Do artists think alike?

Someone commented recently about my photography habit, "dakayo nga talaga photographers, agpapada panunot yo" (you photographers really think alike). 

It made me think and I remembered one time I was with some photographers looking at world war two ruins. One of them commented that it would be nice to have a photo shoot with models near the ruins. A distinctive effect with a stunning beauty as the subject and frenzied ruins in the background.

But what I have in mind was completely different. I was hoping some very old war veteran will pass by with wrinkled expression of a distraught face to match the ruinous background showing the chaotic past of the place. I prefer to have the very person who witnessed the transformation of the ruins from its old glory to be part of my image.

Both ideas would show art but with different impact. Artists may agree to so many things but they don’t necessarily think alike. In a hyperbolic comparison, some think vertically and some horizontally.

But one thing is for sure, each artist will always see an art from every scenery. Some would focus on a single shape or image while others consider the whole scenery. Some would focus on a single mountain concentrating on its shape with the sun setting in the background. Another would shoot the wide skyline showing its glorious transformation from blue to reddish orange with the group of mountains in the horizon. Another would attempt to combine them all in a single frame, a unique mountain shape as the foreground, and a background of a thousand mountains in the horizon and the changing hue of the skyline above them.

What artists do have in common is their way to communicate to the people in a non-linear way. Their images would grab attention and merit hours of discussion by critics and fans alike. For me, art is not just self expression but more on how you show the viewers your way of seeing things. If you can do that in your works, your art will be more appreciated. 

The Last Tree

"Do we have to wait for the last pine tree before we even think of preserving it? Do we have to wait for a disaster to happen before we come to our senses. We are the most intelligent of all species, why do we have to be the most destructive? Do we really have to destroy in order to to survive. Can't we instead save what we have left while we can? They say it is for our children, I believe it is our debt to pay for taking so much and we will not want our children paying for the consequences of what we owe." Baguio Smile

Just thinking out loud after reading that Japan is spending 150 million yen (£1.2 million) to preserve the last tree that survived the Tsunami last year in a thick shoreline forest. Story here.

Muslim Power

An army of Muslim women are the main attraction of the long civic parade of the City's female forces in celebration of the women's month last Friday, March 8, 2013. (Sunstar Baguio)

Flowering Baguio

It's the season of blooming in Baguio with the opening of Panagbenga on its début this 2013. Once again, Baguio's main thoroughfares are adorned with flowering faces and decorations as elementary school dancers participated in the opening street dancing competition. The following are some of my shoots during the parade. More to follow as the events unfold during this month-long activity. For the schedule of events, click here.

The Fourth Ensalidummaay Convention

In preparation of the Ensalidummaay Grand Convention or grand canao this summer, the fourth Ensalidummay assembly was held at the Anthurium Hall in Benguet State University last January 19, 2013.

The gathering is a quarterly solidarity assembly by different groups online and offline where members of different groups present projects that other groups can help out.

Partly sponsored by the Aliping family, Rob Ocampo and other members who brought in foods and drinks, the event is once again attended by leaders numbering to almost a hundred from about 10 groups. It was hosted by Interactive Cordillera, an online group that was started before the advent of facebook. The Samahang Ilocano (SI) is the newest group to join the event. The group attended to present their new identity which was always perceived as a fraternity now reorganized as a philanthropic non government organization.

The event was a mixture of presentation and workshop where members learn the steps of Cordilleran Dances. Parlor games are the fun part of the event. Special guest Glen Gaerlan performed two great song pieces.

Part of the event was a planning discussion for the up-coming anniversary of the event which will be held at the Pine Trees of the World Park this coming April 20 in the tradition of the grand canao. A dancing competition of the authentic Cordilleran dances will be the highlight of the event with members of the different groups to present in their own local costumes. There will be a singing competition in the evening in front of a bonfire where members will sing a cordilleran song.

The Ensalidummaay Grand Convention is expected to attract several hundreds of participants.