Why am I interested in Blogging and Photography? Find out how?

by: Engr. Bonzenti R. Panganiban, CE, REA, REB
Posted: October 24, 2010, 8:00 p.m.

Why am I interested in Blogging and Photography?

Way back in 1995, as an appraiser, when we have fieldwork to do like property ocular inspection, we have to bring along with us a camera, loaded with a 36 shots colored film. Good thing that time, our company issued a "branded" camera. It's black in color.

We need to take pictures every time we have ocular site inspection on offered collateral, to document our travel since it is our company's policy that we have to take some shots as proof of the physical condition of the property.

Photography for me before is not a big deal. I do not mind what position I may take every time I took some shots. I only cared about that I am packed with a basic idea on how to balance the subject, no extra movements when clicking the shutter button and, then "presto", the shot is done.

I do not mind the result, after all, because its just a property and a bank collateral. That's what a mind set I have before.

There was one time, I visited my "Lolo" in Cagayan de Oro, 2 years before he died. He was bed ridden that time. He can't stand with his own but with the assistance of my auntie just to get up. Though he was a stroke patient, he can still talk a little but with a twirling tongue because of affected spot of his brain, the speech center.

When he asked my auntie to get him up and get his wallet. I never had in mind what was in his thoughts that time. After my auntie got the wallet, my "Lolo" got something from it. I thought at first, it was money and he wanted to buy something. But at my surprise, it was an old photo of a man cuddling a little child. He showed it to me and smiled. That man is him, and the child is me.

Me (@ 2-3 months old) and my lolo.

I cant explain that moment. I cant even talked to him when he handed it to me this picture. I just said the magic word, "Thank you papa, for keeping it". All of us his grandchildren fondly called him as papa, instead of lolo.

I am his eldest grandson. He had more than 10 grandchildren. He loved us so much, but I haven't got a chance to ask him, why he kept that lone picture in his wallet? What I had in mind right now is that, he did not only valued that picture, but also the precious moment and the feeling of joy he had when I was born as his first grandchild.

This picture was in his wallet for more than 30 years. My "lola" only gave it to me after my "Lolo" died in 2002.

I am not talking about nostalgic moments here. All I wanted to drive you at, is the value of that photo. My lolo kept that photo for more than 30 years and was only gave it to me after he died. Imagine what a photo can do to a life of a person? Or maybe to us? How do we valued our loved ones? Especially our children, aside from providing all the things in life. Love, attention, care, education, exposure, discipline and so on. We can give that to our children but the greatest of them all is love.

What I am pointing here is the value of a photo to us. It is said that photos can speak a thousand words. It transcends above thoughts its value. My wife kept this photo since 2002. How old now is the photo? It is more than 40 years. ----I can conclude now that a single photo shot, could bring to us all the memorable moments we had with the one who keep it.

Here's one photo which I never expect that it is similar to the position on what my lolo did when he cuddled me. My wife kept this photo in a scrap book. Isnt it cute? ME or the Baby? No, I am just joking.

This is (cute) me and my (cute) son.

It is indeed at this point that I am more interested in photography, because of that thousand words that could be spoken in that photo or maybe the value of it to the one who keep it. Like what my lolo did with our picture.

I do not have a formal education in photography. I just only discovered it that I have a talent on it. Meron ba? One example, is that, I can even interpret an abstract paintings in my own views.

Much more advantage that I have now a digi-cam which I can now use it in my journey in exploring the world of photography. Much more now that I have a passion and love in photography.

This is indeed the reason why I am now interested in Photography and blogging. The VALUE OF A SINGLE PHOTO for US.

...........Photography as my other profession. Amateur nga laang. Ika nga nila,

"In a journey of a thousand miles, it always starts in a single step"--and of course, with patience.