#263 Juicing Cane

Hot on the trail of vanishing professions, one such profession has got to be farm workers who juice cane. They hand-feed stalks of sugar cane into a mechanical press that squeeze the cane water into a pan.  The juice will be turned into muscovado sugar and the spent stalks will be used as fuel for the cooking process. The mechanical press used to be powered by a real carabao, but today they're using a farm tractor in auto-pilot mode. One day they will no longer juice cane this way, so we hope this photograph remains a fond reminder of how it was once done. Enjoy.

(Pixel-peers: I took this shot from inside a shed, struggling to balance the brightness of the spent stalks in the foreground with the folks under full light in the background. I wish my light meter hadn't conked-out on me!)

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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.)

#262 Modern Ox Caravan

An ox caravan? But where's the ox?

We were driving through San Jose city in Nueva Ecija when we spotted these ox caravans in an open field. It was only when we got closer did I notice that the ox was missing, and in its stead, a motorized tricycle under that load. Mang Mellecio said they've come from Panggasinan where these baskets were made and were on their way to Calbyog over a hundred kilometers away... stopping in most towns along the way to peddle their wares... which could take up to a week or two.  We had stumbled onto the modern day versions of the oxen caravans of old. Enjoy.

(Pixel-peepers: If this postcard appears unusually sharp, credit it to the strong light just before dusk, which can help make photographs appear really sharp.)

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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.)

#261 Rush Hour

The holidays are over and it's back to work for most of us. Welcome back to the morning traffic at rush hour. But in the flood plains of Candaba, the rush hour was... well... somewhat different.

It was shortly after sunrise when I found myself walking down this dirt path through the swamps. I thought the cloud-mottled blue sky and the road disappearing into the horizon would make an interesting composition... but I was missing a focal point. As luck would have it, the morn's silence was shattered by a sputtering farm buggy rushing a group of farmers to work. I stepped aside to let them pass, after which I quickly recomposed my shot to include them in my composition. You really have to experience the rush hour out here. Enjoy.

(Pixel-peepers: When the light is low on the horizon, forget shooting into it or directly away from it. The harsh directional light will make your landscapes look flat and uninteresting. Try pointing your camera 90 degrees from the direction of the light, and your landscape shots will come alive.)

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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.)

#260 Of Birds and Lilies

A photographer can only see what he wants to see. And what he sees is what he chooses to photograph.

In my years shooting with friends and pros, that phenomenon rung true. Sports-biased photographers tend to look for subjects in motion. Product and still-life pros can see the world distinct from their backgrounds. Travel photographers' compositions can make you really want to visit a place. And portrait photographers were the first to spot beautiful faces everywhere. Incredible but true.

We were in the Candaba swamplands when I chanced upon this patch of lilies surrounded by lush foliage. In the distance was Mt. Arayat. Since I am inclined to landscapes, I immediately framed my shot, clicked a few, and then walked away. It was only when I got home and on my computer did I see an entire herd of white herons staring back at me from the grasslands just beyond. This was a bird sanctuary after all, and it was in the middle of the migration season, but I didn't see a single bird before I took that shot! Enjoy.

(Pixel-peepers: Photographic myopia isn't necessarily a bad thing. Some specialization is required to eventually develop your own style. But if you're still exploring your options, uncertain what you want to shoot, photographing with others can widen your perspective.)

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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.)

#259 A New Year Awaits

When a year grinds to a halt, we reflect on what has been. And when the next one rolls around, we imagine what it can be. It's the path to an examined life, a life worth living.  

I've had a great year... taking you along my journey... to uncover the hidden beauty in our country. But put on your seat belts and hang on tight. There are more places to see... certainly more than we have the time for... to see them all. Good luck and have a wonderful year ahead. Enjoy.

(Pixel-Peepers: Before the golden hour at sunrise... there is the blue hour of twilight. And if you paid attention during its intersection, magic can happen. Happy New Year!)

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.)