My Top 10 Records for 2011

2011 was a great year for some great music. And maybe it’s time for me to list down my top 10 and most played records of 2011.

Happy New Year.

 1.  Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues

2. Yuck - S/t

3. Explosions In The Sky - Take care Take care Take care

4. M83 -  Hurry Up, Were Dreaming

5. Washed Out – Within Without

6. Bon Iver – S/t

7. J Mascis – Several Shades of Why

8. Defeater – Empty Days, and Sleepless Nights

9. Rosetta/Junius Split

10. La Dispute – Wildlife

Gilbert & Jela

Gilbert and Jela prenuptial teaser photos. Click on the image for better viewing. :)

Contact:

lorenzoreyes@photobydeardiary.com

+63917504ENZO(3696)

Gilbert + Jela

Gilbert + Jela

Running from forever like all the rest

- Heaven in her arms by Converge

Contact:

Lorenzo Reyes

lorenzoreyesphotography@gmail.com

+639175043696

A smile a day

Some people just act weird when you have a camera pointed at their face in public. Some maybe conscious or shy and some will give you that frightening stare. This is the beauty of taking photos on the streets. On the other hand, here is a set of photos of people with a smile on their face.There is the pa-cute smile by the city's traffic enforcer, there is the conscious yet boast a big smile for the camera and there is the weird smile. I am not sure he's really smiling or what but he appreciate it when I took the shot. So I guess that's positive.

This why I really love street portrait. No need to ask them to strike a pose for and most importantly emotion and stories are real.

No Future sa Pader

No future sa pader

"No future sa pader" is a classic anthem by the Filipino punk band Urban Bandits. What future do we have for this kid sniffing solvent on the street? We cannot tell.

Ped Xing

Ped Xing

Madonna

Madonna

A mother and child portrait. 

In times like this

In Times Like This

Another street portrait taken at the streets of Batangas City. One reason why I love street portraiture specifically candid is you can simply tell a story by just looking at the person's expression and eyes.

I only use a 50mm 1.8 lens for my street photos.

City of Seven Lakes

Friends Aiko and Arnold while food tripping at Sanpaloc Lake in San Pablo Laguna for Earth Decay 2011 an annual Indie-Punk-Hardcore Fest for the environmental awareness. Great view, great street foods, lots of fun. 

Settled Down

Settled Down is a three piece Punk Rock band from Bauan Batangas. Check them on Facebook

Book Me!

lorenzoreyesphotography@gmail.com

+639175043696

Happy and Confused

Happy and Confused

A happy man and a confused lady at the back, as they hide the mystery in blurs.

Kubrador

KUBRADOR ( Bet Collector)

"Kubrador" is the bet collector for the illegal game called Jueteng (a game of numbers) dating from the Philippine-Spanish colonial period. This also serves as a milking cow for some politicians and the likes.

No One Knows Where We Go

No One Knows Where We Go

Been shooting streets portraits for quite some time now, and I can say that this is my favorite so far. The eyes and  the smile is so genuine, it gives so much emotion that once you look and stare at this photo. It gives you a feeling that you cant explain, maybe a mixture of joy and a little bit of sadness.

On the other hand, he's not your typical street kid or should I say not the easy prey. He is on his neat school uniform and just eating some street foods from the vendors outside the market. The title "No one knows where go" is a line from a song "Rabid bits of time" by Chad VanGaalen. It was a beautiful song, from the lyrics, to the music up to his voice. It was a song full of genuine emotion. 

And it was the perfect caption for this photo.

*Listening to Rabid bits of time by Chad VanGaalen

No To Contractualization

This people are working for several years now at Purefoods Flour Division a company owned by San Miguel Corporation in Batangas near our place. And my sympathy goes to this people, who work so hard for less. I heard that every 5 or 6 months they have to renew their contract, in order to go back to work and have some food on their table. 

Labor Contractualization is one way for this corporations to remove the Unions and exploit the rights of every worker. They never become regular employees even if they get hired repeatedly for years.

Contractualization of labor is favorable to the employers in more ways than one:

1. Union and strikes are prevented as workers as strictly they are not employees of the employer or principal. A five-month or less contract also does not give the employees a chance to organize.
2. Contractual workers replaced retrenched regular workers.
3. Most of the contractual workers do not have benefits such as PhilHealth and SSS.
4. Contractualization further depresses the already very low wages of workers. 4/10 respondents revealed that they are paid below the mandated minimum wage. From this income, they spend as much as P500 up to P1,000 in application requirements. They also have to pay for the cost of their uniforms and other work paraphernalia.
5. Contractuals cannot refuse overtime work which during the peak season means staying beyond until 10 p.m., though the labour code prohibits this as inhuman practice.
6. Contractualization brings down the workers’ self-esteem. As a whole, management looks down on workers but their biggest contempt is reserved for contractual.
7. It nurtures and reinforces the already prevailing culture of docility and subservience that have been inherited from the feudal-patriarchal culture introduced by Spanish colonizers.

- From Wikipedia on the topic of Contractualization

I say this is GREED.

The dream is not over.

The dream is not over,

We are still looking for answers.

Something for a cause POWER OFF 10.11.11

Having the highest industrial and residential power rates in Asia, the Philippine electricity/power industry has contributed significantly to the stagnation of domestic industries, and consequently, the loss of economic dynamism and sustainability. This has made life harsher and harder especially for the greater majority of working and impoverished Filipinos who suffer the burdensome consequences of depressed wages, job losses, high prices of goods and services, and an even poorer quality of life than before.

We, the consumers, need to unite and act now. Let us switch our lights off and hold noise barrage on October 11, at 7:30 PM, to send a strong message to government agencies and officials involved.

No to high electricity rates!

Stop privatization of Angat Dam in Bulacan, Unified Leyte Geothermal Plants in Visayas and Agus-Pulangi hydrocomplexes in Mindanao!Overhaul EPIRA!

POWER-OFF 10.11.11

The Trics

Street portraits of tricycle drivers found in the city.

*Listening to Jesus and Mary Chain - Some Candy Talking 

The daily dose

Kapit

Oras

Bilis

Higpitan mo ang kapit,

Habang pinapatay naten ang oras.

Sa bilis ng takbo ng buhay,

Bukas lang ang naghihintay.

- Lorenzo Reyes

Street Portraits

The Shoeman

Friends Forever

The Shoelady

The Kids Are Alright

Through the Eyes

Taken from the streets of Batangas. I remember this kid always strike a pose whenever I point and click my camera. 

Brighter

This kid has a problem with his one eye, and that is not a problem to put a smile. 

This street photos is not about poverty, this is more about life and the reality that surrounds us. This are portraits that reflect the lives of every individual that we can found on the streets. Every picture tells a story. This why we love walking down the streets with our camera and capturing the days of our lives. 

"There is so much beauty with simplicity."

Alien Invasion

Trekking at Mt. Gulugod Baboy in Mabini Batangas and I found this clouds of rain at the peak of the mountain.

Wedding Photos

More photos at www.photobydeardiary.com

A lot like love

This is what I've been doing lately, I'm writing some demo songs for my indie- lofi- bedroom pop project. After The Morning After I didn't form or joined any other bands because I cant handle commitments especially for band rehearsals and gigs. Instead I create a solo project, so I can practice and play anytime I want without commitments. Hope you like it and don't forget to send me your thoughts. Enjoy.

A lot like love

One time I kissed you,

and I hold your hand

next to my heart. 

Close to my heart.

Have you noticed,

how time passes by?

As I lift my cup of coffee,

only to realize its already empty.

Already empty.

Already empty.

Portrait from the streets

Random Trip to the Bookstore.

Just made a random trip to the bookstore and I found this book on sale "It feels so good when I stop" by Joe Pernice.