The painted ladies of San Francisco

Elegant. Regal. Stoic. And it looks like they are wearing make-up. Actually, they are somewhat overly made up, if you ask me. They are a bit formal. Well, that's because this row of houses, which is quite famous, has been historically preserved by the city. And it was even given a fitting nickname: the painted ladies. No wonder they look like they are wearing make-up! Or their nails, polished. Imagine real old ladies, going to town, and they are all dolled up. That's how these houses seem to look like.

[Note: If you’d like to inquire about the wide range of professional photography services and products offered by The Playground Professional Photography Studios, please call landlines + 63 2 812 21 79 and + 63 2 828 28 11 ext. 873 (Rane), mobile + 63 917 373 80 37 (DJ) or + 63 917 934 55 82 (Renzo). You can also send email to fun@theplaygroundstudios.com for your questions. For more information, visit The Playground Professional Photography Studios official website. We are proud that The Playground is sponsored and supported by Nikon, Epson, Apple, Eneloop, Xacti, Sanyo, Globis, Airborne Access, Global Destiny and MyDestiny. The Playground Professional Photography Studio is a photographic imaging partner of ESC Creative and MediaCircus. It is also associated with The Philippine Center for Creative Imaging (PCCI), John Robert Powers (JRP), CalCarrie International Models, Ford Models International Philippines, and Runway Productions. Likewise, it is the premiere digital imaging consultant to and affiliate of the Solid Group, Inc. Professional photographer Dominique James of The Playground Professional Photography Studios proudly shoots via WIFI with the Nikon D2Xs digital camera and all original Nikkor lenses. All fine art images created by Dominique James are exclusively printed on Epson’s Stylus Pro printers using genuine Epson papers and inks. Copyright 2007 © Dominique James, The Dominique James Professional Photography Studios and The Playground Professional Photography Studios. All rights reserved.]

Holding San Francisco in my hands

I went up to a really interesting vantage point (Twin Peaks, if you must know), framed the city, and clicked my camera. Really, that's all there is to it. The whole thing seems to be dreadfully uninteresting. Unless, of course, you carefully look at each and every portion of the captured image (particularly the unprocessed, original RAW image file). It is fascinating when you try to figure out specific details from out of the motley of too much details. You are bound to see something there. Anyway, I love this image because it presents an indeterminate mosaic of a cityscape. It's like holding the entire city of San Francisco in my two hands, and never really letting it go. This photograph was exclusively post-processed using Apple's Aperture 2.0. I love the new Aperture 2.0! I know, you will too.

[Note: If you’d like to inquire about the wide range of professional photography services and products offered by The Playground Professional Photography Studios, please call landlines + 63 2 812 21 79 and + 63 2 828 28 11 ext. 873 (Rane), mobile + 63 917 373 80 37 (DJ) or + 63 917 934 55 82 (Renzo). You can also send email to fun@theplaygroundstudios.com for your questions. For more information, visit The Playground Professional Photography Studios official website. We are proud that The Playground is sponsored and supported by Nikon, Epson, Apple, Eneloop, Xacti, Sanyo, Globis, Airborne Access, Global Destiny and MyDestiny. The Playground Professional Photography Studio is a photographic imaging partner of ESC Creative and MediaCircus. It is also associated with The Philippine Center for Creative Imaging (PCCI), John Robert Powers (JRP), CalCarrie International Models, Ford Models International Philippines, and Runway Productions. Likewise, it is the premiere digital imaging consultant to and affiliate of the Solid Group, Inc. Professional photographer Dominique James of The Playground Professional Photography Studios proudly shoots via WIFI with the Nikon D2Xs digital camera and all original Nikkor lenses. All fine art images created by Dominique James are exclusively printed on Epson’s Stylus Pro printers using genuine Epson papers and inks. Copyright 2007 © Dominique James, The Dominique James Professional Photography Studios and The Playground Professional Photography Studios. All rights reserved.]

A Biker's Pacific Sunset

I count myself lucky that I accidentally stumbled upon this magnificent silhouette of a biker. I found him resting and seated on his bike atop a ledge, and peacefully looking out into the amazing Pacific Sunset. He was oblivious with everything around him. I was drawn, and I was both shooting and walking towards him. I worked on this image using Apple's Aperture 2.0 to bring out the most amazing colors of the dramatic sunset. The new digital editing and enhancement tools in Aperture 2.0 such as Vibrancy, Definition, Luminance, Saturation, among others, easily and quickly brought out the outrageous beauty in this image. I love the new Aperture 2.0.

[Note: If you’d like to inquire about the wide range of professional photography services and products offered by The Playground Professional Photography Studios, please call landlines + 63 2 812 21 79 and + 63 2 828 28 11 ext. 873 (Rane), mobile + 63 917 373 80 37 (DJ) or + 63 917 934 55 82 (Renzo). You can also send email to fun@theplaygroundstudios.com for your questions. For more information, visit The Playground Professional Photography Studios official website. We are proud that The Playground is sponsored and supported by Nikon, Epson, Apple, Eneloop, Xacti, Sanyo, Globis, Airborne Access, Global Destiny and MyDestiny. The Playground Professional Photography Studio is a photographic imaging partner of ESC Creative and MediaCircus. It is also associated with The Philippine Center for Creative Imaging (PCCI), John Robert Powers (JRP), CalCarrie International Models, Ford Models International Philippines, and Runway Productions. Likewise, it is the premiere digital imaging consultant to and affiliate of the Solid Group, Inc. Professional photographer Dominique James of The Playground Professional Photography Studios proudly shoots via WIFI with the Nikon D2Xs digital camera and all original Nikkor lenses. All fine art images created by Dominique James are exclusively printed on Epson’s Stylus Pro printers using genuine Epson papers and inks. Copyright 2007 © Dominique James, The Dominique James Professional Photography Studios and The Playground Professional Photography Studios. All rights reserved.]

San Francisco's Palace of Fine Arts

Apple's brand new Aperture 2.0 is a totally awesome post-production tool that offers professional photographers new and much-improved editing and enhancements tools that are not available in previous versions. In this dramatic back-lit image of San Francisco's historic Palace Of Fine Arts, I was able to draw out the right amount of foreground details I wanted such as the shimmer in the pond, some detailed features in the Rotunda and Colonnades, among others. For this purpose, I used and combined Aperture 2.0's new editing tools such as Recovery, Black Point, Definition, Vibrancy, among others. Long-time Aperture users will be very happy to note a lot of great and exciting improvements in Aperture 2.0. For someone like me who has been using Aperture for the longest time, it's like falling in love with Aperture all over again.

[Note: If you’d like to inquire about the wide range of professional photography services and products offered by The Playground Professional Photography Studios, please call landlines + 63 2 812 21 79 and + 63 2 828 28 11 ext. 873 (Rane), mobile + 63 917 373 80 37 (DJ) or + 63 917 934 55 82 (Renzo). You can also send email to fun@theplaygroundstudios.com for your questions. For more information, visit The Playground Professional Photography Studios official website. We are proud that The Playground is sponsored and supported by Nikon, Epson, Apple, Eneloop, Xacti, Sanyo, Globis, Airborne Access, Global Destiny and MyDestiny. The Playground Professional Photography Studio is a photographic imaging partner of ESC Creative and MediaCircus. It is also associated with The Philippine Center for Creative Imaging (PCCI), John Robert Powers (JRP), CalCarrie International Models, Ford Models International Philippines, and Runway Productions. Likewise, it is the premiere digital imaging consultant to and affiliate of the Solid Group, Inc. Professional photographer Dominique James of The Playground Professional Photography Studios proudly shoots via WIFI with the Nikon D2Xs digital camera and all original Nikkor lenses. All fine art images created by Dominique James are exclusively printed on Epson’s Stylus Pro printers using genuine Epson papers and inks. Copyright 2007 © Dominique James, The Dominique James Professional Photography Studios and The Playground Professional Photography Studios. All rights reserved.]

International Safety Orange

The color is nothing more than rust most cynics will insist, but engineers will have to disagree. One of the world's most famous bridges, the Golden Gate, is meticulously covered in a specially formulated paint color. It is called the International Safety Orange. It gained the monicker Golden Gate because it typically glows golden in sunset. This is one of the after-sunset images I snapped of San Francisco's Golden Gate using my favorite camera, the Nikon D2Xs fitted with a Lensbaby 3G. I love the play of light in this bravely hand-held shot.

[Note: If you’d like to inquire about the wide range of professional photography services and products offered by The Playground Professional Photography Studios, please call landlines + 63 2 812 21 79 and + 63 2 828 28 11 ext. 873 (Rane), mobile + 63 917 373 80 37 (DJ) or + 63 917 934 55 82 (Renzo). You can also send email to fun@theplaygroundstudios.com for your questions. For more information, visit The Playground Professional Photography Studios official website. We are proud that The Playground is sponsored and supported by Nikon, Epson, Apple, Eneloop, Xacti, Sanyo, Globis, Airborne Access, Global Destiny and MyDestiny. The Playground Professional Photography Studio is a photographic imaging partner of ESC Creative and MediaCircus. It is also associated with The Philippine Center for Creative Imaging (PCCI), John Robert Powers (JRP), CalCarrie International Models, Ford Models International Philippines, and Runway Productions. Likewise, it is the premiere digital imaging consultant to and affiliate of the Solid Group, Inc. Professional photographer Dominique James of The Playground Professional Photography Studios proudly shoots via WIFI with the Nikon D2Xs digital camera and all original Nikkor lenses. All fine art images created by Dominique James are exclusively printed on Epson’s Stylus Pro printers using genuine Epson papers and inks. Copyright 2007 © Dominique James, The Dominique James Professional Photography Studios and The Playground Professional Photography Studios. All rights reserved.]

Glass

Let's toast the new year, featuring one of my favorite still life photos created with the fabulous Lensbaby 3G lens fitted over my Nikon D2xs camera. May all our dreams and wishes come true. May the year 2008 be the year when all of the good will happen to us.

[Note: If you’d like to inquire about the wide range of professional photography services and products offered by The Playground Professional Photography Studios, please call landlines + 63 2 812 21 79 and + 63 2 828 28 11 ext. 873 (Agnes), mobile + 63 917 373 80 37 (DJ) or + 63 917 934 55 82 (Renzo). You can also send email to fun@theplaygroundstudios.com for your questions. For more information, visit The Playground Professional Photography Studios official website. We are proud that The Playground is sponsored and supported by Nikon, Epson, Apple, Eneloop, Xacti, Sanyo, Globis, Airborne Access, Global Destiny and MyDestiny. The Playground Professional Photography Studio is a photographic imaging partner of ESC Creative and MediaCircus. It is also associated with The Philippine Center for Creative Imaging (PCCI), John Robert Powers (JRP), CalCarrie International Models, Ford Models International Philippines, and Runway Productions. Likewise, it is the premiere digital imaging consultant to and affiliate of the Solid Group, Inc. Professional photographer Dominique James of The Playground Professional Photography Studios proudly shoots via WIFI with the Nikon D2Xs digital camera and all original Nikkor lenses. All fine art images created by Dominique James are exclusively printed on Epson’s Stylus Pro printers using genuine Epson papers and inks. Copyright 2007 © Dominique James, The Dominique James Professional Photography Studios and The Playground Professional Photography Studios. All rights reserved.]

Transparently Dotted Red Glasses

It’s just a drinking glass, but it’s unlike a common and ordinary drinking glass. It’s a red transparent glass that’s evenly dotted. And that is what makes it interesting. And extraordinary. Imagine getting rid of your typical drinking glasses, boring artifacts of the household that you don’t even stop to notice, and replacing it with this set of red but transparently-spotted beauty. Drinking water, juice or Coke could become a little bit more fun. You can see these and other drinking glasses, as well as a variety of dining sets, at a specialty boutique in Makati called Beyond Bamboo. Beyond Bamboo offers an eclectic selection of modern and vintage things for the home. [Note: If you’d like to inquire about the wide range of professional photography services and products offered under my company, The Dominique James Photography Studio, call landline + 63 2 410 43 52 (ask for Agnes Taylan), mobile + 63 917 808 88 04, or email The Studio. For more information, visit The Dominique James Photography Studio website.]
Professional photographer Dominique James proudly shoots via WIFI with the Nikon D2Xs. All fine art images created by Dominique James are exclusively printed on Epson’s Stylus Pro printers using genuine Epson papers and inks. Copyright 2007 © Dominique James and The Dominique James Photography Studio. All rights reserved.

A Scoop Of Red

Everyone loves ice cream. And each has an all-time favorite flavor. Chocolate. Vanilla. Mocha. And then there are the more exotic flavors. Avocado. Buko. Pandan. Pistachio. But did you know that there are almost unknown but equally intriguing ice cream flavors that delight the tongue? For example, have you tasted the gourmet style of Sampaguita ice cream made out of real and fragrant sampaguita flower petals? Sampaguita ice cream is available only at Ilustrado Restaurant in Intramuros, Manila. Common or exotic or gourmet, ice cream tastes exquisite when served on the right kind of container, like the one I photographed above. You can see this beautiful ice cream single-scoop dish made of red acrylic glass (pictured above) at a boutique in Makati called Beyond Bamboo. This is part of the unique modern and vintage collections that is being sold at Beyond Bamboo. [Note: If you’d like to inquire about the wide range of professional photography services and products offered under my company, The Dominique James Photography Studio, call landline + 63 2 410 43 52 (ask for Agnes Taylan), mobile + 63 917 808 88 04, or email The Studio. For more information, visit The Dominique James Photography Studio website.]
Professional photographer Dominique James proudly shoots via WIFI with the Nikon D2Xs. All fine art images created by Dominique James are exclusively printed on Epson’s Stylus Pro printers using genuine Epson papers and inks. Copyright 2007 © Dominique James and The Dominique James Photography Studio. All rights reserved.

Tassels

It is the little things that count, they say. And true enough, a touch of this and a touch of that can add flair to an otherwise drab environment. Consider sprucing up your living room or your bedroom with unique and extraordinary accent pieces such as tassels. Adding tassels are an exquisite way of creating a touch of drama. Tassels are unobtrusive, and yet, the impact they create is unmistakable. You can see beautiful tassels like the one pictured here at a shop in Makati called Beyond Bamboo. This is part of the one-of-a-kind special pieces they sell. [Note: If you’d like to inquire about the wide range of professional photography services and products offered under my company, The Dominique James Photography Studio, call landline + 63 2 410 43 52 (ask for Agnes Taylan), mobile + 63 917 808 88 04, or email The Studio. For more information, visit The Dominique James Photography Studio website.]
Professional photographer Dominique James proudly shoots via WIFI with the Nikon D2Xs. All fine art images created by Dominique James are exclusively printed on Epson’s Stylus Pro printers using genuine Epson papers and inks. Copyright 2007 © Dominique James and The Dominique James Photography Studio. All rights reserved.

A Metallic Shade Of Lamp

We know how lampshades look like. We may even have one or two in our room. They serve a very curious function: to shade the bright light of a bare bulb and create a dramatic mood that lends a subtle, quiet, soft and even romantic ambience. Unless, of course, you are getting a different kind of lampshade. Like the one pictured above. The shade is made of small strips of flat metal which has been laboriously and painstakingly welded together into circular patterns to create an unusually textured metallic shade. The effect is stunning. You can see this lampshade at a shop in Makati called Beyond Bamboo. This is part of the one-of-a-kind special pieces they sell. [Note: If you’d like to inquire about the wide range of professional photography services and products offered under my company, The Dominique James Photography Studio, call landline + 63 2 410 43 52 (ask for Agnes Taylan), mobile + 63 917 808 88 04, or email The Studio. For more information, visit The Dominique James Photography Studio website.]
Professional photographer Dominique James proudly shoots via WIFI with the Nikon D2Xs. All fine art images created by Dominique James are exclusively printed on Epson’s Stylus Pro printers using genuine Epson papers and inks. Copyright 2007 © Dominique James and The Dominique James Photography Studio. All rights reserved.

Crystal Clear

You’ve seen it before, but you haven’t really seen it unless you see a picture of it. The power of photography is in making you look, really look, and see what the subject of the image really is--for what it is, for what it is not, and for what it should be. This is true for most of any photograph’s subjects, and also how the photographer treats and interprets the subject in visual terms. The visual depiction can evoke in the viewer a thought of identification and then elicit varying degrees of emotion. This photograph shows 3 elegant crystal decanters from one of the upscale oriental lifestyle boutiques in Makati called Beyond Bamboo. [Note: If you’d like to inquire about the wide range of professional photography services and products offered under my company, The Dominique James Photography Studio, call landline + 63 2 410 43 52 (ask for Agnes Taylan), mobile + 63 917 808 88 04, or email The Studio. For more information, visit The Dominique James Photography Studio website.]
Professional photographer Dominique James proudly shoots via WIFI with the Nikon D2Xs. All fine art images created by Dominique James are exclusively printed on Epson’s Stylus Pro printers using genuine Epson papers and inks. Copyright 2007 © Dominique James and The Dominique James Photography Studio. All rights reserved.