DC Shoes: Trase. Yours. Design Competition

DC Shoes South East Asia hosts their first ever Design competition in the region. The Trase. Yours. Design Competition is a huge event that will provide a platform for artists and aspiring artists alike within the region. Not only that they will be providing generous amounts of prizes; Php65,000 worth of cash and products for the Country Winner, Php100,000 worth of cash and products for the Community Award and lastly, Php250,000 worth of cash and products plus having the design included in DC's 2016 collection for the South East Asia Grand Winner, but they will be able to showcase the growing art and design cultures of all participating countries; Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. Visit any DC Shoes outlet or their website for more information.

Team Manila Spring/Summer Collection 2015

Team Manila’s Spring/Summer 2015 collection throws vibrant and light colors together to make your Summer style right. Team Manila is known for their line of shirts that capture the classic Filipino culture. This collection is designed in shades, which will still surely look great with your shorts and sneakers. Team Manila have tees like the Golden Sunset, Manila Vibe, Classic Rizal tees and more for both boys and girls. Check out their collection lookbook for this season below. 

Hybrid Sound Amplifier by Loudbasstard

As a fitting follow-through of the original Bamboo Amplifier, Loudbasstard introduces the Hybrid Sound Amplifier. The Cebuano brand builds upon the same philosophies of its first product which allowed electricity-free amplification of music from a portable device. This time though they use wood over what had previously been bamboo. Loudbasstard innovates even further by incorporating electromagnetic induction into the Hybrid Sound Amplifier, powered by a 9V battery that's rechargeable via USB. With the flick of a switch and laying flat your smartphone until properly aligned, you can share your music even louder and clearer with its 8 Ohm speakers. Because of Loudbasstard's commitment to handmade, locally-sourced good design, the Hybrid Sound Amplifier along with their other products, will now be available in Kultura Filipino stores across the country. Indeed, if you make enough noise, the world will stand up and take note.

Purveyr Instagramer: Herald Herrera

Instagram has become a powerful tool for one to freely express themselves through beautifully snapped photos and well thought of captions. It is a simple way to capture and share special moments, to see the world through the eyes of others, and to allow its users to experience other people's lives through photos as they happen. Because of this, we decided to do a series to showcase our favorite Filipino Instagramers.

The 9th #PurveyrInstagramer is Herald Herrera.

"My name is Herald Herrera and I'm an Instagram-holic. Working as a network engineer in Dubai for 7 years now, it became a personal obsession for me to share to the world how life is in the place where I am simply through photos."

If you've been to Dubai, lucky you because we hear (and see) it's beyond beautiful. But if you haven't yet, then you would just have to stick to looking at Herald's photos on Instagram and be envious of all the places he's been to, at least until that day comes you get to visit the UAE. But we all know it's the people that make up the place, and this is how Herald shows us the beauty of Dubai -- through its people. Whether it's a simple strideby, or people having a casual conversation, there's real and solid emotion in every photo.

We asked Herald about his love for Instagram, and here's what he has to say. (The photos below are a mix of photos taken from Dubai and the Philippines)

How long have you been using Instagram and what made you decide to give more effort in it?

I think it's been almost 3 years now that I'm in Instagram. It's the connection I establish with people especially to the city itself, personal and through photos, that makes me love the instagram community more and more.

How would you describe your approach (style) to photography?

I'd like to say that I want to freeze human moments, therefore I try to focus on street photography. As much as I can, I don't want it staged. Also, it's because everyone can take photos of a place over and over again without meaning but it's the human activity in the frame that makes it powerful and unique.

What are your usual subjects?

Homo sapiens. The viewer automatically visualize themselves in the photo and gives them a sense of scale when there's a human element in it.

What makes for a good Instagram shot?

It's an absolute must to always be wary of your composition. Everything you see inside your frame matters. Don't think you can get away with it after cropping and editing. It's how you visualize it first-hand that's important. Also, I think luck is a huge factor, especially when you're after those split-second moments.

What’s the most unusual thing you’ve done for an Instagram photo?

For another Instagrammer, a running, jump shot holding a flag that I did in the grandest mosque in the UAE, which left one of my foot badly sprained and I was not able to walk straight for more than a week.

Are your photos on Instagram solely taken from your phone, or do you use other devices, such as SLRs, digital cameras, etc? Do you think the equipment one uses is a big factor in producing stunning Instagram posts?

I moved into using an actual camera, a Fujifilm X100T, only because of an increase in requirement for me to produce high-resolution shots for exhibitions and projects. Otherwise, I would have still been iPhone-strict. No, it's NEVER about the camera.

What inspires you? And how does it influence your passion for photography?

Dubai. I'm in the most modern place in the planet and some say that the more a city advances, it slowly loses it's essence. This fuels me to capture moments that prove to myself that there's still organic, 'real' life and emotion in Dubai and from the people who call it their home. That culture is robust and intact in this place, and it will always be.

Who are your favorite Instagrammers?

@genyvb, my IGer-bestfriend, who keeps inspiring me ever since I started on Instagram, @sheiku because of his super-consistent feed, and @the.amran who is probably the most underrated Instagramer ever.

What do you dislike about Instagram?

I don't like that Instagram is extremely addictive.

What is Instagram for you?

Instagram opened me to the world, and I now see it with new eyes. Instagram created a new me.

Fotosemana Manila 2015: A Micro Festival of Contemporary Photography

Fotosemana Manila 2015 is a micro-festival organized by Thousandfold. It is an event focused in exploring the many facets of local and global contemporary photography. As a partnership with Spain's IED Madrid and India's Emaho Magazine, the event's highlight will be a Masterclass Workshop and Exhibition by Spanish Artist/Photographer Nicolás Combarro. In addition, Fotosemana Manila 2015 will host other activities such as Portfolio Reviews by local and international guest experts, curated Public Talks and Slideshow Projections, Photobook Presentations, and Flash Book Launches, and an international Photobook Showcase in collaboration with the Asia-Pacific Photobook Archive (Australia), Gato Negro Editorial (Mexico), Indie Photobook Library (United States), The Philanthropic Museum (Singapore), B-Side, artbooks.ph, The Office of Culture & Design, Pablo Galleries, Pioneer Studios (Philippines), and more.

The Micro Festival of Contemporary Photography will commence today at Thousandfold 5pm onwards. Catch the introduction to “Fotografía de Autor” and “The Rise of the Photobook”, in a conversation of Wawi Navarroza and Nicolás Combarro. For more information visit their website. The festival will be a week-long event which will end on May 23, 2015.

Photo above by Hannah Reyes

Up Dharma Down - Indak (Music Video)

Three years after the release of Indak, Up Dharma Down releases its music video spearheaded by the band's vocalist herself, Armi Millare. Launched at Tahiti 80's concert last March 13 at Green Sun's The Eye, Up Dharma Down fans were treated with a 360 degree projection of the new music video. Here we see a different side of Armi, not a microphone but a dance partner in hand. Four months of burns and blisters, and Armi was able to fulfill her lifelong dream of dancing. You can watch the video exclusively at Armi Millare's website, Aftertaste.

Somnia: Escapism Exhibition Recap

Multimedia Art students from Asia-Pacific College, collectively known as Somnia has showcased their works a few weeks back. The multimedia art exhibit is intended to tackle and incite ideas on the various perceptions of escapism. View the video recap above for a glimpse of what happened in the event. You can find photos of the beautiful works by Ivy Floresca, Mark Evangelista, Austin Suarez, May Caras, Shintaro Lopez and Micah Ibay that are included in the exhibit at the Somnia Collective Facebook page.

Wilderness - Mirror Image

A track that plays outside the norm and the usual, the band, Wilderness, brings Mirror Image from the record,  Ballroom Dancing. Released last January 2015, Ballroom Dancing consists of 10 tracks composed and produced by the band itself. The third track in the record, Mirror Image goes through different grooves in the best way possible, knocking down a  number of guitar riffs, different drum syncopations, and a great deal of satisfaction. With hints of Indie rock and Reggae, this gives the listeners a taste of the unknown. Listen to or buy 'Ballroom Dancing' by Wilderness below.

Source: Vandals On The Wall