Dead poets and photographs from the soul

In the movie Dead Poets Society, Robin Williams’ character John Keating addresses his class, “Sucking the marrow out of life doesn't mean choking on the bone.”

One of my favorite subjects was poetry and I did write a fair amount of them when I was younger. And what Keating meant was to make the most out of life and not get bogged down with its myriad problems. It’s a creed I have tried to live by for quite some time now.

In trying to write stories – and take photographs – I try to get the most out of a situation. To tell the stories behind what goes on rather than concentrate on stats that while we gloss over, we forget the day after.

When I cannot take photos, I usually work with a few others who look at pictures and life in the same way I do. There are a couple of excellent guys – Aaron Vicencio and Scott Kho – whose work I do admire and it’s been a pleasure to work with them. There are others of course, Bien Bautista is one. Ryan Agoncillo is another. I’ve had the opportunity to work with the latter two during the Remember the Titans photography exhibit sponsored by San Miguel Corporation years ago. I had quite a few photos there that were exhibited (with one of them stolen by another photographer – who should be flogged -- who had Toni Leviste pose in the same manner with the same layout). The style I espouse is have tried to pass on to a few others – my students, my OJTs, and those who attend the seminars I am invited to speak at.

Brosi Gonzales is another dude I enjoy working with. Ever since I saw those awesome shots of Perf de Castro and Cooky Chua (then with Color It Red), I knew he was someone I can work with. We’ve worked a lot as a team in the past year learning from one another (since I shoot pics myself but am nowhere as good yet as the others). I usually do not post his best photos out of fear that others may unjustly use them for the publications. Yep, one big metro daily even stole one of my photos (they have no shame and they do it a lot).

I am posting two of his photos here – one by last year’s UP courtside reporter Riki Flores and former Ateneo women’s football player Cristina Garcia who worked with the team’s coaching staff this year.

In Flores’ photo, it was snapped during a lull of her report. It says a lot about her effervescence. In the latter photo of Garcia, she was praying right before the match with La Salle. There was that quiet intensity she brought with her every time she was on the field. And even off it, she showed it.

Thanks, Brosi for the idea of sharing these simple thoughts.