Lovelier

This angel was taken at the Ermita Church. It's a bass relief holding a holy water font.

My interest in photography was influenced by many people. First and foremost was the late Rolando Ferrer Managing Editor of the Adamson Chronicle who was using a Nikon F which made me realize that my Canon rangefinder was not all that good for serious photography. I was amazed by how much Lando knew about the Nikon system so much so that I promised to get myself a Nikon. I have a high regard for this guy and I was influenced pretty much by the things he liked: writing, shooting photos and drinking beer. He rides a motorcycle but that was one item I stayed away from.

I did get a Nikon F photomic and one of those flash bulbs with the rechargeable battery that looks like a lady’s bag. I guess it really does not matter how dumb you are. As long as you have a good camera, you catch the attention if not the respect of others with less impressive equipment. Bert Santos, a commercial photographer using the Roleiflex twin lens became my friend and did the coverage for my wedding.

I stocked up on Nikor lenses, a 35 wide angle and a 135 telephoto. Had I known better, I would have gotten a 28 and a 105. I also got an enlarger and converted my bathroom into a dark room. I met more photographers, the ones who took up fine arts like Cesar Queaño, Nelson Rivera and Manny Santos when I worked with Freddy Ong doing advertising and promotion for Caterpillar Diesel Engines. It was then that I realized that I will stay in the little league when it comes to photography. I used to be Mr. Shoot during family affairs but that dwindled. Somehow, my wife got the hang of it as she became adviser of the school’s photography club.

All these happened many decades ago until the other Christmas, my daughter gave me one of those digital cameras. Nice present, I thought but my son started using it and even pawned it a few times so I never got to using it.

One day, I decided I will shoot again. I realize that I will have to update myself with present day technology. And so here I am, fumbling around with this Casio (camera? I always thought they were calculators).

Never mind if the photos are blurred, if the composition is bad and whatever… my eye sight is bad anyway… but that song is correct! Love is lovelier the second time around.