It’s That Time Again…

It’s been almost a month since my last update. I’ve been super busy in terms of school-work-photography and haven’t had a chance to update, which is bad because blogging my photography endeavors has done so much for me. So here’s to starting again!

Here are some interesting photographs from things I have been doing in the last month or so:

Photoshoot with Edwin Santiago, featuring:
Ben Cohen; retired Professional Rugby player.
http://www.ben-cohen.com/
Photographer: Edwin Santiago
Lighting Coordinator: Me
Assisted by: Francis Rualo
Wardrobe & MA: Merci Lim

This (multi-million dollar) house was located at somewhere in Hollywood Hills. It has a great view of Los Angeles and even more so on this day since it just rained a few days ago. Ben was such a nice guy and he was in town promoting his brand “Stand Up” which is an effort against bullying. I was assisting Edwin Santiago in carge of lighting for this shoot which will hopefully be featured in a magazine next year. Lighting was basic, reflector, 2 strobes and natural light for many of the shots. I managed to grab some candids of today, it was a great experience.

A Few From My Sister’s Wedding

Okay! I know what you are thinking. Why do you only have 3 pictures of your own sister’s wedding!? Well here’s the thing, my sister Tracy Luu, now Tracy Jane Luu Varnes, the one seen below in the white wedding dress who is always so thoughtful, kind, beautiful and loving wanted me to “enjoy” the wedding and not take part in any photography for the day. She’s so sweet huh? At first, I was sort of depressed about it, as her brother I thought I would be the obvious choice. Although, looking back I can see what. I was able to be a groomsman, to be in the presence of my family , immediate family and extended family. To really get to watch my sister Tracy and her now husband Adam basks in each other’s love and joy with both eyes and not squinting behind a lens.

I did however, sneak my camera with me that day so I could get this one shot I had in mind. Fortunately, I GOT IT! It’s the 3rd one below. Behind her is my other sister whom I love very much Steph! To me, it is probably the most meaningful and cherished photographs I’ve ever taken. It’s not perfect, it’s focused on the wrong eye for you pixel peeping, technique savvy perfectionist out there, and normally I would have thrown it in the trash. But! It’s not the quality, or the way it was taken, or the photographic features that make this image special to me. It’s that the two people I love the most, next to my parents, grandma and my dog cookie are sharing a very precious moment together, my sister’s wedding, her wedding dress and in a very candid moment. I’m not big on posing and that photograph as my mentor Genaro Molina would say, when you capture an photograph, you capture a precious moment in history; a moment that can never be genuinely duplicate or recreated.

I love you Tracy and you too Adam. Congratulations. Please bring home chili cheese fries.