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

Looking at these three photos together, I think they show different sides of how I see things. There are definitely things I could improve on. Such as better lighting, cleaner composition, learning how to color grade, maybe more control over framing, but I think these images are honest. They capture what I saw and how I felt in those moments, and that’s what matters to me. I’ll keep shooting, keep experimenting, and keep looking for the next interesting scene.

📍October 24, 2024 | 🕰️ 4:53 PM

1. Central, Hong Kong – the Cityscape

I took this photo during my trip to Hong Kong last year while riding a bus through Central. I remember being fascinated by the towering buildings and the way everything felt so fast-moving. It was my first time going abroad and I must admit I was immediately reminded of how left behind our country is.

Shooting from a moving bus wasn’t easy. I had to work with the reflections from the window and the fact that everything was rushing past me. But I think that’s what makes this photo interesting. By this time, I had not yet learned how to use my mirrorless camera and was still capturing images with the automatic setting on. It’s not a perfectly planned shot but I think it captures the beauty of Hong Kong's towering heights.

If I could improve anything, maybe I would have adjusted the angle slightly to make the composition cleaner. But considering the constraints, I think it still does a good job of capturing the vibe of "fast and always-moving."

2. Manila Cathedral, Intramuros – Historic

This one was taken in Intramuros last year, at the Manila Cathedral. I was drawn to the architecture especially since it was my first time visiting Intramuros. All the intricate details make the cathedral feel so historic. There’s something about old buildings like this that really makes you feel the weight of time, and all of the hundreds of years of hardships, memories, and experiences this building has witnessed. It's a little crazy to think about.

The empty sky gives the image a bit of a somber mood, which I think actually works well. It makes the cathedral feel even more timeless, like it has stood there unchanged for centuries. I like how the composition and colors turned out.

📍July 14, 2024 | 🕰️ 5:25 PM

l appreciate the natural and unfiltered feel of the shot. It’s not trying too hard, it’s just capturing the moment as it was.

📍January 22, 2025 | 🕰️ 10:23 AM

I've been trying to feed these birds for a while now, however streaks of bad luck has come upon me. (Food bowl falling from my window down to the 1st floor, or ants eating it instead of the birds)

3. Birds from my view – a Moment

This one is probably the most personal of the three. I took it from my bed just a few hours after I woke up as I was looking out my window. It’s such a simple scene, just a few birds perched on the metal beams outside, but something about it felt worth capturing. Maybe it was my fondness of wildlife, or thinking about how these wild and free birds have to coexist now with us humans. From perching on tree branches, now to scalding hot roofs (which is really sad).

I even joked around with my trio friend group that it's us as birds in our next life.

What I like about this shot is how quiet it feels. It’s just a small moment from my daily life. The custom film recipe I used makes it feel a bit nostalgic, almost like a memory rather than just a photo.

My Camera Info

Camera: Fujifilm X-T100

Lens: Kit Lens XC15-45mmF3.5-5.6 OIS PZ

APS-C CMOS Sensor, ISO 51200*1

Janna Arielle M. Sigua

jmsigua2@up.edu.ph

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