#24 123 Islands

At the Hundred Islands Nature park in Pangasinan, there are 123 Islands at high tide and an extra rock-of-an-island at low tide. Not all the islands have white beaches but most of them can be explored on foot. Each island has a name and a unique feature, whether a cave, white beaches, or high vantage points to see the rest of the park. Enjoy.

#23 Sunrise Hundred Islands

How to photograph the fire-y colors of dawn? You need a good alarm clock!

On the Ligayen gulf, off the coast of Alaminos City in Pangasinan, is the Hundred Islands Nature Park, a group of 123 islands cloistered together in an area covering 1,500 hectares. To silhouette them during the most colorful part of dawn, you literally need to be up before the sun. You see, the colors of dawn is the effect of the sun lighting up the underside of clouds, and the most brilliant colors occur only very briefly while the sun is still below the horizon. So if you expect sunrise at 530am, you better be standing where you need to be by 430am. And that's why you need a good alarm clock! Enjoy.

#22 Villa Angela

When we travel for photography, we try to get there the same way the locals do, by local bus, pump boat, or on foot if that's their mode of transportion. It helps set the creative mood for our photographs.

We arrived in the town of Vigan in Ilocos Sur, looking to photograph the historic homes along the cobblestoned Calle Crisologo. We were there to photograph a part of Philippine history, a small well-preserved Spanish town built in the 1800's. So why not stay in a home-turned-hotel built in 1870?

Villa Angela was such a place. We slept and lived among the same antique furniture used by the original owners over a hundred years ago. High ceilings, paneled wooden walls, old pictures taken over a hundred years ago, and intricately carved four-poster beds... What better way to soak up all that history while pondering our photography? Enjoy.

#21 Puka Beach Sailboat

Emerald green water around Boracay? How did you do that? Actually, the right question is when.

On Boracay in the province of Aklan, the island is surrounded by fine white sand that extends well into the shallows. And at about noon, when the sun is directly overhead, the light reflecting off these shallows can turn normally blue water into a stunning emerald green. But oh so briefly. And then it's a light blue again for the rest of the day.

Photography books often teach us to avoid the harsh contrasty light at high noon. Well, you'd miss this opportunity if you did. So don't stop shooting! Enjoy.

#20 The Moment

Should I get a Canon or Nikon? A friend wanted to know. I hope my answer was correct.

At the 14th Hot Air Balloon Festival in Pampanga, a picture I took illustrates my answer. Taken with a better camera, it would have much better resolution, richer and more accurate colors, and likely much less noise. But would it have mattered?

The success of a photograph has more to do with its subject, its composition, and whether it has captured the moment. Well, the last time I checked neither Canons nor Nikons have automated this feature ! Until then my answer will always be "any brand will do." Was that the right answer? You tell me. Enjoy.