2021 has been an awesome year for me despite the challenges that I had to face. An open door of opportunities came in my way and I witnessed a lot of my faith goals come true especially in the field of photography. To cap this all off, here are some of my most favorite stories from the photos that I took this year😊
Crocodiles are known to live in large numbers in the area where this photo was taken. These men are members of the local tribe and are also known as the caretakers or guardians of the pristine nature, in addition to looking after visitors who want to explore the area. I was initially intimidated by them, but as time went by, I saw the goodness in their hearts for wanting to protect our environment. With crocodiles lurking nearby, their job comes with a lot of risks, but I suppose that's already part of who they are. They were given the task of rowing the boat for tourists such as myself. Anyway, I rode the boat with them and I wouldn't lie that I was terrified. As much as I was scared of being eaten by crocodiles alive, I was also more concerned of falling in the water with my camera 😅 But thankfully, these men made sure that we (and my camera) are all safe until the end of our trip.
This photograph was taken in the early hours of the morning. The initial reason why I took this photo is because of the unusual color of the carabao since they are normally black in the Philippines. However, when I viewed the picture in my camera, the farmers' smile melted my heart. I can say that Filipino farmers are the most hard working people on the planet. Unfortunately, despite their efforts, they are underpaid due to sh*tty government that does not value them. But regardless of it, they still live a life full of happiness and contentment as long as they could provide something in the table for their families.
It was late afternoon when I went for a walk along a nearby river in our neighborhood. Then I met these boys who were swimming with the carabao and living a carefree existence. Due to the rise of technology, children's childhood days are becoming less meaningful and enjoyable. I am delighted whenever I see children playing outside their homes without the use of any electronic devices. They are actually children of farmers. It's funny that while looking at them, I came with the thought that 'if dogs are man's bestfriend, then carabaos are farmer's bestfriend.' It's adorable to think that these boys are literally growing up with the carabao, and I'm sure their bond is far deeper than we realize, given that carabaos are a big help for their family to survive each passing day.
It became a habit for me to take a moment every morning to appreciate my surroundings. One day, I noticed how a couple bird built a nest for their baby. I began observing them every day until they completed the construction of the nest. When I captured this photo, the weather was so bad. Sadly, momma bird was alone in the midst of strong winds and heavy rain, clinging desperately to her nest. While photographing her, I was struck by how powerful a mother's love is. It reminded me that no matter what season we're in, whether it's sunny or rainy, they'll always be our ultimate protector who won't leave us behind.
I've always wanted to do a shoot where one of the props is a color bomb. However, it is rarely appropriate for the majority of my clients' themes. But then this sweet little girl turned seven, and her mother let me pitch in some of my prop ideas to make the photos look more extravagant. It has become a tradition in the Philippines to make girls' 7th birthdays extra special. It's a grand celebration for leaving behind early childhood years and it also marks the beginning of achieving life milestones. I tried my best to make her photos as unique as possible, as this is also the best present I could give to her parents, who are currently working as OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) in another country. They've shared to me how much they are already longing for their child. However, due to the pandemic, they can't go home here in the Philippines even though they promised their child that they will celebrate her 7th birthday with her. As a photographer, it was my goal to alleviate their longingness in my own small way, and I'm glad I was able to do so by captivating amazing photos of their child.
This is the first time a couple has entrusted me with their prenuptial photos. It is one of my goals to actually have prenup clients because I love telling stories through photographs. Every time I photograph a couple, it feels as if I am also a part of their love story, one that they will cherish and gladly look back in the future. A lot of couples hire high-end photographers to capture this once-in-a-lifetime event. But I'm grateful because they allowed me to showcase that even though I'm only a part-time photographer, I can still capture heartwarming prenup photos. I personally love this photo because even before they hired me, I already envisioned my first prenup photograph to be something like this, a photo that looks straight out of movie. Even though the trek to get to the location for this shoot was exhausting, it was well worth it.
In the Philippines, photographing elderly couples is not something we do very often. However, I've always thought of it as something very cute. I have a special place for elderly people in my heart and I'm honored to photograph these sweet couple! I didn't hesitate to say yes when a client asked me to do a surprise shoot for her parents, who were celebrating their 52nd wedding anniversary. They celebrated on a farm, which is a very secluded site, so the location was quite far away. It also rained heavily that day, and we became stranded due to the muddy road. But seeing these photos makes me feel nothing but butterflies for them! Even after so many years, it's heartwarming to see their love for each other that seems unchanging.
On May 26, 2021, I photographed a lunar eclipse with my 70-300 mm lens. That particular lens was the most recent purchase I made. However, I began to regret purchasing it because I don't use it very often. But the moment I considered selling it, it began showing me the wonders it could perform. This was my first time photographing a lunar eclipse, and I was still figuring out the best settings. In the midst of the total eclipse, I was fortunate enough to capture a shooting star passing by. I was awestruck by how beautiful it could be, but on the lighter side, I also couldn't stop thinking about the possibility of werewolves or other creepy creatures that could appear out of nowhere😂
I still have so many things share with you guys in my upcoming blog posts 😃 I hope you enjoyed learning about the stories behind these photographs ❤️ Thank you Photography Lovers community and @derangedvisions for this year end photo contest 😍 I had a great time looking back at the fun moments I had this year 😁
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These are so awesome. I love photos that document other cultures. Thank you for sharing these.
Sin duda grandiosas historias inmortalizadas en una hermosa imagen, mi favorita sin dudar la tercera "la infancia de los hijos de los agricultores" tanto la foto como la reflexión son de gran calidad.
Undoubtedly great stories immortalized in a beautiful image, my favorite without a doubt the third one "the childhood of the farmers' children" both the photo and the reflection are of great quality.
A lovely collection of photographs, thank you! I love pictures of everyday people doing everyday things. The children playing in the river are particularly telling of a simpler age. They look so happy and carefree...
The couple, Growing Old Together, is poignant and sweet...
Thanks for your post!
Cheers!