06/10/2026
THE CLUELESS SAVIOR |
Another year, another Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk. I've been doing this for the past... (let me count).. 17 years (16 not counting the pandemic-stricken 2021). I always love to go, because this is the one time in the year that I am forced to explore the streets. Trust me, though, I enjoy being forced. 😅
The excitement feels the same. The curiosity to explore hasn't changed. What has changed, I say in protest, is the heat these days. Why does it feel like a summer afternoon on an October morning, at 7:30AM?? 🔥🥵
I decided to concentrate on one area, a good five kilometers from the photowalk meetup location to minimize the chances of having similar shots with co-participants. 40 minutes later and my arms being two stops darker, I felt it was time to retreat to our post-walk coffee hangout. While driving to the cafe, I glanced upon this view - obscured by trees - and had to turn back. There was something there, a potential keeper shot, that I couldn't pass up. So I parked roadside and walked right up to the edge of the riverbank (thankfully there was a narrow concrete pathway).
Obviously the trees and reflection were beautiful. But it felt incomplete. I wish the sky and sunlight were dramatic. They weren't. I wish there was a small boat passing by. There was none, and it looked like nobody crossed this waterway via that mode. I wish there was something else to serve as foreground anchor, like ducks swimming or kids taking a dip. Couldn't spot any. I stayed here for about 15 minutes - even had a cyclist friend pass by and call me from afar to strike up a quick chat. Only after saying goodbye to him that it suddenly crossed my mind : sana sinabihan ko siya na dumaan doon sa road para siya 'yung maging human element ko! 😅 But it was too late. So I kept on waiting for a "savior", an element that would make my composition complete. Cars drove by. Trikes. Trucks. Boring. A horse-drawn calesa came into the picture.. but going in the opposite direction. Looked awkward.
Then finally, a cyclist! Like a knight in shining armor. But then I wished he wore striking red or yellow or even orange, or his bike was that color. I wished he had company, like they were a pack of bikers barreling through the road. Naaah.
Too many "sana" before I realized, hey, I should be thankful he saved my frame and my skin from additional sunburn. Packed my camera, got out of there and I was in the cafe in 10 minutes flat.
Some days we're not going to get that lucky. Take the shot anyway and call it a day. Tapos magkape na lang tayo. Okay lang 'yun! 😊☕️
Till next year, Scott Kelby and friends! 📷👣
(Bustos, Bulacan | October 2026)
