All the Best

Two hundred ninety one original photos, 69 entries, thousands of visitors from 63 countries and territories*, and one year of clicking! April 1 was Foblow’s “blog birthday” and here are all the best from the blog’s first year.

:: Best Sets

Neovandalism is one of the entries with a very well-gathered set of photos. The novel phenomenon of stickered graffiti in the metropolis was quite interesting, and hopefully the interesting feel was conveyed in the images.

Other must-see sets from the year are Reflectxing and Splashes of Light. The former is a play on reflection with a clear window, while the other a dose of neon lights from Manila’s clubbing district. I personally like them because, in a way, they tell stories (or at least stories can be made-up from them).

:: Most Viewed

Posts on sex and fashion were the most viewed entries in Foblow. On top of the list is the coverage on the Cosmo Bachelor Bash. Visits shot up when the two-part entry was published. And the most viewed photo in Flickr? Akihiro Sato pulling up his tank and surrounded by an eager audience.

Ripped and Raving

:: Fabulous Features

Though this is not a fashion blog, my life is fortunately surrounded with happy, stylish people and events. So sometimes, fashion finds its way in Foblow like the coverage of last year’s Philippine Fashion Week shows (Click here, here, here and here) and a fun entry dubbed Eat your heart out, Naomi
.

But the top fashion entry of this blog? I think it’s the pre-launch look on Brian Tenorio’s farewell collection. It was a truly unique experience to get a glimpse of the shoe designer’s process and workshop (besides the translucent orange footwear).

Design Dream

:: Best Photos

But before all the fashion, sex, kooky signages and immortalized vandalism was this photo, which set the tone for the blog.

The photo is from the second entry, Is it crowded inside? I still don't know why she was outside and up there. My latest bet, smoking wasn't allowed inside.

Here are other spectacular images from the past year:

Surreal

The Drama!

Floating on Sparkles

Around the Stadium

Once again, thank you for visiting, referring and supporting Foblow. Thanks to those who have been a part in making life less ordinary in photos.

*From Google Analytics. Not uberthousands like how much Bryanboy and other bloggers rake in, but just a few. ;D

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Mwuah!

Foblow has completed it's first year! :D

Kisses to everyone who have visited the site. Big thanks to those who have been a part in making life less ordinary in photos. I truly appreciate all the feedback on each post, and thank you for referring Foblow to other visitors.

Next, a recap of the year and some announcements for the upcoming months. Cheers!

Click here for the first posts of the photoblog.

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Floating on Sparkles

A rusty vessel on the sparkly waters of Manila Bay

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Design Dream

Brian calls it the Eight-leather Monster, a finely stitched pair of shoes with eight types of leather-- A grand design as he bids farewell to Manila. Brian Tenorio, designer of exquisite footwear, will be heading to study in New York and expand his shoe empire dreams. Concurrently, he leaves us this richly textured monster, a leather armadillo, a dark raven and personally inspired pieces in the collection dubbed as Dreams.

Monster in the Making
The Eight-leather Monster seems to have it all, from fish scales to lizard leather.

Bright and Dark
A test version of the design in jelly/ translucent orange plastic and a monotone version

World-class and Not a Scratch
The Marikina-made collection laid on bubble wrap to ensure even the soles are not scratched. From closest: The dual knotted Apen & Angie, the minimal Pearl in the Rough and bejewelled Male Dominatrix

Signature Shoe
Brian designing on an actual boot, which he says he does in coffee shops

Chosen One
My personal pick named August One. (No. It's not because the date is near my birthday. :D)

Get a preview of the collection at http://philiac.multiply.com/.

Dreams will be launched in July 23 (Wed) 9PM at Nuvo, Greenbelt 2, Makati. For more details, visit http://www.tenoriomanila.com/livethedream/.

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Oily Planet

Sans the reflection,
doesnt it appear like a planet with craters and uneven terrain?

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High Fashion Sculptures

Vogue!

Whenever I pass by Lawton, I would not miss the chance to glance up at the gorgeous sculptures lining the facade of the Metropolitan Theater.

This afternoon however, I decided to stop by and take some snaps of these art deco beauties created by Italian sculptor Francesco Riccardo Monti. These ladies with arms raised, fingers arched and an attitude seem like they're voguing, i.e. striking a high fashion pose. Despite some signs of erosion, their commanding form and draped capes make them simply magnificent. (In fact, it has been a dream of mine to have a fashion shoot with models posing side by side with them.)

Fierce
I wasn't satisfied though by the angles that I had. I wanted to take a closer, eye-level shot. So I decided to go up the flyover near the theater, which doesn't have a pedestrian walkway just a foot-wide elevation to the side. :O

I stood on the elevation near the railing that rose up just above my knee, with speeding buses and jeepneys inches behind me. It was an adrenalin rush standing at the flyover's peak and maintaining balance. After a while, I realized my knees where slightly shaking. Still, I kept on clicking.

The view, walking up the flyover

I know. All for a photo. :)

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Is it crowded inside?

Last month on my way to school, I saw this lady outside a building three stories high, sitting on a monobloc chair and typing on her macbook. I whipped out my cam and started shooting before the lights turned green.

Any thoughts why she was up there? Was it that crowded inside?



What if an earthquake struck? :P



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New Address. New Name.

I'm now here at Blogger!

I moved from Livejournal for several reasons such as my preference for Blogger's layout and my use of Picasa.

I am Lawrence Antaran and this is my photoblog. You'll find here interesting urban scenes and objects, and perhaps things that will be able to lead to bright ideas. The images you'll see are mostly of the city I've lived in for 27 years. (Gosh, I've been living in Makati* for 27 solid years!) Of course, I'll post other photos especially those brought about by some experimentation with the camera.

I love taking photos and, even more, taking photos that tell stories. However, I'm not a professional and I'm not using an SLR yet. I think I'm still not ready. For now, I'm enjoying my point-and-shoot and I am practising some basics such as composition, lighting...

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Here are just some of the phone photos previously posted in Livejournal:

Translation: "Mistresses of MGP Trans employees are not allowed to board (the bus)"

Do you see what I see?

Hmmm... Am I the only one who thinks it looks like... ?

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And with the change in address, a change in name. My photoblog is now called Foblow!

Welcome and thanks for dropping by.

* Found in Metro Manila, Makati is the financial capital of the Philippines

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