This is Beast. After years of driving nothing but trucks, this little fella worsened my love–bordering on addiction–for the open road. Sometimes he gets so dirty, that we Tagalogs would say “puro libag!”
I wonder who’s gotten dirtier—Beast, or the Rascal Max?
Somewhere in Cavite.
On a good lucky day, one gets to pass a mountain range at just the right time, when sunlight hits a spot that makes it look like a bowl of light.
Shot taken from the car, between wiper blade passes! It gave me two shots, then it was gone.
Nearby was a military post, and it seems our tough warriors may be pampered by the beauty of the place
but not by much else
Over four hundred kilometers. Zero objective other than to see what a particular route looks like. And it meant heading North, East, South, West, and back North. Something tells me there isn’t much difference between that and a dog or cat chasing their tails?
Thick fog, hairpin turns.
Red suns.
You know those days when you’re raring to shoot but unable–or, let’s face it, too lazy!–to go out and haul gear?
taken with a Leica d-lux 5
Fortunately the plants right outside my work station provide all sorts of light play
taken with a 5D
that could border on creepy.
taken with a 5D
During a photography exercise years ago, I balked at being told to photograph flowers
Until somethng in my head popped and said Whoever said they have to look like flowers?
I have to take a selfie. I have to take a selfie. I have to take a selfie.
Those words echoed in my head as reality sunk in: I have just said Yes to a group show that specifically said
SELFIE.
Pretty obvious by now that I don’t indulge in the thing, except for strange reasons–like falling off the bed, waking up with a gash near the temple that I could not properly see with a mirror. Yes, I took a selfie to see how big that ugly wound was, becasue I just might need to haul my puny *ss to the ER for stitches. But I digress.
Back to the selfie–I seriously felt I ahve never worked so hard in my life, all because I dislike 1. having my picture taken, 2. posting pjhotos of me, and 3. I am not exactly a fan of the whole selfie thing. And here I am exhibitng my face?
The little project evolved into a philosphical thing–if I am to display my friggin’ face in a show anyway, might as well fo all the way, and make that a poster of what I am about, what I stand for, and what I value most.
Done. And I must thank the organizers of Bloom (Works by Women) not for being kind enough to invite me every year for the past four-five years, but this time for shaking me out of my comfort zone.
After almost two years of almost not touching equipment, I’m back. Of course it is tempting to say “with a vengeance,” but then that means shooting all the time. Maybe I would, yes?
Saturday found me in Binondo, with a historical tour by a good friend and co Iyas fellow, Jeffrey Yap. The guy doesn’t do it for the money–he’s just so passionate about Manila that he does it for free. The tour cost P580, but it included eight foodstops, and by the fifth or sixth, most of us were just taking little bits for the taste of it, and those with enough fortitude in hauling food brought home probably enough for the next day’s meal.
Oh, he gave each of us a Mark Twain book, too!
Meeting place: Binondo church
Jeffrey (leftmost) gives a brief lecture on Binondo history and what to expect from the tour.
Mirror selfie, with Jeff & darn good friend Louise.
H Photography 