Documenting everyday life around me.
While going through my Lightroom library as part of an unplanned and unorganized effort to revisit old images, I came across this photo I originally edited in black and white. I had shared it on Instagram a few years ago, during a phase when I was exploring monochrome treatments for my street photography. I re-edited
Lately, I’ve found myself revisiting my old Lightroom library from pre-pandemic times, digging through countless images I had imported over the years but never took the time to open, let alone edit. It feels like discovering a time capsule of forgotten moments, each frame carrying a slice of a day I barely remember. One photo
Just another jeepney shot I took while on a morning walk along Lubiran Street in Santa Mesa, Manila. Taken 5 March 2024. I remember having breakfast in one of the neighborhood carinderias then taking a brief walk while grabbing some supplies for the day. I should make it a point to take more walks in
Walking along Ongpin Street in Binondo (Chinatown) in Manila, I almost missed this shot because I remembered having to quickly step back to not get myself hit by the motorbike that I captured in the foreground. Reminding myself that awareness of your surroundings and reflexes matter. Keep safe while taking pictures on the street. I’ve
Took a walk with some friends a few weeks ago to help scratch a common itch (taking photos, just to be clear). I haven’t been walking a lot for the past few months due to my usual busy nocturnal schedule and getting out and getting some decent sun, and a few beers, was a good
I’m not ashamed to admit that I crop my photos in Lightroom. But I mostly crop just to straighten them vertically or to force an image to conform with certain aspect ratios suited for sharing on social media, like stories, among others. I don’t have a gazillion pixels on my camera and cropping for any
Sometime between December of 2021 and January of 2022 or roughly two years since the pandemic hit, I found myself outside shooting on the streets again. The pandemic changed so much of my routine and by this time I have eased into our new lifestyle. It was also how I got reacquainted with my neighborhood,
This man was actually making his way through the crowd while doing some muted strumming that only a fellow musician could recognize from a crowd. I first heard the percussive notes and quickly panned to my left and then found myself right in front of him, took the shot, exchanged smiles and moved on. Juan
Looking for opportunities where I can play around with light is always a thing that I’m on the lookout for. Most of the time I’d go out, walk a few kilometers, shoot and not get a single decent photograph. Somewhat disappointed, I’d end up shelving all my files for review at a later time and
I love how this makes me feel like I am looking at a painting. It’s as if time stood still with every one deciding to pose for a photo. Captured at 1/250 on one bright afternoon back in 2017, this photo was basically shelved and forgotten until I decided to run through my old photos
One of those unplanned walks where I end up shooting on my way home after an afternoon of meetings. It was a Friday and I was having a difficult time getting a ride. This photo is part of a self-project/series I am working on called Buhay Jeepney where I take photos of everyday people commuting using
A vendor selling street food in Carriedo Street, Sta. Cruz, Manila. Taken last September 1, 2017. I haven’t been out much on the streets since getting the Sony RX100 Mark V, but this photo I took at night just blew me away. This image is from a one-inch sensor, a lowly, point-and-shoot camera.
A jeepney driver and his partner plying the streets of Ermita, Manila. Taking that late afternoon stroll looking out for Jeepney scenes and I run into this young couple. It was as if the entire scene unfolded in slow motion as they passed me, their eyes in sync looking at the lens. I just had
A father clutching his child while walking past vendors at the public market in Baguio City. I took this photo while spending time off after a just concluded event where I opted to stay behind for an extra day to relive what used to be my everyday life in Baguio a few years back. Something
A sampaguita vendor takes a moment to relish the sweet, thick fragrance of the fresh flowers that she sells at the plaza right outside of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila. * * * I took the plunge and downgraded my gear from full frame to 1-inch sensor. A few months
A child sprints and jumps over an empty crate which doubles as part of an obstacle course put up by children playing just outside Dagonoy Market in San Andres Bukid, Manila. Taken last July 8, 2017. First posted on my Instagram. EXIF is available on Flickr. * * * I’ve recently been going on impromptu
I’ll be honest with you. These days I’d mostly take an Uber or GrabCar when getting around the Metro. Only because most of where I need to go would take longer if I took a jeep. But that said, I still love taking photos of these old beasts and the people they ferry from location
To say that traffic in Metro Manila is beyond redemption is an understatement. Traffic here is so bad, it let’s you cycle through all the five stages of grief, after which you still end up stuck at the same gridlocked junction as before. The cycle repeats itself at almost every bottleneck, and so at the end of your commute,
A photo of a woman on a moving jeepney taken at night along Pedro Gil Street in Ermita. I haven’t posted anything lately as I’m still finding time to go through photos that I took the past two months. There’s just too many jeepney photos to choose from and there’s no simple way but to
Whenever I’m on foot or commuting during the evening rush or at later parts of the night, I’d take photos of jeepneys and the drivers or passengers. It has become a habit the past few months and it soon evolved into a series which I will soon start sharing and putting up on a special
That night I went out and took photos in the red light district of Makati with fellow street photographers Jonathan and RJ. We spent some time around these telco workers who were installing what I think was an LTE radio antenna that night in the corner of Makati Avenue and P. Burgos Street in Makati. Jonathan was
After a meeting on that scorching hot afternoon of March 23, 2017, I find myself walking along Taft Ave. from Quirino Ave. and taking photos on the way. The weather felt like it was in the 40s (Celsius) though it was probably around 33-35 degrees that day. I end up in the corner of Taft Avenue and
Walking through the crowded Juan Luna street in Binondo, I found myself smack, right in front of this person pushing a cart full of wooden kitchenwares. I was fortunate to have my 28mm on my camera or else I would’ve had to crouch or probably missed this shot. Choosing the 28mm over the 50mm was a good
Two female vendors selling Angpao (little red envelopes), signaling the start of the holiday season in Chinatown. Sta. Elena St., Binondo, Manila. Taken through my usual route, cutting through Lucky Chinatown walk on my way to Juan Luna St. I was still deciding if I would go 50mm or 28mm for my walk yesterday and just quickly snapped
A street vendor prepares breakfast for this family of three, with the morning rush hour traffic serving as a backdrop to their daily routine. Plaza Rueda, Ermita, Manila. Breakfast from street food vendors, a cup of instant coffee and the occasional cigarette, seems the practical choice for the everyday, masa commuter, at least in these parts.
An old woman selling various beverages to people on their way to work in front of Plaza Rueda, Taft Ave., Manila. For the past three days, I’ve been at the hospital attending to a family medical emergency. And every morning, I’d walk into the plaza across the street and would get breakfast while watching people go about the morning
Life imitates art, in this case old-timer, bikers captured in what, to myself, looked like a Michelangelo painting. These three elderly men were having a lively discussion about biking, their loved ones and other random topics. Today I walked a total of 12,098 steps, a distance covering 7.5 kms from Pedro Gil St. to Paseo
The breakfast club. Brgy., Kapitolyo, Pasig. I started shooting with the Summicron again on my way to work this Monday morning. It has been a while since I last used this lens so I plan on shelving the Super wide Heliar for the next few weeks. It feels good to shoot at 35mm focal length
On candids, Divisoria and editing on Adobe Lightroom for mobile. Another totally pointless post aiming to fill a blank text box from on my CMS. I really just want to post pictures now.
Red candles beside the Santo Cristo de Longos Shrine in Ongpin St., Binondo (Chinatown), Manila. Taken during my walk yesterday afternoon. Yes, my feet are still sore from that long walk. I should do that more often again.
Ormoc was brief but it was great, they were celebrating their 69th city charter day when we got to the port on our way to Cebu two weeks ago. Took this photo right before we boarded that SuperCat. Clear skies, no pollution, I barely did any editing. Transferred from my A7SII to my iPhone and uploaded here
Noodle man. Ongpin St., Chinatown, Manila. Had a blast shooting with another Instagram user who took the time to meet up and shoot street with me earlier. My phone says I walked a total of 14,059 steps for 11.3km and took six flights of stairs. Seems pretty accurate from how my feet are sore now.
Rain kept people I’m meeting from arriving on time, so here I am taking a few pics while waiting. Shot, transferred to my phone and uploaded without any edits, I just love how this Voigtlander lens and Sony body renders its colors.
The old walled city of Intramuros, I’d remember myself as a kid let loose on its walls and ruins, reenacting countless sieges and mock battles. It was the 80’s after all, a time without such distractions as the Internet and Social Media, when playing outdoors was part of every kid’s daily routine. I remember a time
This was from the day I got the Voigtländer Super Wide-Heliar 15mm f/4.5 Aspherical III. I took a quick stroll back to our hotel going through side streets and was blown away at how incredibly sharp this lens was. Add to that being paired with a Sony A7SII, this beast of metal and glass has been in my
This is the neighbourhood I grew up in. I go around and take photos around all the time but rarely publish any of them. I had the privilege of moving away during my teen years to study up north, in Baguio, it was one of the best decisions my parents made for me. Studying up north kept me away
The Eiffel had French and Korean flags that day, I assumed it was for some holiday or diplomatic visit. Spent my free time back then walking around with a Samyang 14mm Ultra Wide-Angle f/2.8 IF ED UMC lens on my Sony A6000.
They have a good selection of home brewed beers, their stout is one of the best in the area. Served cold, I occasionally find myself stopping by for a drink due this ridiculous summer heat that we’ve been having these past few months. Taken using a Minolta MD W.Rokkor-X 28mm 1:2.8 lens at 1/100s f/4 ISO 4000. See image
This is the first time I took my 15mm lens for a walk. It was one of those Sundays where I didn’t have any plans set, so I decided to take photos from Quiapo to Escolta, then from there to Plaza Mexico, Intramuros and into Liwasang Bonifacio. Ran into a lot of interesting subjects too.
Took a little walk down Quiapo and Sta. Cruz again. I managed to take this photo before the security guard at the LRT station could stop me.Taken using a Voigtlander Super Wide-Heliar 15mm f/4.5 Aspherical III lens at 1/800s f/11 ISO1600. See image on Flickr for EXIF.
Last year, I told myself that I will arrive much earlier to be able to take more photos of this year’s Chinese New Year celebrations compared to last one. I ended up spending the entire day taking photos, but I got sick almost immediately after and totally forgot about it. It was by the end
Almost everyday at work, we eat at this place (from where I was standing when I took this photo). The scene is almost the same everytime I am there. A vendor passing by while other people smoke, chat or have drinks after they finished eating. Taken using a Leica Summicron-M 1:2/35mm ASPH lens at 1/500s f/8
A devotee making his way through the thick crowds. I encountered a lot of tired but determined faces throughout the day. Took this while I was on a 35mm lens in a dimly lit part of the covered sidewalk, trying to get near a lamp post ahead to help secure my position and was my
Like birds on a power line. Construction workers and patrons patiently wait for the Black Nazarene to pass at the Translacion of the 2016 Feast of the Black Nazarene. This is my first time to shoot during the Feast of the Black Nazarene. You may browse through my other entries from this event here. Taken
Took a day trip on Rizal Day to get to Tagaytay’s Mahogany meat market, which is popular for their Bulalo and fresh Batangas beef. Taken using a Leica Summicron-M 1:2/35mm ASPH lens at 1/250s f/8 ISO 800. See image on Flickr for EXIF. Posted originally on my Instagram.
I’d have to admit that yes, I am a gear addict. I love using and pushing whatever it is that is latest and within my reach. I also love vintage mechanical stuff, old printing machines, old cameras and lenses, mechanical watches, etc… Mirrorless cameras allow me to marry these two passions of mine into a
Capitol Commoners braving the rain to get a ride home. I’ve been stuck in the vicinity of Capitol Commons in Pasig since 9:00pm due to that day’s traffic gridlock. And since I’m already soaked and bored, I took out my camera, wrapped it with a rain cover and started shooting. Uber was at x5 surge
A visually-impared, elderly man and his guide waits for a bus along EDSA in the late evening. This was taken during the just recently concluded APEC Ministerial and Economic Leaders’ meetings held in Manila from November 16 to 19. Night street photography can be very frustrating if you don’t have gear and glass that can
Got hold of the new Sony A7SII this Sunday and immediately took it for a walk from late afternoon to evening. I shot this right before the sun set, handheld at 1/5s, using the camera’s in-body image stabilization (IBIS). Non-Steadyshot (OSS) lenses can only make use of the camera body’s built-in stabilization hence the 3-axis.
Hold close to your heart those that are dearest to you. And yes, I’m talking about your iPhone. The guy in the background didn’t take the man’s phone but just minutes later offered me a watch and an iPhone 6. He must be a good salesman, selling wares in the streets at night at such
“Every day I fight these little battles inside. My mind is a warzone. To keep things to myself or to spill out my guts, I must be really terrible at this, for I fail, every single time.” Manong, Resident Tambay I This post is part of my Humans of San Andres Bukid series. I live
“…if we have not found the heaven within, we have not found the heaven without” James Hilton, Lost Horizon A kid refreshing himself from the urban heat with clean water. These are everyday scenes of people in this part of Manila where junkshops and homes exist right next to each other. In the background are
This was an accidental click. It was pitch black and I was just trying to measure the light and take a photo of the metalwork when this figure literally popped into my frame as my eye was on the EFV, startling me. I almost jumped, but found myself clicking as I was catching my breath.
A man and his tiny dog, walking the streets of Paris. The last time I was here in Paris{:target=”_blank”}, I only had an iPhone 5s with me and used that to shoot around{:target=”_blank”}. Taken with a Sony A6000 and a Leica Summicron-M 1/2:35mm ASPH 35mm lens at 1/400s f/2.8 ISO 320. See image on Flickr{:target=”_blank”}
Jeepney passenger at the intersection of San Andres St. corner Osmeña Ave., Manila. This post is the first in my Humans of San Andres Bukid and Commuting in Manila series, a subset of my Streets of Manila set of images. Taken with a Sony A6000 and a Nikon Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 AI-S lens at 1/125s
I went for a brief walk in Chinatown with a friend last August and captured this young man pulling an overloaded cart as I was about to sit down on a bench. Carts like these are the lifeblood of businesses in this district. It also appears most of these workers appear to be minors or
Long before those Fliptop rap battles were being posted on Youtube, there were these guys who would debate every late Sunday afternoons and evenings at the Luneta near the chess plaza. They would debate on any topic ranging from politics to religion, from everyday life to science. Taken with a Sony A6000 using a Nikkor
I was with a group of four on one of those roughly planned photo walks, in the rain, on our way to the port area when we ran into this man who just lit up a cigar. “Sayang“, I said while motioning with my hand and camera if I could shoot so as not to
It was raining, we were stuck in traffic and passed under a bridge and this is where I found this man taking a nap on the levee by the river. Taken with a Sony A6000 using a Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 AI-S lens at 1/60s f/1.2 ISO 1600. See image on Flickr for EXIF. Posted originally
The image is from one of the solo photowalks that I took sometime back in March. It was on a weekend when I had nothing better to do but walk around with a camera and creep strangers out. Spent that entire day taking pictures and just sort of forgot about these until today. I thought
I was down with the flu the past few days and while recovering the other day, was able to check out Lightroom, for photos I took, which I have not been able to do for the past few weeks. While going through months of images, I realized that I have this weird thing about gravitating
Started the day early since it was the 4th day of the Papal visit and was anticipating thick crowds and closed streets. There was a slight drizzle and people were using the lenght of the LRT along Taft avenue as a giant covered walkway. All available entrances to LRT stations along Taft avenue were full
Taken while roaming the streets of Paris last September. I got separated from my group earlier in the day and had to walk and skip some tourist spots as I made my way on foot to one of the museums.
