#315 The Soul of a Place

In my travels, I'm always on the lookout for that one scene that captures the soul of a place. It can be a grand landscape, local folks at work, or portraits of real people. It's a bonus if I can capture two or more of these elements in a single photograph.

Still along the coast in Culasi in Antique, the sun was starting to set, bathing the landscape with a warm and romantic light. On the horizon I can see the sea on one side and the mountains on the other, the signature characteristic of this place. I can see fishing boats strewn everywhere, and in the distance, fishermen are pulling their nets to shore, all suggesting how they live off the sea here. Just then a bare-foot mother and child, in affectionate embrace and engaged in lively banter, walked past me and right into my composition. A gentle people who live off the sea in this beautiful place embraced by water and mountains. Click. Enjoy.

Pixel-peepers: Much had been written about photographing during the golden hours, where the warm sharp colors can make your pictures pop. It's showing every afternoon at a landscape near you, don't miss it.

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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.)

#314 Tuba

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Money doesn't grow on trees, but as we discovered, the next best thing does.

We were in Pandan in Antique, marveling at this grove of coconut trees dotting its shore, when this farmer climbed up a tree to harvest coconut wine, or Tuba. It's an apparently simple process. Instead of allowing the tree to flower and bear fruit, they cut the efflorescence and direct the sap into small bottles. Within a day, the bottles will fill with a sweet fermented liquid that pack a light alcoholic punch! If only they can do the same with money. Enjoy.

Pixel-peepers: I don't trust in-camera meters because they are easily fooled by the light, but when you're in a hurry, they actually don't do too badly.

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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.)

#313 Cycle of Life

Everyone knows habitats are sustained by the evaporation & precipitation cycle of water, but seeing is believing. 

Along the coast in the town of Culasi in Antique, that cycle was at work. The distant clouds hugging the mountain slopes provide the humidity and rain that nourishes its primary forest cover, before collecting in mountain streams that eventually find its way to the sea. Along the way, the same water irrigate the rice fields we saw earlier, keep wide expanses of thick beach forests possible, before tip-toeing past mangroves and nipa groves along marshes that flush out to sea. Seeing is believing. Enjoy.

Pixel-peepers: The terrain of a landscape is revealed when it's lit by strong horizontal light. Luckily, that occurs twice a day: shortly after sunrise or just before sunset. It's worth the wait.

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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.)

#312 One Day Tuyo

Most everyone loves dried fish, but here in Culasi in Antique, I discovered a special type few knew existed.

After joining other villagers in dragging a taksay net ashore, this woman immediately laid-out her share of the catch on a net-lined bamboo tray. She will water them with sea water, and then leave them to air dry overnight along the shore. A key difference in using just-caught fish is that their tiny stomachs will remain intact when dried, unlike traditional tuyo whose stomachs bursts open. And because the fish is fresh, with plain seawater as the only preservative, the final product isn't too salty, allowing more flavour notes to come out. They call them one-day tuyo. Hunt some down and give it a try. A very clean taste. Enjoy.

Pixel-peepers:  To separate your main subject from a cluttered background, try to use the largest aperture opening on your lens. It will direct the viewer's eyes to where you want them to focus.

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.)