Creative Lens

Faith.

2009-06-28T13:59:00.000-07:00

Whoso loves, believes the impossible.

{ Elizabeth Barret Browning }

*

Hope, faith, love. These always go together.

My assignments are late, but I'm catching up.
Have to give time to things I commited myself to.

{ Aileen . Photo Assignment April Week 1 }

Aurinia Saxatilis 'Compacta'

2009-05-22T19:15:00.000-07:00

Or commonly called alyssum or Dwarf Goldentuft or Basket of Gold, pick what suits you best or whatever is easier to remember. Maybe someday I should get this for my garden. This picture was taken at Morton Arboretum which attracted my attention because of its thick foliage and formed a dense mat of yellow. It reseeds itself and likes dry poor soil and a sunny spot.

Just my kind of groundcover. Forget the 'someday', maybe I should find out where I could buy it. Soon!

Here's a Basket of Gold to you from me - Lou.

Luscious

2009-05-15T14:24:00.000-07:00

Photo Assignment: Week 1 - May Flowers - Pink

Camera Park

Bleeding Hearts

2009-05-13T20:23:00.000-07:00

Or Dicentra from my garden. This is one of my all time favorites. However, they are only in bloom in Spring and then it dies by summer. It is one of the longer blooming perennials as others lasts only for a couple of weeks.

My apologies for being late in submitting my assignment.

[Assignment: May Flowers-Week 1- Pink]

Lou @ nagpanaoan.com

Happiness corner.

2009-04-13T08:03:00.000-07:00

These two are my favorite things in my house -- flowers and a bookshelf filled with books. Flowers, because they are instant uplifters. They make me happy. And I like burst of colors in my house (not that my house isn't colorful enough). *grin*

My bookshelf now overflows with books. I have to place about 30 books on my dining table now, but that's ok. I don't need much table space for eating anyway. =D

I love reading. This little corner in my house -- bookshelf + an old sofa -- is where where I spend quiet weekends, just reading. It's an instant vacation for me. I get to travel, be in places, and imagine possibilities through the pages of the books I read. Nothing really is more magical than that.

{ Aileen . Photo Assignment March Week 1 }

That Special Person.

2009-03-31T16:27:00.000-07:00

Looking back, you realize that a very special person
passed briefly through your life, and that person was you.
It is not too late to become that person again.

{ Robert Brault }

*

I grew up physically, emotionally, psychological beaten up.
I was lied to, and brainwashed into believing
that I was ugly and talentless.

And then one person believed I could do anything
and that I was the most beautiful person in the world.
It took years for me to believe that myself.

Maybe, we only need two things to make us realize how truly special we are --

one, our willingness to heal and forgive;
and two, someone who will believe in us.

*

{ Aileen . Photo Assignment February Week 4: Self-Protrait }

Photo: Self-timer. Vintaged.
Excuse the tummy. Not preggy, just busog. Haha.

Anything and Everything.

2009-03-31T15:36:00.000-07:00

When she first saw him, even before they actually knew each other, she knew deep inside her he was The One. It was one summer night when he came up to her and introduced himself. He got her number and they talked every night since. And as they say, the rest is history.

A couple of months after that first meeting, he gave her a note that said:

"If it's for you, I'd do anything and everyhing."

He has kept that promise all these years.

{ Aileen . Photo Assignment Week 3: Finding The One. }

Second Chances

2009-03-29T04:05:00.000-07:00

Love as though you have never been hurt before.

{ Chichi Abadingo . Photo Assignment February Week 2: Love Poetry }

Pure Love.

2009-03-20T08:35:00.000-07:00

One is loved because one is loved.
No reason is needed for loving.

{ Paulo Coelho }

*

{ Aileen . Photo Assignment February Week 2 }

Through the Stomach

2009-03-07T23:23:00.000-08:00

They say that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach.
This cliche applies to me and my first love.
I had him at the kitchen! Hahaha!!!

A Happy New Year!

2009-03-07T23:14:00.000-08:00

When in doubt, don't.
Restrain yourself from anger.
Hold that tongue. Keep that thought.
Life is way too beautiful... smile!

He had her at hello.

2009-03-06T04:30:00.000-08:00

A heart necklace he gave her some years ago.

*

It started with a hello.
And a friendship so deep and real,
they just couldn't help but fall in love.

Although, it was for her, love at first sight.

{ Aileen . Photo Assignment February Week 1 }

Thoughts on Self.

2009-03-05T06:07:00.000-08:00

Me, photographing me, sans makeup and panudlay. Haha. And a few pounds lighter.
Photo: vintaged. And practicing my post-processing cloning skills. *grin*

*

Think positively about yourself...
ask God who made you to keep on remaking you.

{ Norman Vincent Peale }

*

I have made little steps everyday
in thinking positively about myself,
shedding off shadow doubts and half-truths
some people made me believe about myself
when I was a little girl.

I'm grown up now.
Stronger. Happier.

I will continue to reinvent myself,
learn new things, tread on new paths,
discover more horizons.

And yes, I will continue to ask God
to keep on remaking me.

{ Aileen . January Self-Portrait }

Holding on to hope.

2009-03-03T00:00:00.000-08:00

I hope that this year,
the storm that is this financial crisis would pass,
and that there'll be more sunny days,
still waters, magical moments,
good health and friendships,

and just this serene happiness for every soul.

{ Aileen . Photo Assignment January Week 3: Hope for the New Year }

Braver and Bolder.

2009-03-02T23:26:00.000-08:00

The change I want to make this year?

I will be braver and bolder.
I will dive more seas,
fly more skies,
try things that scare me.

And do the things people least expect from me.

{ Aileen . Photo Assignment January Week 2: Making a Change }

Assertiveness

2009-02-26T07:20:00.000-08:00

From creative lens

This may be the trait that I wasn’t born with. But this something that is learned and could be developed over time. This year I plan to improve on my assertiveness skills, no matter how limited they are. For few reasons:

I want to change my behavior towards sports.
I am willing to set reasonable goals and take reasonable risks.
I am open to new ideas for learning.
I am willing to make the effort to practice and have patience while learning my new skills.

text grabbed from dviewfinder.com

{A.T.G.- Photo Assignment Week 2: Making A Change}

ties

2009-02-25T14:03:00.000-08:00

assignment week: 1st wk of january
title: ties
theme: favourite christmas moment

* * *

(roi,jojo,ana holding photos of me and adrian)

it was a few minutes just past midnight in the Philippines (25th of december). a few minutes after 4pm in the UK (24th of december).

even time and distance cannot stop ties that bind.

we keep up the tradition of connecting and showing our appreciation of having one another in eachother's lives.

this photo was'nt chosen for its photographic qualities. the whitebalance is too warm, the composition not exactly quality, the laptop's dust much more obvious in the photos (harhar), and there really is nothing much to how the photo looks but the meaning is so much more to me.

this was taken after speaking to my mama. my brothers, jojo,roi and my sister ana were holding photos of me and adrian, while we greeted one another "merry christmas".

in my background was my stereo playing christmas songs, and behind them, i could hear the entire family chattering and laughing.

this was our version of a group photo.

yes, i did spend christmas with them. phils time, at least.

ME CHICHI

2009-02-25T01:33:00.000-08:00

I was always afraid to have my picture taken. I did not feel pretty enough to please me. Then I grew older and learned that I cannot change the way I look but I can change the way I think.

(So what if I just woke up without a quick fresh up!) bwehehe.

I am a woman in process. I'm just trying like everybody else. I try to take every conflict, every experience, and learn from it. Life is never dull.
Oprah Winfrey

{ Chichi Abadingo . Photo Assignment January Week 4: Self Portrait }

Making a Change

2009-02-25T00:58:00.000-08:00

We can't become what we need to be by remaining what we are.
Oprah Winfrey

I had a haircut today.

I moved all my "abubots" into a new bag.

This may just be a few small changes but it made a difference. Confidence as tall as this eye candy.

{ Chichi Abadingo . Photo Assignment January Week 2: Making a Change }

Hope for the New Year

2009-02-24T22:00:00.000-08:00

My hope is to see myself in others. My reflection mirrors my identity.
I am thinking about what I want to achieve, then connect with others with the same dogma and maybe (just maybe) one day, change the world.

This is how coffee affects me. Pensive and Vain.

{ Chichi Abadingo . Photo Assignment January Week 3: Hope for the New Year }

Newly Born

2009-02-24T16:30:00.000-08:00

(Photo: Baby Luke with Ate Angelica)

They are the hope that things will get better in the years to come.
They still giggle despite of.
They bring us joy.

Beginning Again.

2009-02-24T16:16:00.000-08:00

Aren't we lucky to be given a new chance daily... to begin again, to be better, to forget all about our past hurts and pains, to come out of a maddening sadness, to break away from a bad habit, to be a new person with a clean slate of soul and heart....?

The Holiday That Was

2009-02-24T15:59:00.000-08:00

It was sweet to welcome the new year with chocolate. It was our little family's first new year's eve celebration. I spent the whole day at the kitchen preparing a banquet too huge for the three of us. But this chocolate fondue is what caught my fancy. I've always loved sweets and fruits... the ganache lasted for more than a couple of days. A sweet treat indeed!

Christmas sa Pinas

2009-02-23T06:30:00.000-08:00

From creative lens

"Iba talaga ang Pasko sa Pinas. Lalo na't pag kasama ang pamilya."

Christmas in the Philippines has always been out of the ordinary. Most specially when it is celebrated with the family.

{ Aileen T. G. - Photo Assignment January Week 1: Favorite Christmas Moment }

magical nights

2009-02-21T11:52:00.000-08:00

From One's treasure chest

"Gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands, because if we are not grateful, then no matter how much we have we will not be happy -- because we will always want to have something else or something more." (David Steindl-Rast)

It was Dec 23. The night I will always remember as my worlds, being united. It was the night the little souls met for the very first time. My fear evaporated as easily as the moment I saw them having fun.

We went through the festival of lights - where kids and adults were at once, a lot alike. At that very moment. Amazed, satisfied, and happy. Where everything was right with the world.

{ Lynette . Photo Assignment January Week 1: Favorite New Year Moment }

Pit Senyor

2009-02-21T06:07:00.000-08:00

Senor Sto Nino have always been the third person in our marriage. We tried for 2 years to have our 1st born and after completing 9 days novena and asking for a child, Lorenzo Mikel was conceived. Yes, we did not name him Nino because we can only have one Nino in the house.

Each and every journey we took there after, Sto Nino was there for us. In fact, his image moved to Auckland too.

The preparation for Auckland's celebration of the feast of the Sto Nino has kept us busy in December and January. Being a devotee and dancing the Sinulog for the 1st time here in Auckland was definitely my best moment for 2009. What a good way to start the year.

{ Chichi Abadingo . Photo Assignment January Week 1: Favorite New Year Moment }

Very Much.

2009-02-20T22:57:00.000-08:00

It was a few hours before Noche Buena. Clark, Beau, and I were spending time together at the living room -- laughing, telling stories, and taking pictures.

I asked Beau: Do you love Kuya Clark?

She replied: Kaau. (Very Much).

This is one of my favorite moments last Christmas -- witnessing how the next generation have so much love for each other.

{ Aileen Siroy . Photo Assignment January Week 1: Favorite Christmas Moment }

Guestbook.

2009-02-19T21:36:00.000-08:00

Blow us some pixie dust and good wishes.

Assignment Themes

2009-02-18T21:20:00.000-08:00

January 2009 Theme: New Beginnings

Week 1 - January 4: Favorite Christmas/New Year Moment

Week 2 - January 11: Making a Change

Week 3 - January 18: Hope for the New Year

Week 4 - January 25: Self-Portrait

February 2009: Love Unlimited

Week 1 - February 1: Story of your First Love

Week 2 - February 8: Love Poetry (in a photograph, that is)

Week 3 - February 15: Finding The One

Week 4 - February 22: Self-Portrait (as they say, you don’t have love to give if you don’t have love in you)

March 2009 : Still Life

Week 1 - March 2: Your favorite house decor/furniture/appliance

Week 2 - March 9: Table setting/food

Week 3 - March 16: Shoes

Week 4 - March 23: Anything you want

Week 5 - March 30: Self-portrait

April 2009 : Soul Searching

Week 1 - April 6: Faith

Week 2 - April 13: Hope

Week 3 - April 20: Serenity

Week 4 - April 27: Eternity

May 2009 : Flowers

Week 1 - May 4: Pink

Week 2 - May 11: Yellow

Week 3 - May 18: Purple

Week 4 - May 25: Orange

June 2009 : Sweet

Week 1 - June 8 : Chocolate

Week 2 - June 15 : Ice Cream

Week 3 - June 22 : People

Week 4 - June 29 : Self-Portrait

July 2009 : New Beginnings

Week 1 - July 6 : New place (cafe, resto, home, etc)

Week 2 - July 13 : Friend/Friendship

Week 3 - July 20 : Realization, lesson, thought

Week 4 - July 27 : What's new with you?

August 2009 : Fashion

Submit four photos of clothes and shoes you'd wear, and those that you wish you could wear and accompany them with your thoughts on fashion.

On the last Monday, it's a self-portrait of the fashionista you.

The Shutterbugs.

2009-02-17T07:23:00.000-08:00

Friends who share the same passion for life.
And art. And love. And photography.

Aileen G . Aileen S . Alina . Ana . Ayen

Chelo . Chichi . Didee . Fair . Fil . Fr Sunny

Lou . Lynette . Malou . Marislie . Nicky . Normita

Patricia . Rain . Therese . Von . Wilma . Zarlynn