“There is a way that nature speaks, that land speaks. Most of the time we are simply not patient enough, quiet enough, to pay attention to the story.” ~ Linda Hogan Floating house and fish cages Lake Sebu, South Cotabato © Jojie Alcantara 2013
“If you will stay close to nature, to its simplicity, to the small things hardly noticeable, those things can unexpectedly become great and immeasurable.” ― Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet A young student is heading for school early morning from a floating village where tilapia farming is a livelihood and boats are the main transport in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato ATIONCrunchbase: ATION is a company. →
“Each species on our planet plays a role in the healthy functioning of natural ecosystems, on which humans depend.” ~ William H. Schlesinger, Biogeochemist Tridacna is a genus of large saltwater clams, marine bivalve mollusks in the subfamily Tridacninae, the giant clams. Unfortunately, the global conservation status is listed as Vulnerable in the 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. All species of giant clams are listed in CITES (Convention on Inernational Trade of Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna). In the Philippines, it is locally known as “taklobo”.
“We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” ― E.M. Forster Experimenting with my macro shots of a flower smaller than my thumb, using natural light by the window. I first planned on going out the garden and stooping down to capture the teeny flowers. There was a drizzle though, so I didn’t go out. Instead, I brought a few to my room and held it up the light between my thumb and forefinger. When things do not go as planned, we make adjustments, and move on. © Jojie Alcantara
“Life is painful and messed up. It gets complicated at the worst of times, and sometimes you have no idea where to go or what to do. Lots of times people just let themselves get lost, dropping into a wide open, huge abyss. But that’s why we have to keep trying. We have to push through all that hurts us, work past all our memories that are haunting us. Sometimes the things that hurt us are the things that make us strongest. A life without experience, in my opinion, is no life at all. And that’s why I tell everyone that, even when it hurts, never stop yourself from living.” ― Alysha Speer Learning from another woman’s survival, and getting inspired with her story of pain and determination. My prayers are with you. Soar high, Robyn Lee. Fishermen captured at sunrise in Whitesand Beach, San Ignacio, Manay, Davao Oriental © Jojie Alcantara
“At the beach, life is different. Time doesn’t move hour to hour but mood to moment. We live by the currents, plan by the tides and follow the sun.” ~ Unknown Nina from Germany, a returning tourist to Davao City Punta Dumalag © Jojie Alcantara
“The human spirit needs places where nature has not been rearranged by the hand of man.” ~Unknown
“It’s a battered old suitcase and a hotel someplace and a wound that will never heal.” – Tom Waits
I’ve been photographing food commercially for several years now, but every shoot is always unique and fun to do. I do simple lighting and as much as possible work with natural light. With my shoot for Crepelato Gelato in NCCC, I made use of their bright glass window that takes in a lot of sunlight.
“At some point in life, the world’s beauty becomes enough.” — Toni Morrison
“If you could choose one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.” ~ Jennifer Jones My fun portrait taken by my editor Stella Estremera Sculpture of little boy by Kublai Milan in People’s Park
“Nature is man’s teacher. She unfolds her treasures to his search, unseals his eye, illumes his mind, and purifies his heart; an influence breathes from all the sights and sounds of her existence.” ~Alfred Billings Street
“Journey with me to a true commitment to our environment. Journey with me to the serenity of leaving to our children a planet in equilibrium.” ~Paul Tsongas
Food shoot at Crepelato Gelato in NCCC, Davao Food styling by Gerlie Bagsarsa Photography © Jojie Alcantara
Wikipedia explains synchronicity to be a state of being simultaneous; an apparently meaningful coincidence in time of two or more similar or identical events that are causally unrelated.
PHWOW : Do you have any tips for travelers who visit Davao for the first time?
Me : Don’t hesitate to ask around. The guy beside you may have just gone through a unique Davao experience he can recommend. Read blogs. Many Davao bloggers give a lot of tips and places to discover. Mine is http://www.dabawenya.net.
“Architecture is like a mythical fantastic. It has to be experienced. It can’t be described. We can draw it up and we can make models of it, but it can only be experienced as a complete whole.” – Maya Lin
Behind this cool air of a tough looking wild boar with the Elvis slick mane, lies a sad truth for their dwindling species.
“We must free ourselves of the hope that the sea will ever rest. We must learn to sail in high winds.” ~ Aristotle Onassis Just before dawn in Whitesand Beach San Ignacio, Manay, Davao Oriental © Jojie Alcantara
“Find the joy. When you feel it, let it wash over you… take a moment to appreciate it. Be grateful for the people in your life, for waking up feeling good and pain free, and for the stretch of road ahead that’s so full of possibilities. When you encounter bumps, keep going and don’t look back.” ~ Katie Couric, broadcaster and author
The Scene Stealer 