Lesson Learned through the Sunny Juice Box Camera

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I was sooo happy to finally have a new baby on my list, a cute Sunny Juice Box Camera. The boyfriend gave it to me as a present a few days ago, sadly, I dropped it accidentally two days after. I got really depressed that day and went out and binged on KFC's french fries. I thought my new camera's a gonner.

the accident left a mark. :(

I decided that the best thing to do to test if the camera is still working is to shoot the entire roll and have it processed. I was really nervous. A part of me expects to see an empty roll, but I still wanted to be hopeful. It would really break my heart if the camera ends up broken.

At 4pm that day, I had the roll processed. I had to know that same day whether my new baby needed some fixing. I hoped for the worse. Thank heavens, it was okay. It was probably the worst roll I've ever had. Even my first roll was better and I've been shooting film for a couple of months already. Anyway, it was a breath of fresh air. I was more than relieved to see actual images on my roll, even if there were only three good ones.

The rest were either underexposed or covered by the broken flap of the lens, which I'll be discussing in a camera review soon. :)

The following photos where taken with an expired Fujifilm 200.

flap covers most of the photo :(

Mental note to self: Always use an ISO 400 roll with the juice box.

P.S. Always be careful with the camera. It's way too fragile.

Why I Shoot Film?

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Since I started shooting film, I’ve been having a problem explaining to people why I like it better compared to digital photography. Most of them think I’m crazy for going backwards. It’s really difficult to explain to some people why I see magic with film and why I’m letting go of shooting digital (not entirely though).

Using film forces me to be a disciplined photographer. You really have to take your time and compensate your shots properly or else it will look awful. You also have to be sure of your framing. If not, this will just waste your shots. You have to keep in mind that certain “moments” just happen once and you’re either getting it or not. You also have to properly budget your shots since you only have 36 shots in a roll or 24, depending on your film.

UP Cebu Oblation (taken with CDR-King 35mm x expired Kodak Ultra 100)

Cathedral on Film (Minolta Maxxum 3 x Lucky Super 200)

Bubble Tea (Minolta Maxxum 3 x expired Centuria DNP 400)

There’s also a level of excitement with having your rolls processed. It’s never like digital where you can see the photo right away. Having to wait to see your finished shoots is an interesting factor with shooting film. I get all jittery when that guy behind the counter develops my roll and scans it.

To be honest, I’m too lazy to edit my shots. With film, I can already get instant photo effects that I like such as grains, vignette, chrome, or red scale photos depending on the film and camera I’m using. I’m in love with grainy photos and film lets me get the effect without spending time on Photoshop.

I have to admit though that I sometimes get frustrated with film. You can’t really reshoot everything and you’ve got to be really sure with your shots. The limited shots in every roll  also stops you from being trigger-happy. Sometimes, you have to wait until you finish the entire roll before you can get that one photo that you need.  

Waiting for the Smile (taken with Canon 500D)

Realities (taken with Kodak point and shoot)

Nevertheless, using film is a sort of redemption for my love of photography. There came a time when I was too lazy to shoot. When I started this affair with film, I got hooked. After every film and camera that I purchased, I’ve been wanting more and more. It’s like an addiction. But, I’ve never been this fulfilled in all-consuming addiction. And, I’m happy.

Parola: The Light Bearer

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A lighthouse serves as a guiding light to all of those who are in the sea. Despite being outdated by GPS and other devices, the Parola still lights the seas for a lot of our fisher folks.

The Parola in Lilo-an is a famous destination for locals. It's also a favorite spot for a number of photography enthusiasts since it's a really good place to shoot.

We went there (two years ago) when I was practicing basic photography with the boyfriend. He was teaching me how to compensate and expose my shots. I really learned a lot with that short "photo shoot." I was still learning the technicalities back then and going out and shooting would be the best thing to do.

I was surprised to see that there were also other photographers there. I chose Parola in Lilo-an since I thought there wouldn't be much people there. To my disappointment, there was an engagement shoot (pre-nup as others call it) going on. It was a bit uncomfortable. But a photographer's gotta shoot.

unedited.

*photos taken with Nikon 500D with kit lens*

Portraits: Lola Felisa

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Lola Felisa and her stringed shells.

At 86 years old, Felisa Aying is still a hard worker. He spends her days at San Vicente, Olango, among the many women in their neighborhood, stringing shells for her granddaughter’s business.

Lola Felisa starts stringing her shells at around 8AM in the morning and ends around 4PM or 5PM. She takes her lunch break and resumes again with work. She starts her day by walking for an hour from her house to her granddaughter’s house for work.

“Makasugakod pa man ko (I can still handle it),” Lola Felisa happily shared.

What makes Lola Felisa amazing is that she doesn’t use glasses. Her eyesight is still clear but she is having problems with her hearing, already. She also works with an ashtray beside her. She consumes half a pack per day. She has already been smoking for more than six decades and does not plan to stop anytime soon, even with the doctor’s advice.

She said she doesn’t really have problems with working. She only gets a backache from sitting long hours. Her granddaughter hands her allowance for her personal use in exchange for her little help.

Lola Felisa has six children and used to peddle clothes when she was younger. So, she was used to hard work.

The strings of shells Lola Felisa makes are then used to create shell chandeliers and necklaces that are oftentimes made and exported for their different customers.

Jerlinda Patigdas, Lola Felisa’s granddaughter, started the business 10 years ago. She hires women in their neighborhood to string shells and make chandeliers and necklaces. 

*photo credits to Fritz Menguito of LLC PIO*

Review: Minolta Maxxum 3

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Maxxum 3 from Minolta is among the last few film camera models that Minolta made. By the looks of it, you would probably think that it's a DSLR. It has a modern feel to it, despite being a film SLR. I really am lucky to have this with me right now. Big thanks to my friend (and sponsor), Jay Darius, for this trusty camera. I'm not really sure how much it originally cost. However, Amazon has a couple of used ones priced around $89.29.

The camera is powered with 2 CR2 batteries and has really simple buttons. It comes along with a kit lens. There's a button on the lens mount that allows you to choose either a manual or automatic focus. There are also different settings for shooting. It has a macro, landscape, portrait, night, and moving modes. It's really lighter compared to other film SLRs and even compared to other DSLRs, which is why I really like it.

The only problem I have with this camera is that it's automatic. You cannot adjust or control its shutter speed and aperture, which is a shame. For a control freak like me, this makes me a bit uncomfortable. However, this can be a good starter camera for those who just want to shoot without being bothered by the shutter speed and the likes. 

This camera takes sharp photos, I must say. Below are some of the shots I took with the Minolta Maxxum 3 using both fresh and expired films.

Cathedral on Film

Lonely Boat

Tyres

*these are MY opinions regarding the camera. i am not a professional nor knowledgeable. this is what i have to say based on my experience with the camera. i am also not paid to do this* 

Of Cats and Kittens

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I just discovered how cats can be very good test subjects. Not for science experiments, but as subjects in your photos. They're naturally photogenic. They know how to deal with the camera which is great. I think, I need to learn from cats when posing for the camera. 

As you can tell, I love cats. I love animals, in general. As kids, my brother and I were keen in adopting stray cats into our home. It started with just one cat, Orange. Cats can multiply really fast, I tell you. In a matter of two or three years, we already had 20 of them. 

In Negros, my folks have a cat. They just call her Mingay for the lack of a better name. Here in Cebu, we don't have cats of our own anymore. We've just "adopted" some cats who like to stay on our porch. Although they're not ours, we just feed them. I've also named two of them.

No animals were harmed in this shoot. Rather, they captivated me with their cuteness and their playfulness.

Jerro, again. Fuji Superia 200 (expired) x CDR King 35mm camera

Stranger's cat. Fuji Superia 200 (expired) x CDR King 35mm camera

I call her Tambok. :) Fuji Superia 200 (expired) x CDR King 35mm camera

Voodoo, my favorite flirty kitty. Lucky Super 200 (fresh) x Minolta Maxxum 3

Meow! I don't know her name. Centuria DNP 400 (expired) x Minolta Maxxum 3

Tingko, Alcoy

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You ever experienced that itching feeling that makes you want to take a dip and bask in the sun? To scratch that itch, we decided to head down south to Alcoy. Tingko in Alcoy is one of the best free beaches that Cebu can offer both to locals and tourists as well. The trip to Alcoy takes around two hours or less, during less-busy days. You will only pay for your fare to Alcoy from the South Bust Terminal, which is around P109.

I'd like to think that Tingko in Alcoy is a good substitute for packed beach resorts. It's like getting away from the bustle of the city.

We got our own table and a bench for P200. It was even too big for us. This is just an option, however. There are a number of visitors who bring tents with them or just lie in the sand. There are also huge white tents, with chairs, that you can rent. I'm not sure how much it costs, though. A local said that it's quite pricey, around P1,000++. You can also choose to get a cottage or a beach house, especially if you are staying overnight. There are also boats that you can rent, if you want to go out in the sea.

If you're thinking of heading down to Alcoy, I'd advise you to ride a bus to Santander to get there. The Alcoy bus will only get you to Alcoy proper. You will have to ride a tricycle and pay P25 to get to Tingko from there. This can be a hassle. Don't forget to bring your lunch and food. It's a bit difficult to look for food in Alcoy, even in their market. So, make sure that you come prepared.

I really like the ambiance in Alcoy. Although there were lots of people, being a holiday, I was comfortable knowing that I wouldn't really bump to someone I know. I love the feel of the powdery sand beneath my feet and the sight of the kids running around. It's just comfortable.

*photos taken with Lucky Super 200 (fresh) x Minolta Maxxum 3*