My First Street Photography Walk

Last July 18, 2009 I joined my first Photowalk since it’s the Worldwide Scott Kelby Photowalk that day. I’ve never done street shots really. I was always reluctant of going out of my comfort zone in photography. For most, it’s a hobby you find comfort in so you might as well just capture the things that are near your reach or interest. I’m really thankful for being part of the Pasig Chapter Photowalk. I realized that doing street photography can be really exciting and fulfilling.

A week before the Photowalk last Saturday, my DSLR broke down during my recent Davao Trip with my Monday Bible Study mates. I thought of using my point and shoot cameras for the photowalk, but this time I decided to shoot with a Yashica Electro GSN 35 Rangefinder loaded with a roll of ISO 100 Ektachrome slides (which was actually like loading wrong bullets in a gun since it didn’t suit the weather that day). It has been months since I last used my lone rangefinder. People say that rangefinders are great for street photography. They’re silent and sharp cameras with the adequate focal range for covering most street shots. My Yashica has a focal length of 45mm, I guess that’s comparably wide enough when compared to the focal lenghts of DSLRs that have crop factors.

Okay, enough with cameras and film. I did shoot the Pasig City Marketplace and at first I didn’t know what to do when I was shooting. I was a little scared and irritated with the people who kept on calling my attention like: “Psst psst”, “Miss dito O”, “Miss para san yan?”, “Taga-ABS ka ba?”, “Anong school mo iha?” “Para saan po yan?”, “Anong camera po yan?”. LOL!!!?!

I just didn’t know how to react with people during the first 30minutes and I can’t shoot at all because of all the distraction. Being a girl, it’s really quite hard to do street photography, especially at points when you’re just alone and roaming around at unfamiliar places. But after some time I got the hang of it and just took shot after shot, talked to some people etc. I find talking to people better…that’s when you surpass that boundary of judging your subjects just by looking at them and taking a shot.

I’ll only show some film shots here. It’s hard to compress the stories behind the 19 pictures of my photowalk.

Bordado

There was this old man with a tattooed arm. He’s a butcher n the marketplace. He looks scary with his tattoo but it turns out he’s a very friendly guy. The group asked about his tattoo and it took him 6 months to have his whole arm finished. If it (the tattoo) was rushed , he said he would have died already. His exact words were: “Di pwede tuloy tuloy yan mamamatay ka.”

Sili Vendor

As for my other subjects like this Sili Vendor, he was kind enough to allow me a closeup photo of him. At first I was pointing my rangefinder towards his items but I was really taking a shot of him. Haha, I guess that’s the advantage of rangefinders. You can deceive people that you’re actually taking the shot of another subject while its pointing to a different subject.

Batang Tindera

I feel different when I look at this picture. I actually just shot this by accident because I was supposed to shoot two vendors conversing at the place beside it. When I asked the vendors if it was okay to take pictures of them and what they’re selling, they just pointed to shoot the one on my left…this little girl who’s selling chopped vegetable ingredients. Reminds me of child labor as if she’s caged to where she is. It was Saturday that day, she could’ve been playing with other kids but she’s stuck on their booth to sell vegetables.

Palengkera

Although most of us might misinterpret the Palengkeras to be really rowdy and in a sense ‘bitchy’, this Palengkera turns out to be of the nice ones who also love to be photographed…even if you don’t buy something from them.

Mangtotoktok

Why call cigarette and candy vendors like that? That’s because they tap their wooden box with coins making that “toktok” sound to call attention to customers. This vendor was close so he was out of focus on the picture.

Tingi

This is one term of measurement unique to our country. Tingi refers to something small in size, a mini…a micro…here in our country we can buy things (like spices on the picture) in very small amounts so that even poor people can afford them. Take cigarettes for a sample wherein people can buy in sticks here etc. Some people think that the presence of tingi is not helping our country rise in poverty and make people strive more to afford bigger things.

Mga Mamimili

And who wouldn’t forget shooting the customers who persistently look for the best bargains at the marketplace?

Hmm..that’s all I can share for a part of my photowalk experience. I’m still in the process of uploading the pictures online. I really missed shooting in film and for those who haven’t tried street photography..just try it. For me who has no interest on it before enjoyed it a lot! Nextime without the guards beside us…*ahem*