hi guys,

i went to the ifugao province on a three day trek with several hobbyists and pro photographers. i never expected to use my tele that much as i've been used to doing landscapes with my 17-40. but i found myself using my 70-200 for 90% of the time. here's why...

#1
http://www.pbase.com/pointandshoot/image/65248504/original.jpg

#2
http://www.pbase.com/pointandshoot/image/65249215/original.jpg

#3
http://www.pbase.com/pointandshoot/image/65249461/original.jpg

#4
http://www.pbase.com/pointandshoot/image/65249670/original.jpg

i have to thank noli gabilo for giving me a few tips when i shot this series... "meter for the lighted area and then underexpose by a couple of stops..." to get that light and shadow effect. noli, thanks! : )

i'll upload some more when i get the chance.

thanks for looking : )

Nice series Raul. :)

I love the angle and exposure of #3 and #4.

Edlin, thanks dude :)

where in banaue did you go sir? did you do the village-to-village hike (bangaan-batad-cambulo-pula circuit)?

some of the best rice terraces photos ive thus seen so far... the chiaroscuro is fantastic. yup, thats the best way to shoot these terraces...spot meter and underexpose...

congratulatons! nice photos!

Thanks for sharing Raul... Good proof to show that a telephoto lens can be used for landscape portraiture as well... :)

hi jay,

thanks for the comments. if i'm not mistaken... banaue-batad-banaue-hungduan. we spent one night in batad and another in banaue. not exactly your average trek. the whole thing was organized by bobby wong and noli gabilo. these guys are the best. super planchado yung trip. it was a combo of bus, jeep, and hikes with several porters in tow.

let's dispense with the "sir". bata pa ko. 17 lang ako. 17 years na nagtratrabaho. hahaha!!!

raul

hi earl, i realized that during the trip. quite new to these things at a little under a year of photographic experience. if you're doing landscape, you gotta have tele! thanks for the comments :)

hi jay,

thanks for the comments. if i'm not mistaken... banaue-batad-banaue-hungduan. we spent one night in batad and another in banaue. not exactly your average trek. the whole thing was organized by bobby wong and noli gabilo. these guys are the best. super planchado yung trip. it was a combo of bus, jeep, and hikes with several porters in tow.

let's dispense with the "sir". bata pa ko. 17 lang ako. 17 years na nagtratrabaho. hahaha!!!

raul

i see. teka, any tappia falls pics?

batad is such a spectacular place. as well as the hungduan chain of terraces...especially now at harvesting season na...green na green na ba ang terraces? when i visited it (en route from mt. napulauan) last year, it was barren...

im gonna try and organize a trek through the back villages this november. 3-day hike through some of the really traditional ifugao villages...like pula...as in huts pa rin mga bahay nila dun...

nonetheless, i really love your photos of one of my favorite places. :)

raul your pics are amazing. i love how you got the greens. from where im looking it looks like its going to pop out of the screen

Lovely! Lovely!

The depth is amazing. It looks as if I'm there.

I've gotta remember this (using my 70-200) as I would've also shot it ultrawide.

beautiful. same reaction as dave... landscapes using 70-200... wow! excellent composition and capture!

hi jay - we were going to do tappia falls but halfway through the trek, we realized we didn't have enough ooomph to proceed. it was raining, the tracks were wet, and we were already tired. if we had another night to spend in batad, we definitely would've pushed through. glad the you liked the pics :)

hi carlo - thanks! i tried to make the lighted areas pop out by underexposing the shot more than the usual. not exactly everyone's cup of tea but it floats my boat. nice to know that you liked it as well :)

dave! thanks. with your 2.8, i'm sure it's going to be fantastic!

hi chewy, thanks for the comments. will post some more : )

very nice work. i love the way you play with the shadows and highlights. neat!!

just like you i used to think of only wide angle shots when i do travel photography... and similarly now my tele gets much of the action too :) .

nice series. thanks for sharing.

this one was divine providence. it's not every day that the heavens would open up just enough to let that ray of light streak down through the steps and onto the houses below...
http://www.pbase.com/pointandshoot/image/65507337/original.jpg

their local version of the scarecrow. third world style. hey, there's not enough rice to go around so this one's an emaciated version. hehehe.
http://www.pbase.com/pointandshoot/image/65624857/original.jpg

i call this trinity for obvious reasons. aside from the "do re mi" effect, the colors is what's really amazing. shot at 6:31 pm...
http://www.pbase.com/pointandshoot/image/65573193/original.jpg

and then three minutes later, from an orangey/violet hue to just, well, violet...
http://www.pbase.com/pointandshoot/image/65573922/original.jpg

thanks for looking.

bro, fantastic series! the one with the sunrays is the best for me.

ilang GB naubos mo for this photo opp?

Excellent shots Raul. Now I want to go to Banaue!!!

hi mykl, believe it or not, konti lang. under 4gb.

chuck, thanks :)

Nothing like fog to add some texture to break the monotony of greens and yellows...

http://www.pbase.com/pointandshoot/image/65574911/original.jpg

:)

Nice series of photos! I especially like the first batch you posted, the play of light and shadow. :)

@ Raul

Nice captures... love your tele shots.. post some more.. :)

Hi Rosalie/Joel, thanks for the comments. Will post a few more on the "portrait" forum using my 70-200 as well. The facial landscapes are just as fascinating.

raul,

nice captures!! i also like the first batch the most! nice composition and good shadow effects.

vernes

Raul,

Awesome! I really like those pics.

Sidney
http://my_sarisari_store.typepad.com/

These are really great landscapes Raul!

vernes/sidney/tj, thanks for the comments :)

Not exactly pj, pero not exactly portraiture... so I'll just post it here instead.

Initially nothing fantastic, just a bunch of kids resting on sacks of rice...
http://www.pbase.com/pointandshoot/image/65517351/original.jpg

... that we didn't realize they will actually carry on their shoulders, two at a time, to what seems to be "just around the corner" for them...
http://www.pbase.com/pointandshoot/image/65517765/original.jpg

pardon the blurry shot on the first one. it was my first time to handle a leica summicron and i only got the focusing right by the time they were carrying off the sacks.

Raul,
Very nice series......I enjoyed browsing them in your PBASE account. Wish I was there also.

Ed

hi raul!

i am soooo amazed with your pics! when i viewed them, i felt like i was actually in banaue! i get this feeling that i'm exactly in the picture. really cool shots!

george

Hi Ed, George, glad you liked my photos.

Here's a few more...

This kid was quite elusive. Didn't really liked to be photographed. I nicknamed him the "Golden Child" because he reminds me of that boy from that Eddie Murphy movie. And, yes, he actually has a pony tail...
http://www.pbase.com/pointandshoot/image/65516968/original.jpg

These kids just got back from school. At first they didn't want to pose for the cam but when I took their photo and showed it to them, they started messing around, showing me their pet kitty. The boy on the right was a bit camera shy and was pointing at his brother for me to photograph instead...
http://www.pbase.com/pointandshoot/image/65512581/original.jpg

Her name is Vizier (that's really her name). Grander than your usual "Vizier", of course, as her eyes and overall cuteness are quite endearing. This is how the kids of this age here look like... nice golden brown complexion, beautiful set of eyes, and a general aura of innocence that's just a bit different than city-bred kids. Of course, trust these bunch of idiots from Manila to corrupt them with treats. Hehehe
http://www.pbase.com/pointandshoot/image/65512591/original.jpg

All shot with the 70-200 F4.

A few more shots to come. Or if you can't wait, please visit my pbase gallery (pointandshoot).

Have a good weekend and thanks for looking.

Raul

two reasons for telephoto lenses...

this guy didn't seem like he was in a very sociable mood, so i tried hard to discreetly snap a photo. don't ask me what he was doing at that time. i wasn't interested in becoming a part of his "work"...
http://www.pbase.com/pointandshoot/image/65512576/original.jpg

I was using the long end of my 70-200 and snapped this one real quick. I just saw this old lady taking a rest. After checking my quick snap, I looked down to check her out but she was gone in a flash. You'd be amazed at how nimble the older set is in these parts. They're more fit than the average city-bred 30 year old. And, no, that's not an ipod she's holding :p
http://www.pbase.com/pointandshoot/image/65512743/original.jpg

This guy can pose... That's because he's an ex-mayor turned local store owner. After having lunch with them, I pointed at my cam to ask if I can take his photo. It must be second nature to him as he instantly stopped goofing around and gave me this serious pose. Amazing, eh? This fellow's quite friendly in a sincere way and I must give his wife top marks for a sumptuous lunch of fish and veggies
http://www.pbase.com/pointandshoot/image/65518086/original.jpg

Well, that's it for now.

Hope you folks enjoyed the series. 'Til the next adventure :)

Raul

very nice photos!
i wish i could have taken similar pics when i had the chance to visit banaue last year.

Raul, nice grand finale... :) 'Appreciate the captions as well! Brava'! :)

hi cindy/earl, thanks for the comments. i'd go back to this place in a heartbeat. the everchanging moods of the ifugao landscape is quite fascinating. you guys should go visit while it's still there : )

hi cindy/earl, thanks for the comments. i'd go back to this place in a heartbeat. the everchanging moods of the ifugao landscape is quite fascinating. you guys should go visit while it's still there : )

If I may ask, what's the best way to get there from Metro Manila? Will be going back to the PI in March and Banaue and Batanes are on top of my list to visit.

If I may ask, what's the best way to get there from Metro Manila? Will be going back to the PI in March and Banaue and Batanes are on top of my list to visit.

autobus transport (station in sampaloc, along espana, near UST) has a daily bus to banaue. leaves at 10pm every night. expect to arrive around 7am the following day in banaue. fare nowadays is P462.

meron ding cable tours (in trinity college) that goes to bontoc and passes through banaue. it leaves at 8pm naman. sorry but my info about this is sketchy.

yep, jay's reply is right on the money :)

excellent images raul! both the landscapes and portraits are very well done.

thanks, bernard :)

love the portraits bro!

hey, thanks, mykl!