{ Pa RhettRhatto }

In Loving Memory Of Mommy Dulce

2012-02-15T19:46:00.000-08:00

LET GO and LET GOD

You have suffered Mommy long enough,

You were brave strong and tough.

The battle you fought was long and hard,

But it’s okay Mommy let go and let God.

It has hurt all of us when you left that day,

It left me broken hearted with nothing to say.

I don’t want to be selfish say please don’t leave,

Because I did not want to hurt or grieve.

I know in my heart you are in a better place,

But I swear im going to miss your beautiful face.

I am going to miss the talks we would have,

And the stories I would tell that would make you laugh.

God just needed you to come home,

Yes we know it has made your family sore.

You will always be remembered every single day,

From the smile on your face to the things you would say.

You have taken your space in heaven right where you belong,

Right up there with Daddy Pedro, Mama Terang and Tatay Periong.

Yes we all know that we need to be strong,

But through our family your memory will live on.

You don’t need to fight anymore just let go and let God,

While you were here on earth you did your job.

You did your part to keep family together,

That’s why you will remain in our hearts always and forever.

Untitled from Rhett Villahermosa on Vimeo.

Sinulog 2012 - Maryland Edition - Pit Senyor!

2012-01-17T08:29:00.000-08:00

I believe these Ladies and Girls deserve a post on my blog.. and I am doing it as a gesture of my appreciation for their wonderful job. They did a traditional Sinulog dance offering over the weekend at St. Mary's Church Sinulog 2012 Festival to honor Senyor Santo Niño.

Ladies and Girls, YOU DID A GREAT JOB!!! Congratulations!

This is the result of just a week of preparation. :o)
Thanks to Jason for the video.

Christmas Pa-Picture

2011-12-26T12:34:00.000-08:00

Made a quick photo shoot with the D and C family.. :o)

Candled Images..

2011-12-12T13:16:00.001-08:00

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-28T09:25:00.001-08:00

Little Ladies In Red

2011-11-19T18:41:00.001-08:00

I spent the afternoon doing photo session with Chelsea and Marielle. I've been wanting to do a shoot right on this street. It is more like a private road leading to a middle school, so traffic is not heavy, less distraction and the kids can simply be themselves.

Pasko 2011

2011-11-08T07:37:00.000-08:00

How time flies. It's that time of the year again when you take out boxes and boxes of Christmas decors.

Halloween 2011

2011-11-01T18:49:00.000-07:00

Autumn 2011 with Chelsea

2011-10-24T19:25:00.000-07:00

Finally, after being so silent for almost a couple of months, an update to my blog.. been feeling lazy taking pictures lately. Fall is my favorite season. This weekend, me and my daughter took some fall pictures..

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina - second round

2011-08-18T21:15:00.000-07:00

This is our second year visiting Myrtle Beach and this year we did more activities - Medieval Times and Parasailing - in addition to our day at the beach and pool. Of course, our family friend, the 'T' family treated us with cheap hotel rates at Grande Dune.. and when I say cheap, I mean really really cheap. Thank you very much for the awesome company ang great memories. :o)

Powerful

2011-08-10T12:15:00.001-07:00

Canon 100mm/2.8L Macro

2011-07-30T12:41:00.000-07:00

I had the chance to test my cousin's new Canon 100mm/2.8L Macro lens. All I can say is wow. Though a little bit noisy, this lens is fast and deliver sharp image. It is not only good on macro shooting but also a good portrait lens.

Pinoy Food Porn

2011-07-09T10:03:00.001-07:00

This is what makes us feels like being home. Foods prepared with love by our parents. Foods we've grown up with. My daughter's favorite is Adobo, may it be pork or chicken.

Just Before The Storm { Nature Photography }

2011-07-03T15:14:00.000-07:00

So I went to the park with my daughter to ride a kayak. Just as we were about to pay, they posted a note saying that the lake ride will be close due to an incoming thunderstorm. Totally ruined my daughter's weekend adventure. After canceling our trip to West Virginia, now this.

So we decided to go deep into the woods for a quick walk. I snapped some pictures while looking for the trail. We never made it to the trail, my daughter decided to head home instead. I talked her out to drive to a farm near the park to take some pictures of the field. I was a week late, they harvested their crops already. I took what was left of it.

The 'N' Kids { Kids Photography }

2011-07-01T09:58:00.001-07:00

I had the opportunity to snap some pics of these great siblings - kids of my officemate and family friend. I called them the 'N' kids. We were at the party over the weekend and the kids were there too. The session was totally random, plenty of kids were at the party. It was pure luck that the 5 of them joined me and my daughter at the field just behind the place. For me it was best place to gather them all up and take some photos.

My Life, My Everything

2011-06-23T21:22:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about doing this family portrait since last year but never found a time, or should I say, never found an inspiration to do it. But lately, the thought of not having our own family portrait been bugging me. So I pulled all my gears and did a quick set up.. and... baaaamm!

First up is our only treasure.. Chelsea. Oh how time flies, seems like it was only yesterday when she started to walk.

.. and of course my ever loving wifey

.. my life, my everything ..

Summer Fun

2011-06-03T20:54:00.000-07:00

The summer heat has begun. Its time to have some fun under the sun!

The Performer

2011-06-03T06:44:00.000-07:00

Chelsea performing at their School Variety Show. I think she did very well. Watch out for the crowds reaction after her performance.. or is it just me being a proud parent.. :o)

Portraiture With Family And Friends

2011-05-31T21:21:00.000-07:00

I did some portrait shots with my cousins, nephew, Dinah's cousin and some of our friends while exploring this beautiful place in Niagara, Canada.

Riche + Ellen { Wedding }

2011-05-31T19:41:00.002-07:00

We took a weekend trip to Toronto, Ontario to attend the wedding of a very dear friend, Riche + Ellen. It was a civil wedding but the officiating judge made the ceremony a very solemn one. The couple were surrounded by their close family and friends. You can tell that a lot of planning went into the preparation since the reception look soooooo cool and the food were great. Even though I was not the official photographer, the couple were so kind to allow me to take some photos and even asked them to pose for me. We had a great time and loved working with Riche and Ellen. To you guys, all the best and good luck!!! So, enjoy!

Sugar and Spice - a day with the twins

2011-05-16T18:05:00.000-07:00

3 months ago, Rey and I did a pregnancy shoot with our friend. A week after the shoot she was confined to the hospital for 6 weeks to keep the babies close to full term as much as possible. The pregnancy surely was a difficult one. The babies came out about a month shy from being full and stayed for about a week in NICU.

And now, here they are... double the joy, double the fun.. C and Z, born 3 minutes apart..

Cousins

2011-05-02T17:19:00.000-07:00

After 5 long years, they finally got together again.

Baby Jaz, the youngest of them all...

Chelsea, Jairus, Jeremy and Andrea..

Spring Has Sprung - up close and personal

2011-04-09T11:21:00.000-07:00

Our neighborhood yields the beauty of spring time. A weekend walk proved to be a very good time to capture the colors of spring and that is just what I did. I spent about 15 minutes around our block and captured these beauties. I wanted to take pictures of them in an up close and personal way using my 50mm lens. The images are very stunning since we don't look at them this close everyday. Sometimes, we even just walk past by them. So presenting it this close is more dramatic.

Caitlyn's 7th Birthday Bash

2011-03-19T20:48:00.001-07:00

We attended Caitlyn's 7th Birthday Party. It was held at the 2nd floor of King Farm Community Center. You can tell that a lot of planning and effort were put into it by just looking at the decoration and set up. Good company, good food, good weather, what more can you ask for?.. Me, armed with my cam, was all over the place to take every details as much as possible. I can't let this party go by without me taking pics, just can't let it pass. Thanks to Mr. C for the invite. So, enjoy the images.

First Maternity Shoot

2011-02-23T09:38:00.000-08:00

Me, Rey and Jason did our very first pregnancy shoot. R and B were great couple and we loved working with them. Maam R is due in the next couple of months but her pregnancy is kinda unstable. She made an emergency trip to the L&D because their babies just can't wait to come out - yup, you heared me right, babies.. they are having twins!.. She was stabilized and was told to get a good rest. We've decided then to have the photo shoot. It took some time for all of us to get comfortable of what we were doing. Eventually, it went well after some short warm up shots. A lot of lessons learned and challenges conquered.

Spring Session

2011-02-16T08:14:00.000-08:00

Spring is just around the corner and what a beautiful season to have your family or children photo session. I love the outdoors and I like taking images using natural light. I am going to raise the ante on my photography this year. I will now accept limited spring photo session at a discounted rate. Drop me an email to book your Spring Photo Session at 'rgvillahermosa at gmail dot com'.

My Daughter's Valentine Project

2011-02-12T14:13:00.000-08:00

On Monday, their school will be celebrating Valentine's Day with a party and will have the opportunity to pass out any Valentine presents. We decided to make a garden of hearts, a lollipop turned into a flower.

by RAM

2011-02-11T09:25:00.000-08:00

A video created by my cousin in San Diego. I will create a separate vlog for his works in the next couple of weeks. Will post the link here on my blog. Do watch out for it!

Orchestrated

2011-02-07T09:38:00.000-08:00

My daughter joined their school music club and chose violin as her instrument. She is still learning the basics as you can see the way she is holding the violin. I asked her to play it while I took pictures (of course). She started rocking the bow and played basic notes. I processed the image with some of my preset collection.

Hugs and Kisses

2011-02-05T10:22:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking about this idea for a week now and what a perfect weekend to put them into action. I even have a project ready for my daughter's school Valentine project. She always ask me to buy something for her classmates and friends. I prefer the hand-made one and make it a parent-daughter project. Today is not about her project yet (another posting will be created just for that, so you better watch out for it) - it is just stringing my ideas together.. literally.. and more.

over and over and over again

2011-02-04T19:07:00.000-08:00

I went back to basic and decided to learn photography all over again. One good source that I always flip to refresh is the book authored by one of the best in the field - Joe McNally's The Hot Shoe Diaries - it's not a manual but rather the bolts and nuts of his work. Too detailed, he even included diagrams of the setup.

Okay, this is not in the book but I was so driven by it that I have to take some pictures. With led flashlight and Joe's 'bible'... here it is!

Oh Spring

2011-02-04T07:27:00.000-08:00

Really, winter is the most uncolorful season for me. Can't stand wearing 3 to 4 layers of garments everytime you step out of your house with temperatures in mid 20's. Oh Spring, come early!

Snow Day 2011

2011-01-27T12:25:00.000-08:00

First major snow storm for 2011. The road was tricky on my way home last night just as the storm was at it's strongest. Got stuck for 40 minutes along a major road. Can't complain, everybody want's to reach home and I am just a couple of blocks away from home. To add insult to injury, power went out for 15 hours. The night was super cold but has not match for layers and layers of thermal blankets. My back is now hurting from clearing the snow. But a hot cocoa is always a nice treat during cold stormy days.

Here are some pics the morning after.

Words to ponder on

2011-01-19T08:35:00.000-08:00

Here are some food-for-the-soul that I wanted to share with you. We learn life's lesson through experience and watching others go through it. It amazes me how other people walk through fire without burning and walking along a thin rope without falling.

‎"Remind yourself that the gear you can’t afford is not the barrier keeping you from success. Gear has very little to do with photography." - Chase Jarvis

- - - -

‎"The days of our lives, for all of us, are numbered. We know that. And, yes, there are certainly times when we aren't able to muster as much strength and patience as we would like. It's called being human," - Elizabeth Edwards

- - - -

‎"We are all broken in some way, but we are also gifted in some way,"

- - - -

"‎.. just wait until you are at the receiving end, then you will see .."

- - - -

"tsk tsk tsk.. too much confidence .. beware!"

- - - -

"‎"Slow Down the Motor Drive - The rat-a-tat of the camera can make a person feel like they are at a firing range, or the target of an attack." - Alex Garcia

- - - -

".. maximize the ISO, got noise? get over it!"

- - - -

‎"Life is short, and therefore I will…[add your line here]" - inspired by David duChemin

- - - -

"Stop waiting for someone to take a chance on you. Do the work. And then show it to whomever’s got the keys to the kingdom." - Chase Jarvis

- - - -

"Don't go after something because it looks good on someone else's life,"

- - - -

"what's on your mind?"

- - - -

"kwaknit is kwaknit, its not rocket science"

- - - -

"beware and be aware"

- - - -

‎"It's important to remember that the equipment doesn't make a photographer. Don't expect the gear to do the heavy lifting." - photoshelter

- - - -

"To love doing this so much that you'll go through 1000 "no's" just to hear the one 'yes.'" - Joe McNally

- - - -

‎"Everyday there's a new bridge to cross"

- - - -

A Poke

2011-01-12T12:19:00.000-08:00

Have you checked your favorite photo sites today?

The adrenalin of launching the browser and pulling out my favorite photo sites is kind of my daily thrill. Seeing new images, reading their blogs, absorbing new tricks and ideas is what pushes me to do better on what I love doing - taking photographs. My list starts with Strobist, JoeyL, Chase Jarvis.. I can go on and on.. there are lots of great masters out there. What I like about these 3 masters are their unselfish, simple and easy-to-grasp way of sharing their knowledge.

So take some time to check your fave sites out. It's another way of learning from the masters - for FREE!

New Year's Eve PJ Party

2011-01-03T14:02:00.000-08:00

What a cool way to wait for the clock to strike 12 and celebrate the new year. Friends came and spent the whole evening sharing food and laughters. Happy New Year to all!

Let me know you dropped by. Leave your footprint at the comment area at the bottom of each post title.

OBX 2009

2010-12-28T09:22:00.000-08:00

This photos were taken back in 2009 during our summer-fun-with-friends at OBX - outer banks of North Carolina that is. I love the place and can't wait to visit it again. The image with kids is one of my favorite shot. Their smile reflects the fun we had at the beach and of course the company of family and friends.

Gingerbread House

2010-12-23T07:22:00.000-08:00

I never thought that making a gingerbread house is soooo much fun. My daughter has been waiting for this moment to create and decorate her house. We bought a gingy kit which has a prefab wall and roof, a powdered icing to be mixed with warm water, colored sweets and a piping kit. I hate to admit it but I loved the piping part. My little girl did all the decorating and coaching. I didn't want to miss the moment since it is the very first time we did this, so I took lots of photos during the process. Enjoy and have a very Merry Christmas!

The D family

2010-12-16T12:05:00.000-08:00

We needed some stock photos for our portfolio and so we decided to let the D family be the very first subject. Their beautiful kids, Mr. T and Ms. K is so much fun to work with. Thanks for posing for us guys!

Another quick and chilly session

2010-11-27T16:40:00.000-08:00

Today was kind of different. It was my daughter who wanted to do a photo shoot. Well, of course, I have to jump into action. Gathered my gears and braved the chilly 34 degrees temperature. The wind made the real feel below 30 degrees. But this kind of opportunity comes in every blue moon. It was around 4 pm when we started but the temperature was just too much that we only stayed out for about 15 minutes.

Giving Thanks on Thanksgiving Day

2010-11-26T08:51:00.000-08:00

For the very first time in ten years, we had a semi formal dining for Thanksgiving Day. Our friend Bryan and Rose, with Lola Lourdes joined us to celebrate the occasion. Of course, the dining set up will never be complete without me taking pictures of it.

D and J's Family at Myrtle Beach, SC

2010-11-24T13:00:00.000-08:00

We took the opportunity to do a family photo shoot during our summer trip to Myrtle Beach. It was D&J's turn to face the barrel of my camera. Here are some of the shots.

A little bit of lab work..

2010-11-22T09:19:00.000-08:00

Here you will see some lab work I did on the pictures we took last weekend.

Just Us

2010-11-21T16:23:00.000-08:00

A quick family photo session at a park near our place.

An afternoon fun with Miss M.

2010-11-20T14:38:00.001-08:00

Early Christmas Spirit

2010-11-14T16:04:00.000-08:00

The family decided to put up the tree earlier this year. We decorated our new 7-ft pre-lit Christmas tree with silver, gold and red ornaments. White poinsettia help break down view of small decors.

We will enjoy 2 months of Christmas in our house and we wish each and everyone a very Merry Christmas!!

Faces at Aaden's Baptism

2010-11-06T20:16:00.001-07:00

Aaden Robert's Christian Baptism

2010-11-06T17:25:00.000-07:00

This time, it's our dear friend, Edward and Joy's little tyke to be welcomed into the Christian world. Aaden was baptized at St. Mary's Church on November 6th. The proud parents together with their family and friends, gathered together to celebrate the momentous event.

Welcome to the Christian World - Jasmine's Baptism

2010-11-06T17:12:00.000-07:00

A very special event into the life of Baby Jasmine. On October 30th, she was finally welcomed into the Christian world.

Halloween at Plainville

2010-11-04T08:15:00.000-07:00

We traveled to CT over the weekend to attend my niece's, Jasmine Hope, baptism. Well, just right after the ceremony, we decided to do some photoshoot. There were still autumn leaves left and the vibrant colors of fall makes a beautiful backround. On deck of course were my niece Andrea, my daughter Chelsea and a their friend Elizabeth. Not to be outdone, jumped in my cousin from Canada, Inday Melette and a family friend Belle. Or so I thought that was it, came running my beautiful wife, Dinah.

Quick photo shoot

2010-10-26T16:06:00.001-07:00

The trees around our hood started to peak. We decided to take some pictures before all leaves will fall and leave us with just a bare trunk. A cast sky made the ambient more like hazy and a very dull background. The fall colors made the background popped and separated the elements well on the image. Enjoy!

Just another Fall 2010

2010-10-23T19:38:00.001-07:00

The weather was perfect to take Chelsea out for another Fall Photo Shoot while Dinah is taking her ACLS class. I invited Rey and his two kids, Troy and Kate to the session too.

Kate was so natural and loved being photographed. You will never hear her complain. Troy was kind of the opposite but always ready to pose and smile for the camera. Chelsea is used to being my guinea pig when it comes to photography.

Had a wonderful time at Needwood Park. Will surely do it again next year.

Fall of 2010

2010-10-16T19:01:00.000-07:00

unshaded

2010-09-09T10:46:00.000-07:00

Myrtle Beach, SC

2010-09-08T13:46:00.000-07:00

On her 9th Birthday..

2010-09-08T13:16:00.000-07:00

it's been 10 years ..

2010-07-26T08:17:00.001-07:00

An afternoon with Ylea

2010-07-16T12:45:00.000-07:00

One of my goddaughter who loves to pose for the camera. She really is a fun, cute little angel.

4th of July Fireworks

2010-07-05T10:11:00.001-07:00

ear to ear

2010-06-21T11:43:00.000-07:00

We were at a friends house to take pictures of their newborn twins. I asked Chelsea to be my subject while I was testing my light setup.

a day at the Mall with Ate Ann

2010-06-15T12:48:00.000-07:00

at the steps of Lincoln Memorial..

at the wedding..

2010-06-15T12:19:00.000-07:00

These pictures were taken during Pinky and Stephen's wedding back in June 2008. It's only now that I was able to find time to take a good look at the pictures and found these images.

they came down with their props..

2010-06-07T19:22:00.001-07:00

I was processing some photos when suddenly these two girls came down and asked me to take pictures of them with their simple props.. and of course, this kind of opportunity comes only once in a blue moon, I immediately jumped into action and blasted their faces with 2 flashes both at 1/16. Chelsea's portrait was done with the DIY beauty dish and canon 430EX II at 1/16.

an afternoon photo session with my ladies

2010-06-02T08:40:00.000-07:00

Our scaled-back Memorial Day weekend was instead spent doing a photo session in our neighborhood. The weather was so beautiful and the light was more than enough to take nice outdoor shots.

less traveled

2009-11-06T08:57:00.001-08:00

less traveled
Originally uploaded by RhettRhatto

{.p.a.l.a.h.i.}

It's not really easy for me to take the "other" road. It is more easier to just simply follow the crowd knowing that I will never be alone when the road meets a dead end. More often than not, because that is the usual road to take.

Making a decision to take the "other" way is kind of a daunting task especially when you are leading people. They put their lives into your hands and thus adding more pressure. Venturing into an uncharted territory is truely a scary thought. The road is unpaved and definitely not an easy path to trek hence the fewer people. But you have to lead them. You have to make the decision. You have to face the reality that you are facing an unknown result.

It is the kind of risk that most us has to face every now and then. But once you conquered the obstacle and reached your goal and destination, it is a feeling that cannot be described nor can be taken away from you. The fact that you stand on what you believe in and having that strong faith in your heart, makes you want to face every task and take the road less traveled.

Journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. Have you started yours?

a rose for the fallen

2009-11-01T16:42:00.001-08:00

a rose for the fallen
Originally uploaded by RhettRhatto

All we can offer is just this simple rose. This is nothing to what you gave. This is nothing for what you've been through. This is nothing to what and where we are now. I don't even know you, but you gave your life to give us a brighter and peaceful future. THANK YOU.

It was the lone flower offered at the wall. The wall usually is full of flowers, but last weekend was an exception. There were a couple of letters and this one rose. The bright yellow caught my eye and had to stoop to get this shot.

Long lost blog

2009-10-30T10:02:00.000-07:00

I found my other blog!!!

This blog was from my first friendster account. That account was long cancelled and I thought my blog will go down the drain along with it. Surprisingly, it is alive and kicking. The only problem is, I can't connect it back to my new Friendster account and that means no more updates. Well, I have blogspot anyway - and I like it better.

So hit the link to jump.

My daughter Chelsea at Baltimore Inner Harbor

2009-10-26T18:14:00.001-07:00

My daughter Chelsea at Baltimore Inner Harbor
Originally uploaded by RhettRhatto

You are the sunshine of my life.

Still at Baltimore Inner Harbor. I noticed the sun's reflection through the yellow trees and told my daughter to stand still while I looked for the best glow on her hair. I love how the image came out. I've been dreaming of doing this shot for years now and finally found that moment.

i see trees are yellow

2009-10-26T18:07:00.001-07:00

i see trees are yellow
Originally uploaded by RhettRhatto

It's the fall, It's the fall, it's the fall!

A visit to the baltimore resulted to a very subtle and cool capture of the season for me. I actually consider it as a reward for my self.

We took my father-in-law to Baltimore for a casual stroll. Well, the visit and walk was actually a good way to burn calories after a very sumptuous lunch at a japanese restaurant an hour earlier.

The weather was perfect. A little breeze and a soft touch of sun sets the mood for a good afternoon fall stroll along the harbor.

The Estrera's Family

2009-10-07T13:11:00.000-07:00

My first every family portrait job. I've known the Estrera's for almost ten years now and they are like a family to me. Working with them was easy and fun.

home sweet home

2009-09-25T22:23:00.001-07:00

home sweet home
Originally uploaded by RhettRhatto

{ t a m - i s }

First, let me say DAGHANG SALAMAT (Many Thanks) to my cousins and aunts who sent us a package full of sweets and pasalubongs (Presents). For us, you are not only sending sweets, you are also sending "home" with it. It seems like home is not that far away... and thanks to my sister too for the free shipping.. hehehehehe.

And so, for the photo setup. Well, my usual canon gears and for the lights, a white-led flash light. The flashlight comes very handy for small subjects. I like how the light is concentrated right in the middle.

Digital Scrapbooking

2009-09-23T08:26:00.000-07:00

I've been into digital scrapbooking for almost years now. Here are some of my works. Click on the image to view the bigger size.

three's a company

2009-09-23T06:32:00.001-07:00

three's a company
Originally uploaded by RhettRhatto

{ u h o n g }

As I was picking up the mail, I noticed these mushrooms sprouting all over the place. It was around 5:40 in the afternoon and I was loosing the light fast. I rushed home and grabbed my camera. I told Chelsea about what I saw and brought her to the place to see it. I took some shots and of all the sets, I think this is my winner. I love the angle of the light and also the height of each mushroom. The grass around them add drama to the scene. It also represents our family - me, my wife and our daughter.. :o)

I used my 70-200 2.8IS. I was shooting at 1/100, 2.8 and 400 ISO to give it a washout effect.

Communion Portrait - My favorite shot

2009-09-11T12:31:00.001-07:00

Communion Portrait - My favorite shot
Originally uploaded by RhettRhatto

{ k o m u n y o n }

Chelsea had her first Communion at St. Francis Parish Church. I took some studio shots a couple of days before. It was really fun setting up shots and trying to make things work. With a few imagination and patience, you will always have a good result. I love taking portraits and studio shots.

asian cabbage wrap

2009-08-30T17:32:00.001-07:00

asian cabbage wrap
Originally uploaded by RhettRhatto

{ r e p o l y o }

A mix of ground pork, Shrimp and asian spices wrapped in a cabbage and steamed. To finish, I mixed a butter, balsamic vinegar, lime and freshly ground pepper.

9th Year Wedding Anniversary

2009-08-27T12:28:00.001-07:00

macro ring
Originally uploaded by RhettRhatto

{ k a m i n y o o n }

It's our 9th wedding anniversary! I LOVE YOU MOM!

I gave my wife these 24 Beautiful Roses for our 9th year Wedding Anniversary. God has been very good to us. We are showered with one beautiful daughter Chelsea, good health and of course, the love for each other.

Those are our wedding rings btw. I took a macro shot of it by inverting my 70-200 2.8 IS over my 28-135.

.. waiting for the master's hand

2009-08-27T06:57:00.001-07:00

.. waiting for the master's hand
Originally uploaded by RhettRhatto

{ p i n t o r }

After the shoot out with the wooden lion, I went downstairs where my daughter placed and arranged her presents. I took the color pallete and the brushes and tore a 3 foot artist white paper - without my daughter's consent - to be used as background. Chelsea got this painter/artist set for her birthday.

Upstairs, with my desklamp with a day light bulb took some shots in different perspective, this shot stands out.

puppy faced lion

2009-08-27T06:50:00.001-07:00

puppy faced lion
Originally uploaded by RhettRhatto

{ l i y o n }

I was gathering all my photography magazines and books last night. I am starting to file them up for future reference. There are plenty of good articles, actually, most of them are. Lot's of trade secrets exposed and tricks of the trade told.

After all the piling and shelving, I took some time out with my camera and started looking around again for another victim - of my photo shot that is. Need not to look far, I saw Chelsea's wooden lion on her doll house. Small subject require small light for close ups. So took out my while led flashlight and pointed it right on top of the lion's puppy face. Click! - gotcha!

Carousel

2009-08-19T07:27:00.001-07:00

horse1
Originally uploaded by RhettRhatto

{ k a b a y o }

We were at the mall one day and saw this beautiful decor. It was placed on the shelf right on top of the expensive ones. So we thought it was one of those expensive ones. But still we decided to take reach for it and just take a look. Surprise! surprise! it was put on sale and the price was way way way low - not just low, but low-low-low!. We hurriedly placed 2 inside our basket and off to the cash register and now sits on our display cabinet.

I took them out for a photo session. I used my black tshirt as the background. A Canon 430EX II on top and a Vivitar 285HV to the left of the camera highlighting the front of the horse. It took me some shots to finally nail the one that I really liked. Had more figure shots on my flickr account - check them out!.

County Fairground

2009-08-17T11:01:00.000-07:00

These images are from the County Fairground. Chelsea had a blast from the rides and games. But took us 45 minutes to take the exit from the parking lot. The park was full to the brim.

chelsea at 8

2009-08-16T15:10:00.001-07:00

chelsea at 8
Originally uploaded by RhettRhatto

{ k a l i p a y }

Chelsea will turn 8 this August. I always prepare her invitation like a couple of months before. But this year seems to be very different and difficult for me. I've run out of ideas and plans kept on changing. Chelsea initially wanted a pool party. After a couple of calls to the community center, we were told that only 15 kids will be allowed in the party, and she has more than 25 kids on her list. So we have go back to the drawing board. We've decided to have the party at home instead and just make it simple this time.

After coming home from church, I wen't upstairs to change and the white wall on our extra room gave me an idea on the invitation.. I said to myself - a white wall, a spring bed, with 2 lights on both side (cross lighting) and a little fun and imagination, looks perfect - and so we came up with this shots..

Chelsea had a great time jumping on the bed!!

lemon jackfruit cupcake

2009-08-15T21:47:00.001-07:00

lemon jackfruit cupcake
Originally uploaded by RhettRhatto

Had fun baking cupcakes :o) - so I am actually hitting 3 birds with 1 stone this time.. having fun baking, taking photograph and of course, enjoying the fruit of my labor..

coconut shrimp popcorn

2009-08-15T15:13:00.001-07:00

coconut shrimp popcorn
Originally uploaded by RhettRhatto

{ p a s a y a n }

Sad to say it but I am asthmatic. I've been this way since I was a child. There was not year that passes by without me checking into a hospital because of an attack. Binded with this health condition is the fact that it can be triggered by food. Yes, shrimps, crabs, squids - these are just some.

Luckily, I've outgrown the condition and can now have those food on our table - not just a decoration, but I prepare them myself, of course, for our consumption. I've even added lobster to the list. Life is great!!

daughter

2009-08-14T13:14:00.001-07:00

daughter
Originally uploaded by RhettRhatto

{ a n a k }

Our only daughter Chelsea during our visit to the Cathedral at Washington, DC. She is growing fast and soon will be celebrating her 8th birthday. Time fly so fast, as if, not so long ago, she was still singing ang dancing to the Barney Song.... Now, gone are the days of purple, yellow and green dinausaurs - it's time to do the Ice Cream Freeze with Hanna Montana. :o)

celebration

2009-08-13T18:05:00.001-07:00

celebration
Originally uploaded by RhettRhatto

{ k a s a l }

This was the beautiful and delicious cake at Pinky and Stephen's wedding. I took this image but never found a time to work on it - it's been a year already.

For the post processing, I dragged the curve level and placed a vignette.

beach houses

2009-08-13T12:56:00.001-07:00

beach houses
Originally uploaded by RhettRhatto

{ p a h a y a h a y }

soaked

2009-08-12T18:52:00.001-07:00

soaked
Originally uploaded by RhettRhatto

{ u l a n }

rainglow

2009-08-11T21:33:00.001-07:00

rainglow
Originally uploaded by RhettRhatto

{ kay wala nay lain }

I was at our basement trying to figure out what my photo subject could be. Chelsea came and brought along her "lazer sword" .. well, it's not the sword from Star Wars, this one is just too fancy and colorful for Luke to use.

Lights, camera........ action!

-----

Just 3 seconds - if you know what I mean.

your song

2009-08-10T19:49:00.001-07:00

your song
Originally uploaded by RhettRhatto

{ ang harana ug ang gitara }

This may not be around anymore. For the new generation, the only way to know what it is about is to gather around your Grand Pa's and Ma's and listen to their love story.

Harana is a traditional form of courtship through music. Together with his guitar, a man pays her lady a visit by serenading underneath her window during the night. Some, tag along their friends to be a "doowoop" backup and for encouragement. It is through harana that a man may win the heart of her lady... actually, the whole family.

- Usa ra gyud imong padulngan inig ka human, dawaton ug pasak-on ka o dili ba kaha yab-an ka sa arinola ni lola. -

-----

A one light setup on our stairs. A Canon 430EXII snooted with a foil at 1/32 power. Camera at 1/250, ISO 100 and 8.0.

dark bars1

2009-08-09T20:24:00.001-07:00

dark bars1
Originally uploaded by RhettRhatto

{ t s o k o l i t }

Made from cocoa fruit found mostly in South America and Asia. The sweetest treat in the world is actually - bitter in its natural form. To extract the cocoa oil and powder, it is first fermented, then dried and ground. It is then packed and sacked.

-----

Doing another product shot.. still learning everytime.

What's for dessert?

2009-08-09T19:08:00.001-07:00

What's for dessert?
Originally uploaded by RhettRhatto

This is one of my guilty pleasures.. just love extra dark brownies. For breakfast, I pair it with a hot coffee and for snacks, an ice cold coke..

I used the regular Betty Croaker Dark Brownies mix for the cake but added a squirt of heavy Nesquik Chocolate. I placed the extra chocolate after scooping a mix to the tray so that it will settle in the middle and would ooze when you open it.

What's for dinner? - part 5

2009-08-07T16:34:00.001-07:00

What's for dinner? - part 5
Originally uploaded by RhettRhatto

{ p a s a y a n }

Sweet Gingered Shrimp.

Hinunangan, Southern Leyte, Philippines

2009-08-07T11:48:00.001-07:00

Hinunangan, Southern Leyte, Philippines
Originally uploaded by RhettRhatto

{ gimingaw }

During our 2005 visit to the Philippines.

What's for dinner? - part 4

2009-08-06T17:29:00.001-07:00

What's for dinner? - part 4
Originally uploaded by RhettRhatto

{ m e n u d o }

Oh, so you thought it's the teen idol group that stormed the airwaves in the 80's.. I am referring to the boy band from Puerto Rico with the same name - the Menudo. Google told me that the band was originally formed back in the late 70's. I was too young to notice them and when I did, it was Ricky Martin, Robie Rosa, Charlie Maso and more.. "It's an explosion, My Love For You!!" or "Please Be Good To Me, Dont Make Me Cry Anymore!!" even "I'm Going Back To The Philippines Where My Love Is Waiting" and "Kiss Me Tonight Heavenly Angel"...

But I am talking about one of my favorite filipino recipe.. Menudo Mechado Sarsado Sarado Sinaw Nga Kaldero!

shining down on me

2009-08-06T13:03:00.001-07:00

shine on me
Originally uploaded by RhettRhatto

{ sodyum }

One hot saturday with Jason at Rio. There's this mexican restaurant, as the name suggests, is painted with vibrant colors of blue, yellow, orange and red. For some reason, my eyes was drawn to this very small portion of the building, it's walls were made out of plank of overlapping woods and looking above, I saw this, you guessed it, street lamp.. and what i saw struck me.. I took my camera, pointed it straight up to the sky. I really like the result - simple and earthy.

pastels

2009-08-06T10:09:00.001-07:00

pastels
Originally uploaded by RhettRhatto

slurp slurp!

And so the next item on the stage is..... a bunch of straws. Dinah was watching the burial of Pres. Cory Aquino over the Tube while my daughter was of course glued to the AFV. I took the straws which I bought and took out my 32' umbrella and bounced my vivitar 285HV at 1/2 power. Took a chair and aimed my 28-135.. baaam!, i mean, click! ... it was exactly what I intended it to be.. a little bit overblown at the edges and a rich color in the middle.. got lucky this time. :o)

What's for dinner? - again...

2009-08-06T09:49:00.001-07:00

What's for dinner? - part 3
Originally uploaded by RhettRhatto

To continue my asian theme, I wrapped the leftover ground mix and fried them.. we all love crispy food.. and this pinsit will surely make your day. Chelsea and Dinah, apil si Intsik, loooovvvvveeee my pinsit.. I think I have to add Jason, Esil to the list.. :o)

Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! while doing the Click! Click! Click!

What's for dinner? - Food Photography

2009-08-06T09:41:00.001-07:00

What's for dinner? - part 2
Originally uploaded by RhettRhatto

This is my first attempt taking a studio-kinda photo of food. I am into cooking too, so preparing dinner that my family will surely love and will also be a good candidate for my "pakodak" is a no brainer.. chinese food! - and no chinese restau in Pinas without siomai - shrimp or egg anyone?...

I dropped by an asian store near my work place. I shopped for the ingredients and thought of grabbing some asian props as well.. square plate, check!.... chopsticks, check!.... wicker basket, check!...

Let's take a quick glance on my siomai recipe:
- ground fats
- ground pork
- shrimp
- onion
- carrots
- soy sauce
- oyster sauce
- egg
- salt & pepper
- sesame oil
- wonton wrapper

Now back to my pakodak.

I set up my DIY 12X12 softbox and canon 430EX II while the food was steaming.. 20 minutes later - click, click, click! NI HAO!

macro ring

2009-08-06T09:24:00.001-07:00

macro ring
Originally uploaded by RhettRhatto

I DO!

There are nights, plenty of them actually, that I just simply look around for things to be my next "pakodak" victim and I found our wedding ring.. where?.. on my finger of course. Thinking of a non traditional shot, I took both my 28-135 and 70-200 and thought doing a macro. An article I came across discussed about inverting one of the lenses.. and so I did.

The result sent a rush of excitement to my system telling me to take more macro shots.. and here they are:

Brookside Garden

2009-08-06T09:05:00.001-07:00

Brookside Garden
Originally uploaded by RhettRhatto

{ Alibangbang Kabakaba }

My wife had a CPR class that day, had to take a vacation leave to watch over our daughter.... not wanting to be imprisoned home - I took Chelsea to Brookside Garden which was about 20 minutes city drive. I told her the night before to pack her small digital camera because there will be lots of interesting things and sights that will surely catch her curiosity. I also packed my DSLR as well (of course).

There were plenty of newly "hatched" butterflies and this one monarch kept on landing back on this flower and so I snapped a couple of shots.