Glam Is Just a Four-letter Word

Like most Filipinos, I was born, baptized and welcomed into some form of Christian faith. As a man, a mostly unspoken 'macho' code was passed on to me – Don't cry in public (pretend to yawn). Treat women as you would your mother or your sister (lie to them to get out of something). Don't pluck your eyebrows (say you had a shaving accident). The list goes on and on. In my upbringing, sex and sexuality were not regular dinner table fare. I remember watching 'Ghost' with my Lola and finding myself staring at the ceiling when the film's lead characters were getting creative with pottery.

I thought I had outgrown the awkward elocutionary maneuverings around the... ahem, proverbial bush. But, I was wrong. Having gotten myself into photography, I found myself being drawn towards portraiture. I've spent the past three years in semi-serious pursuit of the craft. I've thankfully gotten to the point where I am confident enough to finally have people book me for sessions.

Admittedly, most of my subjects are women and with that I was introduced to the minefield landscape of glamour photography. The sexual and sensual aspect of glamour intimidated me at first. I found myself being transported to that uncomfortable moment in my childhood when my Lola asked me what I was staring at on the ceiling while Patrick and Demi were making something that sorta looked like a vase. The seven-year old Catholic boy, the happily married man and the artist coming into his own were debating the pros and cons of adding and developing this element into my photographic repertoire.

So, why the internal dispute? What is glamour photography after all? Well, there are far better answers from noted authorities on the subject, but allow me to elaborate on three points that I believe were vital to my understanding of the genre.

• Glamour, although it has been wrongly associated with it, is not porn. We can debate the difference between nude and naked all we want, but it all hinges on intent and context. If the intent is to show the sensuality and allure of the subject, then I say glamour. If the intent is to arouse and trivialize sex, then it is porn.

• From the point of view of feminism, I will to have to quote from an article written on the subject by Carol Dyhouse because I believe she perfectly put things in perspective —

'Does glamour empower women, or turn them into objects? It is important to remember that women practise glamour, they are not simply the object of the male gaze. And, historically, glamorous women were just as likely to be seen as dangerous to men as victims themselves. Glamour can represent self-assertion, sexual confidence, playfulness, pleasure and delight. But in the end, nothing empowers women so much as a good education and a well-paid job.'

• Lastly, if I may offer my own take on glamour it would be this - A glamour photo is first and foremost about the subject. As most subjects are women, the image should not only celebrate beauty, but the sensuality of the woman in the image as well. The subject bares her vision of how it is for her to show the aforementioned qualities and my job is to translate it into an image that measures up to her view. 

 

It was a drawn-out process of deliberation, but I've finally made the decision to pursue it. I gather that most people will misunderstand my intentions and misinterpret my actions. I understand that I have drawn a line in the sand where I now have to openly confront small-minded critique of any work that I'm going to put out there. In the course of undertaking this endeavor, I took the time to talk to the people who matter most to me in my life: my wife, select family members and my closest friends. And I assuredly have their full support, so I couldn't really care less for misguided and uneducated guiltmongering about sexuality (Yes, you don't have to tell me again because I already know that I am going to burn in hell. We can continue the lively discussion there.)

In fact, proof of this support is when my best friend, Maricel, agreed to be one of my subjects in building my glamour portfolio (hers are the pictures that are interspersed throughout this article). She and I developed concepts for the shoot. My wife helped me refine those concepts and supplied makeup and accessories on top of an encouraging smile. My good friend, Queenie, lent some articles of clothing and did the makeup for the shoot. The Baricuatros, Farley, Dia, Cacing and Komodo, welcomed us into their home and did not only offer us a beautiful and versatile location, but a hearty meal as well. And last but not least, a number of friends from work (Ailenn, Jinky and Sharajen) were present during the shoot and did not only provide great company, but helped me carry and move my gear as well.

And before I end this lengthy post, I would like to reiterate that in the end I am a portrait photographer. My mission has always been to create intimate and meaningful pictures of my subjects. If I had to call it anything just for the sake of classification, I wouldn't call it  glamour, but rather intimate portraiture.

As 2012 rolls in, I look forward to not just making more beautiful images, but those that give my subjects a beautiful self-image as well. Happy New Year everyone!

The Daybreak Diaries (1)

The dawn lost its promise of hope. I hadn't slept a wink, but I so desperately wanted to unshackle myself from the pile of pillows and blankets that were strewn on the bed. Without warning, a cold indifference seeps through the covers and into my skin. And just like that, I lie frozen in a constrictive cocoon as the rest of the world goes on with their lives.

Depression affects more people than most would believe. And even those who are afflicted are often trapped in a limbo of denial. All too often, it is left undiagnosed and dismissed as the product of an individual's overly developed sense of drama.

As a result of the social stigma attached to depression, many people choose to suffer in silence. On most days it requires less effort to smile and say 'I'm okay.' rather than have to unburden yourself on someone – a person who may genuinely care for you, but will fumble around with the how (because at this point you don't even know what would help) or a person who may have just asked 'How are you?' for the sake of being polite.

All too often one shuns the opportunity to stand up and share the turmoil that is brewing inside when you know that yours will be the only voice that will stir the comfortable silence. However, I have realized that  it takes but one soul to stand up and speak, so that the rest can be heard. I do not claim to understand depression in any professional capacity. What I share here are all culled from my personal experience with it – the crippling melancholy, the grueling daily struggle and the occasional small victory.

I do not pretend to have any answers. I am merely sharing accounts of everyday battles in a war that I have to wage until I draw my last breath. I am not even sure what I hope to achieve, but I strongly believe that this debilitating disease loses a part of its hold on you when you open up about it.

These are my daybreak diaries.

Watching the World Go By

Christmas Is All Around Me

Grown-up Christmas List

I shot this with my old Canon 350D. It has defied both time and shutter count as it is still pretty much truckin' clickin'. Truth be told, unless I closely scrutinize the images in my catalog, I could never immediately distinguish between the images that were shot with the aforementioned antique and the ones that were shot with the newer body.

I mention this because all too often people replace perfectly working gear for newer models just because they have the means to do so. It's their money, so why should I tell them how to spend it, right? I'm not really telling people how to spend their money. I'm just making a case for spending it wisely. I stick to this rule of thumb of sorts when upgrading my gear —

If your skill becomes limited by the equipment that you have, then it is time to seriously consider an upgrade. If not, then upgrade your skill.

Trust me, you don't want to be the guy with really expensive basketball shoes sitting on the bench the whole game.

39

Most walk these halls

Leaving only the dust of their feet —

Delible footprints from vacuous souls.

A few rise above the din

Of footfalls and empty proclamations,

Making their imprint last

Beyond what custodians can sweep

And time diminish.

Watching the World Go By

__________

 

 __________

The Blood Moon

Flash on, Flash off

Answers From a Song

I shot the above picture (of Rachel) while documenting the department's last road show at the St. Dominic Savio School in Cordova. The crowds and the changing ambient light conditions always make it a challenge to shoot pictures during the event.

I was making pictures of the demonstrations in the Forensic Chemistry room and found myself wracking my brain on how best to balance ambient light with flash (which was necessary in the darkened room).  There was blue cellophane over the fluorescent lamps to create a believable atmosphere of a TV crime lab. The classroom designated for the exhibit had bright pink curtains with the afternoon sun shining right behind them. And every time I bounced my flash off the low white ceiling, the mint green color of the walls would dominate the scene.

What to do?

Watching the World Go By

Keeping Pace. Life is a journey. All too often we rush through it, thinking that it is a race. We meet people along the way. Some stay, most go. At some point, we decide to run the race with a partner. For some, this synchrony will last for a good while; but for those who are lucky enough, this will last until the crossing comes to a close. And even then, fewer of those who are in running pairs that endure the test of time and trial are blessed with the insight of slowing down to fully enjoy the voyage that unfolds.

Happy 35th wedding anniversary to my parents, Jimmy and Joy!

The Observer Effect

The observer effect (and allow me to borrow the definition from physics) is the change brought upon by the very act of observation on the phenomenon being studied. This influence is not only prevalent when one is studying the very small, but scales quite nicely into the macroscopic world as well.

In photography, there is also the question of candidness. When a subject is unaware that her picture is being taken, one can argue the point, that the resulting image is genuinely candid. Whereas another could question its authenticity by presupposing that the subject of the photograph could very well be an actress who is very good at having her day-to-day activities 'candidly' captured. I, on the other hand, would like to propose that from the moment we became aware that we existed on this world, surrounded by all sorts of people and objects, that all our actions have been altered in some way by the knowledge that at any given time there is the possibility that we are being observed.

And it's not just the case of adapting a public demeanor because even when you are 'alone', you find yourself performing actions that seemingly require an audience (e.g. singing in the shower). My inference therefore is that none of our actions are truly ever candid because if you are reading this in a less-than-private place, you are probably looking over your shoulder to see if someone is standing behind you.

__________

*A larger version of the above picture can be viewed here.

BTS: Dreaming of a White Christmas

As promised, here's a behind-the-scenes account of how I came up with the image that I entered into the MPEX photo contest for the month of November.

Internal Dialogue:

Me 1: Shapes and Textures? (while browsing the web page with the contest details)

Me too: Fine, I think I can come up with something decent.

Me 1: ...as inspired by the seasons of fall and winter?

Me too: Crap.


So, how did I go about creating an image inspired by seasons that I can only imagine about?

Well, I went through hunting for storm clouds, straining my calf muscles and finally scrounging for fall-en leaves. If you happened to chance upon me inside the university while doing any of the aforementioned activities, I assure you that I pose no immediate danger to you and others (to myself maybe).

In the end, surprisingly, I resorted to using the dark arts chemistry.

Dreaming of a White Christmas

The above photo is my entry to MPEX's photo contest for November, themed Shapes and Textures as inspired by those very elements of the fall and winter seasons. I am very much aware that in the Philippines we only have two seasons, one is sweltering the other is torrential. I'll write a follow-up to this post to explain the reason for going with the image shown and the process behind its creation.

For now, I would like to kindly ask you to vote for this image (up to five times a day) starting from Nov. 19 to Nov. 29, 2011. But, only if you believe that it deserves your vote and a shot at winning, as only the top 20 pictures (by popular vote) get considered for final judging for the top three prizes. :-)#

The contest page can be viewed here. Click on the View Entries tab and search for my entry by using the search box on the page that opens. The title of my submission is Snow Globe. I would be grateful if you could help me get more votes by sharing this post through social networking.

Many thanks.

Watching the World Go By

Liquid Dreams

A Light in the Dark

Just last week, my good friend, Queenie, wrote a short piece on finding kindred spirits on one's journey through life. I only hope that we all could be so lucky to find these people who can empathize with our plight and give us the strength to persevere through the darkest of days. I, for one, am grateful to be blessed to have such people in my life.

Thank you, P're, for being one. And happy birthday. :-)#

Watching the World Go By

Stop the World Because I Want to Get Off

*Click on the image above to view it larger on black.

Come as You Are

I have written a piece on how I perceive a portrait to be and the process behind its creation. Most of my insights on portraiture are more of the old school than of the new. This doesn't mean that I don't appreciate the new styles and techniques that have emerged, but let's just say that I am more of a get-it-right-in-camera kind of photographer. If I can achieve the look that I need with the right clothes (or the lack thereof), a little makeup and flattering light, then I am more than happy to call it a day.

Watching the World Go By

Swimming with the Fishes. There is something vaguely cruel about fish in an aquarium (or any caged animal for that matter). I am in no way inferring on the capacity of fish to realize that it was deluded into thinking that the tepid water and the regular supply of food is the only world that it should (or will) ever know. But now that I think about it, things aren't that different on the other side of the glass.

*Thanks to Gary for helping me make this shot by offering to hold the flash for me.

Shooting Friends

Social networking services have severely diluted the word friend. Personally, I do not only find it grammatically uncouth to use it as a verb, but I am also mildly disturbed as to how it is thrown into the same stew of words as acquaintance and associate.

Watching the World Go By

Slivers

Un-broken

Today, my wife and I celebrate six years of marriage (and in less than two weeks, twelve years as a couple). I am deeply thankful for having Susan come into my life, as she made me believe that I am deserving and capable of love even during my darkest moments.

This short snippet of verse that I wrote doesn’t begin to express my gratitude and love for her, but I am hoping that it’s a start.

Un-broken

Hopeless, fragile, small, shadow of a man
Praying
Lost in a sea of intentions
Hoping
Flailing, grasping… finding where hope began
Breathing
Breaking free from the past’s dungeon

Happy anniversay, ‘ga. May the years ahead still find us happily holding each other’s hand.

Watching the World Go By

A Trail of Wishes

First Steps (Winners)

Congratulations to those who won the contest I sponsored last week and many thanks to all those who participated and showed their support.

The top three DPP 0811 portraits that got the most votes are:

No. 3 — Aying

No. 2 — Joy

No. 1 — Nikki

All three women will be getting an 8R-sized print of their respective pictures. Nikki, having garnered the most votes, will also be getting a portrait package (three hours of shoot time, prints and digital copies of the resulting image files on a DVD).

The second winner of a similar portrait package for leaving a comment on the blog post ‘First Steps’ in response to the question below is Joy.

What is your dream portrait theme?

To which her answer is —

“in a perfect garden view with of balloons (mahangyo rag bubbles.hahah!)..nya lami na clouds..ms Queenie knows what "lami na cloud" looks like. :))
or sunset :))”

The prizes will be awarded by Friday, Oct. 14, 2011. Whereas an initial meeting and planning for both portrait sessions will be held within the week.

Once again, congrats and many thanks.

Watching the World Go By

Matthew 19:14

Flash on, Flash off

#004 The Afterglow

A Sampler (II)

Nowadays, due to the prevalence of digital cameras, pictures have become ‘expendable’. People take a large number of photos and upload them onto their preferred social networking site to share with family and friends. There’s a large amount of activity about the images for a few days, and then it ultimately peters out.

After a while, cards get formatted, new pictures are taken and old image files are erased. And if one didn’t archive the pictures properly on separate storage media, then all that’s left are the compressed (often poorly) versions of the pictures that have been uploaded to the web. It’s a shame if these distorted and pixelated images are all that remain of your prized memories.

I would like to make a case for a more deliberate attempt at preserving a select moment in your life, so you can have something tangible and enduring to remind you of that very time. Moreover, there should be no need for an ‘occasion’ to make pictures because life is a string of occasions, and I believe each one should be celebrated.

Allow me to elaborate with a few examples:

Let’s say you just finished working on your thesis and you would like a ‘parting shot’ of the hole lab you’ve been living in for the last few months. And let’s say we tweak the ambience a bit, so it doesn’t quite remind you of the place where you nearly lost your marbles repeating the same set of experiments over and over.

There are more examples after the jump.

A Sampler (I)

In a few days, the contest that I am sponsoring will come to an end. But, what excites and scares me at the same time is that by its end, I would be embarking on something that I have long pursued — to finally put my photographic talent and skill out there, hoping for someone to commission me to shoot pictures.

Anyone with a camera can take pictures, so how do I differentiate myself from the glut of photographers out there?

If I can be so bold as to identify some of my strengths: I have honed my skill at shooting portraits. I work best with a small group of people to help create memorable and revelatory pictures of a person at a specific time in their lives. I’ve also been known to employ a hot shoe flash (or two) to augment ambient light and create drama in the shot. And most importantly, as a teacher, I realize the significance of continuing to learn even though I think I may have a certain bit of knowledge down pat. But, I consider all this to be secondary to the very essence of the portrait, its subject.

The pictures that follow are a sampling of the work that I have done and could do for you if you choose to avail of my services. :-)#

There are more pictures after the jump.

Watching the World Go By

The Art of Doing Nothing

In this day and age, it has become increasingly difficult to purposely do nothing. And I am not just talking about nothing in the productive (especially at work or at school) sense. I am talking about allowing-the-world-to-fill-you-as-you-sit-in-stillness sort of nothing.

The constant motion can discombobulate even the most steadfast of souls  (Have we ever asked ourselves what would happen if we stopped moving all of a sudden?) . Often it is this motion that grants us the illusion of being alive, of being relevant, and of having made a significant contribution to the world. We get too caught up in this illusion that we readily pursue the mirage in the horizon over the reality that lies at our feet.

Your life, its relevance and significance, came into being upon its inception. The point is not to prove it, but rather to live it.

__________

Congratulations to all those who braved the Chemist Licensure Examination. If I could offer one piece of advice before you ponder on what to do next, always find time to do nothing.

First Steps

September is nearing its end. I look back on the pictures that I made for my personal portrait project, DPP 0811. And I can say that I am quite happy with the work that I was able to produce. I, honestly, had more favorites from the previous project that I shot; but across the board, I found that the current batch of images are better thought out, a quality that I was able to consistently maintain. I got more comfortable with the use of multiple lights; but more importantly, found my way in talking to and working with people as well. In retrospect, I wished that I either had more time (August was a hectic month at the university) or for schedules with prospective subjects to simply sync up.

So, what’s next for me?

As some of you already know, I am glacially slowly working my way towards becoming a portrait (for the most part, but I’ll shoot anything at least once) photographer and hopefully quit my day job (which consumes most of my nights as well). To take my first tentative step into pursuing that dream and as a thank-you to all those who gave their time to make pictures with me, I am going to sponsor a contest.

Read on to know more about the mechanics.

Flash on, Flash off

I started my semi-serious study of photography about five years ago (right about the time I was gifted with my first DSLR). The first few months were a blur. I would shoot anyone and anything; but then for the months after that, I would find my camera staying in its bag for weeks at a time. After that, I became an occasion-al shooter because I would only make pictures during occasions. Two years in, I was seriously considering selling my camera and the assorted related knick knacks I accumulated over that time.

I then stumbled onto the lighting resource nirvana that is Strobist, and it was both a literal and figurative light bulb moment, so to speak. I finally broke free from the creative doldrums that had stalled me for years and the winds from the goddess of inspiration caught my sails and I have not looked back since.

As I have asserted in various posts on this blog, a secondary light source (aside from the ambient) allows one not only to make the most ordinary setting look remarkable, but it offers one additional control over how the final image will come out. And I am admittedly a disciple of the old(er) school of photographers who strive to do most of the work in camera and not have to achieve the look in post.

And so as far as I could remember, since that watershed in my brief history in photography I have always travelled with one or more lights in my bag. If I can light it, I will. If I have to use a flash on-camera, then I strive to do so … responsibly. For a while there, I tried to light every scene that my viewfinder came upon. I have long learned the folly of that conviction.

Over the next three years, I would find myself in moments where I would decide to leave the flash in the bag or to simply switch it off. Because as I had learned, the time it takes me to think about how to light the scene took twice as long for the moment to pass (and only to realize later that it was perfect as it had existed in that ephemeral pocket of time). The pictures that follow are a testament of my recovery from … err, NLSA (non-ambient light source addiction).

*The above photo was shot by J. Pahang

Watching the World By

The Dark Side

DPP 0811, Day 29 – Megs

Beneath that handsome exterior lies a quiet confidence, which allows Megs to both blend into a crowd and stand out at the same time.

In this shot, I didn’t want to downplay his looks, but also didn’t want it to be the only quality of his that I wanted to feature. I wanted to evoke his contemplative side, but also wanted to hint at the playful nature beneath it. The strong lines in the chosen setting were used to elicit a sense of masculinity because I wanted the ‘handsome meter’ to point towards rugged and as far away from K-pop-boy-band pretty as possible.

A simple one-light portrait, which is currently my favorite from the ones that I’ve shot for this project so far.

Watching the World Go By

Galaxies

DPP 0811, Day 28 – Khristian

In the Philippines, the macho culture is still very much prevalent (thanks in part to beer and liquor commercials). ‘Real’ men do not cry, dance, or know that mauve is actually a shade of purple (and not the same color). I have been in earshot of too many machismo-fueled conversations between male students walking the halls of the university to know that things will not change soon. But, I have faith that the future will be different.

I dream that one day men can both be strong and vulnerable, powerful and graceful, and decisive and intuitive. And from what I know of Khristian, there’s hope for men yet.

DPP 0811, Day 27 – Mjane

Lately, I’ve been debating with myself over whether to stay true to a working style that I had developed or to trade it in for other trendier alternatives. It took me a while to end the debate (it was with myself after all), but at its conclusion I decided to continue to abide by the process that I had nurtured over the years —

At it’s very core, a portrait should primarily be about its subject. The location, composition and lighting come in second.

I hope that it will not only earn me some form of commercial success (enough to quit my day job), but that it will allow me to draw inspiration and fulfillment from it for the years to come.

The Return of the Outtakes

I have never been one to do extensive editing (especially retouching) in post. Sure, I process all my pictures as I shoot in a RAW format; but I realized that if I retouched most of the pictures (especially portraits) on top of my usual workflow, then I’d be stuck in front of the computer for days at a time. And I have always stood by my personal tenet to  never retouch a person’s portrait to the point where even her own mother wouldn’t be able to recognize her.

My rule has always been simple —

If the picture presents the person in the best possible way that they could be in real life (ex. a little less acne, a little more blush) and provided that any changes I make will only enhance the picture, then why not.

Well I didn’t really have a LOT of time on my hands, but I wanted to exercise my post-processing skills a bit lest they atrophy.

Keep On Shooting

From USC PE Festival 2011

These three words that call for perseverance and practice seem to come up a lot in my recent conversations about photography. However, I've also come to realize that they can also be a call to focus amidst the chaos and the demands of every day. A message that I believe should reverberate throughout our lives.

__________

*I may have mentioned in a previous post that the pictures that I shoot during events will be hosted on my Picasa page (hence the watermark). The link on the lower right corner of the above image can be clicked to view the pictures in the album.

Watching the World Go By

Beeline

DPP 0811, Day 26 – Chat

I try not to put too much stock in first impressions. I only got to know some of the most fascinating people in my life upon closer inspection. Being introverted, I could’ve easily shied away from a tornado of vivacity like Chat. And yet working with her on a number of occasions has allowed me to see other facets of her person; I especially admire the grace with which she handles her duties. Where it takes perseverance to make it through a long (and bad) day at work, it requires a rare optimism to make it to the end of the day with a smile on one’s face.

Watching the World Go By

They Only Come Out at Night

DPP 0811, Day 25 – Leif

In my experience in shooting people, no matter how practiced or (on the other end of the spectrum) unskilled the subject is at posing in front of the camera, at some point they’ll ask you the question —

What do you want me to do?

In Leif’s case, he was assisting me while I shot Aying (in the previous post), so the answer ‘Light yourself!’ was not only as good as any, but quite apt for that particular moment in time.

The Outtakes Strike Back

As my DPP 0811 nearly comes to a close, I am once again presenting a number of pictures that I was able to make along the way. Once again, these images are not necessarily flawed for them not to make the cut, but often one has to weigh a number of factors in selecting picks.

If you’re a music buff, just think of these as B-sides. :-)#

Rachel

DPP 0811, Day 24 – Aying

Aying to me initially was the young lady with the infectious grin. I rarely see a picture of her not up to her goofball antics. And yet during the exhibit, I saw a different side to her when Ms. Ising put her on crowd control — mostly adamant (Not on the list? Walk through!) and towards the end a bit subdued (sitting quietly in contemplation).

Where it is true that I may not know Aying as well as her family and friends do, I do have a ‘gift’ for catching glimpses of sides of people that they often conceal from the rest of the world. She could’ve been just tired from a day of directing traffic ushering people, but I am quite glad to have made a picture of her that showed her quiet side nonetheless.

DPP 0811, Day 23 – Bronwyn

Bronwyn, a name of Welsh origin, is uncommon in these parts of the world. It is as if her parents already had an inkling that she was going to be exceptional the moment they gave her that name. And true to form, ‘wyn does not disappoint. I have had the pleasure of hearing her sing and also speak in front of a crowd, and I must say that she does both with an equal measure of confidence. On top of that, she has also taken an interest in photography and has quite the eye.

I suppose our names do play substantial roles in identifying us in more ways than we’d like to think. Hmm, I wonder how I would’ve turned out if my parents named me Conan. :-)#

DPP 0811, Day 22 – Renee

Renee. I’ve always had an affinity for that name. It’s also why I have this nagging notion that Renée (Zelwegger) doesn’t look like a Renee. For a name that bears its origins from water lilies (Japanese) and rebirth (Latin), she doesn’t seem to do justice to any of the two.

But, I digress.

I had noticed that Renee, who was quite the effervescent hostess at the start of the day’s exhibits, looked a bit glum. And so, I asked if I could make a picture of her in the hope of raising her flagging spirits. She said yes and was all smiles in front of my camera even before I could finish my question. It’s a powerful and wonderful thing this asking people for pictures.

I should definitely do it more often.

DPP 0811, Day 21 – Venz

To start, let me commend Venz for being the only one with the confidence and daring to actually tell me that he was ready for his shot when he saw me in the hallway with my camera. I was actually waiting for someone to take me on my offer, which I had posted online a few days before, to volunteer themselves for a portrait. If it is any indication, I am sure that this level of kabonggahan fearlessness will get him far.