Blue Moon

It's a blue moon, literally! Taken under 3200 Kelvin settings, 1/125 exposure, F22. The stars, I only put those up as it was a cloudy night at that time. Now, make a wish.. =D

White Christmas

It was a perfect timing that just before sundown, I decided to get some groceries and found this lovely weather in front of me. It was -13 with mild windchill, however, that didn't stop me to appreciate the captivating hoar frost. Such a sight to behold in this land of snow. Merry White Christmas everyone!!!

Cloudscape

One sunny winter afternoon, the clouds brought themselves to my attention.

Christmas Three

Merry Christmas from this side of the world. =))

This is the best shot I could make for the holidays out of this overwhelmingly cold weather. Three evergreen trees taken in the middle of the night. There is some hoar frost present but because of the lack of natural light, it is not so obvious. Taken with 30 seconds exposure, f9, with a kelvin temp 3200. Outside temperature -16C.

What You Slept Through (Umbra)

As most of the people snugged into bed in the predawn of December 21st, the full moon escapes earth's shadow, as if emerging from a mist-blanketed lake. And unlike any other total lunar eclipse in 372 years, last night's lunar eclipse coincided with the winter solstice.

This is the beginning of the partial eclipse, the earth's umbra touches the outer limb of the moon. The pace quickens and the change is dramatic. The umbra is much darker than the penumbra and fairly sharp-edged.

Bohol City Landscape (Chocolate Hills)

The Chocolate Hills of Bohol Philippines is Nature's expression of beauty, mystery and romance. Chocolate Hils is one of Philippines natural monument. Bohol Philippines' Chocolate Hills is also considered as one of the eight wonder of the world and it has been declared as the country's 3rd National Geological Monument and proposed for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The Chocolate Hills are consistent in their cone shape and size and estimates show that the number of hills reaches at least 1,260 but may be as many as 1,776. The Chocolate Hills encompasse a 20 square mile (50 sq km) area creating a sea or rolling terrain of these haycock hills.

The height of the hills varies from 98 to 160 feet (30 to 50 m) with the largest hill reaching a peak of 390 feet (120 m). The Chocolate Hills are actually grass covered limestone, but during the dry season the grass dries up turning brown which is where the name is derived from. The dried up brown hills look like a sea of "chocolate kisses."

What You Slept Through (Penumbra)

At 12 midnight last night, my friend and I got crazy and drove 5km north, pulled over to an empty space to watch the Lunar Eclipse. Despite the -16 temperature and the cloudy state, it never stopped us from staying in and out of the car for few hours.

Today is the winter solstice and the first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. It's all due to Earth's tilt, which ensures that the shortest day of every year falls around December 21. 

During the winter solstice the sun hugs closer to the horizon than at any other time during the year, yielding the least amount of daylight annually. On the bright side, the day after the winter solstice marks the beginning of lengthening days leading up to the summer solstice.

Coinciding with the winter solstice for the first time since 1638, the December 21, 2010, lunar eclipse was anything but ordinary.

Around 0030 (Central Standard Time), the moon began going slightly shady, marking the arrival of Earth's faint outer shadow, or penumbra.

The penumbra (from the Latin paene "almost, nearly" and umbra "shadow") is the region in which only a portion of the light source is obscured by the occluding body. An observer in the penumbra experiences a partial eclipse.

The Black and White of Hoar Frost

The first time I saw hoar frost was when we were driving down to Esterhazy. It was magical and always had been. Winter is such a beautiful season, but hoar frost is enchanting. =)

Hoar frost refers to the white ice crystals, loosely deposited on the ground or exposed objects, that form on cold clear nights when heat losses into the open skies cause objects to become colder than the surrounding air. 

Such beauty don't come everyday, thus, this shot was taken under a difficult circumstances. Temperature -16, taken at around 12:30am, F8, 30 seconds exposure time.

Pink Sunset

Offering you pink sunset for a change. =)

It was unintentional, but when I post-processed it, it came out this way. A scenery of such beautiful horizon.

Photography 2010 - Philippines

A collection of my Photography Images taken in the Philippines for this year 2010. I am so missing home.. Enjoy! =)

Magellan's Cross

Close to 500 years ago, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan planted a huge Christian cross in Sugbu (now Cebu) to celebrate the baptism into the Roman Catholic religion of island chief Rajah Humabon, his wife, and some 500 of their followers on April 21, 1521.

The 485-year-old cross, called Magellan’s Cross, now stands at a small chapel located across Cebu City Hall and along Magallanes Street. The street is named after Magellan, Magallanes being the Spanish translation of the Portuguese explorer’s name.

A sign below the cross says the original Magellan’s Cross is encased in the tindalo wood cross displayed in the center of the chapel. This is to protect it from people who chipped away parts of the cross believing it has miraculous powers or as souvenirs. Some, however, say that the original cross planted by Magellan was destroyed or lost and what stands there now is a replacement planted by Spaniards who came after the Portuguese explorer.

Magellan was killed on April 27, 1521 in what is now known as the Battle of Mactan. The Portuguese explorer died when his men fought Mactan natives led by the island’s chieftain, Lapu-Lapu.

Disaster turned Paradise

As you behold the crater of Mt. Pinatubo, after a two-hour walk, you will be filled with awe. It will be - and this is not an exaggeration - sensory overload, for who would imagine seeing glacier-like barren brown peaks with white smoke effusing up, in the background of a crater lake that was in itself enchanting? It was truly an awesome sight to behold.

That epiphany will just be the culmination of wonders, in an action-packed expedition to world-famous volcano, whose eruption brought forth a desolate landscape that can aptly be described as 'out of this world'. The 45-minute 4x4 drive to the foot of the mountain from Capas, Tarlac, is exhilirating; you will feel as if you were on a Disneyland ride in real life, as the 4x4 jeep crosses varicolored streams and an endless plain of volcanic sand. The two-hour trek that will ensue will take you to more volcanic formations; streams varied in color, depending on the minerals: there was ferrous red, sulfuric yellow, and algal green; there are cliffs of lahar that precariously stand tall against the remnants of a once tall (1,700+ MASL) mountain. The destructive force of the eruption is manifest wherever you would look. And finally, after arriving at the crater, after beholding the incredible sight, you could swim across the crater, and treat your way in the murky, reddish, mildly sulfuric water.

HERE'S A CLOSER LOOK TO THE CRATER LAKE.

White Stuff

It's famous in Canada =)

Yellow Mums

Some flower shots taken from Parkland Greenhouse in Yorkton last May. =)

Ukrainian Park

One of the settlers in Canada were the people of Ukraine, thus, the Ukrainian Park was created. Taken one block away from home. =)

Snowbank

A pristine snow marred by time.

Falling Winter

Winter is the coldest season of the year in temperate climate between autumn and spring. This year, it is not officially winter until December 21, 2010. Believe it or not. =)

Though it was -32 at this time, with a bunch of snow, the touch of fall is still visible. So a better name to call this time of the year is, falling winter. =)

Winter 2010

Marking the start of my winter shooting escapade. Good luck to that. =)

Pros: It's cold and you wouldn't smell like "sunshine" regardless of the time you spent outdoor.

Cons: It's too cold I'm finding it hard to wake up, get ready, and walk out the door. Nonetheless, click the shutter.

There's not much to shoot, everything's white and you have to be more creative.

Subject: A tree that was standing beside the driveway. =)

Sailing

A typical view in every small provinces in the Philippines, after a whole day of sailing, fishermen are now ready to succumb to ending the day with their family. A simple and yet complete life. I miss this!!! =)

Daylight

A promise of tomorrow.

Subconscious

Ten long years have passed and yet you never left my subconscious mind. 

In deep sleep, you came and hold my hand again. 

Far away, I hear you calling my name.. 

My heart never seemed to forget you, 

      though I tried to bury your memory down the lane.

I might still be searching for forever, because deep within

      it's still you, and you again.

This could be all but just a dream.

Maybe we are to dream..

Or maybe we're meant to be.

One in a Million

There is always that one in a million, who will stand out amongst the rest. And then you'll forget about everything else. =)

A Day of Fairy Tale

A castle-like view of the famous city of Banff from the top of the Sulphur Mountain. A day of Fairy Tale. =D