Goddess de Machina (Fantasy ladies series part 1)

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*TOOLS USED: Photography (Nikon D7000 and SB900 speedlight) Manipulation: (Photoshop Cs3, Wacom tablet and pen, Mac)
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Hello there, good news, I'm alive and kicking again. I hope this will continue as I experiment with new Ps stuff, brainstorm new ideas plus enjoying the new Nikon line, the D7000 camera which I used for this image.
Goddess of Machina is not that extreme in a sense but somehow it challenged me on how to make a "simple" portrait into an out-of-this-world by combining my photography and steam punk theme that led to the creation of the mosquito-humming bird-bee-firefly flying metal creature (which I meticulously created from scratch). And of course, thanks to my model Dior who portrayed a Goddess like aura in posing my strobist shot. The two had a great story to tell and I guess that leaves you hanging there what's the real score bout their mysterious stares. hehe. Well, hopefully you like this one. I want to thank Cameraderie photogroup of Riyadh for the chance to shoot Dior.

Global WARMing Spa (Frozen Delights part 1 of 4)

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The winter season has two opposite faces.
For some, the sight of snow and the winter chills is a start of good holiday cheers. But for others, it's another fight against Mother Nature's frozen and drastic,uhm, nature. As promised, here's the 1st of 4 parts for my Winter special called "Frozen Delights series." It was indeed a challenge for me to create a weird Winterland and I'm hoping the idea would please my blog followers' and visitors' expectations. To realize my extreme photomanip, I opted for a surreal dwarf village where in houses are made of frozen fish. To feed your fancy thoughts more, I created a hot spring spa on a salmon. Oh, that's indeed mouth-watering, right eh? Hehe. Now, it's time to create parts 2, 3 and 4 within this chilling season for you to enjoy. Winter Cheers!

The Group Hug of Group Hugs: MESS in Atlantis (Photographers in Peril part 8)

Last September 2010, I met M.E.S.S.(Middle East Shutter Squad) members based in Bahrain in flesh whom I only have known or met through the web via Flickr and Facebook. Shooting with them, these guys are the most down-to-earth and cool photographers I've known and we enjoyed each other's company through photography and the 1st Pixelrocket basic photomanipulation seminar. With great hospitality extended to me through out my stay in Bahrain, it was a challenge for me to make a photoshop manipulation for the group as a tribute. So, it took me more than a month conceptualizing the best possible themes: first there was underwater (but I've Been There, Done that already) then a jungle fun tale (cool but can't visualize an epic piece) and lastly the mythical Atlantis. Well, it is a challenge indeed and the lost Atlantis is an EPIC and mysterious place to delve on...it's like a BIG IDEA waiting to explode. So my imagination work eventually. I primarily envisioned a tidal wave then came a lost civilization aura on my head. In the end, It's an utter ADVENTURE when I combined Greek, Egyptian and Aztec stuff to create my ideal Atlantis paradise with an EPIC wave engulfing the place. :) So, how did we saved our selves? Soon you'll know....more Photogaphers ala Indiana Jones! I extremely salute MESS!..keep on shooting! *Click out images to make it bigger! :)

Frog Mentality (Fallopian Dreams series part 2)

Photomanipulation and model photography by: George Pontino Jr
Model: Cyrene Pahilanga
Working time: 3-4 hours



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Happy Black Frog-Day..I mean Black Friday! :)
This time, it's a fantasy-based extreme manipulation but with a darker edge. My inspiration is the popular Frogprince tale that is popularized by the Brothers Grimm. In their tale, a spoiled princess reluctantly befriends a frog (possibly meeting him after dropping a gold ball into his pond), who magically transforms into a handsome prince. But in my point-of-view it is different, it's kind of bloody hell or bad ending. Well, who will end up as the luckiest fried frog next time? :D For the ladies: "You have to kiss (eat) a lot of frogs before you find your handsome prince." For the gentlemen: "Be ready for a deceptive romance in any order--Love, Pray, Eat!"
By the way, my blogsite has new features. You can now share my articles/images by clicking either Digg This! • Share on Facebook • Stumble It! OR • Save to del.icio.us. You can find it just below the title of the image or the grayish icons below the texts.

Reality is so Clear to Me (Can I Take Pictures of Your Dreams part 1)

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Welcome to my new Series called "Can I Take Pictures of Your Dreams?"
Pixelrocket has evolved into something dreamy, if I can put it in an artist's sense, it is more surreal than fun. My previous series involved fun and humor but this time, everything flipped into utter seriousness. Dreams are our escape from reality when we sleep and they are so mysterious that they are often interpreted as signs of upcoming events or even hints of past memories.
Taking part in my series is a fictional camera I created called Crystal Eye Dream 90. Also, I'm so thankful for my dream model for making this "dream project' a reality and taking pride to achieve that dream without nightmares and bad memories. =) Now, this series is indeed so clear to me.

"Get Well Soon..." (Need a Nurse) (-_/-) 37.7 °C

Help! Need a Nurse badly! Got the software sickness? or photomanipulation fever. (click the image to enlarge)

Safari Sun (Photographers in Peril part 5)

(NOTE: No animals were hurt during the shooting of this image and during the 2-hour rush photo manipulation process.)
A spark of an idea can be dangerous...
Well,for my part, my mind takes me to the African tundra, jungle or any perilous place it can imagine. But somehow, it is a creative spark that I like especially while making this image entitled "Safari Sun" starring my godson, little baby Alvi Alob, born in the Middle
East, a place so near to Africa. :) Well, good thing, I took some shots before of animals in dramatic poses like the tigers I posted in the step by step process guide. :)
This image is an answer to the previous photo manipulation that I uploaded via my Facebook account and pixel rocket blog. The question was: Is he a Nikonian or a Canonian? Well, you can find that piece of gadgetry's brand in the tiny hands of our little adventurer now. Who says only Dora the Explorer can take baby steps in the wilds. "Adiós Pixel Rocketeers! Hasta Luego":)

"We Got No Troubles! Life is the Bubbles!" (Photographers in Peril part 4)

Check out the perfomances of the band at http://www.youtube.com/user/herberthumphrey



Somebody suggested if I could do a Dave Hill-ish style of Photo manip. Well, frankly, as a photo manip artist, I wanted to make my own identity but of course I can't deny that request since Dave Hill is one of the most popular photo manipulation artists out there. If he's a Tiger Shark, I'm still just a little Nemo swimming past him cowering in a wide ocean, dreaming that someday I could be like him, if Father fate intervenes. :) Anyway, here's my way of making that request into reality but of course, I don't want it to be 100% Dave Hill-ish and I wanted it to be visually realistic than being a total drawing-type of output.
Starring in this photo are the great array of underwater creatures, also the three of the five members of "The Sad Dicks" band which is based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Sadiq means friend in Arabic) and finally, of course, our unknown 'Photographer in Peril' who is our "almost" hidden subject. :)
Armed with a Nikon D90 and a SB900, I took the shot during the performance of Sadiq band on a farewell party for a fellow photography enthusiast and never in my mind, at that time, I could use this image for an Under The Sea theme. But I guess my pursuit for underwater photography inspired me to do this image and I'm so happy I finished it in less than 3 hours. Whew! Well, see you around, I still have to get my tail stuck from a hungry clam shell. (Click images to enlarge)

iProphet (The Exodus)

Before the iPad, there's the iProphet... 

My quest to transform my photography, featuring my friend Karlo Panahon, into something biblical in inspiration yet steampunky in visuals has ended. Behold iProphet (The Exodus)!!! The original image was taken in Tuwaik, Saudi Arabia's Camel Trail in one of our photo-adventure sessions. With his GPS-capable phone, we went there together with three friends in tow, had fun under the sun with lots of photographs taken (of which I will manipulate and feature here sooner or later.)  Thanks to GPS technology, we didn't lose our way back home after sundown. 

And why such title, if you ask? It is loosely based on Apple Company's style of branding and the Holy Bible's Exodus 17:8-9 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands." (Click images to enlarge)