I love taking pictures, or portraits at the most. Every person I have ever photographed had their own perspective on what a portrait should look like, and you’ll know their vision about it on the way they pose. When I’m in photoshoots, my model expects me to instruct them how to pose. I feel like an unprofessional if I don’t tell them how they should stand up or what they should do with their arm, or in what angle their head should tilt. Models want to be told what to do because they think you have an idea on what a perfect photograph looks like. As a photographer, that should be expected.

I remember every time we have an indoor shoot. Me and my friends would drape my walls in white fabric to block the outside light, and would set up my studio lights and halogen lamps to drive away the shadows from our model’s faces, taking away their imperfections.

They would pose in whatever we instruct them to do, and they try not to move a muscle. Our shutters would click many times until we meet the standards of what a good photograph should look like. We were all striving for perfection. When I actually think about it, this kind of photography is not what I want to shoot for the rest of my life. 

As a photography hobbyist, if ever I would concentrate on a kind, I would choose Street or Urban Photography over the others. I would rather wander out on the streets of Manila, take pictures of passersby and side street sellers. I don’t want to concentrate on something that would force people to stand under a light, like they pretended what they’re feeling was blissful and happy.

I remember the day I tried photowalking alone back when I still had no one to plan shoots with.

Camera in hand, I took the LRT station going to Recto alone. I was just walking, taking the risk of my camera being snatched. But I didn’t do anything, I just continued to walk, without having an idea where to go. During that day, I captured photos of people living on the streets, a kid asking me for money so he can make his way home. People walked by, going through the day, unaware of the idea of me capturing the moments they won’t probably remember.

I still have those photos if you browse my Tumblr way way back. Those photos weren’t exactly edited or even close to perfect since I only had a handful of ideas how to use editing programs. Nowadays, I can shoot photos in it’s perfect exposure, have them the way I wanted them to be, remove whatever flaw the picture has. They’ll never be as meaningful as the first photos that exposed me to the world I belong to. Those photos weren’t perfect, but it was beautiful.

I don’t know. I just think Photography is supposed to be about capturing a moment in all it’s honesty. I don’t consider myself a good photographer if we go by this time’s standards. In a way, I love having my pictures with a slight imperfection. To be frank, I’d rather shoot my models candidly while they’re getting caught up with whatever they’re doing. If people don’t know their pictures are being taken, they are vulnerable and honest. Even though some flaws are in display, the fact that the photo is sincere, just makes it more beautiful.