Philippines: Portraits from Bohol

Hi everyone. My ability to blog during this trip has been limited, mostly because this is my first official photo tour here. Although I scouted this trip two times, I still feel a responsibility to double and triple check things, to ensure that everything goes smoothly. I find myself spending an inordinate amount of time making specific notes, so that next year I’ll remember things, like the exact time and location of exceptional lighting conditions in the marketplaces, or how long it takes to get from the Loboc river to the old church, for example. So, I guess what I’m trying to say is, that I have not had a lot of time to concentrate on my own personal photos, or on this blog. Excuses, excuses….I know, but I’ll just drop a few portraits here for today, and hope that you enjoy them, and that you’ll be encouraged to find out more about this wonderful place called the Philippines.

One final note for today…this morning we were photographing in an area where virtually no tourists stop, and as I was so warmly greeted at every turn, I couldn’t help but think to myself, that I genuinely love this country. The Philippines is truly one of the most fantastic photo destinations on the planet, mostly due to the people here, who are so incredibly friendly, welcoming and willing for a group of foreigners to come along and get a glimpse into their everyday lives.

The child in the above image, and the two images below, was on the beach near our hotel. She was collecting snails. I asked her a few questions, engaging her in conversation long enough to capture a few photos of her sitting with a friend. I often find a subject and shoot multiple frames, looking for just the right expression or emotion. During the course of my photo tour, I encourage participants to do the same. I believe that it often creates better results, than grabbing just a single shot and hoping that it will be the “right one”.

Just a bit about the island of Bohol:

Bohol is an island province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, consisting of Bohol Island and 75 minor surrounding islands. Its capital is Tagbilaran City. With a land area of 4,117.26 square kilometers, Bohol is the tenth largest island of the Philippines. To the west of Bohol is Cebu, to the northeast is the island of Leyte and to the south, across the Bohol Sea is Mindanao.

Bohol is becoming a popular tourist destination, with Filipino’s and foreigners. The Chocolate Hills, numerous mounds of limestone formation, is the most popular attraction, while Panglao Island, located just southwest of Tagbilaran City, is famous for its diving and white sand beaches. The Philippine Tarsier, considered the second-smallest primate in the world, is indigenous to the island.

Boholanos refer to their island homeland as the “Republic of Bohol” with both conviction and pride. A narrow strait separates the island of Cebu and Bohol and both share a common language, but the Boholanos retain a conscious distinction from the Cebuanos.

Bohol’s climate is generally dry, with maximum rainfall between the months of June and October. The interior is cooler than the coast.