January 1, 2009

Dear to my heart

THEME DAY: BEST PHOTO OF THE YEAR 2008 • For many and varied reasons, the Ateneo Church of the Gesù is dear to my heart, so it's not surprising that my favorite photo of the year would be of that church. I can't say it was my best for the year, but the night shot of the church which I posted on June 16 is definitely my favorite, again for varied reasons. Instead of reposting it however, here is another night shot of the church, the trees in front of it decorated with hanging lights for Christmas and with cycling colored spotlights for the first Festival of Ateneo Music on December 7. I was trying to take a photo before the concert with my quite unstable arms when an alumnus of the school saw me. Being a serious amateur photographer, he came prepared with a tripod which he insisted I use. Thank you, Bryan, wherever you are. If it weren't for your kindness, I wouldn't have this beautiful photograph of my beloved church.

Ateneo Church of the Gesù with Christmas lights
Click on the thumbnail to view my original post and read the history of the church.
Click to go to A 50-year-old dream

The best of the best! This is going to be one great tour around the world! Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

44 comments:

Ham said...

Looks like a golden rain... beautiful.

Happy and healthy new year wishes from London

Ben Nakagawa said...

Happy New Year, Hilda.
Beautiful shot and thanks for the link to original post.

 gmirage said...

Magical!!! I love the photo below too, since blue is my fave! Wow!

Shantaram said...

Hilda, that's a wonderfully bright way to start a new year.

Thank you so much for the great pictures and the encouraging comments through the last year!

Here's wishing the very best of 2009 to all your dear ones and to you!

Meg said...

Happy New Year!! Lovely church.

Laurie Allee said...

HIlda, this is magic! I love it.

Thank you for bringing us such beautiful images and thoughtful commentary. May your new year shine with happiness, peace adn prosperity.

Joy said...

It does look like a place that could mean so much to so many people. Love the hanging fairy lights.

Thanks for visiting Norwich Daily Photo. Happy 2009!


joy
A Pinay In England
Your Love Coach
I, Woman

Anonymous said...

Droplets of gold. Nice photo.

Happy New Year to you and your family from Patty and Abe.

Gerald (SK14) said...

very nice - good to have someone offer use of their tripod - actually though I prefer the gorgeous photo on your Dec 31 post.

Christina S said...

WoW - a beautiful church indeed, and what luck that you were offered a tripod!

Maybe it's worth investing in one as I think you (like me!) like taking evening photos? I am seriously considering getting one - it'd be so useful, although carrying it around puts me off!

Happy New Year Hilda, thanks for your friendship and your support on YDP xxx

angela said...

The church seems very interesting architecturally and it sure is very photogenic..

Thank you for taking the time to put together these informative texts and photos..I always enjoy visiting you here. Happy New Year.

abc said...

Especially when enlarged, look at the way the lights blend with the pyramid and the cross. Very symbolic. Nice background info with both pictures. Happy New Year to you and your family! God bless.

Lois said...

A beautiful shot! Happy New Year Hilda!

Jilly said...

It's a beautiful photo, Hilda. I think our best photos are always the ones that appeal to us personally. I chose two that are not my best but that I love. A question of technique versus content for me. Great photographers have both together! I'm getting there....slowly and with luck one day.

Have a great New Year, Hilda.

Olivier said...

cette photo est magique, j'adore les lumières, bravo et très bon choix.
Happy New Year
this photograph is magical, I love light, bravo and very good choice. Happy New Year

Tanya Breese said...

Hilda, it's gorgeous! How kind of your old friend!

I wish you and your family a great 2009! Happy New Year :)

Chris said...

I'd love to see the inside of the church, Hilda! Nice photo.

Cheers for a happy new year! May the world find 2009 a more peaceful, optimistic, blessed and safe year.

Chris

Jane Hards Photography said...

Wonderfrul choices and words to suit the images.


Happy New Year.

marley said...

How nice that he let you use his tripod. It made the photo perfect. I like this one and the original - a great choice.

Happy New Year to you Hilda :)

Sharon said...

Good choice, it's very beautiful. I hope you and your family have a very happy new year.

Lisa Wilson said...

Very pretty and great choice! Happy New Year!

Ming the Merciless said...

The colors are amazing, especially the blue roof and the golden statue at the bottom.

Great choice for photo of the year 2008.

Have a happy and healthy new year, Hilda.

George said...

Both pictures are beautiful, Hilda. I can understand why you like that church so much.
Happy New Year to you.

Neva said...

It looks like dripping snow flakes! What a beautiful shot! Hilda, Have a Happy New Year! I have enjoyed seeing your part of the world!

Clueless in Boston said...

Great choice for the new year. Happy theme day and happy new year too! Wishing you peace, joy, and prosperity in 2009.

Judy said...

Great choice and love the tripod story too!

Rosie said...

An excellent choice of photo Hilda.
It is so rich with so much going on yet it is not too busy.
Just perfect
Happy New Year to you and your family

Lachezar said...

Stunning image to end a great year! Happy New Year and many thanks for your kind comment! Have a great one! Cheers!

Buck said...

Hilda, I don't comment enough on your beautiful photographs, but this one... well, it's great.

Mo said...

What a wonderful start to the New Year. A kind deed and a beautiful photo.

PJ said...

I remember this photograph and loved it. In the future, Hilda, carry a string tripod. You can find instructions for it here:

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1041948/1_image_stabilizer_for_any_camera_lose_the_tripod/

It works like a dream and costs about a dollar, US. I also have discovered that you can take up any unwanted slack by wrapping the extra string around the index finger of the hand that holds your camera. It's for real!

Happy New Year and I look forward to seeing more of your Manila.

lunarossa said...

Both photos are fantastic, dear Hilda! I love the story behind the church, especially the mixing of Italian, Spanish and Philippino cultures. The church where I got married in my little town in Italy is also devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I will take a photo next time I go there to show you. Hope your first day of the new year went well. All the best. Ciao. Antonella

USelaine said...

Oh, both of these are perfectly gorgeous, Hilda!

You have been such a magnificent blessing to the City Daily Photo Blog community, and it is warm hearts such as yours that will bring healing to the world in the coming difficult year. Thank you for spending so much time and attention on all of us.

• Eliane • said...

I am so intrigued by those lights! Very nice picture, Hilda!


I want to thank you very much for the kind comments you left on my humble little blog last year although I've been really terrible at commenting back. I won't even add this to my list of good resolutions as I am sure I won't be able to keep that one.'

A very Happy New Year to you, Hilda! Bonne année!!! :)

Kim said...

Hilda, I think Elaine expressed my feelings about you EXACTLY!
I'm glad you chose this beautiful image to share again. First off I love that it is sharp (not easy with small lights in a night shot), so thanks to your friend insisting on the tripod. Second, the shot works so well graphically and color-wise. I love that triangle of black space and the triangular point on the roofline. I love all the vertical linear elements coming together. I love the blue and gold and the sparkle the white column and black space bring to the two color palette. It's just a super shot, made more beautiful by your love for the place.
I am wishing you a beautiful, healthy, and blessed 2009. Thank you for your friendship all the way around the world,
-Kim
Seattle Daily Photo

Putra Riau said...

I joined in theme day vote but, i didn't post it..

gogouci said...

Both pictures are wonderful. I love them both.

Jill said...

New Years blessings to you sweet Hilda! I appreciate your friendship!

Hilda said...

Thank you all for your well wishes for the new year! I really appreciate them and hope that this year won't be as difficult as economists and others say it will be.

Gerald:
I like the December 31 photo better too, but that was in a different place and I wanted the church for this post.

Tanya & Kim:
He was a complete stranger! But of course, I introduced myself and asked for his name after he so kindly helped me out.

Ruby:
My husband just got me a Joby Gorillapod for Christmas! I still have to anchor it on something tall though, but at least I can carry it with me everywhere.

PJ:
And your solution might just be perfect for when I have nothing to wrap the Gorillapod on. Thank you for the link! I'm going to make one and try it out real soon.

Bergson said...

good choice

Happy new year

Baruch said...

Beautiful & a great choice. Happy 2009!

Tash said...

This is indeed gorgeous. & I also love the Shower of Light - it's an amazing capture of beauty. Wishing you & yours (belatedly) a very Happy New Year.

Fabrizio Zanelli said...

As you know I love night photos and this one is a stunning photo indeed. I'm terribly late to visit the best photo of the year on blogs I love then I will leave for almost ten days on Friday (9th) and I wouldn't leave without to wish you Happy New Year and thank you for visiting my blog.

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