A Slice of Life

Christmas Past

I ususally hate when Christmas comes... for so many reasons that I can't pin down. But if you really want to feel the spirit, look around you and give...anything. Giving makes us see those subtle signs of happiness.

The RF gang

Rangefinder cameras: a perfect companion for shooting the streets.
(L-R) Leica 1G (loaned from Angie De Silva, Leica m4-2, Fed-3 , Fed-2, Zorki-4K

WHERE IS THE LINE?

Row four images #01

Langistik Man: A protester attempts to put a comic twist to the already twisted economics of skyrocketing prices of fossil fuel.


NO TO OIL PRICE HIKE: The militant women join the protest



DEEP "TOTS" .This young child learns the realities of life from the protesting public utility drivers.

Coming Soon: ROW 4 Images

It's been quite a while since I have last posted new images on this blog directly.I got bitten by the multiply fever and then the facebook apps. Nothing beats this blog, it's quiet and has an air of calmness to it.
I noticed that when you make some small adjustments in multiply and facebook...the whole world is roused from sleep.

The good news is, I have gone back to school to learn about photojournalism.

One score and seven years ago...I was hurled into photojournalism because I needed to work and be the breadwinner of the family.Photography was the only other skill I know next to drawing editorial cartoons that I felt would be a good dayjob. I (was) am really passionate and obsessed with photography and I felt that I can really visualize and present my ideas better with photographic images than I can with my drawings. Not that my drawing sucks but I am not really the better artist at home...my younger sister is.

It was the heyday of picture agencies and photojournalism...The Marcos regime was on the very edge of collapse.One breaking news led to another in a vicious whirlpool which sucked my tender years,until it spewed me out like a projectile into the present.

My kids have grown up to be emerging artists too and I realize that I have nothing concrete and structured to teach them...only experiential knowledge.

Looking back, I know I have learned the ropes of photojournalism out in the streets, infron and behind the picketlines, up on the hills, and deep in the urban ghettoes. It's time to go back to school, wipeout my pre-conceived notions, and start with a clean slate.

Photojournalism, it's responsibilities and moral obligations have evolved a lot. I am positive that I will relearn it with got a timely scholarship from the Asian Center for Journalism which works closely with the World Press Photo.

In the next postings, you will see the output of a year of my studies via online and on-campus learning sessions.

Hopefully, this won't be a view from the fourth row.

Mere propagenda or truth?

Is this truth or mere Propaganda?

Link

inside the dressing room:Amazing Beauties 2007

details will follow....

Bureau of Internal Refugees

This are images taken during a photo visi with Tudla Productions to the railroad tracks where demolitions and relocations are ongoing. The people living in small houses alongside the railroad tracks are being driven away to various relocation centers outside the city to find themselves trekking back to the city on account of poor living conditions, lack of jobs and services. These people may be squatters but they it is disheartening to know that they are part of the growing number of Internal refugees in our homeland,

These images are part of the documentation using a Fuji GW670 medium-format rangefinder camera and 220 size Porta film and scanned

Southern Exposure

For a lttle less than two weeks, I went on a trip with a Video Journalist Aaron Goodman, s canadian based in Bangkok. I was fixing for him. This means I have to be the assistant cameraman, gadder, PA, researcher,translator ,etc.I don't remember the last time O did this sort of thing. It was hard work for me coz' we had to work 8-15 hours a day and in the evenings, I spent a lot of time brainstorming the next day's shoot. There was no time to shoot stills for myself. Most importantly though,,, I had witnessed a lot of real things, Mothers losing their beloved husbands by extra-judicial killing, very old farmers with bent-backs toiling their landm peaceful villagers tacing the impending land-grabbing of their titled lands. human rights workers teaching the masses their basic human rights, daughters and children facing up to the loss and grief of losing their fathers and grandparents whoo were summarily killed, simple folk and sof being communists, intelligence agents swarmiaround us while we were doing doc were also the sights of dally life. Sights of hope and optimism. Here are just simple snippets of life in Southern Tagalog region as witnessed them.

Macapagal Tenement Building in Tondo

Aura and Chris, a couple of really good artists give the dilapidated and condemned building a fresh coat of hope and vigor by painting the whole central area of the buildings 4th floor with heroes abd other characters. They were helped by supportive young residents.

Found:

A dear friend, fellow photographer Alan Dejecacion from San Francisco found this old image he took of me in the mid 90's when we went to see "The great John Lee Hooker" (as far as i can recall) at Yoshi's blues bar in Oakland.Taken with a Leica M6.This image really gives me the blues.

Marines off to war

Once in a while, there is an outbreak of war. Sometimes it's just beyond our doorsteps and we have to send our brother, our friend, or even ourselves in harm's way to fight our brothers, friends or maybe even our own selves.

Walking home from the barber shop

Walking home from the barber and still reeling from the frustration of the crappy hair cut I got, this scene washed all my anger away . I need to have a cool shower too.

Jeepboy

Working boy