gonzales