#210 The Sky Above

Sometimes, fate forces you to find another way.

We were perched high up on the Buscalan rice terraces, enveloped in complete darkness, waiting for the sun to come up. What kind of madness is this, you say? We're here to catch first light, of course, and the incredible colors that accompany. But as fate would have it, an important accessory I needed to balance the light of the sky with that on the ground had gone missing. Now how am I going to photograph both of them in a single frame?

Luckily, we were surrounded by paddy fields filled with very calm water. And when you get the angle just right, the sky magically appears on its mirrored surface, plus all its ensuing colors. Enjoy.

(Pixel-peepers: It's best to have the right equipment for the job. But when your memory lapses, you better make up in smarts. After all, there is seldom a single road to Rome.)

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For those who've inquired about buying prints of my postcards, you may purchase them directly from master printmaker Arnel Murillo (murilloarnel@yahoo.com), one of the country's foremost fine-art printmakers.  Arnel uses archival inks and museum-grade paper to ensure his prints will not fade. You will not be disappointed. (All my images are provided gratis to help showcase the beauty of our country. But if you feel generous, help me uplift the lives of the Children of Payatas.  No donation is too big or too small. Get in touch with Fr. Aldrin Suan at aldrinsuan@yahoo.com of the Vincentian Missionaries in the Philippines. As always, thanks and enjoy.)

#209 A Living Canvas

Whang-Od was the reason we endured two days driving to barangay Buscalan in Kalinga. She's 94 years old, a national treasure of sorts, and the oldest surviving mambabatok (tattoo artist) in that province. She's also a living canvas: on her arms and shoulders are the obras of artists past, inscribed for life and for all to see, for as long as she remains in the land of the living.

We're not the only ones who thought the trip was worthwhile. We arrived to find five tourists queued before us, all waiting for a Whang-Od original. And on her bedroom wall, we found a plethora of pictures and letters from happy customers all over the world. This lady is amazing. We thought she single-handedly put this sleepy village on the global tattoo map. We hope her niece Gessel (Grace) continues in her footsteps, to keep the stream of tourist flowing, and keep the craft of the Kalinga mambabatok alive. Enjoy.

(Pixel-peepers: She's a busy woman. By the time she's ready to have her photograph taken, the harsh mid-day sun was upon us. Not to fear. Sit her under a big tree, or behind the shade of her home. The naturally harsh light will become directional and pleasing. Then shoot away!)

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Past postcards at www.PostcardsFromManila.com

Say hello: Bobbyw59@yahoo.com

But wait, there's more...

For those who've inquired about buying prints of my postcards, you may purchase them directly from master printmaker Arnel Murillo (murilloarnel@yahoo.com), one of the country's foremost fine-art printmakers.  Arnel uses archival inks and museum-grade paper to ensure his prints will not fade. You will not be disappointed. (All my images are provided gratis to help showcase the beauty of our country. But if you feel generous, help me uplift the lives of the Children of Payatas.  No donation is too big or too small. Get in touch with Fr. Aldrin Suan at aldrinsuan@yahoo.com of the Vincentian Missionaries in the Philippines. As always, thanks and enjoy.)

#208 Shafts of Light

On an overcast day, the opportunity for above average photography actually rises. Say what?

We were on the Tagaytay rim on a cloud-filled day that drizzled on and off. It wasn't the best time for sight-seeing as the fog obscured the landscape and dark clouds above kept the sun from shining through. But in a place where the wind was always on the move, the light can change very quickly. I spotted a moving splotch of light on the lake and immediately pulled-over to wait it out. Eventually, the clouds thinned-out to allow shafts of sunlight to punch through. The result was Taal Lake lit in a most unusual manner. Enjoy.

(Pixel-peepers: A cloudy sky normally means very even lighting, so even that shooting on auto should be fine. But when photographing shafts of light, you need to under-expose your shot, sometimes by up to 2 stops, because those shafts are very bright, and because you want to capture the mood you remember.)

Sign-up to receive new postcards weekly by email 

Past postcards at www.PostcardsFromManila.com

Say hello: Bobbyw59@yahoo.com

But wait, there's more...

For those who've inquired about buying prints of my postcards, you may purchase them directly from master printmaker Arnel Murillo (murilloarnel@yahoo.com), one of the country's foremost fine-art printmakers.  Arnel uses archival inks and museum-grade paper to ensure his prints will not fade. You will not be disappointed. (All my images are provided gratis to help showcase the beauty of our country. But if you feel generous, help me uplift the lives of the Children of Payatas.  No donation is too big or too small. Get in touch with Fr. Aldrin Suan at aldrinsuan@yahoo.com of the Vincentian Missionaries in the Philippines. As always, thanks and enjoy.)

#207 Peeping Tom

Who was peeping at whom? 

We were photographing the old town of Silay in Negros Occ. when this gentleman caught my attention. Let's call him Tom. I saw him first, enjoying a cup of coffee while reading his morning paper. He must have sensed me standing outside the window, and after giving me a dismissive glance, returned to his morning paper. It was then that I knew I got him. I took a few steps back and framed my shot, but waited for the decisive moment when he would look up again. And waited. And waited. Until he finally did. Gotcha. I knew Tom would peep again, but after looking at what I caught, the peeping Tom could also have been me. Enjoy.

(Pixel-peepers: When you do street photography, your subject may or may not cooperate. They may smile and wait for you to shoot, or wave you off with your pride in tow. Yet within limits, persistence has its rewards. He broke out into a smile knowing I had caught him. And I the same, as I quickly made my exit.) 

Sign-up to receive new postcards weekly by email 

Past postcards at www.PostcardsFromManila.com

Say hello: Bobbyw59@yahoo.com

But wait, there's more...

For those who've inquired about buying prints of my postcards, you may purchase them directly from master printmaker Arnel Murillo (murilloarnel@yahoo.com), one of the country's foremost fine-art printmakers.  Arnel uses archival inks and museum-grade paper to ensure his prints will not fade. You will not be disappointed. (All my images are provided gratis to help showcase the beauty of our country. But if you feel generous, help me uplift the lives of the Children of Payatas.  No donation is too big or too small. Get in touch with Fr. Aldrin Suan at aldrinsuan@yahoo.com of the Vincentian Missionaries in the Philippines. As always, thanks and enjoy.)