Nikki Isaac Photography

Singapore 2012

kookiepookie — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:41:27 +0000

I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to visit the beautiful land of Singapore a few times now, and each trip has been more and more amazing. I found myself really falling in love with the city this time.

I was also fortunate enough to catch the Dreams & Reality exhibit in the Singapore National Museum. It featured many paintings by Monet, Degas, Renoir, and many others. However, the highlight of the exhibit for me was seeing Vincent Van Gogh‘s “Starry Night Over The Rhone,” which crosses out “see my first Van Gogh painting” from my list of 30 Things To Do Before I Turn 30.

Rock The Riles 2011

kookiepookie — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:53:58 +0000

My friends have been involved with Rock The Riles for the past three years, so I was glad that I was finally able to go to the Mary Moon station last December 11. It was a really unique experience and I got so into it, I didn’t even realize that I had been standing for six hours straight. I only realized it when I was starting to wonder why my legs were shaking. Well, it was probably the standing and the fact that I only ate like 8 siomais that entire day.

For those of you who don’t know, Rock The Riles is an annual even that is put together by Rock Ed Philippines and various music production houses to raise awareness about various human rights issues. This year, Mary Moon’s station (North Edsa) was all about Maternal and Child Health. It is held every year to the saturday that is closest to Human Rights Day.

Supreme Features The Mega Atrium

kookiepookie — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:47:26 +0000

Near the end of 2011, I was fortunate enough to work with Philippine Star’s Supreme. Phil Star did a four-page spread on Megamall’s Mega Atrium as part of Tim Yap’s 12 Tweets of Christmas, and my friend Cai Subijano, one of the Assistant Editors of Supreme, got me to be the photographer of the spread. It was a great opportunity, and I think it’s awesome that the first time I get published is on Philippine Star :)

The article was printed last Christmas Eve, but it was also released online. Click here if you wanna see the full article. :)

The Year That Was In Image Form

kookiepookie — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 17:51:14 +0000

To everyone that I met, worked with, played with, had good times and bad times with this year, thank you. You make my life fun and interesting and you’re the reason that I haven’t gone insane just quite yet. I hope I still get to share this new year with you.

2011 was awesome, exhilirating, tiring, surprising, and at times just plain ridiculous. But it was grand and it feels like it was just the beginning. Big things are up ahead, guys, do you feel it?

Globe Tattoo Presents: Kaskade at Republiq!

kookiepookie — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:50:08 +0000

Out of all the DJs that I know, Kaskade is definitely one of those that are special to my heart simply because he was one of the first that I fell in love with. Also, his songs are so nice and girly that it’s easy to relate to them, especially if you’re all jacked up on hormones and crushing on someone. When I found out that he was coming back to Manila, I knew that I couldn’t miss it again. Thanks to my friends over at Globe Tattoo, I was able to go to Republiq last December 15 and have what was a pretty awesome evening.

It’s a shame that I wasn’t allowed to bring in a DSLR into Republiq, but thanks to my friend Ysab and her awesome pink digicam, we still have these pictures to remember the night with.

I took a whole bunch of videos in Ysab’s cam, but since I haven’t been able to get those yet, here’s a little something taken with my phone. It’s not much, but it’ll give you an idea of how crazy it got on the dance floor.

Thanks again to the awesome people over at Globe Tattoo for the tickets! :)

Kaity Chua Does Oxygen

kookiepookie — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 06:27:18 +0000

Was able to assist on Kaity Chua’s shoot for Oxygen’s “Urban Camouflage” for the Manila Bulletin Style Weekend a couple weeks ago, and it was really fun. Fashion photography’s something that I’ve never really delved into, and it was my first time to work with actual models. I’m usually photographing sweaty guys on their drums and guitars, so it was definitely a nice change. Hahaha.

It was interesting! I really liked it. Hopefully I get to tag along to another one or even put together a fashion shoot of my own some time soon.

In other news, the Philippines is still as entertaining as ever.

Of Collaborations and Learning

kookiepookie — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 11:50:58 +0000

As some of you know (because I’ve been talking about it to the whole world) I’m currently in the process of applying for my MA in Photography, and one of the things that is sorely lacking from my portfolio are portraits. I haven’t done any portraits since I shot the band Hansom for their album and press kit in February of this year, and I know that I have a lot to learn when it comes to lighting faces and the like. I contacted my make-up artist friend Abi for the collaboration, asked my BFF Ysabel to model for me (yup, I just used BFF somewhat seriously) and asked my friend Jess if I could borrow his fabulous lenses, because I am too poor to rent it from other people who aren’t as nice.

Ysabel was a real trooper, but I really love the contrast between her “modeled” photos and the one where I was able to capture the real her.

I can’t wait to do more portraits and collabs! :D

Also, many thanks to Daylight Studios!

Crystal Beach Impromptu Getaway

kookiepookie — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:37:01 +0000

I don’t get to go on that many impromptu trips, especially since the timing is never right. We headed over to Crystal Beach in Zambales at around 4AM. But because we hadn’t had any sleep, by the time we got to the resort, we got knocked out and slept until around 4. And of course by “we” I mean “me.”At least it was in time to see the sunset.

Also, the random rooster at the rest stop says “hello.”

I’m planning to head abroad for grad school next year, and one of the things that I really, really want to do before leaving is to go to a lot of the places in the Philippines that I’d never been to. Sobrang ganda ng Pilipinas.

Razorback at the Music Museum

kookiepookie — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:40:59 +0000

Last Friday, I along with most of Sindikato (sans Jan who was on his way to Baler and Dan who was aready in Zambales) headed over to the Music Museum to cover the Razorback concert. There were quite a few things that made me happy about that night.

First of all, I haven’t had that many chances to watch Razorback, but I do remember that the few times that I did, I enjoyed myself immensely. So I was looking forward to enjoying a full length concert of theirs. Secondly, I haven’t had that many chances to go cover gigs lately, and because I still consider it my first love, I was very excited. Third, us indie gig photographers here in the Manila music scene don’t get very many opportunities to cover in places like the Music Museum where you have gorgeous lights, so I always take any chance I get.

And lastly, it’s not everyday that I hear the likes of Kevin Roy to tell me, “just go onto the stage if you want. Ako na bahala sa bouncers.”

Yup, that night was pretty much a gig photographer’s dream.

Basti Artadi, vocalist of Wolfgang, joins the band for a surprise song number. Man, you shoulda seen the crowd for that one. I’m lucky I didn’t get trampled. Oh wait, I was on stage. (Mehehehehe)

It was a great night. We were all exhausted afterwards, but it’s nights like those that make me remember why sometimes all I wanna do is pack up my gear and hit the road, following around some band that I absolutely love.

Sindikato Takes Zambales

kookiepookie — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 11:07:08 +0000

Sometimes it’s quite helpful to not look at photos you take after some time (although my ignoring these pictures for two months may be a tad bit too long) especially if you’re not particularly happy with your shots. I went on a short beach trip with Sindikato last August as a semi-company outing (because almost half of us couldn’t come) and I wasn’t particularly happy with my shots in it that I didn’t think I had anything worth posting. Looking at them today, turns out I actually like some of them.

It rained most of the time that we were there, but I am of the firm belief that you can have fun anywhere, as long as you want to.

And of course, the sun came out to play as soon as we were on our way home.