Some photos were shot without really thinking much about anything beyond composition, and these are the ones I shot in grayscale (via the Film Grain mode on my camera). I wasn’t quite content with how they turned out after scaling them down for the web, so I decided to add a Franco (yes, the band) album art-like hue to them, and the result was a bluish-purple outtake gallery. Here are a few of them:

"Apat Dapat."

"Akmang Mag-aahit ng Balbas."

"Felipe II."

"Biker."

"Sta. Cruz."

"Nagpapatrol."

"Lavverz."

Like a side trip, but not quite.

(More photos on Shootdelay.)

"Angels": Pictured here is the fountain in front of the Church of Sta. Cruz.

"Palace": Palacio del Gobernador near the Manila Cathedral.

"Pieta": The less-visible side of the cruceiro entering Intramuros.

Revisiting the Manila Cathedral was a significant part of the photowalk, as the last time I’ve been there was several years ago. Back then, I didn’t have a camera yet, but I was able to take measly one-megapixel photos of it from my old Zire 72. These photos were in grayscale, but thanks to the cathedral’s beauty, I felt like I was able to capture masterpieces and I walked away happy. On this trip, however, I have brought with me a couple of years’ worth of student savings in the form of my Lumix FZ28; I took more photos than the last time, and again, owing it to the cathedral’s architecture and age, I walked away happy.

"Dome": Part of the Manila Catheral.

I’ve taken shots along the Pasig River, around Intramuros, and other sidewalks until I felt like I’ve exhausted the beauty of the old city. However, the end of the Manila photowalk didn’t mark the end of my day; little did I know that I’d have the chance to go back to Roxas Boulevard after taking a short break at SM Mall of Asia.

"Boat Ride": Pasig River from below the Jones Bridge.

The Manila City Hall and its clock tower.

I had a lot of expectations on my way to Roxas Boulevard; unlike my November 2009 visit to the place, I felt like I was much better equipped this time (skill-wise and, well, I brought a tripod). I was wrong. I think I got better the past few months, but still, I wasn’t satisfied by the time I was done with taking photos. I still feel like I couldn’t make the most of the Manila Bay sunset, and I still think there’s a lot of room for improvement when it comes to selecting street-side subjects.

"Pasyal."

"Dance Class."

Roxas Boulevard looked busy, but really, it wasn't that day.

The sunset looked weird; very warm, but very weird.

I think I’ve learned a lot from the long day around the City of Manila; while friends were out of town, while my family stayed at home, and while Manila slept through a Saturday, I was out practicing with my camera. I think Michael Jordan taught me that.

(I’ve posted the rest of the photos here.)

Saint Joseph Shrine.

The second set of my Good Friday photos is sort of a compilation of outtakes from the final, more formal set. I’ve given them false color treatment, playing with contrasts on the red and blue channels to give them that unnatural (and as Jen says, “creepy”) feel. That “eerily religious” touch makes this set more interesting to me than the previous one, Grey Streets.

Rosaura.

I think that it’s partly the Holy Week’s point to call for individual contemplation, and while I do not actively participate in church activities, the gloomy mood wherever you go just pushes to do it voluntarily. I found mine in taking photos of people more into the season, and the grandeur of cathedrals built for the worship of God and not solely for personal achievement. It was strangely foreign to me, many of the images from that day; perhaps I’ve been away from these traditional practices for too long?

Not Here.

Gatbonton.

Survival of the Fiercest.

Come Into the Light.

Manood Mabugnot.

It was up to me to twist the colors a bit and emphasize the strangeness of the scenes around me last Friday, and I hoped that this set accomplished just that.

Uste.

As with the previous set, I’ve posted the entirety of this one on Shootdelay.

Here are some of my favorites from this Good Friday set:

Old Sofa.

Pasadabreak.

Cubao Cathedral.

Shrine of the Divine Word - Christ the King Seminary - Interior.

Tulak.

Yeah! Ako ay Isang Patalastas!

Takoyaki at Manny Villar.

I’ve posted the whole set here; I have three more sets from Good Friday which I’ll be posting on Shootdelay, as well.

Buwan.

Sad. On a day I’ve set for taking hundreds of photos around Metro Manila, my plans got screwed up and I was only able to take one photo, and that is of the moon outside our house. It was a very unproductive day.

EDSA Corner Ayala Avenue.

"Jeepney."

I started shooting along Marcos Highway (near home); I got this stupid idea to walk to the nearest Burger Machine, order a gazillion burgers, and use them as subjects for a long food article dedicated entirely to the popular burger joint’s menu. Good thing it rained, else I’d be giving away burgers to beggars along the highway.

"Of Minis, Lights, and Construction Sites."

I ran out of things to shoot, so I headed to a place I wouldn’t have to be scared about lugging around my camera and tripod: Bonifacio Global City. (It sucks being around where you work on a Sunday, but I’m here for something else: the street lights.)

"Orgasmic Fastfood."

"1-Utak."

"Yehey Commercialized na Tayo!"

From the hundreds of photos I took, I only uploaded thirty-one. And because I didn’t reach my quota (I wanted at least a hundred for the final cut), I think it would have been better if I just stayed in and slept the whole afternoon. Or better yet, I could have just bought a Bart Burger with Cheese from Burger Machine and posted a thousand-word blog entry about it. After all, it’s still my second favorite burger in the world, next to Wendy’s Bacon Mushroom Melt.