We've moved...

My blog is now at www.gastonlacombe.com/blog

I changed website providers, and it also meant a change in blog provider... so you can follow me at the new address now.

See you there. - Gaston

The Walking

A little while ago I took pictures of friends in the studio, in the hopes of maybe some day attempting some sort of illustration with them. Well, with so much snow now in DC, the whole city closed down and all this time on my hands, I get to play with Photoshop all I was. So, here is today's little project, The Walking.

Model and Bokeh

I spent the weekend refreshing my Photoshop skills working on pictures of a model (Fabien Odry) and bokeh (unfocused light circle things) taken on the streets of New York. I'm still a bit rough with Photoshop, but I think I'm not so bad... right?

Old Into New

It's been quite a while since I have posted. In the meantime I have graduated from CDIA, and I have been assisting a photographer in his work as well. I am in between projects right now, and looking for new opportunities. With a bit of time on my hands, I've been going through my older pictures, getting re-acquainted with them. So, here below is a new interpretation of an old theme. I am actually quite intrigued by these image composites, and, probably, expect to see more of them in the future. - Gaston

And finally...

Here is the final result of my trip to the Philippines, as well as the culmination of my professional photography certificate studies at CDIA Boston University, Washington DC Campus. I did all of the photography, videography, audio recording and production for this clip. Enjoy! - Gaston

Accentuate the Positive

I'm a positive person, right? People who know me would say I am a real ray of sunshine, correct? Well, my positivism was put to the test today.

This morning, I left my very comfortable hotel in Manila to go explore the capital of the Philippines. What can I say... huh... it's an immense city. There, that's not judgmental, is it? Ok, what else... The air is, huh, breathable? Yeah, I can breathe it, and when it triggers a coughing fit, that is a good thing - it rids my lungs of phlegm. And the smog helps to filter the sun too, so, less need for sunblock. See, positive me! I've had to deal with much worse air, like that time when I lived in Moscow and a huge truck discharged the black soot of its exhaust pipe right into the open window of my car. That was worse...

Ok, what else. Huh, 1970's cement architecture is good. The buildings do stay up, mostly. And I'm sure there is a logic to traffic here, I'm just not smart enough to understand it.

Oh, and the people here make me feel pretty too. Especially the good dozen lady-boys who followed me around today, not all at once of course, but there always seemed to be one around. They were saying nice thing to me, while adjusting their breasts - how nice I look, how they want me to marry them, to bring them back to America. From a distance they were giving me come-hither looks with eyes that had been colored with a spatula and cake frosting (or maybe it was thick make-up, I dunno).

But, as always, the people were very friendly, I never felt threatened, and the Filipino were eager to have their picture taken. I had read, or seen on TV, many horror stories about tourists getting in trouble in Manila, but today, I never encountered any danger, just smiling people saluting me with great enthusiasm.

To be fair, I am certain that Manila has some nice corners and pleasant locations, I just did not come across them today. In only one day, there is only so much I can see in one of the world's largest cities. One thing is certain though... I much much prefered Dumaguete City...

Here are a few scenes from Manila:

Going back to DC tomorrow, see you there - Gaston

Leaving

I'm about to leave Dumaguete City. Here, I have met people who are, without a doubt, the kindest, friendliest, most accommodating and trustworthy people in the world. It's no wonder the Philippines is often called the "Happiest Nation on Earth", because it true. People here have such a positive attitude to life, and it contagious. I hope to come back here some day, to visit with the friends I've made over the last two weeks. It truly has been wonderful. I will be in Manila over the week-end, and back to real life in Washington DC on Monday. - Gaston