A Marian grotto (Our Lady of Lourdes) at the vicinity of Kawasan Falls in Badian, Cebu
While at Kawasan Falls in Badian, Cebu, this Marian grotto caught my attention while looking around the area. This is my second experimental shot for a series that I’m thinking of pursuing. The first study is this one.
Another portrait diptych study this time of children that were photographed in Infanta, Quezon
I have always been fascinated with people portraits and the different approaches that photographers have when it comes to this genre. Works of Rineke Dijkstra, Alec Soth as well as Charles Freger fascinates me: their visual language, the ideas behind their work, and the fact that they always do it in series.
A fried peanut hawker which is part of a series of Malate market vendor portraits I did in 2007
Since 2007, especially after joining a workshop on portrait documentary photography under Kat Palasi at the Silverlens Gallery, I have taken portraits of people in a more structured manner. My approach has always been to photograph them in their natural environment using only available light.
Like Freger, I am interested with groups of people with a common profession or way of life. Unlike Freger, I’m not into the concept of uniforms and the exclusionary nature that these uniforms connote. A certain commonality like an idea that binds them together or people living in a particular place also appeals to me. For me, its more than just portraits or their profession. Its giving them a face.
Portraits of Senakulo actors during a street performance in Makati City
As of now, I prefer to call these as studies because I’m still in the process of experimentation. Trying out different approaches to know what will work well for me and my subjects. Will diptychs be okay? Full body shots or just head shots? Plenty of background or subdued and out of focus?
Another portrait study of a "gamet" gatherer from Ilocos
In two previous posts, I’ve tried out portrait diptychs like those of the Infanta flagellants and a jai alai player. Here, its full body shot paired with a headshot. When Cory’s cortege passed, I also tried another approach. My idea for this one was that instead of focusing on the event itself, I trained my camera on the people’s reactions as the remains of the former president made its way in Ayala Ave.
Well, doing people portaits is still fluid for me. I will still be experimenting.
A man paying tribute to Cory as her cortege passed by Ayala Ave. last 3 August.
Last Monday, while covering the cortege of Cory Aquino as it passed by Ayala Avenue, there was one idea that has been in my mind: take images of the people as the truck bearing the remains of the former president passed. I was sure that most of the images that will be produced that time will focus on the truck and Cory’s family. Why not on the people lining the street?
At first, it was kind of difficult as the space was too narrow with people at both sides crowding one side of the road that I was using my ultrawide angle lens. When the roadblocks were gone in one section, I started using my 50mm and eventually, my telephoto lens, as can be seen in the resulting images.
Above is the slideshow.
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