Ambient Killer

Imagine shooting at f2 in harsh light conditions. Yeah, we've all been there (not unless you only do studio work). But yes..I'm happy to announce that I found my ambient killer with the Fuji X100. With shutter speeds up to 1/2500 to 1/4000 a second, i can direct my light to the subject alone or to where ever i want the light to touch. Outdoor or indoor, this little magical box of a camera has changed my 1/250 shutter speed limit.

Technically, I'm using Phottix Ares Triggers and a Yongnuo 560 Mark 2 flash. Modifiers would either be a Phottix foldable beauty dish or the foldable octabox. (But personally for outdoor, I love using the octabox..the amount of light can be used for either close up shots to full body shots). The Fuji X100 delivers and it delivers the best.

1/2000sec ISO 100 f2 taken around 10am(ish)

I had the privilege to be in the presence of 2 rising HMUA & stylists in Cagayan de Oro.

Ms. Mae Austral and Ms. Paola Paladio as HMUA/Stylists.

Location was at Chingkee Tea (Cagayan de Oro) and Model is the beautiful Claudine.

With just enough light to light up the subject and make the background interesting.

Having the perfect lighting recipe is possible with the Fuji X100.

Sunsets are tricky, either over exposed or under exposed..but with an f2.8 aperture, I guess I got this one right on.

Model: Grace Gift Chua

Late afternoon sun isn't a problem. 

I've said this before..and I'm going to say this again..this camera is a joy to work with. It may not always get the image in my head, but when it does..it absolutely..and perfectly captures my heart. The love for this camera outweighs all the cons that it has.

Reacquainting with the streets

The streets of Cagayan de Oro doesn't have all the lights or the glamour that some streets that I've been to, but this is home. This is where I started, this is where it all started. In the streets. And now that I am reacquainting myself with it, I have found the perfect partner in my Fuji X100. Its small, fast, and dead silent. I'm not noticed by my subjects unless I want them to. With a 35mm equivalent range, its perfect to get the story in the frame.

Technically, some shots were shot using velvia film simulation and were later converted in photoshop into black and white. while the other shots were shot in bnw (red filter). Its amazing how ISO 1000 can still be so usable. Shooting at f2 to f2.8, the camera can really hold its own against low light scenarios. The ND filter is a joy to use! Using f2.8 to shoot a cloud filled sky at around 5pm was amazing. it was life changing.

The camera is a joy to me, it makes me fall in love with photography even more everyday. I'll save money for an x100s or an x200 someday. But right now, I can't leave my house without my x100. its like leaving your house without any underwear..it doesn't feel right! 

A light on a cold night.

A candle for the prayers, dreams and wishes. 

His playground in the streets, where all his memories will unfold. From worn out tires to thrown away seats, this is his world. 

Vogue Italia approved photo.

I love the sky when I took this shot, I was using the ND filter of the X100.

Unfortunately, I forgot to configure some settings for my sharpness.

This street vendor was selling me this dog for 2,500 php. whoa x_x

Every now and then I walk this bridge, almost a kilometer hike but its

very nostalgic for me.

With the fines for each jay-walker at php 500.00, how much would the local

authorities earn from this bunch? 

In this life, God is always there with us. In every moment.

Its rare to have buses roam around the city these days.

Basically, this camera turns me berserk and go shooting spree when I'm on the streets. It may never occur to me why this little camera has become a part of me, I just know that it is my life blood in whatever genre that I may face.

Something to help me smile..

Summer Is Coming!

SUMMER IS COMING!

I've got an extra copy of this DPP Issue.  Instead of it collecting dust in my bedroom corner, let's do this :) 

Cover was shot by Ma'am Pilar Tuason and has an in depth guide of shooting swimsuit. Fan of Lovie Poe? Solenn Heusaff? a collector of the MAG? (yeah, i know it doesn't reach Cagayan de Oro).

Steps:

1.Like my page: www.facebook.com/glennpalaciophotography

2.Share my page and tell me about what you want to do for summer.

3.Get your friends to like the share.

4.Announcement of winner will be on February 22, 2014 @ 10pm. 

Judge isn't me, so better get creative ;)

Vogued

February 20, 2014

Photo got approved for Vogue Italia.

My x100 is barely a week old with me and its changing my life already.

Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and glamour.

Its all about the women and the clothes. To be frank I've never been that good enough taking photographs of either women or women with awesome clothes. Maybe this is why I encouraged myself to invest once again in my education. This time its going to be with Pilar Tuason.

Reading the bible during the flight.

My group during the workshop thought of this concept. I wanted the shoot with the bed though.

Loving the available light shots from the X100 ( Mind you, no reflector)

On the way to BGC, I saw this guy waiting for someone.

Loving the sharpness of the shot. (Cropped photo already, I shot this in portrait)

BGC alleys somewhat remind me of New York in photos.

This was me with a 2 day old x100, and I can really say that I can do almost everything with this camera.

A Fresh Start

Its been 1 year since my last birthday, and during a 1 year span of time I can say that I've gained quite an experience in photography. I do this full time, its my only bread and butter..my rice and fish (though I don't eat fish that much).
I have said this over and over again, but yes.. Photography is my life. It is God's gift to me. with the support of my family, friends, mentors and various people that must not be named, i have grown into something which i would never have perceived a year ago.
In this new year of my life, another chapter has begun.A chapter full of change. A friend asked me what was my new year's resolution. I calmly answered him:

To be DSLR free.

Back then as I was starting out, I was this Nikon guy from Cagayan de Oro who was madly in love with the brand and memorized everything about the Nikon cameras. I was obsessed and married to the brand. Nikon is great for printing, its colors were accurate, and the image quality was superb. I use a Nikon D7000 with the big ass 70-200 f2.8 lens (which was my favorite lens) and to me that was euphoria. There was this constant bickering between friends and non-friends about Canon and Nikon (and sometimes Sony). Which was the best, blah..blah..because this pro photographer uses this..blah..blah.
I was tired of those conversations.Cameras were only as good as their photographers. You can own the most expensive gear but if you ain't got it son..you really just ain't got it.
I have great respect to the people in the photographic community. From professionals to hobbyists to newbies, we all have different paths but our journey is all but one and that is to create photos that would last.At the end of my life..the only thing I can leave in this world as my foot print would be my photos. No matter how my clients/viewers see these photos..these photos are from the heart.
during that 1 year with my gear, I was contented. but something inside of me know that I was craving for more.

Everything changed when FUJI cameras came to town.

Here came this little camera with a retro feel and look. To be honest, at first i didn't even care what the camera's output would be. I first saw an X100 and an X10 from 2 photographers here in Cagayan de Oro and I said to myself that those little things must be eye candy, some fancy camera or JUST a point and shoot.(But, I was wrong. Dead wrong. ) I always wanted to own one but the feeling wasn't strong enough. But a gut feeling was telling me that I should reserch more about it.

Fuji came to Cagayan de oro to do a roadshow of their products last year. I said to the editor in chief where I was the lifestyle photographer.."let's give it a go and visit?" So we came to the roadshow and that was where things got interesting. They lined up all the X-cameras, printers and other nifty stuff.I was carrying my DSLR with the big lens and the staff were asking if i was burdened because of its weight.."Maybe you should switch to Fuji". That rang in my ears for a while before i decided and had the courage to test the cameras.I gave the X-M1, X100 and the X-E1 a try..it was fast as hell..and light too.It felt right in my hands.This was something right.

A week later, I got my X-M1. GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome?) No. Personal decision.

And now a question pops into my inbox after a few days: Why the change from Nikon to Fuji? you even had a Sony.

For starters, Nikon and Sony are great brands. But the one thing that has really captured my heart, the one thing that Fuji has really got it right with me
is the way the camera and I see the light. I might be quoting Zack Arias or David Hobby but for me, its really what made me jump.
The colors, the image quality, the compactness, and the power of such a small magical box. Each time I shoot with the camera, it surprises me by giving out amazing output.

I've tested the X-10, X-100 and I own an X-M1. Each one with weaknesses but the strengths are greater than the cons.
A 10 feet print with an X-M1 Jpg file (fine) without pixelation on the image blew me away.I'm a strobist photographer and just being with the X-10 for a week, I can shoot at 1/4000 and kill off ambient light.
I see myself like the brand. I'm not perfect, i've had lapses..mistakes..misdealings in the year that I've started out as a photographer but I don't dwell on it that much and I try to learn from the experience.
No matter how big or small the shoots are, its always the experience and the lessons that I'm after. Passion for photography is really different from photography for fashion. Needless to say but output first before everything else.

And so here I am on the verge of my birthday and I am slowly selling away piece by piece the old gears that I have. I have always been emotionally connected to every piece of gear that has come through my hands, but I realize that I will be hindering my growth if those things would stay.

To conlcude it all,I bet my one year career on this statement. and Fuji did not sponsor me to say this.

I trust my Fuji Camera with my life.