7/1/08

Low-light shots taken with Tri-X 400. Grainy, grainy grain.

Slant

Nuclear

Eruption

6/26/08

I present to you the first batch of photographs from a personal project I have decided to start.

Travel Photography conjures images of stunning vistas and postcard-worthy scenes. But that doesn’t mean that the little things we often shrug upon do not tell stories. A simple tight shot of a fallen leaf may tell stories as complex and intricate as a wide, grand shot of a beach scene. Shot in black and white film, I bring to you a different approach to travel photography. Although some shots may not have a sense of place, I find stories and interest in the mundane, in contrast, in shadows and highlights, in texture, in composition, in blacks and in whites.

Let me start with these photographs taken from my recent trip to Coron, Palawan shot with a Canon system, with Kodak Tri-X 400.

Breakwater

Rope

No Entry

Straight Lines

FILM or BUST!

6/24/08

After a whole day of encircling some of Coron’s snorkeling sites and islands, we set camp at one of the islands about two hours away from the port. The guidebooks call it Tapachelen Island but the locals know it as Papachelen. I guess the locals are more credible.

Sorry for the heavily cliched sunset photos.

Glint

Boatmen

The Burning Bush

Hovering

This would be the last post featuring my digital images from Coron. Up next, film!

6/23/08

One of the best things about traveling to Coron by ferry is that upon waking up, you are greeted by these huge, imposing limestone cliffs as is announcing that you have arrived.

Crowded House

Naval Blockade

Cliffhangers

Front Row

Coron ROCKS!

6/19/08

I finally got the chance to back to Coron, Palawan and this time I got to explore more sites. One beautiful beach after the other. Good friends. Good times.

My digital SLR just slept in my camera bag for most of the trip. I was busying myself taking abstract shots with my film SLR for my portfolio requirements at DLS-CSB. Haven’t processed it yet. I’m afraid I’ll destroy those two precious Tri-X rolls.

For the times my digital woke up. These were taken aboard the Superferry, saying goodbye to the Manila skyline.

Cloud Eruption

Sea Hath No Fury

Enveloped Ideas

“Ano mang trip mo sakyan mo, sa Superferry tayo!”

5/12/08

My roll wasn’t advancing as fast as I wanted so I gave flowers a chance. This just proves the adage “Never say never!”

Or maybe, just maybe, I was just testing the tones that Fuji Superia 400 brings. Excuses! Hahaha!

Hibiscus rosa sinensis

Looks Like Lillies (Hey that’s 3 “L’s”)

Summer Flower (Hey that rhymes!)

Matang Aswang

Okay, the last one isn’t really a flower. While trekking towards the light house at Apo Reef, our enthusiastic guide pointed out that these seeds are the ones used for making bracelets for babies to ward off evil forces. Although the seeds are already very hard, they are still boiled for about 4 hours to achieve a very plastic and beady quality.

5/11/08

Apo Reef is located right beside an international shipping lane. Although most modern water vessels are now equipped with state-of-the-art sonar systems, having a functional lighthouse still helps, especially smaller, legacy boats.

One More Lighthouse

Imposing

Layering

Mangrove Mania

Shot with a Canon EOS Rebel 2000 + Fuji Superia 400 + 17-40.

5/10/08

There’s been a serious lack of color in Pinas or Bust! lately. Enough with the monochromes!

From the town of Sablayan, Apo Reef is accessed via a 2-hour boat ride. Apo Reef is one of the most imporant reef systems in the Philippines because of its sheer size and diversity. Home to numerous pawikans and migratory birds, utmost conservation practices are implemented by the ecotourism officers in the island.

They even imposed a lights out on us and “almost” cut short our socials. We learned that suppressing laughter whilst spontaneously getting soused with cheap gin is a  feat exercised by the most motivated drinkers!

Oh and planktons glow like LED lights in the water. Fuckin cool.

Following shots were shot with my handy Canon and Fuji Superia 400.

The Fallen

Talisay

The Lagoon

Blue Crush

Roof of a Reef

APO REEF or BUST!

5/9/08

The Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm is unique because it is a functional community which doesn’t feel like a place for criminals. Well, at least in the minimum security levels. When the inmates prove themselves as “changed men” they graduate to minimum security and are placed with menial jobs like farming, carpentry and whatnot.  Certainly better than Munti.

5/8/08

Located within the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro.

Again, with the Kodak BW400CN.