cambodia: bantay srei

I think I've let these photos age enough not to share the magnificence of this place. Definitely my favorite ones among the bunch of films I took home from Cambodia last year, I almost just wanted to keep them to myself.

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And by the way, here are the winners of my giveaway :)

Congratulations to Carmela (winner of Holga 120N) and Pratiksha (winner of the film set)! :) Please email me your contact name and address at grewlegsmail@gmail.com (Pratiksha, I think I have yours already hehe). Happy shooting!

a year ago in cambodia

I got to browse my Cambodia stash again because it has been exactly a year ago today. The thought brings me both happiness and longing, to which I willingly succumb to. I spent this trip, walking in Siem Reap soil with my then-newly-acquired Pentax KX camera, loaded with black and white film, a form that I have never shot with before.

There are times that I just want to shoot exclusively with black and white film. This is one of those.

OUT OF CHARACTER | THREE

Although I have saved some pegs on my phone to look at every now and then, it was only a matter of time for ideas to run out. I made up poses, Queenie obediently followed them. Until around three-fourths of the roll when I found myself staring blankly at her with no next composition to follow. We struggled, with a little bit of hesitation here and there. The going up and down the double-deck we used made me tired as well, so I simply told Queenie to just lie down and close her eyes as if she's about to fall asleep.

As she did so, her body and facial expression immediately relaxed, and that's when I found taking her photos most enjoyable.

OUT OF CHARACTER | TWO

OUT OF CHARACTER

Work has been suspended today due to another (surprise, surprise) strong typhoon. I was halfway through my commute when I received the text message from my boss, so I just immediately went down on the nearest bus stop and made a return to home. I indulged on a delicious 3-hour nap, and now facing the laptop screen with a strong cup of brewed coffee beside me.

The view outside does not look good; dark, gray and discouraging. The wind sounds like it's gathering strength even more. Ironically, this kind of environment slips me into such a good mood to write.

Oh, how I've missed this feeling. When everything is dark and the only light that shines is from the laptop screen, seducing me into being sentimental, inviting me to use the writing voice that is so far from who people usually talk to in real life. I was thinking to do a Life After Film post, but life lately is so fogged up I still cannot begin to find time to think clearly.

~

Every once in a while, I would have this urge to photograph people just to steer away from the usual inanimate objects and interesting sights. It is where I feel most vulnerable I think, to shoot people. There's just too much pressure on making someone look good on a photograph or capturing a facial expression quickly, something I admire from events photographers.

One day, I had this thought of asking Queenie again to do a "shoot" with me because I think she's the only one who would be open to the idea of this, and also because I really don't have many friends hahaha. The concept is a little intimate than the first one we did (and with such contrast), so we asked her friend a favor if we could use his apartment for a few hours, and this is how it went.

I don't know who was more anxious to see the results when the roll came back haha, but I know I was, because it was such a challenge to think about framing shots within such cramped space. I wouldn't have shot these any other way but in black and white, and I am pretty much satisfied with how they turned out. Taking risks every now and then :D

BANGKOK FAVORITES

Seriously August, where did you go? It's kind of crazy to realize that there are only seven days left before we jump into the next month, and a few blinks more we're probably going around greeting each other Merry Christmas. Nuts.

There are a lot places and sights I wanted to share and talk about lately, I just can't find the voice to write it because sloth. Anyway, here are some of my personal favorite photos taken around Bangkok last January (wayyy long overdue!).

Happy end of the weekend to all! (Except for me, because it's National Heroes Day tomorrow hee)

DERAILED

An MRT train recently got derailed on its way to Taft, Manila, the route I ride in every day from the office. A lot of issues has been raised since then, which reminds me of a famous quote from Enrique Penalosa, Mayor of Bogota in Colombia: 

"An advanced city is not a place where poor move about in cars, rather it's where even the rich use public transportation."

Photos are from BTS in Thailand.

DOORS IN GRAND PALACE

When in Bangkok: Grand Palace.

The palace complex definitely lived up to its name. It was, uhm, grand :D However, because of the vastness of the area and the inevitable overlapping of design in sight, I began to struggle in composition. What I found interesting within and around the complex though? Their doors.

And as I gradually transition this to my personal state, one door has closed up on me very recently. From this I realized that rejection is not always disappointing.. it can be liberating too. Now I feel free, and challenged to face another portal in life :) 

Hope you have it good for the rest of the week! I'll be taking off for a few (hopefully sunny) days at the beach with film and camera in hand :)

SEEP

It has been four months, yet I still don't see myself stopping in sharing Cambodia-related posts any time soon. The effect of this trip has seeped in me so deep that I am carefully fleshing out the memories thread by thread on each post.