Joy Ride

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Got this shot from the back of a jeepney.
Their expressions says it all, especially for the big black camera.
It is also for http://tristantrakand.livejournal.com/ if your homophobic just don't go there, you'll rupture something. For the rest of the world, enjoy a different perspective.

Chow Time

I have written about fast food joints here in the Philippines but I don’t think I have written about Chow King. It is part of the Jolibee Empire of which the name sake is by far and away the most popular FFJ in these islands despite the pink goo, or because of it, which can send your average Yank running for the hills.

Chow King is unique amongst FFJ’s both here and all those that I have experienced post 1995. The only one I can recall that came close was Bernie’s in Perth which succumbed to the monolith that is the FF industry in the mid 90’s. What both of these places had/have in common is they sell actual food. They have the fast food restaurant (if a FFJ can be called that) flow through design of servicing the maximum number of customers in the minimum amount of time. (Ok Bernie’s was never that high tech but they were still pretty quick)

But where Chow King differs from its competitors is in what comes out of the kitchen. It is food, no soggy cardboard pretends, real , identifiable, pieces of meat and veg that resonate to the bite.

The best beloved and I indulged last Saturday evening (yes I know it’s sad that that is the highlight of our Saturday night, but what can you expect we are an old married couple). I had the Shanghai Lauriat, 3 Shanghai Lumpia rolls, noodles, a couple of Dim Sums, rice, prawn crackers and buchi, all very tasty with varying textures. The best beloved had Chao Fan rice which is the best fried rice I have ever tasted (it comes with 6 star out of 5 rating) and Stir fried noodles where one could actually identify the various components ( cabbage, spring peas, pork, fish balls, pork liver and miki pancit).

All in all it was a damn fine feed and if you ever have the chance to visit Chow King, just do it, you won’t be disappointed.

PINOY CONTRACTOR

Came across this at Craigs List and it made me smile.


Three contractors are bidding to fix the White House fence.
One from the Philippines, another from Mexico and an American.
They go with a White House official to examine the fence.
The American contractor takes out a tape measure and does some
measuring, then works some figures with a pencil.
"Well," he says. "I figure the job will run about $900: $400 for
materials, $400 for my crew and $100 profit for me."
The Mexican contractor also does some measuring and figuring, then says,
"I can do $700: $300 for materials, $300 for my crew and $100 profit for me."
The Filipino contractor doesn't measure or figure, but leans over to the
White House official and whispers: "$2,700."
The official, incredulous, says, " What? You didn't even measure like
the other guys! How did you come up with such a high figure?"
"How do you expect me to consider your service with that bid?"
"Easy," the Pinoy explains, "$1,000 for you, $1,000 for me and we hire
the guy from Mexico".

The next day, the Pinoy got the contract.

Two Things I Know to be True

There are only two things I know to be true. The act of creation is in part an act of destruction and change is the only constant. As the painter destroys the canvas when they place their marks upon it, as the architect destroys the landscape to impose their building so I destroy my photographs to make my art. Also, one moment in time is as valid as any other and although a particular moment may stay in the memory longer than others, its longevity is due more to the individual than the scene.

The approach to the photographic aspect of my work is like that of a street photographer. No pre-visualization or set ups, just shoot the scene as it is presented, quick grabs of moments in time that appeal to my visual sensibilities.

Once the captured image meets up with the editing software on my computer, it quickly deviates from the street photography genre into the realms of abstraction questioning the images motivation. Using various editing filters, I deconstruct the photograph. Working with the elements of colour, line and form I delve below the composition of the recorded moment in time to build a new image that explores the underlying motivation that caused the shutter to be pressed when it was.

There is no way I could pre-visualize this stuff, it grows organically as I play in the digital sand pit. More often than not, the print bears no resemblance to the original RAW file but conveys a deeper meaning that I was unaware existed when I took the snap. And the results are often surprising, sometimes amazing and occasionally awe inspiring.

The Street photography section of the site is in the most part pretty much what came out of the camera with only minimal software intervention. In the abstract section the images have been pulled apart and rebuilt, a journey in which the image dictates what directions to take, my major contribution is knowing when a destination has been reached.

Yes, this is my latest attempt at an Artistic Statement, an essential part of an artist's arsenal in the marketing game, silly me I thought it was the pics, whatever. For better or worse the above is what I was able to come up with, if it flicks your switches check out what I am talking about at www.pissedpoetpics.com.

Painters for Human Rights

I have recently posted 3 of my images at Painters for Human Rights. Now this has to be a worth while undertaking. At the risk of wearing my heart on my sleeve The Universal Declartion of Human Rights is one of, if not the most important documents to which one can swear allegiance. Click on the link above if you are interested in seeing which of the 30 I hooked my pics onto. They are currently the last 3 in the gallery.

One for the Road

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Just one more to toast the dear departed.
This image was taken at a wake here in the Philippines where the dear departed was laid out in style and all who knew him came to pay their last respects and wish his soul bon voyage.

Catholic Church - Malolos

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This imposing facade takes up one side of the Malolos city square.
It is also featured on the almost defunct 10 peso note, which has been replaced by a coin. The ravages of time are starting to deface its grandure as to does the pressures of a modern life style make inroads on the faith that built it.

Makati Skyline

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This imposing facade takes up one side of the Malolos city square
It is also featured on the almost defunct 10 peso note, which has been replaced by a coin. The ravages of time are starting to deface its grandure as to does the pressures of a modern life style make inroads on the faith that built it.

David Wins Again?

The court marshal of First Lieutenant Ehren Watada has been declared a mistrial. This man of honour and courage took on the US Military and consequently their masters the American Government when he refused to be apart of their illegal Iraq war.

By the use of some legal side stepping the military judge, Lt. Col. John Head, just prior to the lieutenant taking the stand in his own defense, swept the issue of the legality of the lieutenant’s orders under the carpet. Throughout this whole sorry mess the military court did its best to keep the legality of the war as far away from the issue as possible. But it couldn’t deny Watada his day in court and their it knew the illegality of the Iraq war would be writ large.

That I suspect will be the end of this saga, especially now that talk of double jeopardy is in the air. If that is the case and the court marshal of the brave lieutenant is left to languish by his military masters it would surely be an admission that the Iraq war is indeed an illegal war.

One wonders if the newly elected US Congress will pick up the cudgels? I suspect not as they, unlike the good lieutenant, are not people of honour and courage they are of a similar ilk to their president, they be politicians.

Greenbelt Neon