Thou Shall Not Steal ---PHOTOS!?

I will let you guys know why we should not steal photos or put a watermarks at  the images that we do not own. There are few people who need to be educated on this matter. I’ve seen great photos posted at facebook, twitter, tumblr and whatnot, and it bothers me that some just carelessly put watermarks as if they own the photos. Internet is a fascinating world; everything is spoon-fed, available or just a few clicks away. Internet is designed to make everything accessible, we are being spoiled with all the information we can get and if you happened to encounter someone who is as curious as me, well chances are, you might end up being busted, hehe .

I know a lot of people who are really amazing in taking stills with their camera and I commend them, with all praises. So, aside from what I have stated above, this also aims to educate or to give tiny bits of information to some photo enthusiast by being careful in sharing their craft and how to research (just in case they don't know this yet). Unfortunately, I also fail on this (I'm very amateur in photography though), as I carelessly post my photos without even marking or sealing it, with that I risk the chance of my photos being stolen by someone.

So to cut it all short, I want to introduce GOOGLE IMAGE. Google Image is a service provide by Goggle. Yes Google, if you see the image icon or word located at the upper part of your Google screen, then that’s what I’m talking about. Check out the image (or better yet, go to Goggle and click the "Image"):

Google Image can help you search for images in the web. It will give you the sites where that image was used or taken.  Just drag the photo that you wish to locate and let Google do the searching for you. Just like so:

And the result! Tadah!

As you can see in the Image above, the photo that I dragged from my Facebook account is the same photo I've use here in Blogspot and Tumblr. I used it as a header therefore Google has identified that image and matched it with both of my accounts. You can also try and search for more popular or less popular photos and see where it takes you, because I tried using it and so far it hasn't failed me. One thing I noticed though, your original photos posted in Facebook or Twitter will not be recognized, unless you copied or posted it in your Facebook from another source. And so, If you have photos and you wish to know if those are being used in a website or a blog or if you want to know if that photo is originally from someone, then that’s the best tool that you can use. But if you wish to search thoroughly or you want a more advance tool, then you can also try TinEye.

TinyEye is an Image Search Engine developed for that special need, it can give you details of an image or a page containing an image. It will search for the other usage of the image, the time of their appearance including modified image based on the original image posted and so on.

I’m not really sure if there’s a violation for the people who steal photos in the internet. as far as I’m concern the internet culture doesn’t stop anyone from reposting images found in the web, but there are some ethical internet users who are good in giving credits, they link back the photos to the site of the owner or they mention the name or at least note that the photo is not theirs. What I do know is, ethically speaking, we should not put watermarks or claim photos under our name if it is not our original. If we find a photo amazing or good then maybe we can repost it even without giving credits,(if we really don’t have time to search for it or whatever reasons we have) just don’t steal recognition from someone. On the other hand, if you are an aspiring photographer aiming to earn from what you are doing, it is important to make the necessary protection for your craft. alrighty!?

So that’s it, that’s all I have for today I hope we can all be careful or at least let’s not make a fool out of ourselves by being stupid, hehehe. Don’t watermark the photos that are not yours, don’t claim something that others work hard on. Live an honest life by exploring your talent, we are all gifted. We just need to put more passion in what we are doing!

Live a great life everyone ^^

Hamilo Coast Beach Bumming!

Last October 2, my friends and I decided to pack our things and check the beach. I have a friend who knows someone who owns a unit in Hamilo Coast, so my good friend got us a pass to stay at the exclusive beach club, hehe!

The trip was 3-4 hours drive from Manila. We were facing a bad weather so we have to be extra careful on the road. On the way we made some stopover at Tagaytay to buy all of the stuffs that we will need. It was cold and foggy that day, we arrived in Tagaytay at 2 in the afternoon and it seriously looks like 6pm, and it was raining on and off. But we were being mischievous taking pictures and having fun, not minding the bad weather and time.

I Doddle Oodles of Noodles

Few days before our Halloween party I was approached to help in designing the place for our celebration. At first Mutya was asking for the white gown, the gown I wore last 2009. I said, what for? She said she’ll hang it as a display. I told her, well, our party’s theme is cosplay and we should follow that theme. So I suggested another idea.

My idea is to create a back draft for the party and design it with doodles. Kawaii doodles of modern but cartoonish type of drawings. And since it was my suggestion she asked me a favor to do it, which I merrily accepted since I love doodling-- a lot. So I search for some ideas and patterns to follow and I found some drafts upon searching here on the internet.

BOOOOHOOO NOVEMBER

I said I’ll be back here at mygoodriddance right? didn’t I? Ain’t it? Hahaha! OK, so just recently we had our Halloween party. Just like any other companies who'd go through the tradition annually, we so-so have that too! Lol I wanna look back and see how I came up with the last three years.

Scary Theme’ 2009 I came up as a white lady. My costume came from my mom, she had this gown hidden in her closet and as you could see it’s really scary but mind you guys during the 70’s her gown is the “IT” thing! She can be called fabulous just wearing her immaculate white gown.

Fantasy’ 2010 I spend a little time with this it’s a tutu and I had it customized, by saying that I meant I spend money. It was created by one of my friend’s couturier. I top it with a white racerback and accessorized it with a colorful necklace and flower laced headband. My idea was to come as a ballerina with chunky heels hahaha.

Polka Wars!

Polka Wars is ready for the BIG war! When I got a notification asking me to listen to Polka War’s new music-- I was amazed, first of all the band came from another country Jakarta, Indonesia, I was thinking how they came to my info. Recently or since late last year,  my interest in music has widen in range as I listen to various music coming from all parts of the world particularly indie music from Southeast Asia. My desire to listen started when I got to hear just one band, then comes my search for more.

As I listen to this band Polka Wars, It reminded me so much of the era here in the Philippines when Rock/Punk/Alternative/New Wave still rules the radio. Deans December, Ethnic Faces, The Jerks and Violent Playground played in my mind, I know a lot of Filipino can relate to that.

There are two songs available at Soundcloud, Coraline and Horse Hooves, and this is what I have to say. The intro of Coraline made me stop and pay attention, the solid voice that comes  with the upbeat melody and the guitar riffs and cuts during the chorus is very dominant. Coraline is a very powerful song, catchy, and the mixture of jazz (as presented by a sax) at the later part of the song is a lethal mixture, it even out the heaviness of the song thus creating balance. On the other hand, Horse Hooves is a very subtle song, mysterious in type. I love listening to music that is mainly composed of emotions or can stir the emotions of the listener, and Horse Hooves promised that kind of melody. Once again the vocal arrangement played a great role in this song. What send me to interest are the lyrics of the song, although as of this time I’m still searching for it and what I got is only the teaser. But the guitar, bass and effects use, plus the timing, and how they collide to a melody is very pleasing in this track. It gives me a feeling of sailing a calm sea. What I like about the two songs is the range and flexibility of their sound. It doesn’t stick to one format.

All in all Polka Wars is a band to watch out for. You guys can visit them at their Facebook Account and Soundcloud or follow them at Twitter (just click on the hot link). The band is still on the process of completing an EP (I hope I get a free copy hahaha, Hello Polka Wars!).  I hope they can create more music and entice more listeners to open their ears. Cheers to Polka Wars and to your Great Music!

Listen to POLKA WARS:

Horse Hooves (teaser) by polkawarsmusic

Coraline by polkawarsmusic

POLKA WARS:

Karaeng Putra Adjie: lead vocals, guitar

Giovanni Rahmadeva: drums, vocals

Xandega Tahajuansya: bass guitar, vocals

Billy Saleh: guitar, vocals

OH! And yes! I'm back from a long hiatus--Well, I was busy running around this so called "life" hahaha! I'll be back for more! Have a great life, you guys!

Seasonal Blues- Writers Block

Lately I've been having this trouble with my self, I can’t get my head straight thus having this writers block. I wonder what’s going on... I've lost my vigor for taking photos, I feel lazy going out, no trips out of town, I've cut down my budget for shopping so I've nothing new to get excited about. I listened to all sorts of music and I have a lot of things going through my mind trying to figure out how to put in words all these emotions that I have when listening to certain music from different Indie artists/bands---but can’t put in the words to make a good review. I feel that it’s such a waste to write something when my head is clouded with confusion and question; I know I wouldn't be able to give justice when my head is hanging empty.