Rough Groove

urbanMANILA

urbanMANILA is the website that I developed, gratis et amore, for the projects made during the workshop conducted by World Press Photo 05 awardee Peter Bialobrzesky, a program of the Goethe Institut, Manila. This was held from 31 January – 26 February 08 at the Silverlens Gallery. From the original 10 participants, eight of us finished the month long collaboration.

The workshop was free. In return, we accompanied and assisted Peter, one on one, for his current work. The learnings and new insights gained ranging from technique, approach to photography as an art, business and as a career were really priceless. I have always wanted to do urban photography and Peter’s inputs really is spot on.

I never regretted joining the workshop. Now, I can just smile and look back when I almost didn’t make it. When I first learned about it from Dennis Rito early January, it was already too late as the selection was concluded December. But when I saw that only 8 out of 10 slots were filled, I immediately contacted Paula Guevarra of Goethe Institut but was told that it was already too late. Seeing that this will be important for me, I sent an email to Jimmy Domingo of ACFJ as well as to Peter. They discussed it and luckily, the selection was reopened just a few days before the start of the workshop. And from there, it was history. It pays to be persistent!

The website is just a simple HTML and CSS based project. I was tempted to do it in flash or integrate flash elements in it but decided not to. The design is uncluttered and I opted for a black background so that the photos will look better. I also tried out a new design where the content is organized in such a way that it floats against the dark backdrop. I did not follow a top-left placement of the site name but instead, positioned it at level with the photo. The main content only holds the site name as well as the images. As for the footer, I utilized this area to hold the thumbnails, navigation and other information. One of the photographers, Tammy David requested not to include her images while I’m still awaiting the text for the About page.

The entire project was done in one sitting. Overnight.

Intramuros walk tour

At last, I finally made it to Fort Santiago in Intramuros, Manila! After all these years and the countless times that I’ve been around in the former walled city, I never imagined, until now, that Intramuros is not Fort Santiago.

Hehehe, right under my nose the impressive entrance that, for a while, I was clueless of where actually this can be seen stood infront of me, restored to its former form after it was destroyed during the battle for Manila in the last world war.

The top part with the image of St. James (Santiago) riding a horse over his enemies is more or less the same with the facade carving found in the stone church of Paete, Laguna.

Read more.

Series 49: Malate market vendors

Series 49: Malate market vendors is now starting at Binary Silver. These are a series of photos taken during a lazy afternoon in a market near the nightlife mecca that is Malate in Manila. This was one of the assignments that I did for a documentary portrait photography workshop at Silverlens Gallery conducted by Kat Palasi a few months ago just before Lent.

While I don’t know these people, coming up to them and asking for their permission to have their photos taken was done with trepidation at first but once I realized that these vendors were accommodating and open, it became easier.

More photos are lined up for the coming days at my photoblog.

Black Nazarene at Quirino grandstand

A break from tradition, the image of the Black Nazarene, in celebration of its 400th anniversary, was transported Monday afternoon to the Quirino Grandstand where a vigil was done. The following day, the procession was held at around noon. Despite that I don’t have my camera with me during this time, I went to the Luneta to see the image. Alas, it was far from the grounds and fenced off. One way to touch the image is to fall in line which at 0900H was already snaking almost a kilometer!

San Agustin procession

Last August 27, San Agustin church in Intramuros had a procession in honor of the order’s feast day. I was there to take photos upon the invitation of Fr. Pedro Galende.

The main image of San Agustin (1 of 3) carried out of the church (left). The oldest church in the Philippines with much history with it, the only standing church remaining during the Liberation of Manila, WWII, San Agustin Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site stands proud through the centuries as the procession starts its centuries old path around the once walled city of Intramuros (right).

The band that played behind the procession (left). The main image coming back from the procession (right). The churche’s interior is so rich and beautiful with the trompe l’oeil still intact when the painter Alberoni (brothers?) first did the church. Just beside the altar, the tomb of Legazpi, founder of Manila is located.