In Photos - 2014

As I continued to wander around, my camera in tow, I was just as amazed as the first time I captured a great scenery. Awe-struck and just stood there and took it all in, all the beauty of it - both nature and moments. 2014 took me to places - unimaginably great places that led me to capture great moments that I would never forget.

Where, in 2014 was the best place I found myself you might ask? At an empty ditch on a subdivision still under development somewhere in Sto. Tomas, Batangas! haha! Read through as I walk you through three photos that defined my 2014. In no particular order (numbers for enumeration purposes only). Here it goes!

#1. "Horizon Mirror"

Biri Rock Formations, Biri, Northern Samar. May 2014

On the last morning of our 4-day Northern Samar backpacking (and island hopping) summer trip, I stood outside of my tent for minutes and this is what I was staring at - the morning sunrise, being reflected by the shallow lagoon dotted  by sprouting mangroves. So imagine this with me, standing and breathing in the morning cool breeze, doing nothing except staring at this masterpiece of a sunrise. It's relaxing, isn't it? 

It's just one of those moments that lets your sense of time seemingly slow down amidst the conundrums of life and its trivialities. Whatever that last sentence means, I have no idea. HAHA 

#2. "Monumental Peak"

South Peak, Mt. Kinabalu, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. February 2014

There's just something about the mountains that enchants you to come over and visit (and suffer painful body aches. hahaha). What makes this shot memorable is that you can see the sheer magnificence of the mountain. Look closely, those dot-like features on the left side are people lining up to descend the mountain. I don't know, this just me but seeing things at the mountains' heights taught me to see things from a different perspective - that who we are, what we do, and what we are facing are just but a small spot in the grand scheme of things. Maybe I'm just quite high - figuratively. 

#3. "Expressions"

Sto. Tomas, Batangas. June 2014

It was a day before my birthday and I was in an empty ditch on a subdivision still under development somewhere in Sto. Tomas, Batangas on a hot mid day. I was there, waiting at a dubious spot for my friend, Bochok to come and do his spiel. Moments later, I clicked and capture this.

So how did we get here? The night before, my friend and I went to the site and thought through how to capture his proposal to fiance em. He wanted it to be solemn - that it was just the two of them (plus me, of course) caught in this momentous event. So the challenge was how to execute the plan where there's no place to hide and Em wouldn't suspect someone out there doing the paparazzi on them.

Solution? Found an empty ditch just across the side walk (with Mt. Makiling at the background), covered myself with Chok's car cover, punched a hole for my lens and waited a la covert-ops sniper. haha! Went away from my 'hide out' to check on it and said to myself 'this setup just looks plain stupid - this might work!'. So I went to the 'stage' put a stone as marker and texted Chok that there's a stone marker somewhere in the sidewalk and that he should do the thing there. Then I waited. Waited. Drenched in sweat due to heat and anticipation. And then the moment came. CLICK. I took the shot and smiled. 

So yeah, that pretty sums up some of my unforgettable journey with my trusted camera (who, after going with me through extreme conditions, is still working pretty well - please don't give up yet, wala akong pambili ng bago!) through 2014. Wherever you find yourself - from shitty places and conditions to heavenly abodes and scenery, never forget, priceless moments are there. Don't miss out. Look around - and appreciate. 

As a take-away from spending your boredom in this blackhole, I'll leave you with this:

'I said it before and I'll say it again. Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.' -Ferris Bueller (Ferries Bueller's Day Off, 1986)