66-A

There is always a chance of coming home empty handed, especially with only 1 hour to spare and having no idea on where to go.  Thankfully it’s not today.

I got here just at the right time before they dispersed.  There were more of them when I drove by, and I asked them to stay for a moment for a photograph.  

I found myself chatting with the store owner and another resident about the upcoming elections, and then the topic went to what I do with the photos I take.  They told me to check out the open playground where there might be some things that will interest me, of which I wasn’t really keen on doing until I saw a man carrying his dog and walking through the narrow pathway leading to the sea wall.
 

I am glad that I saw them otherwise I would not have seen this lovely place.

The chain link fence, the clothes hanging out to dry, the kids jumping into the water…. just perfect.

People always ask me about what I do with the photos, and this is the first time I have been asked to write down the address for this website.  It feels very nice when people become genuinely curious about what I do, and I can safely say that it is the same feeling they get whenever I become interested in what they are doing, even if it is something very ordinary and mundane.

Advertisement

35 thoughts on “66-A

    • They are holding handmade blowguns. A small balled up paper is inserted on both ends of the tube and a ramrod is forced through one end, which ejects the paper on the other end much like a projectile. It’s a safer alternative to BB guns, and the boys typically play cops and robbers with these toys.

  1. The photos and narrative flowed beautifully to tell your story. Nicely done! I forgot what kind of camera you use. Is it a bulky DSLR that people notice immediately or something smaller still a digital but not so bulky and obtrusive so people are comfortable with you snapping away.

    • Thanks!

      I use a canon 450D which people notice immediately, and I let them know right away that I intend to take their photos. Usually they would ask what I would do with the photos, or if I work for the press. I guess it boils down to being respectful to them. A smaller camera would be preferable, but one that has a similar size sensor or maybe a full frame, if only they weren’t too expensive.

      • Is there a particular favorite lens you always use for your street shoots? I’m trying to pinpoint one to purchase that would do well in walkabouts like you’re doing. Thanks in advance!!

      • I have my Canon EF-S 17-55 lens always attached and shoot at the widest angle (17mm, approximately 27mm equivalent on a full frame). This allows me to get close to the subject while still allowing the background to be incorporated into the frame. At this distance, getting candid photos require engaging the subject and allowing time for them to go back to what they were doing. Getting close also lessens the probability of somebody accidentally stepping into the frame, and for removing unwanted foreground clutter.

        If asked what I want for my next camera, it would be the Fujifilm X-Pro1 w/ 14mm lens (21mm on a full frame). It’s more for the weight and the low light capability, not necessarily for stealth.

      • Happy New Year 2015! I just reviewed your reply after logging into wordpress account and wanted to tell you that I bought a Canon EF 17-55mm lens last year after noting your response above and it’s been the best investment I’ve made in camera equipment! Thank you for sharing that tidbit!

  2. touching!, wonderful shots, and a story coming from a person with good heart. you are awesome Mr. Uy! thank you.

  3. All excellent photos. I don’t know which is my favorite. I like the man with the cigarette and the dog. I also like the last photo. Even though there are no people in the shot, it is a human interest photo.

  4. The photos of children jumping into the water evoke a warm, lovely feeling…
    When you capture those moments in these people’s lives and talk about them, your stories always convey how genuinely you enjoy and appreciate life, and these are passed on to us! The simple and mundane moments become exciting and beautiful snippets of life…
    Thank you for sharing what you see during your walks!

    • thank you, Eugene. This is a learning process for me – learning how to appreciate life as seen through the people I meet. They might not have everything, but they are happy.

Leave a Reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. Log Out /  Change )

Connecting to %s

%d bloggers like this: