Angono photo walk

I usually take long walks. I sometimes look like a freak that carries a camera all the time, snapping pictures of whatever. Here's some snaps from a walk that (almost always) turned into a photo walk.

It's a good thing that Angono is not a densely populated town, because every time I take a walk, there's only a few people that I see. At the time I took these pictures, I was wearing house clothes and plain tsinelas while lugging a heavy Yashica film camera.

Nemiranda's Art Camp. I took this shot from the bridge over Angono River. As you can see, it is located in a very idyllic place. A perfect spot for creative minds while doing their artwork. I attended two art workshops last year in this place. The classes were taught by no less than Nemesio Miranda (Nemiranda) himself. He is a great teacher, and I feel like I'm doing him a disservice by not producing much art this year. Perhaps, next year, 2013, which is only a couple of days away, I'll be doing more artworks that can make their way in this blog.

This is an old "bahay na bato" which burnt down years ago, and the owners never got the chance to renovate it. I felt sad seeing this structure, this is just beside the Angono Highway. However, I am against the idea of demolishing it, I think it should stand as a testament of a time long past.

This used to be Nemiranda's art gallery, with the first floor used as a resto bar. Through the years, it has changed its purpose. Last time I checked, the rooms are being let as residential spaces and the first floor is rented by a funeral parlor. I once dreamt living in one of the rooms here, but it's always occupied by a renter. Still, I admire the architecture, and of course, the huge sculpture were both designed and made by Nemiranda.

That's it for now.

Angono street art (relief sculptures)

Instead of graffiti, Angono artists decided to adorn their street walls with various relief sculptures.  Well, they do have some walls adorned with creative graffiti art, but that's for another post.

This street, I believe, is the one that leads to or is Lucio San Pedro Street. You can't miss this street it's near the town proper, just look for the bust of Lucio San Pedro at a street corner from the main road, enter that street.

This, obviously, is a scene depicting Jose Rizal's moment of martyrdom, when he got executed in Luneta.

This one seems to be depicting the exultation of the Filipino family, its values and culture.

I love this one, merging different famous Filipino mythology stories. Can you identify the characters and/or symbols used?

This looks like a depiction of village life and camaraderie of a neighborhood.

(I have failed to take note the names of the artists who made these beautiful creations. I could update this in the future to include their names.)

Angono is a nice town to be lost in. You can just take a long walk, be lost and be surprised on what wondrous artwork you'll see round the corner. I advise you all to go out and explore, too.

That's it for now. Four days left before Christmas. :)

Intramuros in light-leaky images

I have mentioned several times on this blog that I have an old Yashica FX-D film camera. It is not in good condition, its joints are covered in black tape, film inside has a propensity to get stuck often, among other things. Most of the prints taken in sunny conditions get lots of light leaks.

Despite all of these drawbacks, I still love using it. Instead of seeing an image that is a close approximation of the real thing, I get to see them in a surreal light.

Here's some photos taken using my (not so) trusty Yashica. I used redscale film (or is it expired film?).

The film did give this vintage structure, a very vintage effect, without using Instagram or other filtering programs.

The light leak looks like a blob of light that's about to enter the darkened church.

For vintage, worn photo-looks, redscale film really does deliver.

I held the cam still for about a minute (or did I use a tripod? I forgot.), slow-shutter mode thingy (no, not HDR) to allow more light to expose the film, it then gave the image color even if the film is redscale. (Or, it could just be a freak accident that this one got color-y) 

I will sleep after I finish writing this post, and this photo made me think that it could be a great setting for a dream sequence, as long as it's not a nightmare.

Finally, this sculpture, for me, is just so moving. The subject is heartbreaking, dying of poverty and hunger. I guess, the film and the light leaks made the image a lot gloomier as it is.

What have I learned with this? Well, using a cheap, ready-made redscale film gives unpredictable "filters" on your photos. If you want a vintage, warm, worn look on your images without PS, this could greatly help in your project.

Redscale film by Lomography is one of my favorite types of film to use. The results on each frame, on every roll developed, is very varied, it surprises you.

That's it for now.

Youth (A random-people-on-the-streets post)

Some say that, technically, youth ends at the age of 35.
 

Here's a puzzle for you: Spot the elf. Hint, the elf is female.

Rush!

Lantern Parade 2012

I met up with some college friends that I haven't seen in years last Friday, December 14th, to watch the annual Christmas Lantern Parade in UP Diliman.

It was catch-up time, so we really didn't take lots of pictures of the lanterns/floats being paraded. It's just a nice feeling to chat with friends in person, we've all been busy with our own lives. We reminisced, laughed, talked and had a great time.

Here's a few snaps I took using just an ipod touch.

Flying fish!

I'm not sure what this is, just looks pretty.

A Nightmare before Christmas Rudolph

Alien abduction of a creature

Fantasy flying ship

Would you like to be kissed by this guy?

It just occurred to me that technology in photography has come a long way indeed. Almost everyone is lugging around photographic equipment, even kids have the expensive ones. Parades are great for photo moments, it's just that I got a bit dizzy seeing camera flashes from all directions.

I love going to the annual parade. I try each year to find time to watch it. As a spectator for several years, I realized that I really am getting old, but it's a warm, fuzzy feeling. Yes, I do see the world changing right before my eyes in my mundane existence, but gatherings like this one amplify those changes. Making me sit back not only to marvel at the beauty of change, but to also mourn losses.

It's almost Christmas. Have a happy holiday!

Some mobile stuff

Lately, I've been using mobile stuff to take photos. I still have a film stash, but I have trouble preparing my film cameras before I walk out the door.

Here's some photos taken during a morning run at our provincial capital.

empty ferris wheel

leaning statue of Rizal

Cosplay shots

These are old shots, I think last year, taken at different places and events. I used to lug around several film cameras, (these days I don't go out much) snapping pix of anything interesting using whatever I have available. From what I could remember, these were taken using my old Yashica SLR.

The first three pix were taken at a cosplay event at MOA. We got bored inside the cosplay area as it is dim and nothing much is happening. So we took a breath of fresh air and noticed more interesting stuff near the entrance.

Three maidens. I dare say, they all look great.

Anbu on a mission. 

A group of cosplayers trying to cross the street. My, what big swords you have.

Well, that's it for now.

Vivitar Point-and-Shoot Test Shots

We bought the Vivitar P&S film camera for only 500 pesos buy-one-take-one from the local online deal store: cashcashpinoy, our local Groupon. If you are Pinoy, chances are, you've already heard or used that site.

It comes with a false panorama slide that you have to insert inside the cam's body. What it does is it gives the image a black border at the top and the bottom, fooling the eye into thinking that it's seeing a panoramic shot.

These were taken in Angono and Antipolo City, both in Rizal Province, Philippines.

First five photos are from Angono. This town offers idyllic spots, perfect for those who are tired of the city life. We just walked around and took photos of interesting subjects.

Here's a restaurant area, where you could choose your preferred "kubo" (nipa hut) to dine in. I don't know the name of the resto, it's closed when we went there, but their specialty are duck dishes, specifically, roasted ducks.

Since Angono is considered as the country's art capital, there are lots of places where art is their business. This one is the entrance to a factory of world-class sculptures. Again, my memory fails me in remembering the name of this place. You could easily spot it though, as it is near a prominent landmark in the town, the Iglesia station.

We walked further and spotted this huge carabao carving at a waiting shed. Each barangay in Angono have epic sculptures, but we weren't able to take pictures of all of it using this camera.

Finally, we went home to Pao's parents' home in Antipolo and strolled in the park within the subdivision. We spotted this old water tower, which looks like a UFO for me.

That's it for now. :)

Tigil Pasada, a transport strike

Noong Setyembre 19, nagkaroon ng tigil pasada ng mga jeep. Buti na lang mga FX hindi sumama, kung hindi, hindi kami makakarating sa Cubao mula Antipolo. Ang luwag ng kalsada ng Marcos Hi-way ng bandang mga 10 am, kahit rush hour dapat n'un. Nagsikip na lang sa bandang kanto ng Anonas at Aurora. Pagbaba namin narinig namin ang boses ng mga aktibistang kinokondena ang pagtaas ng presyo ng langis. Maraming pulis na pustura at parang bagong almirol ang uniporme, nakaabang kung sakaling may kaguluhang magaganap.

Kahit pa may tigil pasada, may iba pa ring jeep ang hindi sumali. Sinisigawan sila dahil parang walang pakisama, eh para naman sa ikakabuti nila ang ganoong rali. Bawat panig ay may punto. Ang isang panig, sakripisyo muna ng kita para sa pagbabago, ang kabila naman, pano na ang kita para sa pamilya. Sabi ko na sa inyo madali akong maapektuhan, nakakapukaw isip ang ganitong uri ng pakikipaglaban.

Kuha gamit ang Yashica FX-D, redscale film, 1/125, f/8, 75 mm zoom lens

Nasa kabilang panig kami ng Aurora Boulevard. Mas tanaw ko ang mga miyembro ng media na kumokober ng kakarampot na bilang ng mga aktibistang nagnanais ng pagbabago.

PEACE

Shamcey

Nagulat ako at dalawang araw pa lang, nagdeliver na ang Digiprint ng mga pinadevelop na film (film scanned to cd). Ayos sa Shangrila kahit nagsara na ang digiprint sa SM Taytay, may mapupuntahan kami na malapit-lapit. Sa dinami ng mga kinuha kong litrato, ang una kong hinanap ang file ng kay Shamcey. Kinabahan kasi ako dahil redscale ang film na ginamit. Kelangan ng ganung klase ng mahabang exposure para pumasok ang mas maraming ilaw sa film. Ang kapalit ng mahabang exposure ay camera shake or pagiging blurry, lalo't gumagalaw ang tao. Naks dami pang sinasabi, ito na pictures.

Ang motorcade ni Shamcey ay nag-umpisa sa Araneta Coliseum, sa kalye pagitan ng Dome at ng Farmer's. Siyempre may mga fiesta effect muna bago siya.

From Scrapbook Photos

Tapos ayan na, sa malayo, kumakaway-kaway.

From Scrapbook Photos

Talagang daming tao ang nagsipagtakbo at pumunta sa center island. Siksikan, paparating na sa tapat namin.

From Scrapbook Photos

Pero grabe may hawi boys din pala siya. Manong naman, porke wala kami press ID haharang harang ka na diyan?

Papalapit na sa ami ang sinasakyan niya. Hindi kaya siya napapagod ngumiti at nangangalay kumaway?

From Scrapbook Photos

Ayan, medyo malapit na. Ang hirap mag-focus, ginigitgit kami ng mga humihiyaw na tao. Kasi nga naman, manual na film camera Yashica SLR ang gamit ko, adjust dito doon, sablay pa rin.

Eto na, tumigil sa tapat namin, isang klik na lang sana. Pero...

From Scrapbook Photos

blag! May bumangga sa camera ko. Ulo ng isang babae, tumunog ang bungo niya. Bakal kasi ang camera. Kala ko napindot ko ng nasa oras, pero hindi, mabagal ako, t@ngna, ulo nung babaeng tuloy-tuloy ang paghiyaw ang nakuha sa litrato. Kapag nasa estado ata ng kasiyahan ang isang tao, nakakalimutan ng utak nilang sabihan sila na "hoy, masakit ulo mo nabangga mo sa bakal." Ewan ko ba. Basta sayang, katapat, in-focus at nakangiti si Shamcey sa lens ko nun, hindi ko nakuha ang kodak moment.

Kultura na natin ang beauty contest. Maski ako na hindi mahilig manood ay parang nasapian ng euphoria ng nasa paligid sa isang kumakaway na musa. Talagang mahihilig tayo sa maganda. Natuwa lang ako kasi biglaang photo-op lang naman 'to gaya ng nasabi ko sa nauna kong post. Masayang mapaligiran ng mga taong natutuwa, at natuwa ako dahil si Shamcey ay may gandang Pinay. Sana huwag siyang mag-endorse ng mga kung anu-anong pampaputi at pampa-"enhance." Maganda na ang kanyang mga natural na katangian.

Random people

Kahit nasaan ako, mahilig akong magmasid sa mga tao. Hindi ba't marami rin namang tao ang interesante. Para sa akin, hindi kailangang maganda o guwapo para lamang maipinta o makunan man lang ng larawan. Ayoko naman kunan ng larawan ang mga taong grasa o pulubi dahil wala sila sa sarili nila. Ang pinakagusto ko ay mga taong dalang-dala nila ang sarili. Interesante. Tipong kahit hindi magsalita, alam mong kaya niyang sabihin, "May dignidad ako. Ayoko ng awa (pero kung may tip siyempre, salamat, hehehe). Nagtatrabaho ako para mabuhay." Parang ganun.

Gaya nitong sila manong gwardya sibil sa Intramuros. Game lang sa photo op.

Saka itong si manang. Proud siya sa mangga't suman niya. Masarap naman talaga. Kapag pumunta kayo ng simbahan ng Antipolo, subukan niyo ang mangga't suman doon, mura at masarap.

Ang bagal ko lang pumindot kaya hindi tuloy siya nakatingin sa camera.

Naglalakad-lakad kami sa Ayala nito, galing sa mahabang pila sa PAG-IBIG housing. Pagod at iritable, pero bigla kaming naaliw ng makakita ng mamang naglalako ng gitara. Kakagulat lang na makakita ng isang taong maraming bitbit na gitara.

May mga napapalagpas akong pagkakataon na kumuha ng larawan. Dala na rin ng hiya. Kailangan sa susunod medyo kapalan ko na mukha ko. Ayoko ko kasing maging hindi komportable yung taong gusto kong kuhaan, kaya sa dalawang naunang larawan nagpaalam ako sa kanila. Sa huling larawan, stalker-mode ba?

Sana mabawasan na ang pagka-praning ng mga tao sa camera. Napag-usapan namin dati na may mga Pinoy pa rin na takot sa kulam, o sa kidnap o sa stalker. Basta maraming rason. Sana kung sakaling magkita tayo sa daan, at makiusap akong kunan kita ng larawan dahil cool ka, sana pumayag ka, hehehe PEACE.

Mga biglaang photo ops

Inumpisahan namin ang araw na 'to ng maaga. Nagkita sa simbahan ng Antipolo ng bandang 7 am, kumain lang saglit ng agahan, saka bumiyahe patungong Boso-Boso upang kuhaan ang lumang simbahan doon. Medyo mahaba ang biyahe, kahit pa bahagi pa rin ito ng Antipolo may kalayuan pa rin talaga. Napatanong namin sa isa't isa kung nararapat ba talagang maturing na lungsod ang Antipolo, dahil marami pang bahaging napakarural sa mga nadaanan. Wala naman kaming isyu sa pagkalungsod nito, pero nakakatuwa pa ring makita na marami pa ring kagubatang bahagi sa Antipolo, sana hindi ito magbago.

Nakarating naman kami sa simbahan ng Boso-Boso, sarado ang loob ng simbahan, pero natuwa naman kaming kuhaan ng larawan ang mga iba-ibang anggulo ng exterior nito. Nakatutuwa. Gumagamit pa pala kami ng film sa pagkuha, bukod sa mahal ang digital, nakakatuwa pa rin namang aralin ang mga makalumang paraan ng paglitrato. Kaya wala munang kaakibat na larawan ang siping ito.

Sunod naman ay lumuwas kami ng Cubao upang sunduin ang mga kaibigang ipapasyal sa Angono upang kumain sa Balaw-Balaw. Pero isang magandang photo op ang aming nakita sa Aurora Blvd., lupon ng mga aktibistang nagtigil pasada laban sa pag-akyat ng presyo ng langis. Siyempre masaya ako dahil isang oportunidad ng makabuluhang street photography. Pagkatapos ay gumala-gala lang kami sa Cubao. Nagtaka sa lupon ng mga taong tila may inaabangan sa bandang Araneta at Farmer's. Narinig namin sa mga tao na inaabangan nila si Shamcey, yung kandidata sa Ms. U na nag-runner-up. Tinamad kaming makigulo at gumala na lang sa Farmer's para maghanap ng film. Nung kami'y lumabas, saktong umpisa na pala ng motorcade ni Shamcey, ayun, tawid ng kalsada, at "klik" instant photo op sa isang magandang Pinay runner-up ng Miss U. Isa na namang instant photo op.

Sana maganda ang kinalabasan ng aking mga kuha. Sana mapa-develop ko na agad ang mga naipong film, at sana maging maayos ang kalabasan ng mga kuha. Kinakabahan kasi ako na hindi sharp ang imahe.

Pero dahil gusto ko laging may isang imahe na representante ng bawat post ko. Ito muna ngayon, isang biglang photo op ng mga siklista matapos ang ulan. Isa sa mga medyo mapagtyagaang resulta sa pagsabak sa street photography.