Photography At Its Finest

Who doesn't love dazzling over photographs? 

We hold on to every piece of Kodak paper and keep them in our wallets, exhaust energy on constructing colorful scrapbooks, fill our walls with picture frames, follow blogs, collect magazines, buy expensive DSLRs, enroll in photography classes, endure starvation just to get that plateful of food photographed, etc. 

Every photo is a memoir in still life preserved. Every photo is a unique, once-in-a-lifetime occurrence that can never be perfectly re-done. That's why we can never tire ourselves from them. Anyone with hands and fingers can click a camera but only few are gifted with deftness to make others see how magnificently they perceive the world through photographs. 

It's still Medicine Week and along with it is a Photo Contest called Medscenes. 

Remember what I wrote about passion on my previous post? The photos below are an epitome of how people who stay up all night studying for exams and SGDs still happily subsist with interests totally unrelated to academics. The magnificence of each photo is a living testimony that passion outside medschool can still yield uncompromising results. :)

You've all been very supportive to my "blogger" self. Thank you very much! Now, I hope that you'd also support my "other" self-- the self that I live out on non-weekends, five days a week-- my "medical student" self. My batch, Juventus Aestimat Excellere (JAX), also has entries for the above contest, and I humbly ask for your support on liking the photos below in Facebook. :)

Links are provided below each photo so you just have to simply click them and like entries no. 3-15.

Voting is open to all of you, Philippine and International readers! Please help us win this! :D 

 #3 The Sower

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=417118691683309&set=a.417117935016718.94296.417104488351396&type=3

#4 Halo

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=417118635016648&set=a.417117935016718.94296.417104488351396&type=3&permPage=1

 #5 On Spilled Blood

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=417118608349984&set=a.417117935016718.94296.417104488351396&type=3&permPage=1 

#6 Miss Saigon

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=417118018350043&set=a.417117935016718.94296.417104488351396&type=3&permPage=1

 #6A New Life

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=417118031683375&set=a.417117935016718.94296.417104488351396&type=3&permPage=1

#7 Waiting Gaze

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=417118048350040&set=a.417117935016718.94296.417104488351396&type=3&permPage=1

 #8 Alight

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=417118071683371&set=a.417117935016718.94296.417104488351396&type=3&permPage=1

 #9 In the Midst of Silence

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=417118088350036&set=a.417117935016718.94296.417104488351396&type=3&permPage=1

 #10 Someday

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=417118111683367&set=a.417117935016718.94296.417104488351396&type=3&permPage=1

 #11 Sip-onon

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=417118145016697&set=a.417117935016718.94296.417104488351396&type=3&permPage=1

 #12 Flight of Fancy

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=417118168350028&set=a.417117935016718.94296.417104488351396&type=3&permPage=1

#13 So Long, Sweet Summer

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=417118195016692&set=a.417117935016718.94296.417104488351396&type=3&permPage=1

#14 Parliament

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=417118231683355&set=a.417117935016718.94296.417104488351396&type=3&permPage=1

#15 Dance With The Sun

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=417118278350017&set=a.417117935016718.94296.417104488351396&type=3&permPage=1

Awesome mix of simplicity and grandeur, ay?

What I love most about these photos is that they aren't just literal interpretations of people, places, and things. They are arsty, unpredictable, well-conceptualized, and they tell a unique story to each spectator.

I'd be very thrilled if you'd spread the love with your friends too! Again, Photos No. 3-15!

Which one's your favorite? Let me know!

And thanks in advance for supporting my batch! :D

Much love,

Mela

EDIT: Sadly, this contest is done already. Thanks for all your support! All the photos above are owned and copyrighted by the photographers so please credit accordingly. :) 

Conspiracy Theory

I have a default prayer every Saturday afternoon: "Oh Lord, good weather please?"

It's the only time of the week when I can dress up and go out as if I'm fun-loving like everyone else who don't have exams every Monday. That didn't happen last week. Well, almost. It was raining so hard I thought another typhoon's going to hit the city again. See, Iloilo is just flood-prone like that. A bit of rain can  overwhelm the drainage and make everything overflow to the streets. 

I almost wanted to give my plan up because aside from damaging my shoes, it's unsafe and impractical to get myself wet and bother April at the studio. See, there are times when despite how badly we want to do something, the whole world seems to put some tall brick wall to separate us from our desires. It could be heavy rains or floods or schoolwork or your job or discouraging remarks from the people around. In my case, it's being away from home (not having my own DSLR or my brother photographer handy, the need to commute,etc.) and being in medical school per se. I know I shouldn't blame medical school because I chose this path but it just gets more and more demanding every week that most of the time, the need to set aside non-academic stuff arises. 

But but, no matter how cliche the saying is, I just believe that "If you really want something, the whole world conspires in helping you achieve it". I still believe in my power to make things happen with the grace of Someone up there of course, to allow them to happen. To make the story short, the rain stopped at 4pm and despite the flood, I was able to walk on dry ground and meet up with April who was very nice to lend me a few minutes. Happy ending, ay? :)

What's so special about these bracelets? These trinkets are handmade and stuffed with herbs that are believed to bring safety and attract people and good luck by Aetas from Sitio Kati-Kati, Guimaras. Whatever your beliefs are, purchasing these can transform the lives of our brothers and sisters from this indigenous community. 

Visit Maruyog Charms in Facebook for more details. :)

photos by April Rose Garcia

I HAVE A LOT TO BE THANKFUL FOR!

It's Medicine Week (rest, rest, rest, yayyy!)

Two collaborations are coming up (whoa!)

This is redundant but I'm finally a Candymag.com It Girl On The Web! It took me 5 years to bring this dream to life. I used to download all the photos of It Girls and play the slideshow as my screensaver. Those It Girls are actually the top tier fashion bloggers now. That's how I knew all of them (became Facebook friends with them) before they even had their own sites! HAHA. I'm such a stalker. Anyway, click this link to view the feature: http://www.candymag.com/fashion/style-files/style-files-lia-carmela-delfin/ 

What's keeping you from chasing after that dream?

Dream the impossible dream because really, nothing is impossible!

Much love,

Mela

P.S. You might want to join this giveaway! :)

http://wearismela.blogspot.com/2012/09/www-thank-you-treat.html

WWW Thank You Treat! (CLOSED)

Most, if not all, have seen (and might even got annoyed with) my photo being shared all over Facebook last Thursday because of the MaybellinePH Challenge that I got in to. It was something that I didn't see coming. I've never qualified or even bothered to join Facebook liking contests before. But suddenly, there I was, asking for everyone's likes. Yikes, I still haven't honestly gotten over the hyped feeling up to now. Despite the short notice (only found out that I qualified one day before the contest ended), I got the second most number of likes - considering the obvious fact that some finalists had better photos than mine. 

With that, I would like to thank everyone who helped in sharing and liking my entry. Also, to those who still continue to share and like it until present, thank you very much but I hope this informs you that the contest has ended already. Hehe. XD

Since I couldn't personally thank everyone, here's a little treat for you sweeties. :)

Together with my favorite online shops, Bubbles and Asian Vogue Shop, I am giving away this neon pink tribal envelope purse and P1000 worth of shoe/bag shopping(!!!) to two lucky readers!

Yupyup, there will be two(2) winners for this giveaway. :) 

Here's how you can join:

1.) Follow What, When and Wearabouts via Google Friend Connect.  

Click this to go directly to the follow page--Follow WWW

(If you don't have an account yet, it's fast and easy, go make one!)

2.) Follow @meladelfin, @mjbuendia227, @asianvogueshop on Twitter and tweet: 

"Join @meladelfin's blog giveaway and win a #Bubbles tribal envelope purse and 1K GC from @asianvogueshop! http://wearismela.blogspot.com/2012/09/www-thank-you-treat.html"

3.) Like AsianVogue Shop on Facebook: Asian Vogue Shop

Like Bubbles on Facebook: Bubbles

4.) Post the giveaway banner photo above on your Facebook wall with this shoutout: 

"This @Bubbles purse is so cute! Win this plus P1000 worth of shoe shopping from @AsianVogue Shop at What,When and Wearabouts blog! http://wearismela.blogspot.com/2012/09/www-thank-you-treat.html"

Make sure that the sponsors are tagged! :)

That's it! But if you'd want additional entries:

1.) Follow camillae on Chictopia: camillae (+1 entry)

2.) Re-blog this post if you have a blog. Don't forget to link back to this post! (+2 entries)

3.) Add AsianVogue Shop on Multiply: Asian Vogue Shop (+1 entry)

 DO NOT FORGET. Leave the steps that you have accomplished using the following format on the COMMENT BOX below:

Name:

Email address:

Twitter username and link to your tweet:

GFC username:

Facebook username and link to your wall post:

Chictopia username (optional):

Link to your blogpost (optional):

**Each participant can have a maximum of 5 entries if all of the above steps are followed.

**All entries are subject to verification by the sponsors and myself.

**Two(2) winners will be chosen via random.org.

**This contest is open to Philippine residents only.

**For queries, email me at lia.delfin@yahoo.com

This giveaway will run until October 5, 2012 and announcement of winners will be on October 7, 2012.

Good luck and spread the word! :D

Much love,

Mela

Bubblegumdrop

 

photos by Jovel Biboso

After more than a year of planning, say hello to my first ever collaboration with Jovel Biboso! We've been neighbors since forever but our schedules never seem to collide until last weekend when I went home to Roxas for less than 24hours. :| It's a long explanation why that happened but I have no regrets despite the tiring trip which could have been spent with sleep instead.

What I love most about Jovel's photos is that they have this characteristic warmth and youthfulness. She's one of those down-to-earth photography enthusiasts who does most shoots for fun but effortlessly end up with pleasing results. We've been messaging each other before we met up but she never told me that our shoot was going to happen on her birthday! My bad, I didn't have a clue if she hadn't ask me to attend her dinner party. Yes, I am just that negligent with Facebook's birthday notifs.

Anyway, what I'm wearing here is a deviation from my usual getup. This is something outside of my style comfort zone but I hope I did justice to my Grandma's top (Believe it or not, it's hers!) and this envelope purse from Bubbles. Isn't it pretty? Guess what, it's NOT mine! It'll be owned by one of you very soon! Bubbles is giving away this neon envelope purse to one lucky reader of this blog! Yay! Not only that, one of my sponsors will also give out a GC worth of shoes/apparel! I'll do my very best to post it next weekend! :D

My study break is officially over, so goodbye for now?

Have a blessed September, everyone. :)

Much love,

Mela

P.S. Feel the 'warmth and youthfulness' of Jovel's works here:
http://wearismela.blogspot.com/2011/05/budding-teen-vogue-la-mode-jovel-biboso.html