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.

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...

Gotta Catch Them All

It was early August. the worldwide phenomenon of a mobile game known as Pokémon Go has just been released in the Philippines. The Pokémon franchise has proven to be immensely influential. This comes as no surprise that a lot of people anticipated and clamored for the game. Back in the old days video games meant people staying indoors. Mobile gaming change that. And for the first time, at a global scale, people stepped out of their houses and went outdoors- because a game tells them to- I find that kind of amazing.

I had a chance to catch a glimpse of this one night, and here are the sights from that time.

Ola Taal Vista!

It was my cousin's wedding. My family and I had the opportunity to go to Tagaytay. It's been over a year since I've gone to the place and I somewhat missed the scenic view. Driving there was a bit challenging for me and the car. Mostly for the car, traveling uphill while carrying three overweight adults and their bags. 

We arrived at the hotel the day before the wedding, with all our fancy clothes in tow. But no, this isn't about the wedding. This is about the interesting place I've found with a lovely view.

My Barista Friends

This album goes out to the friends I've made from all the coffee I've been drinking. This list doesn't show everyone of them though. These folks help cheer me up throughout the day. Yes I drink so much coffee that I made friends with numerous baristas. Some of them even know what I'll have on sight.

Behind The Counter. Walk to the counter and you’ll see some thing like this. This lovely lady, like her friends make great coffee.

The Contrast Behind The Contrast

It's amazing what one simple contrast in an image can convey. Humor me as I try to be an art fart for this post. I took a picture of a friend while she was puffing on a cigarette. This may be the most contrasting image I've ever taken.

Contrasts. I see the contrast in more than one level. What do your portraits convey?

To begin with she was wearing a flamboyantly loud and colorful blouse. To me it was very eye catching and I really liked it. She's a nice and funny girl but the expression on her face and the hardcore way she puffs on that cigarette gives me a "Try your luck messing with me and I will tear you apart and feed you to my pet Arowanas". That night she looked like the most fabulous gangster I've ever seen. One can only imagine the contrast in that. To bring out the contrast I envisioned when I saw her dress I dulled out the rest of the image, which emphasized how that dress stood out. The overall image and dress I think conveys the complex and contrasting person in the image. How about you? What's the story in your picture?

Until then, Let's get lost and wander! :)

Wedding Portrait

This is just a one off shot. It's from a sepia shot and added some more built in filter from Photobucket. This is a portrait of my friends on their wedding day taken after the ceremony. I particularly like this shot as to how they're arranged. The bride and groom are wearing their gown and suit respectively but they're positioned like it's a casual prom in a setting that looks real classy.

I guess I'm a bit of a romantic with this image for imagining several rowdy kids in a room with their parents generations from now and their mom would be saying, "Kids, come here, gather 'round. Do you know who these people are in the picture? Let me tell you a story about your lola and lolo..." 

After The Event, March 8, 2014

... After a generation or two, how will your pictures look like?