What's Your CANON Story ? Contest

Mechanics via http://www.canon.com.ph/15years/:
Share your Canon story through words and images. Write a 500-word
narrative and send us 1 to 3 photos that tell us how Canon has impacted
your life in a positive way. Join the "What's Your Canon Story?" online
promotion, from August 15 - December 31, 2012 and get a chance to win a
brand new Canon Digital IXUS Camera.

I'm a Canon camera and printer lover ans when I saw this contest promo from Canon, I wanted to try my luck and who knows I might win. Let's see if I can whip up a narrative story as my entry.

Gifts for Christmas

Wow! Christmas is just so near and I have already did my Christmas shopping. I enjoyed buying gifts for my loved ones and soon I will buy some more as I am not yet done. I still need to find gifts for my godchildren that requires careful thinking as well. One of my godchild is into sports so anything sports related gifts are perfect.

Another godchild of mine is a music lover and he loves to play drums as what her mom said to me. I'm thinking of buying him drumsticks so he can really use it. I will not wonder anymore if one day he'll become a musician and be in a band to perform. Thanks to his parents as well for they are supporting and encouraging him on the things that he loves.

My 23rd 8x8 Photobook from Artscow

In 2011, I wasn’t able to do the Project 365 or known as the Photo-a-day challenge so what I did was A YEAR IN REVIEW photobook instead. It is to document the memories that we had during that year through photos as well.

Again, I had it printed at ARTSCOW. The photbook is book bind that’s why it’s durable unlike those other books that are glue bound only.

Music on Christmas and New Year's Eve

Wow, I'm actually getting excited already for my favorite events of the year is coming very soon once again. I'm going to seat down with mom and SIL so that we can come up what dishes we'll going to prepare on those days.

Meanwhile, my brother is the one in-charge with the lights and sounds that we'll have especially on New Year's eve. We usually have a videoke machine where we can sing all night all eventhough there are times that our voices are not that good hahaha. It's going to be fun and riot for sure, as my nieces and nephews love to sing and dance. I'm not sure, if bro will install other lights just like what they did last year, I just overheard that they found a first-rate Fibracell reeds at WWBW online but not quite sure where are they going to use them for.

I'll just let them worry about that because my assignment is what to cook on those special days. Ahh I can't wait anymore.

My 22nd 8x8 Photobook from Artscow

Ever since I got my iPhone last year and have downloaded Instagram, I became an IG (Instagram) addict already. Been taking photos almost every day to document all life’s happenings.

I compiled all the IG photos that I have and made it into a book. Actually, I did not use any template on this because I made this entirely at Photoshop and have it printed at ARTSCOW.

Oh BTW, if you don’t know how to make a layout at photoshop just use MY INSTAGRAM TEMPLATE for free.

Pixoto: Online Community for Photographers

Just one of the many things that I love to do is to take pictures all the time. I found joy in capturing all the moments in every situation events. I bought my 1st Canon DSLR cam way back in 2008 and upgraded my lens kit to a 75-200mm lens.

What makes me also hook into photography is that a seemingly lifeless/boring subject or ordinary material will eventually have meaning once taken with a different angle. That’s the beauty of photography, you can see beyond the subject as you can create or picture a story in your mind when you see a certain photo. I’m certainly not a pro for I have whole lot to learn especially on my DSLR camera settings. I also do not need the latest camera to be able to capture a stunning photograph. Just like what experts say, it’s not in the camera but on the photographer. However, nothing will beat the outcome of those that have super lenses but these days, photos can be processed tremendously using various enhancing programs like Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom.

Sharing photos to our friends/family and even on our online community can also give happiness to any photographer. It’s even more thrilling to get positive comments and even constructive criticism.

Pixoto is an online community where any photographers can join free. It is a place where their images compete weekly in Pixoto’s ImageDuel system. I was in awe browsing all the beautiful and creative photos that they have on the site. Any member can upload a portrait stock images in their dashboard and categorize them according to content categories. Check their blog as well to know what category they ask participants to upload for their contest.

Who knows in the future, I can even compete in one of their contest. For now, I still need to hone my photography skills for it has become “rusty” already because of lack of practice.

Rockstar Princess Photobook Template

Princess Rockstar theme party is the trend these days for your little princesses. Why not? They can dress up wearing their boots, rubber shoes, wrapped or chunky leather bracelets, tutus, leather jackets and more. The venue will blast with top tc electronic sound system, colorful lights and a lot of dancing and singing.Kids will really enjoy that kind of party theme.

Here's a Rockstar Princess Photobook Template that I made and it's available for FREE to use at ARTSCOW. It's available in 8x8 sizes in regular and deluxe print. Pages are from 20, 30 and 39 pages.

• 8" x 8" Hard Bound Custom Cover.
• First 20 pages included.
• Additional page $0.50/each.
• 157gsm premium paper.
• 100% acid free paper.
• Double-sided printing.
• Easy drag and drop images, themes, backgrounds, and control text placement.
• Customized with your own title, photos and add text to the spine.
• Including lots of layouts, backgrounds and themes for you to choose.

Party and Music

A party is not complete without any music, right? It makes any event or party alive and festive. During parties, you can hire live bands playing the guitar with guitar pickups, drums and other musical intrument or you can just play music on your CD players or other gadgets.

Choose any genre of music that you'll have to set the mood of your party. It can be nostalgic, rock/heavy metal, ballad, country music, kid songs etc to suit your party's theme.

My 21st 8x8 Photobook from Artscow

Two  of my friends in the US had a vacation last 2010 and we had a grand reunion back then. We had our get together in a hotel and stayed for a night. As usual, it was a riot! Just imagine 20+ girlfriends with their husbands and even children all together at the same time. Talks are endless, foods are overflowing and games are funny.

This is a 60-paged photobook that I made and had it printed at ARTSCOW.

Black Friday Shopping

Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving in the US and this year it will fall on November 23. This will be the craziest shopping event of the year as a lot of stores like Target, Macy's etc. are offering various sales and deals on just about anything. I remember my cousins told me that there's a time when they had to line up so early in the morning in one of the popular stores in their area just to get the LED TV and other electronic gadgets.

Not only at regular stores where shoppers can shop because Black Friday deals are also available online.How'd I wish I can buy a new desktop, laptop or even a new cellphone for myself. I guess I have to contact my cousins once again to get me for the prices can be crazy. I have some relatives coming home for a vacation so I can just ask them to bring it home for me. Yey, great idea. !

My 20th 8x8 Photobook from Artscow

Please bear with me if I'm slow in sharing all of my photobooks here hehe.  Been caught up with lots of work that’s why don’t have much time posting all of them.

This is the New Year photobook that I made. My sister and her family were here in 2009 so our Holidays are special. Wish they will be back next year’s Christmas.