D60 Krew Anniversary Walk

D60 Krew - Photo by Bambit Gaerlan

Last June 2009, Nikon D60 users of the Digital Photographer Philippines (DPP) website decided to form a group where they can share their passion for photography. They started doing photo walks in different places in Manila. After a year, some of them had upgraded their cameras, others have specialized in other fields of photography. On June 13, 2010, the krew had their anniversary walk and went back to their roots - street photography. I was fortunate to join them.

Baluarte de San Diego

The location was at the walled city of Intramuros. It was at this place where the Krew had their official photo walk. Intramuros, located along the southern bank of the Pasig River, was built by the Spaniard in the 16th century and is the oldest district of the city of Manila, the capital of the Philippinses. Its name, in Latin, intramuros, literally "within the walls", meaning within the wall enclosure of the city/fortress, also describes its structure as it is surrounded by thick, high walls and moats. During the Spanish colonial period, Intramuros was considered Manila itself.



How do I get to Intramuros?

Light Rail Transit – LRT
If you are coming to Intramuros by LRT, get off at the United Nations Station. From here it is only a 20 to 25 minute stroll to the gates of Intramuros.

Taxi
Taking a taxi is very easy as Intramuros is such a popular destination all taxi drivers know where it is.

Jeepney
Take the jeepney that travels down Bonifacio Drive as this is where you will want to get off.

Oplan Ondoy

It has been raining lately. While walking in the streets of Makati, I noticed that people were wearing jackets and had umbrellas. Yes, this is the "winter" season for Filipinos where they have a reason to wear their winter clothes. But anyway, this isn't what this post is all about. While walking, I had the chance to reflect on what happened last year's rainy season. Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana, international name) submerged Metro Manila in just a mattter of hours. I was at the office doing my mundane yet sometimes exciting work. At around 5:00 pm, I checked the news online and there it was. Photos around the metro were being posted by everyone. People waiting for rescue on top of their roofs, cars crashing to one another because of the flowing flood. When I went home, I had to walk 3 blocks because the flood in our area was waist level and cars couldn't pass through. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared a "state of calamity" for the areas of Luzon. For days, television and newspaper headlines would be about Ondoy - the damage it brought, the actions of the government about it. I was watching the news and there they were, hundreds of people homeless. Where was I? Home, at the third floor of our building, drinking a hot cup of Milo, warm, safe. At that moment I just felt that I had to do something. For starters, I pledged a portion of my salary to the victims of the typhoon. But It wasn't enough. I wanted to be in the front. Amer Mitmug, a friend of mine for 13 years, said his office, Al-Amanah Bank under Development Bank of the Philippines together with Metro Rail Transit Corporation, will be conducting a relief mission for families affected by Ondoy in Marikina City. I gladly said that I wanted to join and help in any way. On the morning of October 3, 2009, I met Amer and Maharlika Alonto, my cousin who also works at Al-Amanah Bank, at McDonald's Katipunan and together we went to the relief site. It was at the vacant lot at the foot of Tumana Bridge in Balara, Quezon City.

Boy holding a pack of relief good and a bowl of hot "lugaw".

At the relief site, we met their other co-workers Jack Darimbang and Nas Abdullatif. The operations started at around 8:00 am where we distributed over 500 relief packs that contained a blanket, canned goods and instant noodles. First aids and basic medicines were provided by the medical team. A feeding program was also conducted for around 2,500 individuals. Ondoy's total damage was estimated at $100 million and brought at least 464 deaths. I couldn't really say if this was a fulfilling experience because I knew there were still many who needed help. I am no Bill Gates where I can share my wealth to the many. Nevertheless, I hope that in the future, I can once again help to those who are in need in times of disaster.

Amer, Jack, and Nas

My cousin Maharlika, the one in front

Facts and figures:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typhoon_Ketsana
http://www.devbankphil.com.ph/News/news_full.php?articleid=00455

Portaits

Leah Delos Santos

Personally, I find portrait as the most challenging field of photography. It involves creating the right amount/type of light and engagement with the model. My peoples skills suck. I have no idea how to engage. It is the reason why people at first have the first impression on me that I'm an arrogant fool. With this said, I was fortunate enough that on the 2 photo shoots that I've been to, I was in the company of skilled and talented portrait photographers.

Cristina Ponce

My first shoot was back in February and it was an outdoor theme done at the Marikina Riverbanks. Jover Vasquez, a photographer I met in the Digital Photographer Philippines (DPP) forum invited me to join. He, along with Renen Belen and Art Topacio, organized the shoot. They are members of the D60 Krew of DPP. On that same shoot, I met the Love Radio's Papa Jack who happened to be into photography as well. I also met Alex Briones who at that time was also a newbie in photography like me. The sun was high in the sky as we started to shoot around mid-day. I borrowed reflectors by the way because all I had brought with me was my ever reliable Nikon D60. I literally had no idea what were needed for portait shoots. It was there I learned that since we were using ambient light, a reflector would do just fine. After taking my first shot, I was awed at what a simple reflector can do to a photo.

Rochelle Junio

Sometime in May, I got an invite for another shoot and this time it was from Alex Briones. You would definitely know when someone has the natural talent for photography. I noticed it because even though he only started holding a DSLR camera early in January of this year, he knew what to do with the models in our Marikina Shoot. This time around, his skills improved as he also attended workshops by Jo Avilla. The venue of the shoot was in his home in Maia Alta, Antipolo City. Surprisingly, the man had the needed gears. Softbox, light stands, umbrella, background etc. His Canon 1000d was also upgraded to a 7d. You could really tell that he was serious with photography. It was an amazing experience. Strobing was a new type of portrait photography where it is like a whole new science and he shared his knowledge with us. His wife, Weng, was the make-up artist - a very kind woman who demonstrated what Filipino hospitality is all about. It was also good to see Jover again and meet new people like Bong Pestañas, professional photographer of 9th Avenue Photography who lent me a spare battery (really need to buy a spare one). I also met the funny man Franz "Pang" Valenzuela who gave us a ride to Sta.Lucia Mall. It was a very hot day but after a whole day of shooting and learning, it was definitely worth it. Portrait photography, challenging indeed.

Athena Vica

Puerto Galera

I didn't want to end my summer without tasting the ocean. At the last week of May, I decided to go to White Beach, Puerto Galera in Mindoro Oriental with my friends to have my piece of the the summer heat. We scheduled the trip June 5, 2010 hoping that the rainy season has yet to arrive. After all, the news said that the hot season which the country was having would extend by July. We left Manila on a fair morning and arrived at Batangas Port by mid-day. The sun was shining high above. My friend Wawan said, "At least ok yung weather (at least the weather is fine)." I remembered a line from the movie Troy and said it to him. The line was from Prince Hector as they were sailing back to Troy and Paris said it was a good day to sail. Prince Hector's reply was "sometimes, the Gods bless you in the morning and curse you in the afternoon." We both laughed. We arrived at White Beach with the sun still high above the sky and no clouds to cover it. We checked in our things at the resort and went out to take our lunch.

My friends: Joy, Wawan, Amer

In just a span of an hour or so, the Gods did curse the afternoon. Gray clouds began to multiply and thunders were roaring. It rained and poured. So much for the summer heat and my plans for sunset shoots. Nevertheless, this is the beauty when we are in the company of our friends. You could be stuck in the most inconvenient situations and still manage to laugh and have fun. Although the "hot" summer trip didn't turn out as planned, we made each moment count. A chat by the beach with friends, drinking shakes or sodas - these are the important recipes for a relaxing weekend.

How to get there:
Manila-Batangas Port
Bus Ride (Buendia-Taft Station, P166.50)
Batangas Port - White Beach
Boat Ride (P250.00)