HP has always been my brand of choice when it came to printers. Plus, finding something like a hp 702 compatible cartridge is so easy. Such a loyal fan of HP products, that I don’t think I could switch to using anything else anytime soon.

My current printer is an HP Deskjet 910 that I’ve been using for more than five years now. There’s really no question about durability as this printer has churned out hundreds of thousands of worksheets for the students I tutor and for my two little kindergarten kids. Naturally, I accepted the invitation from Ferds Bondoy of Fleishman Hillard to join other bloggers in a media event at the Paradizoo Theme Park last Saturday, July 27.

Basic Photography Workshop by Christian Halili

After mid-morning snacks upon arrival at Paradizoo, we trooped to the pavilion near the fish pond where we learned the basics of photography from Christian Halili, an esteemed commercial photographer and cinematographer. Christian has been in the industry for more than a decade now and has greatly improved his craft through the years and has received numerous awards for his outstanding work.

Christian shared with us basic elements of photography that would be useful in taking pictures of our family or of event we attend. Unfortunately, I only had half my mind on the workshop as half was on my frisky little boy (uhm, more like ¼ and ¾ ) so I was only able to remember just a few tips. Among them are:

Find Perfect Lighting. If you want to create a photo that would have a great impression, you must pay particular attention to proper lighting. When shooting outdoors, avoid doing so during noontime when the light is too bright. The best time to shoot outdoors is early in the morning or late in the afternoon. I don’t remember much about this, but this was scribbled in my notes: ISO 100 for daytime, 400 for night time.

Go Manual. Since we all use digital cameras nowadays and can shoot hundreds of photos without running out of film, Christian suggests that you shoot manually instead of opting for the auto function. Experiment with the different settings in your camera until you are familiar with them. Then you can confidently shoot crisp pictures anytime. Besides, you can always delete photos that don’t come out right.

Rule of Thirds. When taking photographs, many of us tend to place the subject right in the middle of the frame. Seasoned photographers follow the rule of thirds. What you do is divide the frame into three columns and three rows. When taking a photograph, position your subject right in the middle of the first two columns or the first two rows. This makes a nice photograph especially when you’re taking pictures of landscapes.

Seizing the Day with My Little Jakei

Armed with new knowledge about photography, we were given the challenge of taking postcard perfect pictures around Paradizoo. I admit that I have no eye for photography which is why I never bothered getting myself a DLSR. My point-and-shoot camera was also always on auto mode. Regardless of my poor photography skills, I happily clicked away and took photos of my little Jakei who was having the time of his life running to and fro and checking out the animals. Though the picture that I submitted as an entry to the contest lacked composition and clarity, the printout from the HP Deskjet Ink Advantage printer still came out crisp. Considering that the photo was printed on plain paper, the print quality was exceptional.

HP Deskjet Ink Advantage Printers

Print virtually anywhere, anytime. This feature of HP Deskjet Ink Advantage Printers makes it very convenient for us moms with busy lifestyles. Through HP ePrint, HP wireless direct, and HP Printer Control, you can print on demand or on schedule anywhere you are. It’s one of the best portable printers I think money can buy. It’s not the smallest but it’s the best, and that is what I had been after 5 years ago. You can even print a document in your HP Deskjet Ink Advantage printer at home while you are on vacation or on a business trip halfway around the world. How’s that for keeping in touch with your family? It’s amazing how far technology has come, sometimes it progresses so fast that it’s hard to keep track of! This is why you should check out this list of Printers for home office at hereon.biz!

HP Deskjet Ink Advantage e-All-in-One printers sell for Php 6,990 to 9,500. Ink cartridges cost Php 260 to 390.

Another feature that I’m sure many moms would appreciate is the wide range of free education apps that provide high quality educational content. Coloring pages, math practice problems, reading materials, and even game sheets can now be printed directly on your HP Deskjet Ink Advantage. Aside from these, practical apps that allow you to print calendar templates, recipes, checklists and other charts can help homemakers run the household better.

Ms. Tina Santos of HP presenting the latest HP Deskjet Ink Advantage printers

Homeward Bound

The day proved to be a long tiring one – well, any day is tiring when you have to run after little Jakei the entire time – but I was still glad that I seized the day and had a great time with my fave little boy. The little boy spent most of the trip home in dreamland while I pondered about setting aside part of our budget for a new printer. The educational apps are such great features that make the HP Deskjet Ink Advantage a worthy investment.

Little boy seized the day, and slumbered sweetly through the night. ;D