MMS 173 Assignment 1: Knowing Where I'm At (Part 1)

Sorsogon, Bicol (2019)

I took this photo during our vacation in my grandfather's hometown (on my mother's side) in Sorsogon, Bicol, in 2019. It was my third time visiting, with my first trip being in 2014. I love exploring the town because my heart fills with curiosity whenever my mother shares stories about her childhood in Bicol. It feels like revisiting the past, allowing me to imagine what it was like to live there.

This was taken at a relative's house in Bicol, where they have a lot of plants and flowers in their backyard. I was in awe looking at them, as I love nature and scenic views. I find them beautiful and refreshing to look at. That's why I believe the photo is good. Technically, I like how it ended up to be a high-quality photo despite being taken with an old phone. I really appreciate how the background enhances the image and keeps it from being bland. In addition, the sunlight peeking through the fence adds to the photo's ethereal ambiance.

Sta. Rosa, Laguna (2017)

I captured this image on our field trip to Enchanted Kingdom when I was in grade 7; we were having fun for a bit before we went home. I took a lot of pictures after that, but this one still makes me feel something. That's why I think this photo is a good one, despite the low quality since I used my old phone.

Looking at this photo feels nostalgic and makes me remember the flow of time. I deeply resonated with this photo on how people in my life move forward, separate ways, and meet new people. Observing the changes around me is something that I've always been doing. It also saddens me the fact that everyone in my life is changing while I am here, stuck in stillness. I've always found "change" frightening because there are things in my life that I can't seem to let go of—perhaps due to my sentimental nature.

The girl in this photo is an old friend I haven't talked to in a very long time. In this image, I see myself in her—watching the people around me move forward while I stand still, merely observing. I also appreciate how I captured this moment at night, as the surrounding darkness represents loneliness, a feeling I deeply relate to. It embodies the sense of being left behind, the fear of change, and the difficult choice of letting go.

Sta. Maria, Bulacan (2019)

As you can see, this is a photo of a water puddle with the camera focused on its reflection. I used a digital camera (if I remember correctly, it was a Canon PowerShot with 16 megapixels—I forgot the exact model) while practicing photojournalism again in high school. I took this particular photo just for fun. It had rained a lot that day, and when the downpour stopped, I took a moment to explore our school's quadrangle to continue my training.

I like how this photo turned out especially because I can see the sky and trees reflected on the water's surface. I've been taking shots like this since elementary school, during my first week of learning photojournalism. Seeing the water puddle gave me a sudden urge to do it again. It feels nostalgic and brings me joy.

It's also fun listening to some people who saw this image initially thought I had captured the sky and trees. But as they stared at it, they realized it was just a reflection, which made me feel that this photo was a good one. I also like how nature managed to capture its beauty on its own. It feels calming and serene to look at, with a mix of cool green and blue tones.

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