A colorful stink or shield bug

Insect	Dysdercus cingulatus
Common name	Red cotton stainer bug
Camera	Fujifilm HS25EXR camera
Settings	focal length:22.1mm, dim: 3264 × 2176, bias:0, speed: 1/75 s, f-stop: f/4.5, ISO 1600
Photographer	Dr. Ernesto P. Adorio
Location	Fairfield School, Teachers Village, Quezon City, Metro Manila
Date	June 30, 2013
Acknowledgment	AAT (identification)

Colorful Texan sky photos due to Hurricane Ike in 2008 from my sister's Canon camera

The photos were taken in 2008 when Hurricane Ike was active near Houston, Texas. There is beauty in the skies which hide the destruction wrought by this hurricane.

All photos were taken by Ces Adorio Court in 2008 with a Canon Powershot SD 900,posted in Facebook and is linked with permission.

How to shoot good photos with EXR cameras from Kim Letkeman

General Settings for EXR cameras.

http://kimletkeman.blogspot.com/2009/10/fuji-f70exr-how-to-shoot-it-mkii.html

• Shooting Mode: Program Mode P
I dont understand why this is better than any of the EXR shooting mode.
• Size: Medium
Kim hints that large sizes is a disaster with EXR cameras.
• DR(dynamic range): 400%
• Auto ISO (400,800, 1,600)
• Film mode: Provia
I further read that Astia may provide better results. Experiment!
• Sharpening: Low, Tone: Low, Color: Medium High
• LCD brightness: LCD one tick below
• Image Display: Zoom continuous

I will try to experiment with these settings more often in the coming days.

Hidalgo Stores (from PinoyPhotography.org)

I googled for "camera stores Hidalgo" and I saw already a list from PinoyPhotography.org. I am repeating it here due to its importance to photographers looking for cheap digital cameras, lighting equipment and lenses.I will pay a visit soon.

Avenue Photo Supply
Address: 712 R. Hidalgo St., Quiapo, Manila
Tel: 733-2761, 733-5474, 734-3307
E: avenue98@info.com.ph
Contact: Wilson Lu
Products: Quantum, Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Slik, China brand lights, 
Radio receivers, Bulbs, Flash bulbs, Tamron, Tiffen, Domke, Kodak, Fuji, 
Ilford Film, Widest range of Lighting equipment in Hidalgo.

Fotohaus
Address: 713 R. Hidalgo St., Quiapo, Manila
Tel: 734-4471, 734-3304 to 05, 733-4565, 733-5531
Fax: 733-5528
E: fotolam@vasia.com
Contact: Lety C. Uy
Products: Nikon, Canon, Fuji, Kodak, Rechargeable batteries, 
Lamination equipment, Film, Dry boxes

Henry's Photo Supply
Address: 310 P. Gomez St., Quiapo, Manila
Tel: 733-7723, 734-6198
Fax: 734-4018
E: henryscamera@yahoo.com
Contact: Henry Ong
Products: Nikon, Canon, Sony, Olympus, Assorted Studio lighting and lots of batteries

Mayer Photo
Address: 111, 113, 115 C. Palanca St., Quiapo, Manila
Tel: 733-7598, 733-7722
Look for: Ramon Ong
Products: Nikon, Canon, Sony, Olympus, good source for high end lenses.

Watson Photo Shop
Address: 312 P. Gomez St., Quiapo, Manila
Tel: 733-7697
Look for: Philip King Tan Tang
Products: Nikon, Canon, Sony, Fuji, Sunpak, Olympus

Further reading:

1. http://www.philmug.ph/forum/f31/directory-list-hidalgo-stores-33901

Butterflies and bats of Mambukal Resort

Mambukal is a resort managed by the provincial government of Negros Occidental. It is very popular with the people as it is inexpensive, there are no additional fees aside from the entrance (60.00). I together with a family friend, toto Sande Sumande, decided to go up the falls again to see what changed. to the falls. Oh yes, the fourth and fifth falls were said to be destroyed by flooding.

Additional activities included photographing the butterflies and the famous attraction, the protected fruit bats and flying foxes.

Here is a sampling of the butterfly and bat photos. More can be viewed in my Facebook page album. Link here!




All photos taken with a Fujifilm HS25EXR camera.

Canon Camera Prices

The following prices were taken frm a Summer 2013 leaflet.

Model	Price
600D(body only)	32998
... w/ 18-55mm lens kit	37998
... w/ 18-135 lens kit	50,998
EOS M 22mm STM +EF-M 18-55mm STM+Speedlight 90EX	47,998
EF-M 22mm STM+EF Mount Adaptor	40,998
EF-M 18-55mm ST	35,998
650D (body only)	39,998
... EF-S 18-55mm ISII lens	44,998
... EF-S 18-135mm IS STM lens	57,998
1100D EF-S 18-55mm IS II kit lens	23,998
IDX (body only)	319,998
5D Mark III(body only)	169,998
... 24-105mm kit lens	219,998
6D (body only)	89,998
... EF 24-105mm	119,998
... EF 24-70mm	146,998
7D (body only)	69,998
... EF-S 18-135mm	87,998
... EF-S 15-85mm	104,998
6D (body only)	50,998
... EF-S 18-55mm	55,998
... EF-S 18-135mm	68,998

Who would replace modern digital single lens reflex system with a digital monochrome camera?

I was shocked reading about this article digital photography school: Life with a rangefinder. In this article, the author states that he replaced his bag of Canon camera bodies and lenses for a $13,000 digital rangefinder Leica M system camera. The only advantages is the compact size, silent operation and light weight.

Obviously this is a retro thing, and I cannot imagine myself using this camera for stunning black and white images. I will stick with my HS25EXR camera.

Photo above by leica-camera.com.

Only very rich professionals can splurge on such luxury of exquisite high German quality Leica rangefinder monochrome cameras

For more information visit Leica-camera.com

For a review, click on http://www.pdnonline.com/gear/Camera-Review-Leica-8353.shtml. The monchrom camera is listed at US $7995.00 (body only!).

Early morning photos

Unknown flowering shrub.

The shrub has been identified on January as most probably a Cratoxylum sumatranum by Greg Rule of Co's Digital Flora Facebook group. Please visit Facebook Philippines Plant Group. Thanks for the ID.

May 9, 2015. Apologies, I wrote Greg Ward instead of Greg Rule.

The hills of Salvador Benedicto needs more protection!

Already, cocktels (fields for growing fighting cocks), palayan(rice fields), resorts and sugarcane fields are enroaching on the last forests standing in Negros. Here is one more hill (SB is already high!) I am trying to climb and photograph. I am intent to record the biodiversity of this area, so many beautiful plants, trees, butterflies. I am already resigned to the fact that birds, deers and other large animals may have already irrevocably gone. Man is the number one destroyer of this paradise.

The hills and mountains of Salvador Benedicto is part of Negros Forest Reserve.

What is this!

Taken with a Fujifilm HS25EXR camera.

A caterpillar on a balls flower.It is true that they eat the leaves of plants but afterwards turn into a lovely butterfly.

Taken with a Fujifilm HS25EXR camera at Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental.

Agathis Alba: Young Almaciga Tree in DSB, Negros Occidental,

The resinous bark sap is used in varnishes. I found this young specimen along a trek to the source of a spring in the mountains of Salvador Benedicto. It can grow quite tall and we hope there will still be plenty of these trees in the future. The people living in the mountains used the sap for fuel for their lamps at night. I saw that the sap of this young tree is creamy white.

Plant/tree	Agathis Alba}Agathis Philippeninses
Common name	Almaciga
Location	Salvador Benedicto town, Negros Occidental
Photographer	Dr. Ernesto Adorio
Reference	Wikipedia