Pictures from the bench/ Uncut Denim & Underwear Show (Part 2)

NOTE: The post before this is “Part 1″ of the Photos from the bench/ Uncut Denim & Underwear Show 2010. You might want to head there first. Thanks!

You never guessed there’ll be a second installment to that last post, right? Me neither. Looking back at it and judging by the sheer volume of organic hits I got from my beloved Google, I figured, I’d give you guys some more snaps to oogle at. Same great quality and still low in calories and sugar. Great for the heart, too! I won’t be putting up Jake Cuenca’s ass shot nor Rafael Rosell’s with his undies down on his knees because that’s just plain tacky. Also, I figured, why is Ben Chan’s photo not in that first set? And the designers, when owing to them, the whole world had an Uncut Denim & Underwear Show for 2010?!

I did mention that there were several hundreds of models, dancers, and performers who gave their best in that hour and a half abs/bosom-fest and most of them will go nameless to the then spectators and those who will see these images. Heck, even I don’t know half of the names of all supposedly popular models and TV personalities in these photos. The least I could do for them and their craft, however, is show them to you and, hopefully, it could reach them and they can show others and they’ll go, “I was there, showed them what I got, and here’s the proof.” Good times.

Let’s start with Ben Chan and the designers Cory Santiago (Pinoy Lab), Furne One (Far East), Val Taguba (Brazil), Ezra Santos (Africa), and Michael Cinco (Russia). Applause please! Yes, in front of your laptops, Macs, or PCs, stand up slowly and give them all a slow clap. That’s it. Good lad.

Next, let’s showcase some of the performers who danced their asses off during the show.

Next, the models who really did well. You have all made your momma proud. Seriously.

Here are some tight photos which I deliberately missed to publish last time. As for the reason, ask me the next time you meet me in person. Maybe, when I’m sane, I’ll give you an answer.

Lastly, here are some variations of the shots I already shared previously.

It’ll be two years from now until the next denim and underwear show from bench/. I hope this collection lasts you that long. LOL

This second set of photos from bench/ Uncut can be found on my flickr.

Notice: All images in this post are proprietary to the author. This post is not sponsored by either bench/, Panasonic Lumix, their marketing arm, nor affiliates. Should you wish to use them in your own website, do ask permission and link back to fritzified.com. If you do not agree with my terms, get the fuck out of here.

Continue reading...

Pictures from the bench/ Uncut Denim & Underwear Show (Part 1)

NOTE: The post after this is “Part 2″ of the Photos from the bench/ Uncut Denim & Underwear Show 2010. You might want to head there next. Thanks!

If you have been since last night looking for photos from Uncut, the 5th installment of the biennial denim & underwear show from bench/, then you have come to the right place. The fashion show happened on July 2, 2010 at the Araneta Coliseum. Pardon the quality because I can only take snaps using a point and shoot camera waaaaaaaay up at the Upper Box A area.

This is the cam I used, believe it or not /snooty

This year, the show is all about “gearing towards 2020″ where 5 middle-east trained haute couture designers share their take on five reference countries as their assigned segments. I went to watch thinking I’d see the usual catwalk modeling gig, this being my first to witness a bench/ fashion show. Instead, the audience were treated with a grand visual assault of movement, expertly showcased in the dynamics between the dancers, singers, and models and, with overwhelming precision, they’re thrown into an exquisite mix of props, sound, textures, and patterns, testament that these guys really know what they are doing. The over-the-top accessories did a splendid job in making your eyes wander off and away from the new underwear designs, as did the well known TV and model personalities, but that’s the point of “blowing everyone’s mind out of proportions.” They’re like the fonts in a big, bold signeage that read “local can walk with the giants of couture,” or something like that but more oomphy.

An hour and a half late, the show kicked off with Cory Santiago and Doro Brandino’s collaboration for Pinoy Lab 2020. Furne One follows with Far East (and China). Val Taguba was next with Brazil (South America), then Ezra Santos came out with Africa, and last was Michael Cinco with his take for Russia. The show finished an hour and a half later at around 10 p.m.

I’ve never seen a show that had this much models before. At the very end of bench/ uncut, everybody did the customary runway walk once more, where hundreds of models made it look like nobody went out more than once in several segments. Outrageous, I know. There were just A LOT! Those who modelled include Benjamin Tang, Christian Bautista, Diether Ocampo, Ejay Falcon, Enchong Dee, Francheska Farr, Geoff Taylor, Georgina Wilson, Gerald Anderson, Iya Villana, Jake Cuenca, Jay-R, John Prats, Jon Avila, Karylle, Katrina Halili, Kim Chiu, Rafael Rosell, Rayver Cruz, Regine Angeles, Shaina Magdayao, Zanjoe Marudo, Carla Abellana, Aljur Abrenica, Carl Guevarra, Kris Bernal, Robi Domigo, Sam Pinto, Starstruck V: Steven Silva, Sarah Lahbati, & Rocco Nacino, Ron Morales, Coco Martin, Jome Silayan, Melai Cantiveros, Jason Francisco, and many more.

The photos may have a larger format, moreso for those in landscape, so head to the flickr page by clicking on the pic to see the larger image.

More pics from bench/ Uncut on my flickr.

Notice: All images in this post are proprietary to the author. This post is not sponsored by either bench/, Panasonic Lumix, their marketing arm, nor affiliates. Should you wish to use them in your own website, do ask permission and link back to fritzified.com. If you do not agree with my terms, get the fuck out of here.

Continue reading...

Photos from the Super Junior Super Show 2 Manila Concert

In this post are 32 photos I took from the Super Junior Super Show 2 Manila (Philippines) Concert held on April 10, 2010 at the Araneta Colosseum. Initially, I thought the Upper Box B spectators will be too far away from the stage.  Far, yes, but not too far.  I saw SuJu together with Faith, Kring, and Jimmy. Good Times.

Before KPop haters, who most probably watch local soaps in earnest (talk about class. LOL), disown me, let it be known that only the 733t has seen the concert considering the 7.5k (VIP), 6.5k (Upper Box A), 4.5k (Upper Box B), and 1k (for Gen Ad) ticket prices. The VIPs got the best deal: front row seats to over 3 hours of adrenaline pumped entertainment. The numbers Super Junior performed were well paced. Videos were played to intermission the next set and give the performers time to prepare and change wardrobe. Despite some numbers being obviously lip synced, and in spite Araneta’s next to horrible acoustics (maybe because of substandard sound equipment or them using low quality audio file, I can’t be absolutely sure), the Korean boy group delivered quality entertainment: a true testament of showmanship. I now understand how they managed to draw so much love from fans throughout Asia. Several of theirs were not present but they flew in 2 other “members” from China (as Kring explained).

My question to the fans: were the fan-service enough and to your liking? A curious term, this “fan service.” I only came across it of late and, up to now, I still can’t fully grasp the concept.

[EDIT] Click here to see the full HD vid of “Sorry, Sorry,” taken from the concert.

Continue reading...

Poblacion Makati Lent 2010

Resitends near the U-Belt area have so many churches to go to making it a cinch for them to complete visita iglecia, a custom for those of the Catholic faith where they visit 14 churches during the Lenten Season. In Poblacion, Makati, however, people visit elaborate works of art made to house various images of Christ depicting the various stages of his “way to the cross.” (You may see all the 42 photos I took below)

I’m not aware of any contest where the best designed stations win. The residents go all out to come up with these life-sized structures year after year like clockwork. Comparing this year with last year’s setup, I have observed that the statues are the same (as in 2009) for each street. It’s what surrounds it that’s different. Also, there are stations that look “low budget” as there are some that look well financed. You may catch yourself thinking, “oh, this one’s a B-Movie… but that other one’s definitely a James Cameron/Michael Bay.” LOL

If I recall correctly, come Sunday, all these shall already be taken down. If you’ve nothing to do on Holy Friday, take your cue from the hundreds of photographers I saw a while ago, go to Poblacion (Makati), and marvel at these, IRL, yourself. People from northern Metro Manila may make their way on a pilgrimage towards Antipolo but people in Makati choose to conveniently crowd the Poblacion residential streets (causing JP Rizal to become two-way during the day time). Instead of praying, why is it that I’ve witnessed hundreds of camwhores striking poses beside their suffering God again? *click* Am I missing something here? *click*

On Holy Friday, there will be a procession at around 6PM. Either stay out of Poblacion or stay in it for the highlight of their Lenten celebration.

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

Continue reading...

Supafly Singled Out from the Quiapo Crowd

Kids, I have to warn you that fishing out your camera on the LRT platform can be very dangerous even if it’s a mere point and shoot camera you’re using. Fast forward to Sunday afternoon while we were lounging at the San Mig Cafe inside the Oceanarium after a day of walking around Manila, I was reviewing my shots and came upon this:

I don’t know if it’s typical of Quiapo to be this crowded but I wouldn’t be caught dead swimming with that swarm. I’m not really a crowd person is why. I zoomed at the photo to see if anybody’ll stand out. Yeah, one person did.

See him yet? Let’s zoom in a little more.

Wide view… magnified… magnified… hold it right there Supafly! LOL

Now, the big question after this exercise: “Can your point and shoot camera do that?” /gloat

Continue reading...

In Photos: Two Eclipses and a January

This much I know when attempting to photograph an eclipse, be it lunar or solar: my first few attempts will always end up a failure. See that post-header image? Got that this at around past 5 in the afternoon on 01.15.2010 when I hoped for a decent shot of the solar eclipse. Shooting earlier would have ended in failure because those blasted clouds decided to block the sun. Way to go, clouds!

I rushed to another office window to get a clear view of the sun minus the metal obstructions and got depressed because no matter what setting I use on the Lumix ZS3, I still couldn’t get a decent shot. What followed was an idea I got when I was still in school: get a micro floppy disc, tear it open, and get the magnetic film inside and use that to filter the brightness that’s too much for the camera’s sensor. I got excited when, finally, I got this (pardon the digital noise):

I did my best but it ain’t good enough and so I tried to get another shot but was already too late. The sun has already set. :(

I used the full zoom (12x optical) and tweaked the following with the dial on “normal picture” mode (limited manual):

ISO Sensitivity: Auto
AF: 1-point
Pre-AF: Continuous AF
Metering Mode: Spot
Intelligent Exposure: On
Stabilizer: Mode 2
Min. Shutter Speed: 1/8

Coincidentally, I just discovered that I used almost the same settings in getting this Lunar Eclipse shot on January 1, 2010 (save for the Min. Shutter Speed factor which I set to 1/60 for this photo):

Compact point-and-shoot cameras win at life. See those lines? Fuckit, I never thought that those can be captured, either. You may see the images of my first two failed attempts for the lunar eclipse in this flickr page.

Gloat factor: these images were not enhanced/post-processed, save for the in-camera cropping and/or resizing.

Continue reading...

Shooting Tim Burton’s “Corpse Bride” Mini-Figures

It’s been a while. Good thing Anne’s got new toys on the shelf downstairs. Photos are of the Tim BurtonCorpse Bride Mini-Figure Collector’s Ser Series 2 from McFarlane Toys. Used the Lumix ZS3 in “Manual” mode, white balance in auto, 200 ISO max, and macro. Light source, as usual, is a 21-LED caving light. Tell me what you think.

The good thing about the Lumix is I’ve no need to reduce noise levels despite using a very low ISO limit and a paltry light source. Loving the cam all the more.

Continue reading...