My Recently Acquired Obsessions

This year, like most people, I haven't really had a chance to go out. Unless you've been out of touch or have been asleep for the past year or so, there has been this global pandemic that has been spreading like hell. This has literally changed the world as we knew it and how everyone and everything operated. 

That View From Taal Volcano. A reinterpretation from that photo of me back in 2017.

 

So without the ability to wander and take photos, what have I been up to? A couple of things - revisiting an old hobby that I sucked at, and a newfound fondness for mechanical keyboards.

Music To My Ears.

There are only a few songs I absolutely adore. One of them would be this song, which I have been enamored with since I first heard it back in 1999. This genius who composed it explains his process. Decades on, Nobuo Uematsu's masterpiece still rocks on.

Also, if you're interested in hearing the whole song, you can find it here

Yes, I realize I strayed from my usual theme. Covid pretty much made going out to take pictures quite difficult, and I dare say, risky. Safety is of utmost importance for now. Stay safe, everyone!

Lost Wandering Tokyo Drifter?

How is everyone doing? For the past few months or so, I've been stuck working from home, and apart from the occasional errands, I'm just mostly staying at home. I realized I've been away here for too long, so I thought, why not go back into writing? Yes, sorry I took so long. So here it is. Remembering the time last year when I had that week in Japan... In pictures.

Shibuya Crossing. My idea of organized chaos. It begins when the lights turn green.

Why We Still Love Film: Analog Photography in the Digital Age

Hello 2020! How has everyone been? Life has been busy for yours truly. I got home to the provinces for the new year, and it was somehow restful. Ever preset with me the whole time, was a Minolta Alpha Sweet (No kidding. That's really how it's named!) that never left my side when I step out the house. And being seen with that, I get asked - "Digital is easier, so why bother?", "Isn't it expensive?" "I can't see the difference - what's the big deal?"

All of which I can answer easily with my personal reasons, but I admit, it may not be appealing universally. Then I came across this piece. I hope it helps more people understand the why's that I have for this quirk.

 

 

Until then, don't let the fears of getting lost stop you from going out to wander!  

The Update I Almost Never Got Around To Doing

Three Generations, From Two Families, In One Picture. Find the third generation.

Call me Tito. I've had nieces and nephews from my cousins, but it hasn't really sunk in until it comes from your a sibling. I'm an uncle now in our immediate family now. So I can't say I'm a monkey's uncle anymore because that would insinuate my niece to be the monkey. She's all adorable but I can't share pictures of her yet...

My Quick Summer Jaunt

It has been a fairly busy year for me. This year, 2019 may promise to be among the busier ones...  We're expecting an upcoming happy occasion in the family, and this led me to an errand across the street...

This gate leads to my destination.

Okay, not really. It required me to travel to the other side of the Pacific Ocean.

2018... A Year In Analog

It didn't feel too long ago that 2018 was starting. Lots have happened, both changes that were unavoidable or otherwise. And the next thing I know, here we are, capping off the year. It was only a matter of perspective, that set it apart from being a good or a bad year.

Top: Minolta Alpha 303si, Canonet QL17, Nikon F-801; Bottom: Minolta SR1, Canonet QL19, Lomo 135BC. Yeah, when you're not counting, it becomes more than a handful before you know it. This addiction is beginning to get out of hand.

Just like that, 2018 has ended... Another year done. What I found different with this, is the fact that throughout the whole year, I've mostly been shooting with film. By mostly, I'd guess-timate it to be around 95% minimum... It doesn't seem like it's  lost its novelty to me either. So what is it like?

End Of A Roll

The year 2017 has been quite a wild ride. Among my roller coaster years, this has been one of the most surreal for me, regardless of reasons for good and bad. I take the time to be grateful of the good things that have happened to me this year. Despite all the bad times, I still have lots to be grateful for.

This is Minnie. Some see a camera. I see provenance.

I take this time to mention the adventure, the blessings and the amazing people I had the privilege of meeting going through life this year, especially in relation to my shutterbug habits.

I'm Still Here. Lost, But Not Gone.

As you may have noticed, there's a bit of a hiatus in my monthly posts. I suppose you can say safely assume I've been inactive in my blog. So far, apart from the stuff related to my day job, I've been busy:

• Not too long ago, acquired a Lomography 135BC. I would love to write a review about it.
• Been meeting people. So far I have a few people pending. I'd certainly want to introduce the strangers I meet to everyone.
• I've also been a bit more active in Tumblr, unlike before some time ago. I haven't met anyone in real life from there yet, but I actually like the community of the people there. 
• There's also the gym. Actually sooo hard for someone like me to lose weight.

I've also been meaning to update this blog as the look has been outdated for sometime already. Today is just a quick touch. I'll come up with something more modern next time.

In the meantime, while I'm not updating stuff here yet, here's our dog Momoy to keep you company.

#puppydogeyes #momoy has visited your feed. Like and share or reblog to have a lucky December this year. LOL ok not really but I like to think those lovely #eyes can brighten someone’s day. Thanks to @kaye.deq for the picture. . . . . #rnifilms #rnifilmsphilippines #lostwanderingdrifter #dog #dogs #dogsofinstagram #fur #furry #canine #cute #adorable #shihtzu #photography #pets #petsofinstagram #colorphotography #iphonephotography

A post shared by The Lost Wandering Drifter (@lostwanderingdrifter) on Dec 1, 2017 at 5:37am PST

The Strangers I Meet - Everyday People

After that hike last August, life has gone back to some semblance of a routine. I can't say that it's totally the same, but, it's not necessarily a bad thing. There's the usual me habitually wandering into places, but now it's gotten a different.

Familiar Stranger. What it's like to meet for the first time someone you know for a long time. Shot with #agfavista in #belomovilia . . #thestrangersimeet #lostwanderingdrifter

A post shared by The Lost Wandering Drifter (@lostwanderingdrifter) on Aug 31, 2017 at 10:00am PDT

Apart from the usual food photography, the portraits of the Starbucks baristas I made friends with, our utterly adorable dog, and the random knickknacks in between, I may have acquired some fixation to take pictures of people I find interesting, if not fascinating...

The Strangers I Meet - The Kindness Of Strangers

This happened not merely just because of me. While it's true, I went to the top and back with my own power and not riding a horse...

This journey I took knowing it will be an ordeal, chasing the shadow of what's now a distant memory - a fantasy that was once reality. I have now arrived where I wanted to be - the first destination among many. I did not find the shadow I chase, but I found something somewhat more rewarding. The plans and promises made, ones I intended to keep from my end regardless of how everything else went awry, this is the first of many journeys for the rest of my life will try. Now from where I stand looking at something I've never seen with my own eyes, I find myself in the company and kindness of amazing strangers I never met before. Under the clouds forming with the air getting damp and droplets falling, I reached the peak, and the purpose of this journey. The skies shower me with some respite from the cruel sun. I look beyond and I saw this - the view that goes beyond, further and out of sight from the comfort zone. This was worth risking for. Safety and fear never helped me through the worst; This adventure was worth risking for. This was the first of many - there will be more. . . . . Story Link in bio. . . #lostwanderingdrifter #colorphotography #photography #nature #trailadventours #taal #hike #naturehike #whenintaal #taalvolcano #naturetrail #outdoors #sharelifeoutdoors #olympus #olympusepl5 #rokinon #rokinonfisheye #fisheye #defished #lake #craterlake #taalcraterlake

A post shared by The Lost Wandering Drifter (@lostwanderingdrifter) on Aug 13, 2017 at 8:46pm PDT

... I admit with no shame and with lots of gratitude that this wouldn't have been possible without the kindness of strangers around me. Don't get me wrong, everyone on the hike has been amazing. There are a few I've really appreciated though and they made it memorable. I'm mentioning some of them here - partly because I feel I owe them some measure of gratitude.

The Strangers I Meet - The First Steps

It is said, that the ones who can hurt us the most are the ones closest to us. There's no pain like seeing someone you know intimately turn into someone else and look at you like you're a stranger. Time and again I found myself in the receiving end of that for the past decade or so - I kept losing people I held close.

But before this becomes a sappy morose story, let me end it at that. To make a change in this status quo I now endeavor to once again go beyond my comfort zone- the world is full of interesting people. A lot of them I see, but I never had the chance to talk to them. And so there's this crazy idea - why not capture them on film and a bit of their story?

So, basically I now find the world to be a vast room full of strangers. Why not go chat them up?

Today I learned something from this anonymous stranger. Let's call him Alex. I'll remember him as the WD-40 guy. He'll be the first of many I intend to feature on a new theme I endeavor to show here and take a portrait of them on film. I'm hoping to work on my social skills along the process and not come across as some creep. I would like to believe that it's a self esteem thing but the creeped out looks I get in real life is abundant and very real. With aesthetics and prejudice working against me, it's easier said than done. Today I managed to break the ice with this stranger and take his picture along with a bit of story from this afternoon. I believe there are many around me like him and I hope to find and feature them. They'll be tagged as #thestrangersimeet in my collection. Catch them soon. . . . . #lostwanderingdrifter #rnifilms #solo #stroll #lafinca

A post shared by The Lost Wandering Drifter (@lostwanderingdrifter) on Jul 22, 2017 at 7:27am PDT

Except for a few trivial things - rejection affects me a bit more than it should, I'm the least appealing person in terms of looks that I know of, and I'm also socially awkward with inept social skills... Ay, there's the rub.

To The Top And Back!

The previous entry, was just getting half way there. That wasn't the destination. That was the halfway point in our long walk. Things get even more interesting after that.

This wasn't the destination. This was the respite; This is the relief - the extraction from that tiresome endeavor. Beyond these planks is our ride that brings us back to the familiar. Leaving behind the tedious adventure -  and our footprints. But we bring back with us the dirt in our shoes from this, along with the pictures, the memories and the sense of accomplishment. Taal has been kind to us in this.

 

This is the second of the two parts. In case you missed the first one, it's in here. As what our guides would say to fellow hikers we come across along the way, "Keep it up! You're halfway there."

The Other Side Of The Comfort Zone

August 5, 2017.  I went to climb a volcano to jump off the crater. Then I remembered that I have acrophobia and was too tired to even jump when I got there so I just enjoyed the view and took pictures instead. The end. Okay, not really. There's so much more to it. I am now here. Looking out to the scenery - searching for the places where I used to stand while looking at the place I'm standing in right now. So, this is the view from the other side...

This journey I took knowing it will be an ordeal, chasing the shadow of what's now a distant memory - a fantasy that was once reality. Nonetheless, the die is cast, I find myself on the edge of what I've only looked at from afar before, and there is no other way but forward. For plans and promises made, ones I intend to keep from my end regardless of how everything else went awry. Because I promised them. Because I planned them. Now from the outside looking in, I find myself in the company and kindness of amazing strangers I never met before. Under the scorch of the cruel sun and intermittent respite of the clouds, each heavy step I take, off to tread where I've never dared before. Halfway getting there I look back to see this. So this is the view from the other side of the comfort zone. This is worth risking for. Safety and fear never helped me through the worst; This adventure is worth risking for. This is the first of many - I'll be back for more.

This read might get as long as the journey...

Where Were You Today?

Have you seen some drifter wandering around here?
 

A photo posted by Rowe Lee (@lostwanderingdrifter) on Feb 18, 2016 at 9:24am PST

 
I don't think he's lost enough yet though.