Excited for the New Year

Advanced Happy 2014 Everybody!

P.S. Check out the cool surprise at the last photo! :)

The Räuchermännchen (Cinemagraph)

Before the clock strikes 12 tonight, I'd like to share the gift of this Yuletide Cinemagraph in the spirit of the Holidays! Merry Christmas Everybody!

Vanilla Sky (Cinemagraph)

Zen Bride (Cinemagraph)

Secret Garden (Cinemagraph)

Powdered Beauty

I have always wanted to do a shoot with colored powder, but I always thought it should have more of a concept than just throwing it straight-on to someone's face. We're extremely pleased with the outcome of the shots, what do you think of them?

The Team

Styling by Felyne Siao

Hair and Make Up by Slo Lopez

Photography Assistants Janina Ignacio and Matt Genota

Modeling by Lauren Francesca Laudico, Adi Amor, Denise Villanueva

Accessories by Heavy Metal and Augment by NLPZ

In collaboration with Calvin Linus Cheng

Have You Met Roxci de Leon?

I first knew Roxci only on stage when I watched our university production of "Little Shop of Horrors". Her performance was mindblowingly amazing and needless to say, very memorable. I've been a fan of Roxci's ever since. Who knew that a year later I'd be joining the same theatre company that put on that very show and we'd become good friends.

Since then, I've been able to get to know Roxci as much more than a performer-slash-actress-slash-singer. She's perky yet professional, stylish yet sensible, and knows how to have fun! Needless to say, we get along real well! :) :)

Before doing this shoot, I've worked with Roxci as a stylist for the Mundane Series. Now she's ready to take her stuff in front of the camera! So, have you met Roxci de Leon? :)

The July Reveal: The Expanded Mundane Series + The Cinemagraph Debut

As promised, July delivers the most exciting news of an ongoing project. The conceptualization actually began as early as January 2012. I had an idea to have a shoot about gender roles of women in the 1950s and dubbed it The Mundane Series. You've probably already seen the first set of photos on the blog before. 

After what the production team and I considered to be a big success, expanding the project to turn it into a series was the next logical step with an additional dimension. The idea was to give the subjects of the photos an entire identity. Each woman had a name, birthday, occupation and interests. I believe this makes each of them more real to the viewer and draws him into her story.

The second thing that makes these photos more real is that they literally move! Continuing the Cinemagraph technique of shooting I used on the first shoot, the women come to life as something in between a photo and a video--or simply a Cinemagraph.

Over the next year or so, I worked with different groups of young, amazing artists from different universities across Manila to create one character after another until I had over half a dozen women as part of the series.

Along with The Mundane Series this also marks the debut of my cinemagraph style announcing that it will become a regular part of my shoots in the future. I'm telling you the possibilities are endless! :)

"The Mundane Series" was also the submission made that garnered the Loyola Schools Awards for the Arts 2013 in Photography last March 2013 at Ateneo de Manila University. Needless to say it is one of my proudest works to date! :o)

With my proud parents! :oP

"Thank You"s are in order for these talented individuals who made up our great team:

Models: Joanne Pamin, Tin Montes, Arizza Tamayo, Bryant Garduque, Abigail Wang, Jess Orense Micah Barker, Eunica Lim

Hair and Make-up Artists:  Bambi Barcelona of Techniques, Pael Gutierrez of The Miracle Project, Beatrice Chua, Karen Fernandez, Trish Cruz, Kim Santana, Micah Barker, Felyne Siao

Stylists: Robert "Berry" Camalig, Roxci de Leon, Felyne Siao, Joanne Pamin

Shoot Assistants and BTS People: RJ Lorico, Joanne Pamin, Adrian Begonia, Kaye Bata

Special Thanks To: Veronica Lee and Family, Cesa Swimwear, AFP Museum

July is Here!

Today marks the start of July, and we promised to bring something to you guys this month. Watch out for the big reveal this Saturday on the blog. Again, July 6 Saturday right here on http://mattleephotography.blogspot.com/!!

Something Big Is Coming This July!!

Here's some exciting news...

There's something I've been working on for a couple of months now. It's definitely something to keep an eye out for. Which is what you should do!

Wonder what it could be! :-? Wait for the big reveal this July to find out!!

A Turtle Walk in Morong Bataan

My recent trip to Morong, Bataan wasn't just another beach outing. My friends and I stayed at the Pawikan Conservation Center camping out by the beach and we had the very special task of scouting the shoreline for newly laid Sea Turtle eggs as well as releasing hatched turtles into the ocean safely. Add to that a little bit of island hopping in between, it was one of the best trips to the beach I've ever been on!

The Pawikan Conservation Center is always looking for volunteers to help them save the Sea Turtle population. Why not spend your next vacation to the beach doing something for mother nature?