OF 70/20/10 and SEEING IT LIVE! – Coaching Series

Posted on by ecxel

The 70:20:10 model is a hugely accepted theory that explains how a person learns. In a nutshell, a person learns through

  • 2_awardWinning_702010_large10-270% on-the-job training
  • 20% through mentoring and coaching
  • 10% through classroom, courses, and reading (formal training)

You can read a lot about that concept here, if you’re interested.

This entry is not dedicated to explain what the concept is, rather I want to share how much the model becomes alive for me when you actually see it up close and personal. Read More

OF HARDWORK and CONFIDENCE – Coaching Series

Posted on by ecxel

Let me start this off with a statement that describes me – I am a sports buff – and a competitive one for that matter. I’ve engaged in a number of sports growing up: basketball, volleyball, tennis, ping-pong, darts, bowling, lately football, and a lot more.

Growing up, as a Filipino kid in an urban community, basketball is my first love. Yes I am stereotyping right now. We only need a piece of wood, some strong wires, some nails, somewhere to hang the ‘board’ to, and voila, a make-shift basketball hoop is available. Don’t even talk about standards, as lines, heights, and even balls are just made out of anything that’s available.

Basketball is in my blood. And when my body broke down in a pick-up game in 2000 after fully tearing my ACL, my game changed. I remember jumping really well, I remember dashing and quickly going to my spots, I remember posting-up and backing down my opponents, I remember slamming the board on break-away lay-ups, ah the nostalgia, but I digress, that is not the point here.

Fast forward to 16 years later, playing with my mates two weeks ago, with my current heavy and transformed self, I played bad, like Harrison-Barnes-in-the-Finals bad! I think I missed 19 of the 20 shots I took, and yes, I kept on firing like a madman. I must’ve channeled my inner Kobe during that night, much to the chagrin of my team mates, and to the amusement of my opponents. Read More

OF FIGHTERS and TACTICIANS

Posted on by ecxel

fight-manny-floyd-_3289911bLike the millions (and millions) of Filipinos all over the globe, my heart is broken with the recent loss of our Pambansang Kamao to Floyd Mayweather Jr. It’s one of those instances where you really want your hero to conquer all odds, and once and for all, vanquish evil.

I am not however, one with our kababayans in calling out Money for his strategy of ducking, running, back-pedaling and avoiding Pacman. Nor am I going to ridicule him for using that strategy. He did what’s best for Money, and for Floyd, that was merely a simple business decision. As a coach, you have to appreciate how he leveraged on his strengths, and avoided his opponent’s strong suit, or hand in this case.

Point 1: Floyd was not a coward; he was merely employing a smart business decision. He already has the match won at the end of Round 10, and the wise option is to avoid Pac’s power and being set-up for a knockout. That’s what I hate about this match, this was a pure business strategy for Money. Read More

Preview: Portrait | Sigrist Family

Posted on by ecxel

Ed Note: I feel guilty that this site is starting to build more and more cobwebs. I’ve had a number of shoots from the last time I posted but I’ve been busy (read: procrastinating/lazy) to post those in this site. Well, time to make  it up, to you, my favourite readers (all 3 of you!!).

17 November 2012 | The Alcove

Another sunny Saturday morning (a rarity during this time in Singapura!) for another story to share to the world. I am featuring my youngest subject to-date: Matthis Sigrist, who will turn one-month old tomorrow.

It was a fun shoot, and lil man Matthis, cooperated during the shoot.  It was fun capturing the happiness of the new parents; the twinkling eyes and the great smiles. I’ll let the pictures tell the story of this morning. There is something about the use of black & white that brings out the genuine-ness of the shoot. I just hope that you like the results as much as I enjoyed the shoot.

Enjoy the story of the Sigrist’s. Read More

Birthday | Anoushkaa’s 4th

Posted on by ecxel

02 March 2012 | Gogo Bambini, Dempsey Hill

Photographers: Jericho & RL

A former colleague of mine asked me to cover her daughter’s birthday party. This was definitely a first for me, and to make it really exciting, it was the first time that the wifey was working with me (portent of things to come! :)) I definitely needed all the help to make sure we got good coverage of all the kids running around.

It was a fun event: the kids enjoyed the playground, making it easy for us to capture their genuine smiles. The venue provided some technical challenges, but we’re happy with the outcome of our shots.

Friends, enjoy the party of Anoushkaa! Happy birthday! Read More

Preview: Maternity | Christa & Ern

Posted on by ecxel

10 December 2011 | East Coast

A sunny Saturday morning was spent with friends who are anxiously waiting their little one to join them really soon. This is another first for me, covering a Maternity shoot. Christa & Ern (with all his button-pressing-yabang-lang [peace!]) made it really easy: being game to do all my silly directions, the never-ending ribbing, the jokes, and the sharing of parenting stories!

We started the shoot at their place, and then headed off to East Coast Park to do some outdoor shoots. This is just a preview, will update this post as soon as I am able to sort all the photos I have from this shoot.

Enjoy the story of Christa & Ernest! Read More

Preview: Pre-Nup | Paul & Marion

Posted on by ecxel

01 October 2011 | Haji Lane | La Salle College of Fine Arts

A fun afternoon shoot with friends from my previous organization for a pre-nup session for Paul & Marion, it’s a good thing the weather cooperated. This journey started in the colored alley of Haji Lane, and a long walk to our sister(?) school, La Salle College of Fine Arts.

Disclaimer: Due to earlier posts of our ‘photographers’, I am creating this preview entry for this session (pa-suspense lang!). There are more shots to come and definitely a better write-up!

More than the fun from the shoot itself, it was the never-ending hiritan and jokes that really pushed us through the entire session. I am looking forward to another session with the BatMan, Ern and Ogs. For now, I would like to share with you the story of Paul & Marion. Read More

Post-Nup | Ron & Rachelle

Posted on by ecxel

05 June 2011 | Cavenagh Bridge | Singapore River | MBS Sky Park

A lot of first for me for this shoot:

First time for me to cover a post-nuptial shoot with a crazy couple who are so game to do everything that we told them to do. Walk all over Singapore in your wedding dress? Check. In your stilettos? Check. Have your Veluz’ gown go for a dip in the brownish Singapore river? Check. Lie down in benches and floor? Check.

First time to cover multiple outdoor locations in Singapore in one shoot. The shoot started at the Cavenagh Bridge, just outside of The Fullerton Hotel. Went for a river cruise in the Singapore River (another first for me!). Walked from Boat Quay to the Marina Bay Floating Platform and finally to Marina Bay Sands Skypark. All the time, with our couple in their lovely wedding dress.

First time for me to work with PH’s rockstar-status photographer, Oly Ruiz of Metro Photo! Learned a lot from this quasi-workshop whilst working with fellow Singapore-based shutterbugs, Sir Jun and Sir Wilz.

I’ll let the shots tell the story of today’s featured couple: Ron & Rachelle Carpio! Read More

Wedding | Ismail & Nazmeen

Posted on by ecxel

08-10 April 2011 | Lorong Mydin | Ritz Carlton

A very colorful union: the symbols, the dress, the accessories, the dancing. It was a very huge occasion, as evidenced by the number of guests during the ceremonies and the reception. It was also a very wonderful cultural experience for me, I learned a lot about their practices and tradition during this 3-day festivities. The family and the friends of the couple were all really courteous and treated us like guests instead of photographers. Overall it was a really fun experience for us. I do hope I get the chance to cover future events with this couple and their families.

I’ll update this post with more shots soon! Enjoy the story of Ismail & Nazmeen! Read More