“There are times to stay put, and what you want will come to you, and there are times to go out into the world and find such a thing for yourself.” ~Lemony Snicket, Horseradish: Bitter Truths You Can’t Avoid Chanced upon this driftood washed ashore as I waited for my sunrise in Whitesand Beach, San Ignacio, Manay, Davao Oriental © Jojie Alcantara
“I do believe in an everyday sort of magic — the inexplicable connectedness we sometimes experience with places, people, works of art and the like; the eerie appropriateness of moments of synchronicity; the whispered voice, the hidden presence, when we think we’re alone.” ~ Charles de Lint Morning walk with the locals on the shore at daybreak. There were actually around six of them, but the few remains to be a blur, as they walked towards and past me, oblivious of my gears and tripod. Times Beach, Davao City © Jojie Alcantara 2012
“To stand at the edge of the sea, to sense the ebb and flow of the tides, to feel the breath of a mist moving over a great salt marsh, to watch the flight of shore birds that have swept up and down the surf lines of the continents for untold thousands of year, to see the running of the old eels and the young shad to the sea, is to have knowledge of things that are as nearly eternal as any earthly life can be.” – Rachel Carson Sometimes we don’t need too much color in our imagery to get our message across. Choosing black and white for this photo was an easy choice. It heightened the details of the four silhouettes and elevated the drama a bit. Shot at around 5 in the morning, high tide was rushing in as a tropical depression was approaching. Still the early risers in this coastal community continued to swim and frolic on such a windy morning. When you go for minimalism whether in black and white …
“When you finally go back to your old home, you find it wasn’t the old home you missed but your childhood.” ~ Sam Ewing Camiguin Island at sunset © Jojie Alcantara
“Do the one thing you think you cannot do. Fail at it. Try again. Do better the second time. The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire. This is your moment. Own it.” ~ Oprah Winfrey For a few of my friends who are afraid to take the risk, failure sets them back because they fear ridicule and falling down on their feet. For me, failure is not a setback, it’s a constant reminder to do better when another opportunity arises. It keeps me grounded. I love to tell my stories of failure in workshops to those who think I sailed smoothly in my field of work… and in my life, for that matter. Embrace your mistakes. But don’t repeat them. Once you acknowledge them, pick up the pieces, and move on. Camiguin Island is a magical spot in the Philippine archipelago. Here, while waiting for a glorious sunset, I tumbled and lost my footing several times while balancing my way to these kids who were playing on the …
“Children keep us in check. Their laughter prevents our hearts from hardening. Their dreams ensure we never lose our drive to make ours a better world. They are the greatest disciplinarians known to mankind.” ~ Queen Rania of Jordan When I chanced upon this child in the remote coastal shore of Tabina (Zamboanga del Sur), he had his back to me, sitting on a log, looking somewhat forlornly at the distant horizon.
