Pineapple Girl

An example on how you make photos, not take them.

On the island of Guimaras, we stopped at a roadside pineapple stand and I met this young lady who was managing the stand. After a brief conversation I asked her if I could take her photo and being shy she declined at first. Before leaving I asked her one more time and she agreed.

She was in the direct sunlight so I asked her to move into the shade under the awning of the stand. I had to direct her a couple of times because the yellow rope keep getting in the way of her face. Finally, she moved to the left and I got one shot and that's what you see here.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Dinagyang Festival 2010

On the streets of Iloilo City, Philippines the Ilonggo people erupt in an annual celebration on the fourth weekend in January in a colorful spectacle called Dinagyang.

Colorful costumes, captivating drumbeats, and spirited dancing can best describe this festival, but in reality, Dinagyang must be experienced in person. To be in the middle of all of this excitement: to smell the aroma of Filipino food, hear the drums crashing, and to see the visual display of dancing tribes is why I travel.

The main focus of Dinagyang is a religious festival to honor the Santo Nino, but Dinagyang is much more than that. Its a cultural hodgepodge of Roman Catholicism, Animism, and Islam all mixed into one.

This was the second time I have been to Dinagyang and it surely will not be my last. Photographing during large festivals is always a challenge, but that is what makes it all the more exciting. On the other hand, photographing Dinagyang in the Philippines is far more easier that photographing festivals in the United States. For example, there were no restrictions in getting in the middle of the parade route and photographing the different tribes. It was common for spectators to step off the sidewalk and join the tribal dancers for a photo opportunity.

This is what makes Dinagyang so exciting, to be in the middle of all the action and excitement. To be an active participant and not a spectator.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Pinoy Transportation

For the traveller the Philippines doesn't have an extensive highway network like the United States nor a public rail system like Western Europe. Instead you have an eclectic choice of getting around and within the Philippines over 7,000 islands by boat, bus, private car, jeepney, or my personal favorite the tricycle.

On my short list of photographs to get while in the Philippines was a panning shot of a tricycle. Throughout my trip I attempted many panning shots but I found them unsatisfactory. Finally, on the day before I departed to go back to the United States I got this shot during the Feast of Our Lady of Candles in Jaro.

Patience and drinking many San Miguel beers to pass the time pays off!

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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All Smiles, No Teeth!

All Smiles, No Teeth!
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

In Jaro, Iloilo City in the Philippines, the Feast of Our Lady of Candles (Nuestra Senora dela Candelaria) is held every second day of February. It is the most vibrant religious festival in the Western Visayas.

The festival is centered around the Jaro Cathedral and the town plaza. Due to the enormous crowds, all local traffic was closed down in the town center. As a result my nephew and I had to walk toward the cathedral. On the way I happen to notice this street vendor and his curious "smile." I waved a friendly hello to him and walked on to the festival.

After the parade procession I saw the street vendor again and I raised my camera up to indicate a photo. He responded with his warm smile and friendly personality.

This photo breaks one of the cardinal rules in that it has a distracting background, taking the focus away the main subject. But the woman walking in the background and laughing made everybody smile, including the photographer behind the camera.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Drummer Boy

After a day of touring around the Guimaras Island lead by our extraordinary tour guide, Daisy Yanson from Panay Adventures Tours, I mentioned to her that I wanted to stop at a local market to shop for the famous Guimaras mangoes.

With my nephew, Jeran, riding a top the roof of our private jeepney (he wanted to ride like a local), we pulled over at a local market where there was not only an abundance of fresh produce, but also photo opportunities.

After I bought my mangoes, I wandered about the marketplace meeting and photographing the locals. One that really caught my eye was this young boy playing drums on an empty can. Knowing I had a brief window of opportunity, I quickly adjusted my camera settings for a slower shutter speed to capture the motion of him playing “drums” with his improvised drum sticks.

As an added benefit he stuck his tongue out at me! This photo quickly became one of my favorites from my trip.

Happy Travels!