Month: July 2012

Seize the opportunity

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“Sometimes the course of our lives depends on what we do or don’t do in a few seconds, a heartbeat, when we either seize the opportunity, or just miss it. Miss the moment and you never get a chance again.” ― Aidan Chambers, Dying to Know You In my birthplace of Mati, Davao Oriental, lies Lawigan, a hidden coastal community dotted by rugged rock formations, mangroves and white sands interspersed with coconut trees and patches of civilization with huts built on shorelines.  The road to Lawigan is quite narrow and perched on a precipice, before going down at sea level again. It was a very lovely day where I couldn’t get enough of its seascape glory. I took photos of its extended sandbar which you can walk for yards and yards out into sea. While the coast was calm and clear, farther ahead where mangroves are growing, the sea changes into a fury of white waves bashing into protective reef fringes, where the gulf meets the raging Pacific sea. Here, the fishing boats ply the …

Aliwagwag Falls © Jojie Alcantara

Aliwagwag’s hypnotic falls

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“The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature. As longs as this exists, and it certainly always will, I know that then there will always be comfort for every sorrow, whatever the circumstances may be. And I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.” ― Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl

Keep your dreams alive

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“Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe.” ~ Gail Devers Zsaharah in the forest Loleng’s Resort, Davao City © Jojie Alcantara //

Beach panorama with rainbow © Jojie Alcantara 2012

Look in the opposite direction

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“Don’t lower your expectations to meet your performance. Raise your level of performance to meet your expectations. Expect the best of yourself, and then do what is necessary to make it a reality.” ~ Ralph Marston

A new dawn awaits

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“We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake, not by mechanical aid, but by an infinite expectation of the dawn.” ~ Henry David Thoreau (American Essayist, Poet and Philosopher, 1817-1862) Here are some of my students in the recent travel photography workshop, as I guided them on shooting sunrises.  In this part of my islands, the sunrise is spectacular so it’s easy to capture good images.  As the colors rapidly change in the sky from cool to warm, so will your composition, tones and hues.  It’s always up to you to include human elements to add to the drama. Sunrise, Dahican Beach, Mati, Davao Oriental with my photography students More details of the workshop here

Batman rode in style here

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“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” ― Henry Miller Exploring Angkor in Siem Reap, Cambodia and the American influence popping up along the way. Clearly, this winged crusader seems to be a favorite because I’ve encountered many Tuktukmobiles from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. 🙂 © Jojie Alcantara

Waiting for a break

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“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” ~ Harriet Tubman Waiting for a big break…three young surfers at sunrise Dahican beach, Mati, Davao Oriental © Jojie Alcantara

Great expectations

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“Today expect something good to happen to you no matter what occurred yesterday. Realize the past no longer holds you captive. It can only continue to hurt you if you hold on to it. Let the past go. A simply abundant world awaits.” ~ Sarah Breathnach, Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy Start your day right by flushing your self of the negatives. Then smile. Keep your back straight, hold your head high. You may be down right now, but a little push in the positive direction serves to kick start what can be a long, depressing, stressful day. You can get by when you change your attitude towards living each day.  Live in a space of thankfulness. Others have shorter life spans, and fell short of counting their blessings. Took this photo right before sunrise (which only peeked a bit through heavy clouds) at Sta.Cruz, Davao del Sur. You can view more of my seascapes here.

Stepping stones or stumbling blocks

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 “Teachers who inspire realize there will always be rocks in the road ahead of us. They will be stumbling blocks or stepping stones; it all depends on how we use them.” ~Author Unknown Woke up at 4am today to travel thirty minutes to an isolated beach destination and welcome the sunrise. A drizzle came, so I knew the sun wouldn’t be peeking in. I concentrated on the rocks instead. Because of the slight rain, the rocks were quite slippery and dangerous.  It was very hard to maneuver over them while carefully holding cameras and a tripod.  These stepping stones became almost my stumbling blocks.  Several times, I almost slipped and fell.  It was a crazy thing to do, to struggle forward towards slippier, wetter, rockier areas just to get a vantage point.  Like all crazy photographers, I wanted a shot that will satisfy me. But the journey, rain and all, was worth it.  All I needed to do was focus on my goal.