Lost in Times Square

You will definitely get lost in Times Square during this season. Millions flock the streets of Times Square to see the sights, sounds and scenes of Holiday New York.

Lost in Times Square

365-day challenge, Day 111

27 December 2014

©JReyes

Lost in New York

We made a quick pitstop to NYC to see some Christmas scenes and sights. There were LOTS of people in New York, mostly probably would be staying there until the New Year's ball drop. 

Lost in New York

365-day Challenge, Day 110

26 December 2014

©JReyes

Boathouse Row

On Christmas night, I asked my cousin to take me to Philadelphia for a quick photo walk before dinner. Here's one of the photos I took that night.

Merry Christmas!!!

Boathouse Row

365-day challenge, Day 109

25 December 2014

©JReyes

Noche Buena

We had a feast of a Noche Buena on Christmas Eve, thanks to my aunt, uncle and cousins. This picture was taken from the Christmas Eve dinner in my cousin-in-law's parents' house.

Merry Christmas 2014 to All!

Noche Buena

365-day Challenge, Day 108

24 December 2014

©JReyes

Santa came in early

We needed to make the gift-opening in the house a bit earlier because we needed to travel to New Jersey to be with my aunt and cousins for Christmas. Then Juancho was happy. :)

Santa came in early

365-day challenge, Day 107

23 December 2014

©JReyes

Juancho with Tree

Another Holiday photograph with the little one. :) 

Juancho with Tree

365-day challenge, Day 106

22 December 2014

©JReyes

Candlelight dinner

My Manager invited my wife and I to a Holiday family at their home in Falls Church. It was a sumptuous meal complete from welcome drinks to desserts!

Photo was taken from the centerpiece of the buffet table, which features two lit candles.

Candlelight dinner

365-day challenge, Day 105

21 December 2014

©JReyes

Oh Christmas Tree

Oh Christmas Tree

365-day challenge, Day 104

20 December 2014

Streets of Shirlington

Happily lit streets of Shirlington

Streets of Shirlington

365-day challenge, Day 103

19 December 2014

©JReyes

Holiday Happy Hour

Happy Holidays, IFC!

HHH

365-day Challenge, Day 102

18 December 2014

©JReyes

Santa

For some stroke of luck, Santa Claus (?!) was able to make it to the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC's Christmas Party. He gave the Christmas cheers to the Embassy kids and gave each one a surprise present. Looked like all the kids were "nice" this year.

Santa

365-day Challenge, Day 101

17 December 2014

Embassy Christmas Lanterns

For the 100th day of the self-imposed 365-day challenge, I present the beautiful Christmas lanterns in the Philippine Embassy in Washington, DC.

Embassy Christmas Lanterns

365-day challenge, Day 100

16 December 2014

White House Christmas Tree

It's that time of the year again when the White House ellipse is illuminated with Holiday lights, and in the center of them all stands its traditional Christmas Tree.

I stopped by this afternoon to take a few shots of this lovely sights and sound display.

The White House Christmas Tree is open from 5-9pm daily until the Holiday Season is over.

White House Christmas Tree

365-day challenge, Day 99

15 December 2014

all pictures by ©JReyes

Macro-ball

Another Holiday special post. Just loving this season!!!

This time I used an extension tube to give our Christmas balls a "portrait shot." :)

I used a Xit XTETN Auto Focus Macro Extension Tube Set I got from Amazon. It's way cheaper to do macro than to purchase a macro lens. 

11 days till Christmas!

Macro-ball

365-day Challenge, Day 98

14 December 2014

White House Ornament

We were lucky to have been given at least a couple of these precious White House historical ornaments. These were given to us as gifts from friends. 

Here's something about the White House historical ornament program:

"In 1981, Bernard Meyer, the Executive Vice President of the White House Historical As- sociation, was exploring the feasibility of producing an ornament and even had a prototype made by a Colorado firm that wasn’t considered satisfactory. In that same year, Westport Marketing Group, a marketing firm from New England, proposed that they help us develop Christmas ornaments to generate funds to accomplish our mission. A high quality copper weather vane was proposed for the design of the first ornament. Weather vanes crown many of this country’s historic buildings, including Mount Vernon and Independence Hall. An interpretative brochure accompanied the ornament. The association’s Board of Directors reviewed and approved the design, and in 1981 the ornament program was born. It became an immediate success." 

--White House Historical Association, A Conversation with Michael Melton 2003

White House Ornament

365-day challenge, Day 97

13 December 2014

Balls of Shirlington

Shirlington area now dons the Holiday vibe. :)

Balls of Shirlington

365-day Challenge, Day 96

12 December 2014

©JReyes

Bokeh Tree

1. "In photography, bokeh (Originally /ˈboʊkɛ/, /ˈboʊkeɪ/ BOH-kay — also sometimes pronounced as /ˈboʊkə/ BOH-kə, Japanese: [boke]) is the aesthetic quality of the blur produced in the out-of-focus parts of an image produced by a lens. Bokeh has been defined as "the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light"." --www.wikipedia.org

   Happy Holidays!!!

   

   Bokeh Tree

   365-day Challenge, Day 95

   11 December 2014

   ©JReyes

   
   

   
   

Ornaments

More Christmas photos. This was taken from the Philippine Embassy's lobby Christmas Tree. :)

Only 15 days to go before Christmas 2014!

Ornaments

365-day challenge, Day 94

10 December 2014

Bad Santa

My friends Levi and Aja requested me to take their holiday picture. I quickly obliged. It was a fun experience. Shooting events and portraits give me some sort of practice. Although I have no immediate plans of making money with photography. I feel I am not yet worthy..

Bad Santa

365-day Challenge, Day 93

9 December 2014

©JReyes

Thanks for the opportunity! :)

Monster Unleashed

When you walk along National Geographic Building in M Street you will never miss this gigantic model of what is believed to be the biggest carnivore in the Cretacious period: the Spinosaurus. Juancho and I decided to do a father-and-son activity by visiting the NatGeo museum and view the exhibit of this enormous discovery. Being in DC surrounded by 10 free Smithsonian museums, I initially though that this museum is a ripoff for charging $11 just to see two exhibits. But then after we went through the two exhibits I sort of appreciated the extra charges as these exhibits bring out new perspectives at history and pre-history.

By the way, the other exhibit is called Food: From farm to fork. It was equally interesting to know where the food on your plate comes from and how it gets there.

Monster Unleashed

365-day challenge, Day 92

8 December 2014

Welcome Baby Zia!

DevsFrat (this is what we used to call our group: a pun-filled pseudo-fraternity back in college) has another new-born! Welcome to Earth baby Zia!

It's a Merry Christmas for the Alexises indeed! :)

Welcome Baby Zia!

365-day challenge, Day 91

7 December 2014

Child's Play

Juancho attended his friend Lakan's birthday party. I was so happy to see him finally participating and enjoying the "formal" games and activities of parties like this.

He used to dislike being in part of the party entourage and during these games, he would normally sit or stand aside or plays by himself. Alas! During this party, he just needed a little "push" and motivation and voilah! He's participating! Whoopee! :)

Child's Play

365-day challenge, Day 90

6 December 2014

Lampposts

The lampposts of downtown DC are now dressed and ready for the Holidays. :)

Lamppost

365-day challenge, Day 89

5 December 2014

©JReyes

Angel

Another Christmas photo.

This is particularly timely for my Filipino brothers and sisters. Another typhoon (International name "Hagupit") is about to make landfall in the Philippines... 

May the angels save and protect my kababayans from the damaging effects of the typhoons. Prayers for everyone...

Angel

365-day Challenge, Day 88

4 December 2014

Pinecones

One of the earliest Christmas ornaments, the pinecone is common to the Christmas scene. They said that in the early 1800s there were no Christmas balls or glittered faux snowflakes, but instead people use fruits, nuts and cones to decorate their Christmas trees. Now that we see different kinds of plastic and glass decorations, the pinecone is still a household favorite.

The sight of a pinecone brings me lots of childhood memories, especially during our regular trips to Baguio City, one of very few places in the Philippines where you can see real pine trees in the wild.

Pine Cone

365-day Challenge, Day 87

3 December 2014

Christmas in IFC

Even our office is now donning the Holiday vibe!

I just love this time of the year. Somehow the stress just disappears. :)

Christmas in IFC

365-day challenge, Day 86

2 December 2014

©JReyes

Christmas Ball

Looks like from my previous post up until the Holidays I will be posting a lot of Christmas-related photos. :)

The morning Christmas-carols-over-coffee ritual has officially started.

Ball

365-day Challenge, Day 85

1 December 2014

©JReyes

Parol

The Parol. The famous Philippine lantern made of paper, cellophane or kapis. The star that lights Filipino homes, symbolizing the coming of the Messiah on Christmas day. We are lucky that Mom-in-law, via a visiting Uncle-in-law, was able to send one over.

Just staring at this blinking beauty gives me a glimpse of the Filipino Christmas that I truly miss. The traditional family dinner: Noche Buena... The noisy relatives as they exchange gifts... The classic party menudo... The lumpiang shanghai... The queso de bola... The kids wearing new (unwashed) clothes from head to toe... The crazy traffic... The caroling with the usual reply "patatawarin" (spare us)... The corporate Christmas party with lavish raffle prizes... The Kris-kringle... The puto-bumbong and suman... The early morning masses... I miss them all.

Can't wait to be able to sing "I'll be home for Christmas" and truly mean it. Soon, very soon. :)

25 Days 'till Christmas!

Parol

365-day challenge, Day 84

30 November 2014

Protests in DC

We were on our way to have lunch with friends in Filomena in Georgetown. On the way to Wisconsin Avenue, we were surprised to see people carrying protest signs and banners flocking the driveway of M Street. They then stopped right in the middle Wisconsin and M, the intersection where we should have turned to get to Filomena. As I tried to sneak in to turn, I was stopped by police and was asked to turn around and go back to key bridge instead. So I did.

Luckily, I found a parking spot as I took a u-turn. I quickly took the spot and Bubbles and I decided to walk towards Filomena. As we were approaching the crowd, I took a few photos.

Protests over alleged police brutality and racism that happened in Ferguson, Missouri have been spreading across other states, one of which in the DC Metro area. People protest about what they believe as militarization in the police force, as well as unfair treatment towards and stereotyping of cultural minorities like African Americans.

Why don't we just all get along??

Protest

365-day challenge, Day 83

29 November 2014

Decorating Christmas

Happy Black Friday!

As a tradition (of 3 years now?!), I buy a live Christmas tree at Home Depot over Black Friday, alongside finding some good stuff in the hardware store. So at Black Friday night, we take out all the decorations and trimmings and start decorating. And to help with the Christmas mood-setting, we play our all-time favorite Christmas tunes. Thank you, Johnny Mathis, Bonnie M and Gunter Kallman Choir. :)

Now with the little boy all grown up and eager to help out, decorating is much more fun. Juancho took on the task to take all the Christmas balls out of the box and laid them on the carpet so it would be easier for me to pick them up and put on the tree. Yes that is what you call seeing the purpose in what initially seemed like a complete mess.

Christmas Balls

365-day Challenge, Day 82

28 November 2014

Thanksgiving 2014

Happy Thanksgiving! No turkey for us though. :)

Thanksgiving 2014

365-day challenge, Day 81

27 November 2014