Beauties in the House

Rep. Risa Hontiveros

Rep. Adelina Rodriguez-Zaldarriaga

Rep. Cinchona Cruz Gonzales

Rep. Maria Arago

Rep. Carol Lopez

Rep. Jocelyn Limkaichong

Rep. Lorna Silverio

Rep. Nanette Daza

See more photos of members of the House of Representatives... 

Click <House of Representatives> on my Pages 

on right navigation menu of this blog.

Celebrities read...

Jullie Yap Daza

Letty Jimenez Magsanoc

Alya Honasan

Angel Aquino

Go to my Pages on the right navigation menu for more photos of celebrities reading.

Ahem, I can see Batanes clearly

After cataract surgery, Dr. Robert Ang 

of Asian Eye Institute checks on my eyes. 

Photo by Jay Casiano

The gift of sight is immensely precious. It is a great delight to see the world with clear eyes, especially Batanes where I conduct a hands-on photoworkshop on portraiture, fashion, naturescape, architectural and macro photography every summer from February to May. Thanks to modern cataract surgery, which I had recently, I count myself among those blessed with this delight. To see everything so clearly, back to 20/20 vision. 

I was experiencing cloudy vision and changes in color perception. These made me anxious precisely because my eyes are the tools of my profession which is photography. 

But I lived with it, telling myself it was normal and inevitable. I was wearing glasses since I was 45, and I got used to it. It had been many years of using glasses for both long and short distances, so what’s a few years more. Even my diving mask was made to order to fit my vision, because I needed it to take underwater photographs. 

 
Then one day it hit me. I was at the front seat of my car having difficulty reading a text message, when my friend Eggie, who was 84, read the text out loud from where she was seated at the back of the car - without glasses! I asked, what did she do to her eyes to be able to do that? Her answer: cataract surgery. 

Apparently, as people advance in age, they encounter problems with their vision, such as cataract. It is a disease wherein the natural lens of the eye becomes cloudy. The typical symptoms of cataract are cloudy vision, difficulty perceiving colors, and nighttime glare. The common causes of cataract are advancing age, diabetes, steroid use or trauma. Cataracts cannot be treated with eye drops or medicines. The only treatment is cataract surgery.

It took two years for me to gather guts and decide in favor of surgery. I was scared a glitch may occur during operation, and there goes my profession. It also helped that I was bothered by the thought that my 84-year-old friend could do things I couldn’t. I decided to have the surgery at Asian Eye Institute in Phinma Building, Rockwell.

The personal care, technical screening, and clear and patient explanations were such that when it was time for surgery, I was not scared. I trusted my surgeon Dr. Robert Ang and the staff, and I surrendered all my fears to God. I was given a choice of different lenses (to replace my cloudy lens).

Dr. Ang recommended special lens most suitable for a photographer like me. It was an easy operation; I was sedated and unconscious, and felt no pain. That was fifteen minutes per eye with three weeks interval. I recovered quickly, and just the next day after the first eye operation I could already see better than I had in years. 

 
I believe photography is a God given gift. It is awesome how I encounter my Creator, the greatest artist of all, each time I shoot nature in all its splendor especially in Batanes. I would never want to lose the magnificence of it all, the thrill… the passion. After surgery, I am a new person, looking at the world with a new pair of eyes, another amazing gift from the Highest Power. Now, I don’t wear eyeglasses anymore and I’m back to reading voraciously. Everything looks sharp and colors are truly vibrant around me. Is that not wonderful?


Cataract surgery is really life-changing in a very dramatic way, I guess, not only for photographers like me, but for anyone whatever profession one is in, whatever one’s social class may be, no matter what lifestyle. As for me-- a chronicler, adventurer and explorer who discovers nature, mankind and circumstances to share and show the world in images with my Nikon camera--  I am excited with my new vision, as I turn moments and memories into pieces of history.

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Mandy Navasero Batanes Photo Safari began on Feb. 18-21 and 25-28. Ongoing Mar. 12-15, 18-21 and 25-28. Resumes on April 1-4 and 19-24 (Holy Week includes an overnight in exotic Itbayat) and May 6-9. Email mandynavasero@yahoo.com . Call 8991767 or send text message to 09152200104. Visit her studio at Rm. 227, LRI Design Plaza, 210 Nicanor Garcia St. (formerly Reposo), Bel Air II, Makati City.

Basco Winding Road

Winding road in Basco, Batanes

Vakul

Mandy Navasero and students pose with Ivatan woman 

wearing headgear called Vakul to protect from heat and rain.

Tinian, Sabtang

Playful participants of Mandy Navasero Batanes 
Photo Safari at Barrio Tinian in Sabtang

Basco Lighthouse in Batanes

Mandy Navasero and students pose before the Lighthouse 

in Basco, Batanes.

Sabtang, Batanes

Mandy Navasero and students at the door 

of San Vicente Ferrer Church in Sabtang, Batanes

Tukon, Batanes

Mandy Navasero and students before Mt. Carmel Chapel in Tukon, where Fundacion Pacita Museum and Nature Lodge are located

Asian Eye Institute (AEI) Photo Exhibit

Actress Helen Gamboa

View Mandy Navasero's 21 portraits of women, men of substance and style on my Pages, click on upper right panel of this blog. Photo Exhibit was sponsored by Asian Eye Institute.

Join the Mandy Navasero Batanes Photo Safari

Join the Mandy Navasero Batanes Photo Safari and improve your skills and techniques as professional photography demands. Mandy is a graduate of Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, California, USA. She teaches what works and what matters in a three-day hands-on workshop in portraiture, fashion, architectural, naturescape and macro set amidst magnificent views and landscapes in various destinations in Batanes.

Mandy held the first of her highly successful photo workshops in 1984, intending to share the fun of photography with budding enthusiasts. The workshop has proven to be a fun program where young and old are united with a common goal – to learn good photography and to take great pictures.

For more info and to book slots for April 9-12 and April 19-24; May 6-9 and 13-16--
Visit: http://mandy-navasero.blogspot.com
Email: mandynavasero@yahoo.com
Call: 8991767
Text: 09152200104

GASFI Read-Aloud in Sabtang

Author-Editor Erlinda Panlilio read-aloud “Tong-Its”  to grade schoolers at Sabtang Elementary School during the recently concluded Mandy Navasero Photo Safari Immersion Program (5-8 March 2011). "Tong-Its" is a prize winning story about seafarers by Sylvia Mayuga. Erlinda was joined by sisters Helen Mayo and Nenita Gapud. 

Read-Aloud is part of Mandy Navasero’s immersion  program with Ivatan children on every trip, in collaboration with  Gig & the Amazing Sampaguita Foundation Inc. (GASFI)  and Books Across the Seas (BATS).  The tour participants gave away books to both  children and school library.

Batanes Photo Safari on 5-8 March 2011

Mandy Navasero: Batanes Photo Safari Lecturer

 on bed of cogon

Recent batch of Batanes Photo Safari Jumpologists

Jaime and Evelyn R. Singson (former president of 

Management Association of the Philippines), 

Susan and Alfredo Figueras, Aida Dy, sisters 

Helen Mayo and Nenita Gapud, and author-book 

editor Erlinda Panlilio in the area of Mahatao Lighthouse

Mahatao National High School Graduation 

Home away from home: 

Batanes Seaside Lodge and Restaurant

What is the secret of great photography?

Lighting coupled with passion and technique makes great photography. When you can put creativity and technique together you have arrived as a photographer. A good photograph is prepared for. It does not happen by luck. You prepare everything-- background, setting, composition, colors, shapes. Lighting is most important; with proper lighting, you get the right volume of the image. It is the brain that takes the picture. It does not matter whatever your camera is. The camera is merely a tool. It does what you want done. It is your brain that takes the photograph. However, it helps to have the most expensive lens and camera body, but you can see the true photographers even with instamatic cameras Because they can see a wonderful picture. They do not just point and click. You train your eye to see line, light, texture, shapes and objects, pattern, silhouttes...these are some elements that compose a good photo. Also, if your subject is beautiful, you win 75 percent of your picture... ha! ha! ha!

You can start doing architectural shots of your own home, outdoors to hone your craft. See to it that the sun illuminates the facade. Lie flat on your tummy on the ground to give it height. It must be clean, the yard, no specks of dirt. Spic and spun. Capture a bit of garden and sky.

Do editorial portrait with wide angle lens. If the subject is a writer, photograph her with laptop, books, magazines, a dog for human interest, or a child. That is an editorial portrait. You take it at his or her place of work.

[ Read more on my Pages <Secret of Great Photography> on right higher side navigation menu of this blog. ]

“Best Sampaguita Photo” Contest now accepting entries

MandyNavasero PhotoPRo Studio, in cooperation with Gig and the Amazing Sampaguita Foundation Inc. (GASFI), is now accepting entries for the “Best Sampaguita Photo” Contest that started last 1 February 2011. Deadline is on 30 July 2011. Entries can be pictures of Sampaguita orchards, blooms, stringing of the flowers into leis, selling of Sampaguita leis by streetchildren and women, or anything that stirs the imagination about the national flower, satisfying  these criteria:

Overall Creativity               -  50 %

Technical Finesse               -  30 %

Novelty / Fresh Approach   -  20 %

                                            --------

Total                                     100 %

Exciting prizes await the winners:

First Prize--  Round Trip for two in Batanes with Accommodations

Second Prize--  Round Trip for two in Boracay with Accommodations

Cash Prizes for the next top ten winners

Winning entries will be exhibited at Glorietta and published in a coffee table book. Submit high resolution digital (on CD) as well as printed (size: 5R) entries to:

MandyNavasero PhotoPRo Studio Rm 227  LRI Design Plaza 210 Nicanor Garcia St., Bel Air II, Makati City.

For inquiries, call 8991767; 8963208; 09152200104 or email mandynavasero@yahoo.com .

High-Precision Camera Repair

High-precision camera repair is available at MandyNavasero PhotoPRo Studio. Free check-up and price quotation. Email: mandynavasero@yahoo.com; text: 09152200104 for inquiries; or visit Rm. 227 LRI Design Plaza, 210 Nicanor Garcia St. (formerly Reposo), Bel Air II, Makati City.

DigitalCam Tutorial

Learn digital camera operation by appointment at MandyNavasero PhotoPRo Studio. 
Email: mandynavasero@yahoo.com or text 09152200104 for inquiries.

 Lecturer is Julia Navasero who holds a diploma in photography from Dela Salle University- College of St. Benilde. Julia's background is in graphic design.

 Venue of lecture is at Rm 227, LRI Design Plaza, 210 Nicanor Garcia St., formerly Reposo, Bel Air II, Makati City. 

Batanes Photo Safari 2009.wmv

Batanes Photo Safari.wmv

Read Aloud in Ivana.wmv