all abloom in the flower market of Antananarivo

It’s a given- tropical flowers are a riot of colors. A visit to the flower market would be enough confirmation of this reality. But the heat can be too oppressive and some species are better suited to the moderately cool temperatures afforded by the mountains. It’s no surprise then that the more famous flower markets are always in the highlands. Think of Busay in Cebu, Baguio in Luzon and Bedugul in Bali.


flowers for delivery



a kaleidoscope of colors



more helicornias, roses, anthuriums


Think then Madagascar, a country famous for its relative isolation and unparalleled diversity. Add to this predisposition the fact that its capital, Antananarivo or Tana sits on a high plateau ranging between 1200-1400 meters above sea level, and peaking above 2,600 meters.


girl playing with a flower



lilies on the go



buyers selecting the best blooms


A place not to be missed then is the flower market of Tana located at the edge of Lake Anosy. The range is spectacular, from the easily recognizable roses, chrysanthemums and lilies to the wilder helicornia, anthuriums, gladiolas and orchids.


a typical flower stall



vendor selling papayas and mangoes


The pulse of the city is the market and this one in Anosy throbs with the energy of a teeming and vibrant people who love life. An obvious piece of advice: visit early morning when the blooms are freshly picked and simply unblemished.


a full display



prepping some bouquet



wild colors

watching out for the zebus of Madagascar

In the scorched stretch between Vohemar and Sambava in Northeast Madagascar, landscapes were of pastures, woods and farms. Settlements were sparse. However, we had to stop or slow down at least eight times, not for some comfort need or for gas but to let hulking animals pass by before us. As cattle go, they took their time. The cattle, known as Madagascar zebus or Bos primigenius indicus, were proving to be dangerous traffic stoppers for they roam across the road in hordes. While cattle rustling or pilferage are common in the big cities, zebus in the north still enjoy freedom all over the rolling hills, leas and hi-ways. According to our contact, 5 wild zebus are typical roadkills in the 150km road from Sambava airport to the port city of Vohemar. That's not to say the loss in life and property that goes with the accidents.


holding up traffic at Vohemar, Madagascar
Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/125s, f/8.0, 55mm, ISO 100


The original zebus, sometimes known as "humped cattle", probably were native from the Indian subcontinent but disappeared due to interbreeding with domestic cattle. Zebus came to Africa for hundreds of years through ships and interbred with taurine cattle but relatively pure unnadulterated breed still thrives in Madagascar.


a tethered zebu at Vohemar, Madagascar
Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/160s, f/5.6, 55mm, ISO 100


Coming in many colors and sporting lyre-shaped horns, the zebus are still bred for meat, milk and burden like they always have been. Some things never go out of fashion.


Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/200s, f/5.6, 18mm, ISO 100

the sober grace of the Cathedral of Antananarivo

Madagascar is an island nation isolated from most of the world. Eastwards and northwards, it’s just the big empty Indian Ocean. To the west is its nearest continental neighbor, Mozambique, but there’s the treacherous channel that is three hundred miles. As if sheer distance is not enough, its capital, Antananarivo or Tana for short, is protected by a geographic elevation of some 1,300 kilometers above sea level.


the cathedral sits on a hill with an elegant wide driveway
Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/200s, f/9.0, 24mm, ISO 100




what the Malagasy could not do in stone and tiles, they did in hardwood and decorative painted patterns
Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/15s, f/5.6, 18mm, ISO 200


Imagine what traveling to the island some hundred years ago, before airplanes and sea freighters. The French certainly struggled in wrestling control of the island from the British in the notorious Scramble for Africa. It took brawn, might and cunning of imperial France to finally annex Madagascar in the late 1800s.


an ornate niche featuring the image of St. Joseph
Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/2s, f/5.6, 18mm, ISO 200


Today, more than four decades after decolonization and full independence, Madagascar still exhibits a strong French feel. The country mostly understands and speaks French. The languid ambiance of tree-lined avenues and café-flanked boulevards persists. And there is religion. Almost half of the Malagasy are also Christians, about 50% of which are Roman Catholic.


the tracery window is simple and geometric and in various tones of blue
Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/50s, f/5.6, 42mm, ISO 200


Of the numerous churches that were built during colonial rule, one which symbolizes the quiet elegance and regality of the French is the Cathedral of Ambodin Andaholo.


the massive wooden front door is made light and airy with the floral-motif wooden cutwork
Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/200s, f/9.0, 22mm, ISO 100


Catholic missionaries first set foot on the island in the 1860s. As the royal Malagasy court did not allow proselytization, Jesuit priests came in disguise. Although Europeans were soon expelled from the country by the Queen Ranavalona I, the Jesuits befriended her son, Radama II. It was when he succeeded his mother that he eventually welcomed the missionaries back to the island. In 1873, the Catholic mission was given the land in Andohalo of what was then Tananarivo. Here, the cathedral was built, based on the design by Father Alphonse Taix, a Jesuit. It took 17 years to complete the cathedral and in 1890, it was consecrated as Cathédrale de l’Immaculée Conception d’Andohalo or the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.




outside is a grotto of the Lady of Lourdes
Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/60s, f/5.6, 24mm, ISO 100


A testament of local ingenuity, the church features no frescoes, mosaics, cutout filigrees and rose windows often associated with French cathedrals. The door omits the carved reliefs although the lintel offers an almost naively simplified floral tracery that is repeated in several of the arch windows. In place of murals, the groin vault ceiling of hardwood was enamel-painted in the light shades of blue. Statuaries are sparse. Arches bear semblance to the Islamic ogee. Along the nave, the edges of the columnade were painted with dainty patterns in royal blue. The only obvious concessions to neo-Gothic complication were the the slit windows which show off imported stained glass panels of Catholic church figures and the tile trim around the recessed niches.


the narrow vertical windows at the sides boasts of imported French stained glass panels
Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/30s, f/5.6, 27mm, ISO 200


For a church that was expected to be showcase of the grandiose and of ornamentation, the Cathedral of Tana, offers simplicity that eloquently communicates a sober spiritual grace.


the groin vault ceiling is covered with hardwood, painted in blue hues that evoke of the cerulean skies
Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/8s, f/5.6, 22mm, ISO 200

the Black Angel of Madagascar

I love the reality TV show The Amazing Race. In Season 10 (2006), the teams made a stop in Madagascar. The challenge was to locate the black angel which is the local name for this dramatic war memorial in Anosy lake. The statue however was already painted white so several teams were confused and got lost. I literally was screaming, go to the lake, go to the lake!


Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/800s, f/10, 30mm, ISO 400


One of the attractions of Tana (Antananarivo) in Madagascar, East Africa, the War Memorial is a monument to the soldiers who died for France and sits in Anosy Lake.


Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/160s, f/9.0, 55mm, ISO 100


As luck would have it, I visited Madagascar mid-November and it was bloom season for the Jacaranda trees.


Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/160s, f/9.0, 55mm, ISO 100


The colors are amazing! Had I been there some other time of the year, the lake would just have been ordinary. But its green hue turned doubly brilliant when ringed by the purple flower-laden trees. Even the boulevard around the lake was petal-carpeted in blue-violet.


Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/100s, f/8.0, 33mm, ISO 100


The jacarandas are not really native to Madagascar. They originated from South and Central America and brought to the island during French colonial times.


Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/160s, f/8.0, 18mm, ISO 100


The Black Angel of Madagascar may now be white but purple could be her too.

the Glimpse, part 2

(continued from The Glimpse part 1)

There are two exhibits being displayed this week at Parkmall in Mandaue City. One is by Images, Cebu’s oldest camera club. The other one is by our group, which being basically a nameless aggrupation of photographers, was, by a funny twist of fate, dubbed by the Park Mall as “Cebu’s Top Photographers”. The tag, which probably and unwittingly would raise other photographers’ eyebrows, made me smile.




The exhibit runs from Nov 15 to Nov 21, and sits at the south entrance of the mall (the one facing the direction of SM Cebu). Each of us contributed 8 pictures that are in 12x18” full color prints.


My daughter Cacing seems to have made her choice as to which is her favorite (the one she can reach! LOL)


I don’t do this often but for posterity, here is my mugshot taken by my wife

For those who could not come, here are the 8 photos I chose. As a challenge to me, I picked out photographs which had no or little post-processing. All are uncropped and corrections were mostly on some sharpening and lightening.


Damgo, the Good Friday procession in Bantayan Island, Cebu
I am afraid this is fast becoming my staple, the number one photo that I would pimp. This has to be my best photo yet and has garnered 1st place in the nightscapes competition of Canon’s SMILES photocontest in the Philippines last year.


incantation, Ta Prohm temple, Siem Reap, Cambodia
I submitted the original unedited version. No post-processing is necessary.



Tirta Empul, Tampaksiring, Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia
Of my countless Bali pictures, this must be one of my best as it has an emotional punch. Technically, this also was difficult to achieve (natural lighting, timing, positioning, the unchoreographed worshippers). The only postprocessing was some lightening and color correction.



after 6 months, Zanzibar, Tanzania
The picture continues to haunt me: a gorgeous beach with a scene showing abject poverty. The woman was harvesting coconut husks she buried for 6 months. The softened coir is sold for a mere handful of dollars as mattress fill. This has no editing save for the removal of spots (sensor dust).



row, Mekong Delta, Vietnam
This was a risky shot as I had to stand on my feet, trying to maintain the balance of the small boat I was on. I only saturated the colors to bring out the brown hue of the river.



breathless, Ramena Beach, Antsiranana (Diego Suarez), Madagascar
After “Damgo” (above) which has >1,100 favorites in flickr, this comes second with >800. The pure unbridled joy on the children’s faces was priceless. I lightened the color to bring out the details of their smiles.



imbang, Sukawati, Bali, Indonesia
This is special as I took this the day after our wedding in Bali. My wife and I led the tour of some 50 guests when our car was interrupted by a procession. The photo was sharpened.



Bantimurung, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
This is not color-corrected in any way. I only lightened the photo. The orange tint came from incandescent lighting which contrasted sharply with the bluish tint of the fluorescent lamps on the waterfalls. Early dusk provided the rest of the effect.

10 tips in Aerial Photography, part 2

continued from 10 tips in aerial photography, part 1 in colloidfarl.blogspot.com


6. International flights often have TV screens for entertainment. When available, I always set mine to the flight channel which charts the progress of the flight against a map. I regularly take a snapshot of the channel screen so that I can place the location of my photographs at the later time.

7. Use your sharpest lens. Long lens are fine but only if they are sharp, otherwise you have a lot of post-processing to do. My favorite lens in most of my aerial photographs is my 18-55mm kit lens. I have a 70-300mm lens but it is soft and sensitive to camera shake.

8. Photography inside a plane is much like action photography. I often set my camera at the widest aperture or adjust the ISO so that a proper exposure of at 1/500s or faster can be achieved. The plane moves in such speed that is magnified at lower altitudes.

9. When the wide world below becomes your photographic canvas, always remember the fundamentals in composition. Think before you shoot. You may not be able to pass that way again.

10. Cut out glare. Depending on the light conditions, this may mean keeping the lens as close to the window as much as possible. Sometimes the shirt you’re wearing, even when it is all white, could get reflected on the glass and come out in the exposure. A plain dark shirt, especially black, works best for me.


more aerial photographs


Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/800s, f/5.6, 55mm, ISO 100, -1/3EV
a highly populated island near Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, July 31, 2008



Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/800s, f/5.6, 55mm, ISO 100, -2/3EV
an island in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, July 31, 2008
an unpopulated island off Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, July 31, 2008



Canon EOS 350D, 1/640s, f/6.3, 54mm, ISO 100
Tawi-Tawi, the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, Sulu archipelago, the Philippines, March 27, 2006



Canon EOS 350D, 0.005s, f/8, 55mm, ISO100, -1/3EV
Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, September 13, 2006



Canon EOS 350D, 1/800s, f/8, 55mm, ISO 200, -1/3EV
Laguna de Bay (?), Manila, the Philippines, September 12, 2006



Canon EOS 350D, 1/250s, f/10, 55mm, ISO 100
over Myanmar, SE Asia, November 18, 2005



Canon EOS 350D, 1/80s, f/6.3, 55mm, ISO 100
35,000 feet over Dhaka, Bangladesh, November 18, 2005



Canon EOS 350D, 1/250s, f/11, 55mm, ISO 100
the dunes near Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, East Africa, November 10, 2005



Canon EOS 350D, 0.031s, f/5.6, 22mm, ISO 100
the desert dunes of Dubai, UAE, November 7, 2005



Canon EOS 350D, 1/160s, f/5.6, 55mm, ISO 100
Lantau Island, Hong Kong, January 8, 2006



Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/800s, f/9, 55mm, ISO 100
West Madagascar, East Africa, November 16, 2005

10 tips in Aerial Photography, part 1

I am enamored by aerial photography. The patterns one can see from above are different and mostly are left unknown to the ordinary viewer on the ground. The earth from above takes on a whole new form. No wonder a lot of people attribute to flying as a spiritual experience.

Being a frequent flyer, I always try to get that window seat that provides the best view of the earth down below. But getting that right spot in the plane, away from the obstructing wing, is easier said than done. Luck plays a great deal in getting that enviable seat. Over the years of flying, I’ve learned some tricks of the trade which I am sharing here.

1. Study the flight direction against the map. Is the direction going northeast or directly west? If you’re a sunrise and sunset hound, determine which side of the plane faces west or east. What are the most likely attractions that one can pass? Short of asking the pilot, the actual flight path can only be acquired by experience so if you would take the same flight sometime in the future, check out now what the sights are below.

2. Be conscious of the flying time and the direction of the light. Sometimes, I purposely would sit where the sun is at the other side to get strong backlights against bodies of water. Check the weather too of your port of embarkation and the place of destination. Aerial photography is impossible in bad weather.

3. Be early in the airport. If it is possible to book a seat before the actual flight do so. International carriers allow you to choose a seat online although some of the good seats are often blocked. I have not tried this with domestic Philippines airlines which don't offer this service yet.

4. If you cannot get a window seat at the front, a section often reserved for the business class, settle for a seat at the back. The view of middle seats are blocked by the wing and the engine.

5. Keep a wet tissue. I find it useful in cleaning the windows (yeah, people stare at me).

to be continued

Here are a few samples of my aerial photographs.


Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/400s, f/8, 55mm, ISO 200
Laguna de Bay (?), Luzon, the Philippines



Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/500s, f/5.6, 55mm, ISO 100, -2/3EV
rice (?) fields at Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, July 31, 2008



Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/500s, f/8, 55mm, ISO 200
ponds near Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia, November 8, 2007



Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/160s, f/8, 55mm, ISO 100, -1/3EV
ponds in Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, September 13, 2006



Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/1500s, f/8, 55mm, ISO 100
salt farms in Madura, East Java, Indonesia, September 13, 2006



Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/800s, f/9, 55mm, ISO 100
river tributaries in West Madagascar, East Africa, November 16, 2005



Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/1000s, f/5.6, 55mm, ISO 200
Biddeford Pool, Portland, Maine, the US, December 18, 2006



Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/640s, f/5.6, 25mm, ISO 100, -1/3EV
an unknown development project near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia



Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/640s, f/6.3, 55mm, ISO 100
Tango Island, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, the Philippines, March 27, 2006



Canon EOS 350D, 1/1000s, f/6.3, 51mm, ISO 100
an islet near Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, Sulu archipelago, the Philippines



Canon EOS 350D, 1/200s, f/11, 47mm, ISO 100
sanddunes north of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, East Africa



Canon EOS 350D, 1/200s, f/11, 47mm, ISO 100
sanddunes north of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, East Africa


For other aerial photos, check out My Islands of Sulu