Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/200 sec / F-stop: f/5.0 / ISO Setting: 100 / focal length: 39mm /flash: off / mount: handheld

Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/160 sec / F-stop: f/5.0 / ISO Setting: 100 / focal length: 41mm /flash: off / mount: handheld

Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/160 sec / F-stop: f/5.6 / ISO Setting: 100 / focal length: 31mm /flash: off / mount: handheld

Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/60 sec / F-stop: f/6.3 / ISO Setting: 100 / focal length: 34mm /flash: off / mount: handheld

Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/160 sec / F-stop: f/5.6 / ISO Setting: 400 / focal length: 48mm /flash: off / mount: handheld

Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/60 sec / F-stop: f/5.6 / ISO Setting: 100 / focal length: 30mm /flash: off / mount: handheld

Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/13 sec / F-stop: f/4.0 / ISO Setting: 400 / focal length: 28mm /flash: off / mount: handheld

Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/10 sec / F-stop: f/5.6 / ISO Setting: 800 / focal length: 55mm /flash: off / mount: handheld

These sisters most likely are to become Miss Duenas or Miss Philippines in the near future. Abby confided to her Lolo and me that she would like to become Ms. Philippines when she grow up. Whoever among this two can make it to the title soon, I can just wish the best for these two talented kids.

Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/60 sec / F-stop: f/5.0 / ISO Setting: 400 / focal length: 44mm /flash: off / mount: handheld

Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/5 sec / F-stop: f/5.6 / ISO Setting: 200 / focal length: 55mm /flash: off / mount: handheld

Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/4 sec / F-stop: f/5.6 / ISO Setting: 200 / focal length: 55mm /flash: off / mount: handheld

Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/60 sec / F-stop: f/5.0 / ISO Setting: 3200 / focal length: 37mm /flash: off / mount: handheld

Ask me if I'll ever visit Duenas again in the future, my answer will be, "I will."

Technorati Tag: Duenas, Iloilo, Texas, balikbayan, fiesta, town fiesta, Filipino traits, Filipino culture, Tatoy's Manukan, manok tinu-om, hospitality, Filipino hospitality

P.S.:
Hot-linked images from Multiply may not display in this page. To view the photos, please visit this link: http://dodongflores.multiply.com/photos/album/57/Duenas_Visit_2007.
See related topic: http://travelogue.digitalrebel.ws/2007/12/multiply.html/.
 Thank you very much.

It should be noted that the horizon in the first photo is even while the horizon in the second photo is tilted. Which one looks very well taken? Obviously, it should be the first photograph.

The million-dollar question then, is, how to take better photos? Before I will answer that, let me give you an overview of what photography is all about.

What is Photography?

Photography [fә'tɑgrәfi:],[foʊ'tɑgrәfi:] is the process of recording pictures by means of capturing light on a light-sensitive medium, such as a film or sensor. Light patterns reflected or emitted from objects expose a sensitive chemical or electronic medium during a timed exposure, usually through a photographic lens in a device known as a camera that also stores the resulting information chemically or electronically.
The word comes from the Greek words φως phos ("light"), and γραφίς graphis ("stylus", "paintbrush") or γραφή graphê ("representation by means of lines" or "drawing"), together meaning "drawing with light." Traditionally, the product of photography has been called a photograph, commonly shortened to photo.

Genre of Photography

• Aerial photography - is the taking of photographs from the air with a camera mounted, or hand held, on an aircraft, helicopter, balloon, rocket, kite, skydiver or similar vehicle. It was first practiced by the French photographer and balloonist Nadar in 1858.
• Astrophotography - is a specialized type of photography that entails making photographs of astronomical objects in the sky such as the Moon, Sun, planets, stars, and deep sky objects such as star clusters and galaxies.
• Aviation photography - is the act of capturing images of aircraft, either in flight, or on the ground. Like other specialties in photography, aviation photography requires knowledge of special techniques and of the aircraft to be done properly. There are different types of aviation photography, including air-to-air, ground-to-air, ground-static, and remote photography.
• Candid photography - is snapshot photography that focuses on spontaneity rather than technique, on perfecting the immersion of a camera within events rather than focusing on setting up a staged situation, focusing on lengthy camera setup, or focusing on particularly strong lenses.
• Chronophotography - is a Victorian application of science (the study of movement), and art (photography). It is the technique precursor to cinematography.
• Cloudscape photography - is photography showing a view of clouds or sky.
• Color photography - is photography that uses media capable of representing colors which are produced chemically during the photographic processing phase. It is contrasted with black-and-white photography, which uses media capable only of showing shades of gray, and does not include hand colored photographs. Some examples of color photography include prints, color negatives, transparencies and slides, and roll and sheet films.
• Commercial photography - is photography made or licensed for the purpose of selling a product, service or idea where fine-art photography is created as an ad in itself. Commercial photography is also often a collaborative effort of any number of people, from two to two dozen, which may include an account executive, art director, stylist, photographic assistants and other specialists. The exception may be still-life product shots, where the photographer may work independently or with only an assistant.
• Computational photography (artistic) - refers broadly to computational imaging techniques that enhance or extend the capabilities of digital photography. The output of these techniques is an ordinary photograph, but one that could not have been taken by a traditional camera.
• Documentary photography - usually refers to a type of professional photojournalism, but it may also be an amateur or student pursuit. The photographer attempts to produce truthful, objective, and usually candid photography of a particular subject, most often pictures of people. The Pictures usually depict a certain perspective of the Photographer.
• Erotic photography - refers to the art and process of taking pictures of unclothed subjects.
• Fashion photography - is a genre of photography devoted to displaying clothing and other fashion items. Fashion photography is most often conducted for advertisements or fashion magazines such as Vogue, Vanity Fair, or Allure. Over time, fashion photography has developed its own aesthetic in which the clothes and fashions are enhanced by exotic locations and story lines.
• Fine art photography - sometimes simply called art photography, refers to high-quality archival photographic prints of pictures that are created to fulfill the creative vision of an individual professional. Such prints are reproduced, usually in limited editions, in order to be sold to dealers, collectors or curators, rather than mass reproduced in advertising or magazines. Prints will sometimes, but not always, be exhibited in an art gallery.
• Forensic photography - (sometimes referred to as forensic imaging or crime scene photography) is the art of producing an accurate reproduction of a crime scene or an accident scene for the benefit of a court. It is part of the process of evidence collecting. It provides investigators with photos of bodies, places, items involved in the crime. Pictures of accidents show broken machinery, or a car crash, and so on. Photography of this kind involves choosing correct lighting, accurate angling of lenses, and a collection of different viewpoints. Scales are often used in the picture so that dimensions of items are recorded on the image.
• Glamour photography - is the photographing of model(s) with the intention of producing sexually appealing images. Standards of glamour photography have changed over time, reflecting changes in social morals. For example, in the early 1920s, USA photographers like Ruth Harriet Louise photographed celebrities to glamourise their stature. During World War II pin-up pictures of scantily clad movie stars were extremely popular among US servicemen. However, until the 1950s, the use of glamour photography in advertising or men’s magazines was highly controversial or even illegal. Magazines featuring glamour photography were sometimes marketed as "art magazines” or “health magazines”.
• Infrared photography - the film or image sensor used is sensitive to infrared light. The part of the spectrum used is referred to as near-infrared to distinguish it from far-infrared, which is the domain of thermal imaging. Wavelengths used for photography range from about 700 nm to about 900 nm. Usually an "infrared filter" is used; this lets infrared (IR) light pass through to the camera but blocks all or most of the visible light spectrum (and thus looks black or deep red).
• Kirlian photography - refers to a form of contact print photography, theoretically associated with high-voltage. It is named after Semyon Kirlian, who in 1939 accidentally discovered that if an object on a photographic plate is connected to a source of high voltage, small corona discharges (created by the strong electric field at the edges of the object) create an image on the plate. Kirlian made controversial claims that his method showed proof of supernatural auras, said to resemble a rough outline of the object like a colorful halo. One of the more striking aspects of Kirlian photography is its reputed ability to illuminate the acupuncture points of the human body.
• Kite aerial photography - is a hobby and a type of photography. A small camera is suspended from a kite on a Picavet and is used to take aerial photographs. The camera rigs can range from the extremely simple, consisting of a trigger mechanism with a disposable camera, to complex apparatuses using radio control and digital cameras. On some occasions it can be a good alternative (in many ways) to any other form of aerial photography. The first kite aerial photograph was taken by Arthur Batut in Labruguière (France) in 1888.
• Macro photography - refers to close-up photography; the classical definition that the image projected on the "film plane" (i.e film or a digital sensor) is close to the same size as the subject. On 35 mm film (for example), the lens is typically optimized to focus sharply on a small area approaching the size of the film frame.
• Nature photography - refers to a wide range of photography taken outdoors and devoted to displaying natural elements such as landscapes, wildlife, plants, and close-ups of natural scenes and textures. Nature photography tends to put a stronger emphasis on the aesthetic value of the photo than other photography genres, such as photojournalism and documentary photography.
• New Topography - is a movement in photographic art in which the landscape is depicted without sentimental representation of the world we inhabit as being a place we do not exist in. It is sometimes seen as a reaction against utopian representations in landscape photography. The photographers in the New Topographics style show landscapes that include roads, housing projects, bridges, and other aspects of the landscape which show the traces of human activity.
• Night photography - refers to photographs taken outdoors between twilight and dawn. Night photographers generally have a choice between using artificial light or using a long exposure, exposing the scene for seconds or even minutes, in order to give the film enough time to capture a usable image, and to compensate for reciprocity failure. With the progress of high-speed films, higher-sensitivity digital image sensors, wide-aperture lenses, and the ever-greater power of urban lights, night photography is increasingly possible using available light.
• Non-nude photography - is a genre of photography which contains sexually suggestive images of human subjects intended to arouse, but never complete nudity.
• Panoramic photography - is a style of photography that aims to create images with exceptionally wide fields of view, but has also come to refer to any photograph that is cropped to a relatively wide aspect ratio. While there is no formal definition for the point at which "wide-angle" leaves off and "panoramic" begins, truly panoramic image are thought to capture a field of view comparable to, or greater than, that of the human eye - about 160° by 75° - and should do so while maintaining detail across the entire picture.
• Photojournalism is a particular form of journalism (the collecting, editing, and presenting of news material for publication or broadcast) that creates images in order to tell a news story. It is now usually understood to refer only to still images, and in some cases to video used in broadcast journalism. Photojournalism is distinguished from other close branches of photography (such as documentary photography, street photography or celebrity photography) by the qualities of:
  * Timeliness — the images have meaning in the context of a published chronological record of events.
  * Objectivity — the situation implied by the images is a fair and accurate representation of the events they depict
  * Narrative — the images combine with other news elements, to inform and give insight to the viewer or reader.
• Portrait photography - The goal of portrait photography is to capture the likeness of a person or a small group of people, typically in a flattering manner. Like other types of portraiture, the focus of photograph is the person's face, although the entire body and the background may be included. Many people enjoy having professionally made family portraits to hang in their homes, or special portraits to commemorate certain events, such as graduations or weddings.
• Post-mortem photography - involved photographing the deceased. While an unusual practice by modern standards, this type of photography was fairly common up into the late 19th century and early 20th century. During these times, early death, especially the early death of a child, was much more commonplace, and photography was still somewhat of a novelty. This lent societal acceptance to the practice of photographing the dead, often with some of the living family members included in the portrait.
• Rollout photography - is a process used to create a two dimensional photographic image of a three dimensional object. This process is the photographic equivalent of a cylindrical map projection in cartography. It is used predominantly for the projection of images of cylindrical objects such as vases or ceramic vessels. The objective of this process is to present to the observer a planar representation of the object's characteristics, most notably the illustrations or artwork extant on the outside surfaces of such vessels. This planar representation is captured using photographic imaging techniques.
• Secret photography - involves a person or persons being unaware that they are being intentionally photographed. It is sometimes called "covert photography", but this is a term used mostly among professional investigators.
• Sports photography - refers to the genre of photography that covers all types of sports. The equipment used by a professional photographer usually includes a fast telephoto lens and a camera that has an extremely fast shutter speed that can rapidly take pictures.
• Stock photography - consists of existing photographs that can be licensed for specific uses. Book publishers, specialty publishers, magazines, advertising agencies, filmmakers, web designers, graphic artists, interior decor firms, corporate creative groups, and others use stock photography to fulfill the needs of their creative assignments.
• Straight photography - refers to photography that attempts to depict a scene as realistically and objectively as permitted by the medium, forsaking the use of manipulation both pre-exposure (e.g., filters, lens coatings, soft focus) and post-exposure (e.g., unusual developing and printing methods).
• Street photography - is a type of documentary photography that usually features people in candid situations in public places such as streets, parks, beaches, malls, political conventions, and other settings. Street photography uses the techniques of straight photography in that it shows a pure vision of something, like holding up a mirror to society. This genre of photography is present in contemporary times and is usually done as black and white photographs. Street photography tends to be ironic and distanced from its subject matter and often concentrates on a single human moment, caught at a decisive or poignant moment.
• Strip aerial photography - is a method of aerial photography that uses a high-speed, low-altitude aircraft to take a continuous picture, rather than using overlapping high-altitude photographs, as in conventional aerial photography. Popular from the 1940's to 1970's, strip aerial photography was once used internationally for aerial mapping and surveys of highway degradation, but has been replaced by satellite photography, which is less expensive and less prone to image artifacts that required complex post-processing to remove.
• Subminiature photography - is the practice of using unusually small cameras with unusually small film formats to make photographs.
• Travel photography - is a subcategory of photography that is characterized by documenting the landscapes, inhabitants, cultures, customs and history of a specific region of the world. Travel photography can be commercial in nature, done by professional photographers. The most well-known example is the pictures seen in the National Geographic magazine. There is also amateur travel photography, represented by the kind of pictures taken by most tourists.
• Ultraviolet photography - is the process of using UV radiation to take photographs i.e. reflected ultraviolet and ultraviolet fluorescence photography. Reflected ultraviolet photography finds practical use in medicine, dermatology, criminology and theatrical applications.
• Underwater photography - is the process of taking photographs while underwater. It is usually done while scuba diving, but can be done while snorkeling or swimming.
• Vernacular photography - refers to the creation of photographs by amateur or unknown photographers who take everyday life and common things as subjects. Examples of vernacular photographs include travel and vacation photos, family snapshots, photos of friends, class portraits, identification photographs, and photobooth images. Vernacular photographs are a type of accidental art. The photos taken by the common person that have uncommon qualities to them.
• War photography - captures images of armed conflict and life in war-torn areas. War photography depicts the terrors of war mingled with selfless acts of sacrifice. Unlike paintings or drawings of war, factual images are not easily altered in photographs.
• Wedding photography - is a major commercial endeavor that supports the bulk of the efforts for many photography studios or independent photographers.
• Wildlife photography - is the act of taking photographs of wildlife. The art of good wildlife photography is regarded as being one of the more challenging forms of photography as it has several different requirements. While wildlife photographs can be taken effectively using basic equipment it is facilitated by being able to use more sophisticated equipment. For example, 600mm lenses in conjunction with the latest autofocus camera bodies are generally required for bird photography. However different equipment is needed depending on the situation.
   

Travel Photography

Travel photographs are photographs published in scientific, travel and cultural magazines such as National Geographic Magazine and the likes. Some can also be found in online photography community such as My Islands Philippines, a Philippine-photos-exclusive website where professional photographers and photo enthusiasts gather together to share their travel experience around the Philippines through photographs.
Travel photography is a wonderful way to make a living, a lifestyle combined with meeting people from all walks of life, and getting paid for it, much better than working.

The two photos above are just plain example of travel photographs that I had captured in Pampanga and Calle Crisologo in Vigan respectively. These are images that expresses the feeling of a time and place, portrays a land, its people, or a culture in its natural state, and has no geographical limitations.

Photography Equipment of Choice

No single camera which is right for everyone
Whether you are fantasizing for a very expensive mobile phone camera or a bulky single lens reflex camera, many professionals in the field of photography would tell us that there is no single camera which is right for everyone. In my case who is fond of shooting landscapes and subjects that don't move fast, the lack of shutter lag is not as important. For that, I use my mobile phone camera with 2.0 megapixel capability. With mobile phone camera, I can easily move around with a small size camera in a lightweight body. However, lack of shutter lag may be of highest priority for anyone photographing children, pets, action or sports. For these, I use my entry-level Canon EOS 300D SLR camera.

"Is digital better than film?"
I used to take photographs using film until I switch to digital some two years ago. While these two formats are used for similar purposes, they themselves are completely unrelated to each other. Film and digital capture are completely different media.
Most people get better results with digital cameras. Purists prefer film. Film takes much more work. Extremely skilled photographers can get better results on film if they can complete the many more steps from shot to print all perfectly. Because there are so many ways things can go wrong with making prints from film, especially from print (negative) film, beginning photographers and hobbyists usually get better prints from digital because there are fewer variables to control. Labs usually make awful prints from film, which is why people who don't print their work personally get better results from digital.
Another reason is that film, especially larger format film used in landscape photography, has more resolution. This becomes important as print size increases to wall or billboard size. Large format film still rules for serious landscape photography.
Use digital for people, fun shots and for convenience. Digital photography is more economical and flexible.

Which is Better?
According to Ken Rockwell of http://www.kenrockwell.com/, "Neither is better on an absolute basis." The choice depends on your application. I can get great 12 x 18" glossy prints from my Sony Ericsson mobile phone (digital) camera, and we all can get fuzzy results on film. It's the artist, not the medium, which defines quality.
So why the debate? The debate is among amateurs who've really only shot 35mm since it's the only amateur film format popular among consumer level. Professional photographer never say "film," they say a format like "120," "4x5," "6x17," "8x20" or "35" since "film" could mean so many things. Only amateurs and consumers say "film" since they only use one format and presume 35mm. Therein lies the potential for debate when people don't first define their terminology. Today's digital SLRs replace 35mm, no big deal. That was the reason I had to replace my 35mm Canon EOS 750QD of 17 years to a 6.3 megapixel (digital) Canon EOS 300D. Most people will get far better prints from a 6MP DSLR like my Canon EOS digital than paying someone else to print their 35mm film.
Digital is far more convenient and offers great quality for photojournalism and portraits, and film is king for large prints and reproduction where textures in nature and landscapes are important.
Film and digital do different things better and complement each other. Neither is going away, although film will decline in areas where digital excels, like news. Film has already disappeared from professional newspaper use a year or so ago, although small town papers may still use it, and likewise, no digital capture system has come anywhere near replacing 8x10" large format film for huge exhibition prints that need to be deliciously detailed.
Debating which is better is as silly as debating girls vs. boys or apples vs. peach. It all depends on what you want done. Ignore people who insist that one is better than the other without stating their end purpose. It all depends on what you are trying to accomplish.

SLR vs. Point-and-Shoot

Point and Shoot camera

Single Lens Reflex Camera

Which one is for you? Do you prefer an SLR with interchangeable lenses and a big sensor or a highly-capable point-and-shoot model that packs loads of functionality into a more compact package? The answer depends on several factors, and you need to know a few basics about both point-and-shoot digicams and digital SLRs before you can choose what you really need. The separate categories do exist for a reason, as we'll see.
In the table below, I go into the advantages and disadvantages of both point-and-shoot digicams and SLRs in a fair bit of depth. I've summarized key pro/con points for each type of camera in the two tables below.

How To Take Better Pictures

A good compositional technique and finding the right photography elements will make your photographs more dynamic and standout. A short list can be found below:

• Frame

• Curves

• S-curves

• Three

• Diagonal Composition

• Repetitive Patterns

• Leading Lines

• Vanishing Point

No-nos in photography:

• Dead-centered subject

• Tilted Horizon

Below is my list of basic compositional technique:

Simplicity
In photography, the technique of simplicity is used to achieve the effect of singling out an item or items from their surrounding.
Simplicity is one of the underlying photographic techniques; a cluttered picture distracts the eye and takes away from the subject. A simple picture can be achieved by getting closer to the subject, which is also one of the main rules of photography.
Simplicity is one of the main components of most good photographs. The simpler the picture, the easier it is for the viewer to comprehend the subject and appreciate it. Cluttered images and backgrounds are less visually pleasing and more likely to cause the subject and lesser objects to confuse each other visually. Please take a look of the few sample photos below.

Symmetrical balance
Characterized by or exhibiting symmetry; well-proportioned, as a body or whole; regular in form or arrangement of corresponding parts.

Framing
In photography, framing is a technique used to bring the focus to the subject.
Frames serve the double purpose of making a more aesthetically pleasing image and keeping the focus on the framed object(s). They add depth to the image, and can add a great deal to the picture when the frame is something related to the object being framed.

Rule of Third
Here’s the first digital photography tutor tip – don’t put the areas of interest in the middle of the photograph! People do it regularly. Photographs work better when the area (or areas) of interest are placed off center. And this is where the rule of thirds comes in.
The rule of thirds is a compositional rule of thumb in photography. The rule states that an image can be divided into nine equal parts by two equally-spaced horizontal lines and two equally-spaced vertical lines. The four points formed by the intersections of these lines can be used to align features in the photograph. Proponents of this technique claim that aligning a photograph with these points creates more tension, energy and interest in the photo than simply centering the feature would.
The application of the rule of thirds to photographs is considered by many to make them more aesthetically pleasing and professional-looking. The rule of thirds can be applied by lining up subjects with the guiding lines, placing the horizon on the top or bottom line instead of the center, or allowing linear features in the photograph to flow from section to section. In addition, many photographers recommend treating any "rule" of composition as more of a guideline, since pleasing photographs can often be made while ignoring one or more such rules.

Now you have some useful tips on how to take better photos, the final digital photography tutor tip is to get some practice! Remember, with expertise you may be getting a good photograph with an inferior mobile phone camera than with a novice who may be using a professional SLR.

More photo sample can be found in the remainder of this website. You may also register and log on to My Islands Philippines (http://www.myislandsphilippines.net) to view more photos (Philippine photos) posted by great Filipino photographers around the country and abroad.

Good luck!

Photography lecture in Powerpoint presentation is available for download from this link.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Photography
http://www.photosource.com/trvltips/index.html
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/filmdig.htm
http://www.imaging-resource.com/ACCS/SLRvsDIGICAM/SLRA.HTM
http://www.digital-photography-tips.net/digital-photography-tutor-thirds.html
Ken Rockwell
Digital Photography 123 by Rob Sheppard

Technorati Tag: photography lecture

Shown in the photo above are the high school students who attended my photography lecture last October 2. There were more or less 50 students who participated and eager to learn about photography. Most of them are writing for their student organ.

The event was held at Dr. Colleen R. Aujero Memorial Center, a multi-function room equipped with the latest multimedia projector and audio system. I didn't have a hard-time setting up for my presentation as there were teachers who took charge for the preparation and were enthusiastic in seeing the event to be fruitful. I just plugged my laptop computer into the multimedia project and everything was ready to go.

When I started the workshop, I was amazed at the attentiveness of the students towards the lecture. Of course, there were few who got distracted but nevertheless, their participation and interaction over the lecture was overwhelming. The lecture went on smoothly. We had planned to finish the lecture in two hours but unexpectedly it went beyond the time limit. I was very happy to take notice that my basic photography lecture was very well received by both teachers and students present at the event.

A bonus for the photography lecture is a Jollibee breakfast meal offered for free to all present during the workshop, courtesy of Kuya Bebot. This is the Jollibee meal package we had reserved for at Jollibee - Passi the day before. Spirits were high. Free photography lecture and a Jollibee breakfast meal, who wouldn't want that?

The lecture ended at eleven in the morning. A certificate of appreciation was presented to me. The contents of the certificate is shown below:

The teachers were very much thankful and assured me that my lecture is straightforward and easy to understand. I promised to them for a downloadable handout and Powerpoint presentation available here in this website. That I wasn't able to finish yet until this time. (I apologize to those whom I kept on waiting. Those materials will follow shortly after I can finish this article).

The day the lecture was conducted is also the day I was going back to Manila by 7:00 o'clock in the evening. Kuya Bebot would send me to the airport, but not without the sidetrip to the other end of Iloilo province.

Highway Scenes and the Sidetrip to Concepcion

Denden and Abby's granny and aunts would be going back to Concepcion in the afternoon. Kuya Bebot decided to send them off using his Honda CRV. Afterwards, he's going to send me off to the airport as well. Junne drove for us. Abby and mother Doll completed the troop. The long stretch from Pototan to Concepcion and back to Banate, Pototan, Mina, Janiuay, and Cabatuan gave me much the opportunity for a photography feast. A few resultant photographs to be celebrated are on display below. Most of the photos were taken while the car is in motion, so photo quality are not that good. Just see it light-heartedly and enjoy...

Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/6 sec / F-stop: f/5.6 / ISO Setting: 400 / focal length: 55mm /flash: off / mount: handheld
We gas up in Pototan and saw those two lovely girls in the background...

Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/100 sec / F-stop: f/7.1 / ISO Setting: 400 / focal length: 55mm /flash: off / mount: handheld
An old cemetery in Pototan. I didn't have the opportunity to examine whether it is a Catholic cemetery or a public one. We didn't care to stop for spot checking...

Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/80 sec / F-stop: f/6.3 / ISO Setting: 400 / focal length: 55mm /flash: off / mount: handheld
A street motorcycle fixed with custom luggage rack designed to carry both pillion passengers and cargoes of considerable weight. If you notice, the second passenger is seated on top of the gas tank. In Mindano, we call this habal-habal but didn't know how it is being called in Iloilo.

Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/10 sec / F-stop: f/5.6 / ISO Setting: 400 / focal length: 55mm /flash: off / mount: handheld
Blurry, blurry, blurry... But I like this photograph!

Sony Ericsson K750i / F-stop: f/2.8 / ISO Setting: 100 / focal length: 4.8mm / flash: off / mount: handheld
This is another tricycle we saw in Cabatuan while we were on our way to Sta. Barbara (leading to the new Iloilo International Airport). I lost count of the number of passengers onboard but I do remember the driver was already standing on the foot pegs and was leaning forward, knees supported by the handle bar, just to give more room for three passengers seating in his behind. It takes a skill to do that. Simply amazing...

Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/25 sec / F-stop: f/5.6 / ISO Setting: 400 / focal length: 55mm /flash: off / mount: handheld

Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/100 sec / F-stop: f/7.1 / ISO Setting: 400 / focal length: 55mm /flash: off / mount: handheld
In some parts of the country, the most comfortable position in a public transport is riding at the top. True, as seen from this Iloilo jeepney.

Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/200 sec / F-stop: f/10.0 / ISO Setting: 400 / focal length: 55mm /flash: off / mount: handheld
Needless to say, that's another fully-loaded tricycle.

Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/200 sec / F-stop: f/10.0 / ISO Setting: 400 / focal length: 55mm /flash: off / mount: handheld
Hill Top Native Restaurant, a restaurant to be found in a secluded area enroute to Concepcion. Do I need to say it is located on top of a hill?

Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/100 sec / F-stop: f/5.6 / ISO Setting: 400 / focal length: 18mm /flash: off / mount: handheld
Ajuy scenery.

Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/125 sec / F-stop: f/8.0 / ISO Setting: 400 / focal length: 18mm /flash: off / mount: handheld
Concepcion scenery.

Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/125 sec / F-stop: f/7.1 / ISO Setting: 400 / focal length: 55mm /flash: off / mount: handheld

The Food Hunt

Cabatuan is just a 15 minutes drive away to the new Iloilo International Airport. It was just 5:00 o'clock in the afternoon - too early for me to be in the airport. Kuya Bebot offered for an early dinner for the whole group. His good taste yearned for a tino-um na manok.

We went to several restaurants around town to look for this specialty food only to be told they already ran out of supply. We pushed our luck and ended up our food hunt at Leah's Tino-um located at the back of Cabatuan Public Market.

Sony Ericsson K750i / F-stop: f/2.8 / ISO Setting: 800 / focal length: 4.8mm / flash: off / mount: handheld

Tino-um na manok is a native chicken in broth wrap up with banana leaf and placed in a wooden or clay bowl. I haven't heard of it before even during my long stay in Iloilo - not until it was being served right in front of us.

Sony Ericsson K750i / F-stop: f/2.8 / ISO Setting: 400 / focal length: 4.8mm / flash: off / mount: handheld

Sony Ericsson K750i / F-stop: f/2.8 / ISO Setting: 100 / focal length: 4.8mm / flash: off / mount: handheld
Kuya Bebot posed for Leah's Tino-um.

Sony Ericsson K750i / F-stop: f/2.8 / ISO Setting: 100 / focal length: 4.8mm / flash: off / mount: handheld
Abby and her Lolo across Leah's Tino-um. The SUV from behind is the almighty vehicle that transported us all throughout the trip.

Goodbye, Duenas...

It's hard to say goodbye but I had to go. In the few remaining minutes of my stay in Panay Island, I was able to take a glimpse of the sundown while traversing the Sta. Barbara airport road. Not the restful and relaxing one as you can see, but at least, that's what my phonecam had "seen" and recorded at that moment.

Sony Ericsson K750i / F-stop: f/2.8 / ISO Setting: 100 / focal length: 4.8mm / flash: off / mount: handheld

My days of stay in Duenas is over but the adventure wouldn't stop there. The  longingness is overwhelming. Finally, I had to bid goodbye to Abby and goodbye to Duenas. I know it will be a long while before I get to see the place again. I say, the place is worth to be reminisced over and over again...

Sony Ericsson K750i / F-stop: f/2.8 / ISO Setting: 200 / focal length: 4.8mm / flash: off / mount: handheld

Goodbye for now...

Technorati Tag: Duenas, Iloilo, Texas, balikbayan, fiesta, town fiesta, Filipino traits, Filipino culture, Tatoy's Manukan, manok tinu-om, hospitality, Filipino hospitality

You can always go back to the first entry of this series by accessing this link: http://travelogue.digitalrebel.ws/2007/10/day0.html.

Coming up next: Reasons Why Duenas Is Worth To Be Revisited & The Photography Lecture Downloads. Stay tune...

Post Script: (Nov. 16, 2007)
Photos taken during the photography lecture in Duenas. Shot in 35mm film camera. Photo courtesy of Regino L. Pama, RN.

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 Thank you very much.