Surfer’s world: how to get thrashed (and make friends)

This story…  I want to tell it so badly; almost as much as I want to be a part of it.

All good storytellers know that the best way to tell a story is from within. But to get there, you either have to have been there for years already (an insider’s story) or you have to get there… fast.  And that is pretty much where this story begins.

It’s a mixed bag of Filipino surfers I am hanging with these days: an adrenalin junkie with a hard plan to earn a million pesos before the year is out, a couple of extremely hot surfer chicks determined to have fun and make their mark in retail sponsorship, a mom and daughter film crew, a playboy Yankee investor scouting the high life for the next big gig, a pair of tourists and a wannabe journalist. We’re a team of comic relief waiting for disaster by boarding a rented banca, determined to hit swell on the open water side of Zambales, Philippines.

In the wake of Ondoy: Tumana

Tumana, Philippines – A young boy enjoys a nutritious meal at a community feeding program.

The headlines are gone; tied up in twine and buried or burned shortly after it happened.  The Press, too, is gone; off chasing the next disaster-du-jour, so we hear nothing more and think things are fine.  But the story of life in the wake of Typhoon Ondoy – a super storm that devastated parts of Luzon, the northern island of the Philippines in 2008, killing almost 800 people and displacing millions – is still unfolding because of the work of people you really should meet.

Papa John’s Center update

Visited Gemma B. over at Papa Johns Center to hear more about her work with abandoned kids in metro-Manila here in the Philippines.  Our family was introduced to PJC during a short term trip that my wife and 5-kids took with Action International back in 2008.

Gemma, if you don’t know has responded compassionately to a call that God put on her heart to care for these children at risk in the Philippines. In doing so, she put her budding dental career on hold to devote herself to what she believes is more important work.  She’s never looked back.

These are just some of the many that Gemma has been serving over the years.  For our part, we have been helping to support the educational needs of these kids with a weekly bottle drive called Recycle for Life back in Canada.

As I hope these quick pics can tell you, the kids are doing great!

The Circle – be unbroken

End of another perfect day in paradice… including a bonfire gig from killer local band “Indio-i” (they’re on iTunes) during Surf Fest sponsored by the Circle Hostel in San Felipe, Philippines.

Sorry kids, I may not be coming home after all.

~ with Tamara Benitez and paolo manuel soler.

Photo Walkabout – Day 1: Metro Manila

Back in metro Manila again and I am blown away by the pace of life and incredible growth that’s going on here.  High rises and condo salespeople are everywhere!

“OK, ok, so explain that circum-navigation thingy to me again…” Pilot to copilot conversation, Cathay Pacific enroute from Vancouver to HongKong.

Pasig City, Philippines – A thin wisp of smoke trails across the face of a statue of the Virgin Mary at a small home shrine.

Pasig City, Philippines – Street vendor serving up fresh coconut water at curbside.

Queson City, Philippines – A fairy tale atmosphere is created in and around the large SM North shopping mall of metro Manila.

Queson City, Philippines – Upper floors in atrium of huge the monsterous SM North mall.

Queson City, Philippines – Camera tricks of “dragging the shutter” gives the appearance of speed in heavy traffic, when in fact this mass of cars is moving at a snail’s pace.

Queson City, Philippines – A lightly loaded rail car is about to get so crammed I can’t even lift the camera over my head in metro Manila’s MRT transit system.

Queson City, Philippines – Lovers crowd together in the back of metro Manila’s MRT transit system.

The purpose behind this trip – call it a Photo Walkabout – is to simply chase light, recharge my creative batteries and refine my vision.  The good Lord and Wifi willing, I’ll keep you posted with regular posts to the blog here; so don’t be shy – sign up for email updates over in the right of the page and let’s see where this goes.  And feel free to drop a comment or two; these trips are always more fun when folks share a journey together.

Cheers! ~ craig

Light and tight: the Lowepro Rover Pro 45L AW

My need to downsize is a function of man hours and poundage – seriously, I’ve been schlepping 30 pounds of gear around on my shoulders since the turn of the century and the body is starting to tell me something: “Lighten UP!”

To that end, when Lowepro asked for my thoughts on their Rover Pro 45L AW bag, I jumped at the chance and am glad that I did.

Vernon, BC – A family daytrip with daughter (aka my shirpa) and Duchess the dog.

BUILT FOR COMFORT

Straight out of the package, it is clear that the Rover Pro is born for the lightweight at heart. 

How to fix a stuck filter

The following method was explained to me by a Canon Professional Service technician.  Note: this procedure is not recommended for the faint of heart!

Salmon Arm, BC – Steps to remove a stuck lens filter: #1. Use hacksaw to cut rim of the filter down to the glass on 4 ‘sides’.

Step #2: Use Ballpein hammer to strike filter glass in progressively harder taps until filter glass breaks.

Step #3: Pick out shattered glass of filter.

Step #4: Blow off glass/metal bits, then using pliers, bend/peel edges of filter rim into the centre of the filter to pull pressure off of inner threads of lens.

Step #5: Using pliers, bend/peel edges of filter rim into the centre of the filter to pull pressure off of inner threads of lens.

Step #6: Again, blow off glass/metal bits, and replace with new filter.

Step #7: Praise God that it worked!

Thanks for the love, FoundFolios

Opened my inbox this morning to find out that the online portfolio service, FoundFolios, has picked us for their monthly “New & Hot” talent promo.

What a great way to kick off December!

Now off to Halcyon Hot Springs for the weekend to ponder some really serious business matters…

Headshots: diversify your face

There’s more to great headshots these days than just your head.  You’ve got to engage the imagination if you really want to catch folks’ attention.

Case in point: Chris, the proprietor of Panmelodia – an independent music production company – dropped by the other day needing photos to introduce his new (top secret) business launch – the culmination of a pricey year of studies in Langera College’s Music Production Program. One might argue that business launches should not be top secret, but Chris wants to get his branding and content down tight before he starts beating the drum and that makes pretty good sense.

Playing off on the notion of diverse talent with defined style, we decided to create a series of personal portraits for his website that had a photo booth feel to it. Let us know what you think.

As for the launch… stay tuned.  Big things are coming in just a few weeks time.

Armistice, lest we forget…

In my mind, O.B. Pulsifer, Sr. is the stuff of legends. A tough blend of maverick and enterprise; persistence that verged on stubborn logic and, yes, even deep emotion (though no one was supposed to know). It’s quite likely that Alexander Keith’s Ale coined their best slogan after hearing about Grampy because: “Those that liked [him], liked him a lot.”

 

In fairness, the same could not be said of all. After reading a couple of his scathing letters to various politicians – from the Prime Minister on down – about democracy and how to restore it – I’m quite certain that he did have his detractors. But it being Armistice (Remembrance) Day, I am here to say that he should be numbered among a generation of countless heroes.