Withered

There are days that you just feel like this flower...withered and wilted. There may be so many things going on at one point: decisions to make, social obligations to attend, or deadlines to meet. No worries, these too will pass. Not for long, it will be another day and as each dawn breaks, it will be a chance for another "bloom-filled" day. 

Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil

If everyone hears no evils, sees no evil, and speaks no evil...it's utopia, right? 

But I wonder if it is as much fun and challenging as the world we live in now. 

One thing is certain though, it doesn't have to be Thomas Moore's Utopia,

we need this world to be a "good place" for everyone 

so we can all live harmoniously and in peace.

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Darn, this post sounds like a beauty pageant question and answer portion. :-( Anyways, i do mean what I said sans the pageant-like tone of it.

Weeds

I received a message from a cousin that goes, 

"Certain things may catch your eyes..."

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"but pursue only those that capture your heart."

The land and seascape in the background is one of the famous spots in Southern Cebu. The place evokes a serene and calm atmosphere, very provincial, and the scenery is just beautiful. This place is most often photographed by town visitors or tourists passing by on their way to other famous attractions in the South. In fact, a couple of years ago, I took a picture of the same spot, but this time around I want it to be different because I know that there is something else about the place that adds to its mystic. Then, I find these weeds flourishing by the cliff (yes, just a step away from where I took the shot is already a cliff and it's a hundred or more yards down below). The weeds' resilient glory and an all day vantage point to a wonderful view, which made me jealous, captured my heart and propelled me to take the image.
 

Flowers from Heaven

It had been a very busy schedule for the past several weeks. It was a whirlwind of activities every weekend. The body could just take in as much before it would break; it's about time to answer the call to BE STILL. 

One should from time to time pause from all the frenzied activities, you'll be amaze at the beauty in your surroundings. You don't have to go far by traveling to different places, learn to embrace and see the beauty which is staring right back at you. 

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Beauty...

It is not a mouth thirsting nor an empty hand stretched forth,

But rather a heart enflamed and a soul enchanted.

It is not the image you would see nor the song you would hear,

But rather an image you see though you close your eyes and a song you hear though you shut your ears.

It is not the sap within the furrowed bark, nor a wing attached to a claw,

But rather a garden forever in bloom and a flock of angels for ever in flight.

-The Prophet, Kahlil Gibran

Be Still

After a long day of catching the sunrise, shooting water/coastal/sea/landscapes, and chasing the sunset...it's about time to be still and be quite.

I am grateful for the safe trip and wonderful experience with other photo enthusiasts. I learn a couple of things from fellow photographers and from my own mistakes as well. I realize that capturing images is a constant learning experience or perhaps from my standpoint as a newbie. There are still many things to learn and develop. I look forward to more photo shoots with pepper.

*pepper is my camera's name. I'm just weird like that, I sometimes name my stuff.

Enchanting Kawasan

The discovery of nature's beautiful phenomena, the waterfalls, has given us nature lovers the pleasure to enjoy its beauty. The soothing sound and cool cascading waters, lure us to take a dip, swim, and get as close as we can with what it can offer. 

Trekking to Cebu's waterfalls, the Kawasan and Mantayupan falls, is a welcome escape from the sweltering heat in the city. In my opinion the waterfalls offers a much better reprieve from a hot day than the beach. Of course, it's less sunburn and far more relaxing just by listening to the melody of the running water, the chirping birds, and the hushing breeze. 

The image is of the Kawasan Falls at Badian, Cebu. It's approximately 2 to 4 hours away from Cebu City. A private vehicle or for hire is suggested especially if you are from an out of town. It takes 30 minutes trek from the highway to the first level, but no worries because once you get to the spot, your tired feet will certainly be soothed by the ice cool waters. It's best to go there early morning so you'll have enough time to trek the upper two levels. Be sure to be ready with your camera and be aware of your surroundings during the walk because there's just so much more to be awed on the way to the waterfalls. The river, the path, the wild chickens and flowers, the canopy of trees, the vibrant foliage, all form part of the Kawasan Falls charm. 

Weaving a Story

I admire the men and women behind the lenses who can portray the images that they want others to see or evoke emotions from the viewer. I can spend hours and hours of scanning photo images. Images amaze and mesmerize me. Landscape, seascape, and cityscape photos transport me to places I have never been anywhere in the world. Portraits, real people, real life, random street photos illicit within me the emotions of pity, sadness, happiness, and more. Food photos make me hungry and make my palate wanting to try them all. Most of all, I love images that tell a story. 

I am no master story-teller and since I can relate with beautiful images, I hope to convey what I see using photos. After a long walk from the ferry building to Ghirardelli square, a vast expanse of green sloping meadows that overlook the bay was very enticing for a sit down. While relaxing my tired feet on the meadow, a child with a traditional Asian umbrella caught my eye. She looked so cute twirling and playing with the umbrella. It was a good thing that I had the camera out from my bag and ready for a shot. She was oblivious to her surroundings while she got busy with her umbrella. I could tell she was having fun. 

Of course, since I love images, I love cameras too and a giveaway from Twisted Halo is something that I covet. Check out her blog at Eternal Sunshine.