Good Friday: the Siete Palabras

a Lenten Special

When I was growing up in the 80s, there was no cable TV at home to keep us company during the Holy Week. The state of solitude pervades most during Good Friday when regular free TV and FM radio would sign off. Being raised in a conservative Catholic household, we would not be allowed to go out either. Not there would be any open destination anyway as there were no malls yet and all commercial establishments would shut their doors during this holy day. The idea of spending the Holy Week outside of home was unheard of either, if not outright taboo.

What was left for us was join in the religious rites- the via crucis, the mass services, confession and the solemn processions. On Good Friday, the day that Jesus died on the cross, there too is the popular series of oratories of the Seven Last Words, or Siete Palabras in our vernacular, which is read in the leadup to 3PM. As kids, we were excused and did not have to go to church – Lent falls on the dead of summer in the Philippines so the heat and humidity can be unbearable – but our parents would have us tune in to the AM radio.

As an homage to the age old tradition of the Seven Last Words, here are photographic depictions of Christ’s crucifixion.


Bantayan, Cebu, the Philippines
I. Amahon Ko, pasayloa sila kay wala sila nakahibalo sa ilang gibuhat. Father forgive them, for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34)



San Pedro Cathedral, Davao City, the Philippines
II. Karon, magauban ka Kanako sa Paraiso. Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise (Luke 23:43)



Museo San Pablo, St Paul's Cathedral, Vigan, Ilocos Sur
III. Babaye, ania ang imong anak. Anak, ania ang Imong inahan. Woman, behold your son: behold your mother (John 19:26-27)



an ebony cross from Tanzania, at home in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, the Philippines
IV. Diyos Ko, Diyos Ko, Nganong gibiyaan mo Ako. Eli Eli lama sabachthani? ("My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?", Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34)



the Church of Nuestra Señora del Pilar, Sibonga, Cebu, the Philippines
V. Giuhaw Ako. I thirst (John 19:28)



Nuestra Señora de Patrocinio de Maria Church, Boljoon, Cebu, the Philippines
VI. Nahuman na. It is finished (John 19:30)



Salvador Dali's Crucifixion at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, uptown Manhattan, New York, the US
VII. Amahan Ko, sa Imong mga kamot, itugyan Ko ang Akong Kalag. Father, into your hands I commit my spirit (Luke 23:46)

from the bowels of New York

The SUBWAY.

I knew that I will do a series. The bowels of the city of New York is a fascinating subject for countless of people and count me in. Inside a city insane by itself, the underground can be crazier. But not really. Mostly everyone move inside their own bubble that is truly their own.


at a platform in Times Square-42nd St station, midtown Manhattan, New York, the US
Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/40s, f/5.6, 55mm, ISO 1600


Like most people, I find it difficult to take pictures in the subway as the subject might easily get upset. I know I would- I think. So trying to be unobstrusive is the key. But occasionally an opportunity will present itself, as when a crowd parts way to give you a peek of another passenger involved in her own world. Reading a book is all so common in subways- a ride after all can be as short as 5 minutes or 60.


in a train at Times Square, Manhattan, New York, the US
Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/20s, f/5.6, 54mm, ISO 1600


Manhattan is crawling with cops who would accost you if you used a tripod. I had no choice but to prop my camera on the bench arm at the station. The position was too low for me so I was literally blind in taking this shot. I had to take two preliminary shots to point the camera in the right position. Then I waited for the train to breeze past my sister Lall and Mom.


at the 5th Ave subway station, uptown Manhattan, New York, the US
Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/2s, f/5.6, 18mm, ISO 200, -1/3EV

Rockland- wintry wonderland in Maine

Blame it on the movies, or Irvin Berlin’s song, but the season of Christmas bespeaks of images of white snowy scenes. At this time of the year, imagine this winter wonderland to be Rockland.


Canon EOS 350D Digital, 25s, f/22, 47mm, ISO 100, +1.0EV


Nuzzled deep in mid-coast of Maine, Rockland sits in Penobscot Bay, one of the most scenic bodies of water in the Eastern seaboard of the United States. The county boasts of scenes that seem to leap straight out of a picturebook, with numerous 19th century wooden houses, quaint museums, inns and churches. More like a big movie set, it reminds me a lot of the hit TV series Murder, She Wrote. In my first visit in the summer of 1991, I was almost expecting Angela Lansbury to bike her way around the streets.


Rockland sunset from the Tradewinds Motor Inn
Canon PowerShot S40, 1/125s, f/3.5, 10.3mm


In the late 19th century, Rockland was a leading port for the export of lime rock. It still shows remnants of its industrial past: numerous limestone quarries and kilns, boat builders and shipyards, a hauntingly beautiful if not spooky lighthouse that sits at the end of ¾ mile-long granite breakwater, numerous boat landings and monumentally large marine relics everywhere. It also has homesteads, farms and plenty of museums.


an antique giant anchor near the public wharf
Canon PowerShot S40, 1/320s, f/3.5, 7.1mm, 2/3 EV



a giant bell/buoy in the same park
Canon PowerShot S40, 1/1000s, f/3.5, 7.1mm


Thanks to its lace-like coast, Rockland is accessible to scores of islands and a dozen of historic lighthouses. It is reputed to be home of the largest windjammer fleet in the US and is a self-proclaimed lobster capital of the country.


at the public landing, Rockland, mid-coast Maine, the US, 4:33 PM, after sunset
Canon EOS 350D Digital, 13s, f/5, 35mm, ISO 100, -1/3 EV


Today, its charm is not lost to the tourists whose number seems to grow each year. Like most other places in scenic mid-coast Maine, the city has undergone not so subtle changes. Touted as a new England idyll, Rockland, with barely 10,000 people living within its limits, is overrun by visitors every summer.


scene near the Rockland breakwater
Canon EOS 350D Digital, 15s, f/10, 22mm, ISO 100


In winter though, it is a different story. Being way up north, by December, the sun sinks early and it becomes dark before 4PM. Temperatures would already be near zero Celsius in the morning and would dip below freezing at night. Snow comes ahead too, before most part of Eastern US.


the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse
Canon PowerShot S40, 1/250s, f/5.6, 7.1mm


By Christmas, Rockland would be white. Like clockwork, Rockland always manages to slide back to its rustic backwater self, slow and silent.


Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1.3s, f/5.6, 55mm, ISO 100

the Windows of Bergdorf and Goodman- a Manhattan Christmas special

Fifth Avenue cannot be more encapsulated than in the store windows of Bergdorf and Goodman. People actually queue to see its fabulous displays. Decidedly catering to the highend crowd, the store is famous for their life-size displays of magic and opulence.


Nikon E5700, 1/35s, f/2.8, ISO 64 (photo by my sister)


In the five years I’ve visited Manhattan during Christmas, Bergdorf and Goodman always showcases different themes in every windows. From scenes of the exotic to themes of colors, they are designed to titillate and excite.


Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/40s, f/5.6, 21mm, ISO 1600, -1/3EV


The suggestion of sex can be overt, as seen in the picture above, or it can be suggested. Playing darkness against the light, the glare of the colors that jar from the ordinary, one time, one window showed a mannequin with a shock of red hair and green manicured nails. Then there was that apple, dangled, as if ready for the taking.


Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/200s, f/4.5, 31mm, ISO 800, -1/3EV


Almost always, there will always be a window in red. Evoking the allure of rubies and the drama of scarlets, the visual screams.


Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/80s, f/5, 38mm, ISO 400, -1/3EV


Or drama could be in monochrome. Conjuring images of the near black and white, the windows could invite the innate desire of adventure and adventurism.


Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/50s, f/5.0, 40mm, ISO 800,+1/3EV


Nevertheless, in the world we live of course, wealth can be the real fantasy. But willingly, we suspend this truth, if only for awhile.


Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/13s, f/5.6, 55mm, ISO 800


Bergdorf and Goodman
754 5th Ave
New York, New York

Eye See Eye in Louis Vuitton- a Manhattan Christmas special

A few luxury brands can match the brand recognition and appeal of Louis Vuitton. You can tell by the number of knocks-off in the streets and the manner ladies automatically eye and analyze whether somebody else’s bags were genuine or not. The LV monogram is the very essence of style.


Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/200s, f/4.5, 34mm, ISO 100,+1/3 EV, flash fired


One day in Christmastime of 2006, I went to the Louis Vuitton One East in Fifth Avenue, New York. No, I was not there to shop nor to gawk but to check out Eye See Eye, the art installation of Danish artist Olafur Eliasson.


at the Louis Vuitton One East, 1 East 57th Street (corner Fifth Avenue), New York, the US
Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/200s, f/4.5, 34mm, ISO 100,+1/3 EV, flash fired


I’ve heard a lot about it. Made to resemble like the pupil of an eye, the glass and light project echoed Eliasson’s knack for participative art and the stage, this time, was the street.


Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/10s, f/10, 22mm, ISO 100,-1/3 EV, flash fired


The stainless steel and aluminum spotlight of mirrors and lenses was large at about 230x120x110cm. Its burst of loud yellow sodium light and vibrant purple produced a kaleidoscope of colors which invited and drew passersby like a magnet.

Capturing it in photographs has its challenges. In getting the shots here, I remembered two things. I shot the lamp when it was dark outside. I also used flash to trigger to the violence of color. Here, violence was good.


Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/15s, f/5.0, 39mm, ISO 200,-1/3 EV, flash fired


n.b. This year, Eliasson was commissioned by The Public Art Fund and New York City to create the New York City waterfalls by the Brooklyn Bridge which ran from June 26 to October 13, 2008.

Louis Vuitton
1 E 57th St (5th Ave), New York, New York

the Lady wears Red and Green- a Manhattan Christmas special

A true lady of the night.

The Empire State Building stands unwavering in the middle of Manhattan, resplendent in night lights, in all colors imaginable, from classic white to blue to green (St Patrick’s Day). For Christmas, the colors definitely remain resplendent in red and green.


Canon EOS 350D Digital, f/32, 30s, 43 mm, ISO 100


Formerly the tallest building in New York before the World Trade Center rose, it now has reclaimed the title. Everyday, almost without fail, the line of visitors wanting to scale its height snakes long, a testament to its enduring elegance and attraction.


traffic down the Empire State Building
Canon EOS 350D Digital, 10s, f/14, 18mm, ISO 100


The Empire State Building figures prominently in Hollywood and has appeared in at least 150 movies, from Hollywood classics like An Affair to Remember, to Taxi Driver to Sleepless in Seattle. Its most famous appearance is probably in the King Kong movies, from the one with Fay Wray to Jessica Lange and of late, Naomi Watts. As in lore, the 24 feet ape met his match in beauty and ultimately succumbed atop the majestic tower that is the Empire State Building.


Canon EOS 350D Digital, f/22, 25s, 24 mm, ISO 100


The skyscraper in Manhattan is still its queen.

Empire State Building
350 5th Ave (34th St), New York, New York

Philippine flag tales

Flags come in all forms. From embroidered banners raised in poles to stickers pasted on bumpers to even tattoos emblazoned on skin, they are a declaration of national identity. Flags are standard issues, with specifications of color, size and use or they could be highly stylized and abstracted. Nevertheless, they are recognizable and they stir emotions of pride and nostalgia.

A memorable flag I have posted in my flickr account and which somehow kindled surprising attention in the Filipino flickr community is a photograph of a mosaic of the tricolor. The flag was at the base of the Korean War Memorial for the Universal Soldier at Battery Park. At the base of the monument are mosaics of flags of the countries that participated in the U.N.-sponsored mission which repulsed the North Koreans in 1964 and helped reinstall the 38th parallel. The Philippines was one of them.

This photo was my submission to the Philippines flickr group during its search for new icon in January 2006. It still is its icon to this date. There is little that I did out of the ordinary. I photographed it straight-on, simple and direct. Post-processing saturation did the rest.


Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/60s, f/5.6, 55mm, ISO 1600

Another popular picture of mine however was more trickery of the eye. I was photographing sunrise scenes at Geger Beach in Bali, Indonesia, when I stumbled on a traditional boat which was painted in familiar colors. Paint was flaking all over the wall of boat but at an angle, I spotted a verisimilitude of the Philippine flag. A matter of serendipity I say.


Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/640s, f/5.6, 55mm, ISO 800, -1/3EV

On second thought, the photo speaks a lot of me.

I am a Filipino but a lot of people have mistaken me for Indonesian in my flickr account, probably because not only do I look Indonesian (yes, we Malays resemble each other) but I speak the language as well. Having been visiting Indonesia for more than 14 years now, I feel at home in the archipelago which is so much like the Philippines in so many respects.

Heck, I even got married in Indonesia but to a Filipina of course. In embracing another world's culture, one keeps coming back to your own.

the romance of Brooklyn Bridge

Brooklyn would not be Brooklyn without its eponymous bridge. Waxed romantic by many a novel, films and of course, photographs, the Brooklyn Bridge dominates the waterfront of Brooklyn, and is a tourist destination by itself. Opened in 1883 when traffic was still partly horse-driven and when bridge aerodynamics were imprecise, the bridge was fortuitously designed six times as strong as what was required. So despite its being one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States, it survived the perils of most historical landmarks- modernization. To this day, it still is an important link, heavily used for automobile traffic. Obviously, heavier and bigger trailer vans and buses are already prohibited for physical and preservation reasons.


the Brooklyn Bridge towers over the East River, as shot from the South Street Seaport, Manhattan, New York, the US
Canon EOS 350D Digital, 10s, f/5, 18mm, ISO 100, +1EV, w/ a wide angle adapter 0.66x


Crossing the East River from Manhattan to Brooklyn is a timeless and popular ritual. At the center of the bridge is a designated track for pedestrian and bicycle traffic, at a level higher than the car lanes. Although foot traffic nowadays is largely for leisure or exercise, there are extreme circumstances when the bridge became the main transportation route. The extraordinary event of 911 comes to mind, when cars were banned from the streets at lower Manhattan and people had to cross the East River via the bridge.

Such setting was clearly in my mind too when I walked across the Brooklyn Bridge. The date was September 18, a week after the first year anniversary of the World Trade Center attack and my sister accompanied me in visiting the historic bridge. The weather that day was cold, a strong draft regularly gusting about pedestrian ramp. Flags were flying over the bridge towers. Most of lower Manhattan were in a somber mood as security was on high alert.


a flag mounted on one of Brooklyn Bridge's towers. What looked like barbs may just be the clamps holding the vertical and horizontal suspension cables together to form a strong support mesh.



the Manhattan end of the Brooklyn Bridge, near the NY City Hall


My sister worked at a nearby Brooklyn Hospital so we started our journey there. The crossing could be done in less than an hour- the total span of the bridge is just about a mile. We took our time. The view from the bridge is more than exhilarating. New York City continues to define what a metropolis is, and despite the void left from the loss of the twin towers, the skyline of the island of Manhattan still could not be topped.

There are other viewpoints of the Brooklyn Bridge which are splendid for photographic opportunities. I would strongly suggest the promenade at Brooklyn side, especially at night. It is well-developed, safe and convenient, being just a walk away from fabulous restaurants at the elegant Brownstone district. Access is easy. Subway stations at Tillary/Adams Streets are an easy walk. I met up with a chemist-lawyer friend from college one cold December day a couple of years ago and I found out for myself why they say that the view from the banks at old Fulton Street in Brooklyn is a killer, as evidenced by the photo below. One photographic tip: bring a tripod. Long exposure opportunities abound!


this romantic photo, taken at a landing near the old Fulton Street has been exhibited, crowd-curated and shortlisted in Brooklyn Museum's Click photoexhibit (June 27 to August 10, 2008); published in the coffee book of the same name.
Canon EOS 350D Digital, 10s, f/5, 18mm, ISO 100, +1/3EV


And when at the marina area, do not miss the incredible Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory. I could not have enough of their arctic cold homemade treats even in such a cold wintry evening.

So today, the Brooklyn Bridge still stands regal, while many bridges built around the same time has disappeared into history. While the skyline of Manhattan shape-shifts all the time, the bridge continues to be the unchanging landmark.

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