Kids Are Having Fun

The morning is darkening, thick clouds are gradually covering the clear skies.  It will rain.

Hurriedly we finished our early morning shoot and started heading to Souq Waqif.  My friends and I were eager to have some shoots while raining (rain is really a peculiar thing in Doha, it seldom happens; the most may be 10 times a year).  The moment we reached our destination, we positioned ourselves.

The kids were also eager to get wet and play in the rain.  We have seen the amazement in their faces.  The rain started and then… it stopped abruptly.  The amount of rainfall did not even get the pavement wet.  But kids are kids they can find ways to enjoy and they started to have fun whatever that day had offered them.

Hi-res photos can be viewed here

While You Were Sleeping

When you are dead tired and your body needs to rest, even the bustling streets can not restraint you.  Honking vehicles and endless blabbers can be your lullabies.

Hi-res photos can be viewed here. 

Tiangge sa Lopez

“Tiangge” is a Tagalog word for a flea market where products and items can be bought at a cheaper price. In our hometown (Lopez, Quezon), it is scheduled every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday mornings.

 

Hi-res photos can be viewed here:

As I promised myself that after a short visit to our hometown in 2014 I will try to come back to take more photos of our market (I used to sell tomatoes, spices and other items when I was a teen, helping my eldest sister).

Nine months after, I was back again in the Philippines for my annual vacation.  I spent 3 days in my father’s house and arranged the photo walk with a fellow photographer from our group – Lopez Photography Club.  We did it on a Friday to catch the flea market where more vendors and more people will be around.

Unmindful of the Rain

She caught my attention, she was walking towards my direction.  I focused my camera on her and started clicking the shutter.  Then, I just realized both of us are unmindful of the rain but with a different purpose.

Hi-res photos can be viewed here

The rain started falling that day and I had the feeling of excitement. Rain is very rare in Qatar where I am working for about a decade now.  Excitement as I was longing to take some photos while raining.  I grabbed my camera and went outside and fortunately I got an interesting subject.

I saw this lady from afar heading towards me walking purposely seem unfazed by the rains. I took series of photos of her until she walked pass by me.   She has bags of clothes with her, I do not know where she is leading to but I should have thanked her I got some precious memory through her photos.

Working Hand and Hand

“Most of the time, I do not aim at how the subject will be projected but on how its story will be narrated.”

Back in 2016 together with some fellow members of Lopez Photography Club, we went to Calauag, Quezon for a sunrise shoot.
When the sun was up we took photos of our interest and I have noticed this couple, I supposed. I took series of photos of them while they proceed to go fishing.

Hi-res photos can be viewed here

 

Silhouette of a Newspapers Delivery Man

This man is very elusive.  Every time he sees camera pointing at him, he will definitely shift his direction or he will hide his face by any means.   Then I was given a chance, after almost 30 minutes of roaming around, I bumped into him again but I pretended I was not interested in taking his photo at all.  He stopped at one of the stores and went inside and I took few more steps away.  The alley is a bit dark so I stayed in one corner where he can not notice me immediately.

After 3 minutes of waiting he came out of the store and there I started clicking the shutter button until he made a turn.  I guess, a better composition came out with his silhouette.

View photos in better and bigger resolution; B&W version can also be found here.

Silhouette of a Street Sweeper

Fueled with enthusiasm, I drove hurriedly to Souq Waqif after dropping my daughters to school and my wife to office.  I checked the time, 7:00a.m.  I still have a lot of time to shoot before proceeding to office.  It was first day of Ramadan and our office timing is from 9:00a.m. – 2:00p.m.

Frustration almost ate me up; I roamed around but could not see anything that interests me.  There are very few people moving around mostly the sweepers. I sat on a bench in one of the alleys; one sweeper came and started cleaning the area.  I was carefully watching the scene trying to compose.

Finally I saw the silhouette of him with the warm sunlight passing through the entrance when this guy reached nearly at the other end. I got up from where I am sitting and virtually slumping on the ground, I focused my camera and started clicking the shutter.

View photos in bigger and better resolution here

One Rainy Saturday

Rain is one of the great happenings here in Doha.  No, I am not exaggerating.  Since it is seldom raining in this place (approximately 10 times in a year), even drizzles will excite everyone of us.

This is the first time I got motivated to shoot in the rain as I usually want to stay inside the house and enjoy the weather on our bed.

I was supposed to join my photo buddies for a photo walk but due to an scheduled appointment with our cat’s veterinary,  I skipped their invitation (this is the second time).  After coming back to our house, I noticed the darkening of the skies.  I shrugged off the thoughts of taking some photos. But at the back of my head, there is an encouragement to proceed since it seldom rains in Doha and it is weekend.

Upon weighing up my options, I packed my cam and drove immediately to Souq Waqif. Fortunately, the moment I reached the place the rain started to fall. I secured myself in a corner where I will not get wet and waited the right moment to click the shutter.

View photos in higher and better resolution here

Hasty

After more than a decade, I set foot on my hometown’s public market again.  I was not able to roam around as my purpose was to purchase food for our 2-day stay.  I just took photos of the vendors from whom we bought meat and fish thinking that I can still come back the following day. Unfortunately, time did not permit me. Nevertheless, I am happy with the outcome of these few photos.

Hong Kong in Passing

It was in 2014 when I regained my momentum in photography.  Little by little, I am shifting my focus and attention to street photography – I had a tried it in 2013 with photos in my initial post here.  From trying the flowers, portraiture, macros and some other genre, suddenly I am longing to take a plunge into the streets.

It was also in 2014 when we spent our annual holiday in Hong Kong for 8 days, although I was a bit disappointed since I can’t take more photos as my family is always in a hurry but I have to remind myself that we were there to enjoy our vacation and not for the purpose of street photography.  We left the place still with a heavy heart.  Nevertheless I had convinced my wife that we will be back there soon.

Latest update, hopefully in 2018. 🙂