Saturday, May 26, 2012

Safari Year Five

I quietly celebrated my photoblog’s fifth year online this week. While swimming through some posts through the years, I am grateful for having experienced so many places, so much culture, and myriad events. I am even more grateful that I have began to see anything and everything as “blog-able” – no need to wait for an elusive double rainbow or the perfect symmetry of sun, sea, and sky. The last five years online have helped teach me that I make the so-called Kodak moments, and each is a Kodak moment- if I choose it to be. No scenery is too grand or too murky for beauty and wonder to reside in.

To celebrate my blogoversary, allow me to re-dedicate this blog with words I have used to launch it five years ago:

This photoblog is inspired by Dan Eldon, a young photojournalist who was killed while on duty in Somalia. Reckoned by many to have been a premature death, he left an extensive set of journals chronicling a life that was short but truly well-lived. Thank you, Dan, for reminding me that each moment is a golden photo opportunity, to be grabbed, savored, captured, framed, and shared…

This safari that is my life is still so good.

--==+==--

I am a firm believer in Dan Eldon’s mission statement that

"The most important part of vehicle maintenance is clean windows, so if you are broken down, you will enjoy the beauty of the view."





In a recent road trip, I am glad the owner of the vehicle we were in was of the same thinking, too. The view from Valencia City to Cagayan De Oro City was simply awesome- a 130-kilometer trip punctuated by rolling hills, gorgeous skies, and imposing mountains. Now, I had to be a bit creative to capture my surroundings since we were cruising at a speed that was meant to enable us to join a meeting without being late.

on the road in Bukidnon,April 2012, using a digicam.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

PhotoHunt: MAGICAL





This is one of the rare times I really wish I had a real pro's camera because my puny point-and-shoot simply did not do justice to capture the majesty of Tinago Falls.

The Filipino word for "hidden," Tinago Falls is nestled in a lush forest environment about 45 minutes' drive on rough roads from the national highway. As a person in the worst possible physical shape, it me about 20 minutes to go down some 300-odd steps into the valley that cradles Tinago. (Then thrice as long to go back up.)

But to say that it is worth the hike is the year's understatement. It is simply amazing. Even magical.

Iligan City, April 2012, using a digicam.

Saturday, May 12, 2012

PhotoHunt: SCOOP




I have been to Cebu several times over the last decade and a half but it was just last week that I got to see its Provincial Capitol in person. I found its U-shaped, recessed facade rather unique- versus the usual "flat" exteriors of government buildings, especially among those built during the American occupation of the Philippines.

Cebu City, May 2012, using a digicam.

Sunday, May 6, 2012

PhotoHunt: ZAP



I think the moon is one of the most underrated icons of beauty. Most likely because we fail to fully see its beauty since it peeks around the time we're supposed to be sleeping. It doesn't help that it has also been been infamously associated with werewolves, lunatics, and all the creepy crawlies that go bump in the night.

I still happen to be awake at this unusual hour (it's 2.36am here in the Philippines as I type this) and while reading my Twitter timeline, someone mentioned about the moon. I looked up and out of the window and- voila- a sight I hardly behold.

I don't know if this is already the supermoon mentioned frequently as of late, but regardless, the moon will always be super, magical to me =]

the sky outside my house, Taguig City, May 2012, using a digicam.