group photo

© Joselito Briones

After Chatsworth, we all went back to the cottage for dinner. The system was that the guests (everyone but the two birthday celebrants - Marco and Wil) were divided into two groups who would take care of food in the house. Today's group in charge is lead by Ronnie. For dinner we had pork stew with potatoes. I'm excempt from doing any of the cooking and serving duties as I was the token photographer.

After dinner, I asked everyone to put on the best clothes that they brought for a group photo in the living room, to commemorate the gathering. Left to right: me, Mati, Chris A., Michael, Ann, Marco, Ronnie, Wil, Gau, Chris O., and Jerome.

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Chatsworth House

© Joselito Briones

This was taken yesterday, with Ann and Chris, in Chatsworth, where we spent most of the day. The site was used for such films as "Pride and Prejudice", "The Duchess", and "Wolfman".


Next: Dovedale

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Harthill Hall

© Joselito Briones

This is the manor that we're staying in for the weekend. It's called "Harthill Hall". The fact that it has a huge functioning old kitchen that has an old country feel (solid wood table and bench that could sit 12, chandelier, the works) is already a wow, but that the whole place, including the two living rooms and 6 bedrooms, are done in the same way, is just great.


© Joselito Briones

Photo above is Ann working the kitchen.


Next: Chatsworth

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Bakewell

© Joselito Briones

Video above was taken in Bakewell, a small village-town that's pretty. Unfortunately, the cafe shown above called "Ricci's", whose outside signboard boasts of having "friendly service" was actually very rude. Half of our group went there first and occupied two tables, and ordered drinks accordingly, but when the other half joined us and occupied a third table (there's a total of 11 of us), they were asked to vacate the table because this is for customers who buy drinks for them, but without asking them first if they wanted to order drinks. Losers.

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Fischers Baslow Hall

© Joselito Briones

Today's lunch was at Fischers Baslow Hall, a one-star Michelin rated restaurant in Derbyshire.

© Joselito Briones

Photo above is the reception area where guests can have drinks while waiting for the table.

© Joselito Briones

And this photo above, in the main dining area, shows (clockwise from left) Chris A., Ann, Ronnie, Chris O., Wil, Marco, Jerome, Michael, Gau, Mati and my pork dish.

Next: Bakewell and Harthill.


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gherkin lunch video

© Joselito Briones

video version, just gotta show marco and mati too.

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lunch at the gherkin

© Joselito Briones

Lunch at London's Gherkin Building today. The very pregnant Pearl extended an invitation to us (dining here is not open to the public, only people working for Swiss Re, the building owner for whom Pearl works, and those they invite are allowed in). The view is excellent, as one can see all of London - and it was a clear day by London standard, and above us was only a spiral dome of glass.

Photo (L_R) Chris, Wil, Pearl.





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de-stressing

© Joselito Briones

More birthday greetings. Marco flew in to Portugal from Manila for a bit of R&R, and we'll be celebrating his and Wil's birthday in England this weekend.

Happy birthday Marco!

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No cat needs saving

© Joselito Briones

On my last birthday, having mentioned to him that I now want to make a full length film (ha!), supportive as he always is, Wil sent me a big box of books on film making - everything from screenplay writing, directing, story bording, and digital videography. I managed to read through the books in two weeks and was psyched to get started, so I thought what better way to practice skills than to try to shoot footages on our forthcoming trip to the English countryside. Guided by the screenplay writing book "Save The Cat", I started doing a screenplay, planning to use only the (would-be) available resources - friends to be in it, locations we're gonna be in anyway. It was gonna be a totally camp "Emma" (location, location), but it proved too much in the end. The project is cancelled and instead (as per Wil's request) we're gonna do a video montage to a song. It's his birthday, and the weekend trip to the English countryside to celebrate his and Marco's birthday, so yay! Should be fun.

Happy birthday Wil!


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poker face

© Joselito Briones

This was a test on focus pulling (shallow depth of field, focus shifting from one subject to another). This is a 400x300 crop from an HD1920x1080 video.

j'adore

photo ©Joselito Briones / design: Adapt/Ryan Gello

It's always great when a designer sends me a mail to say he's used one of photos for an ad/design. This one is for a fashion event. Thanks Ryan!


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execution

© Joselito Briones
This is what I get for being too cheap to get a steadicam. Ah well.

bewitched princess

© Joselito Briones
this one is also from lleida, in catalunya. the models were there to have their photos taken, so they were surprised when i asked them if i could shoot video instead. on the first two takes they looked at the camera a lot. then they eventually relaxed and totally camped it.

video taken with Canon 5D mark II, processed in Photoshop Extended.
audio track "revenge" by plain white t's, provided by youtube