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my nineteenth birthday ✷ february 2022, home

taken on my friend’s camera

hi there, and welcome to my little corner of the internet! i started this blog to document my growth in photography and visual design. kind of like a visual diary where i can look back and see how far i've come (and maybe cringe a little later on, in a good way).

i haven’t really found any recent photos of myself that feel like they belong here just yet. so for now, here’s something from three years ago. it was my nineteenth birthday, spent at home, nothing fancy. just soft light, maybe a bit of silence, and the quiet thrill of closer to achieving my twentieth year of existence. my face hasn’t changed all that much since then, but i like to think time has shaped it differently. not in the obvious ways, but in how i look at the camera now, how i sit with myself, how i hold a bit more of the world in my eyes.

in this blog, i’m trying to reach for the kind of excellence photojournalists are known for. i don’t really have the gear, the training, or even the consistency, but doing this as a passion project has made me better. it’s taught me how to pay attention, how to frame feeling, how to find something worth capturing even in the quietest moments.

i love taking pictures of myself and editing them later, it’s become a kind of self-portrait ritual. lately i’ve been lucky enough to have a new camera and a phone that actually does well in low light. i have a lightroom subscription, a beep card, and a dream, and for now, that feels like more than enough.

me w cyrah ✷ april 2025

i’ve been friends with cyrah since my first year in college. one of the first people i met in the publication. she stood out to me immediately: strikingly short hair, camera always in hand, and a kind of confidence i quietly admired. she was always covering events left and right, and i looked up to her even more when she fearlessly documented mobilizations. her photos were always sharp, always moving.

we’ve been through a lot together—the kind of chaos that only makes sense in our uni’s media house. now that she’s graduating, i’m feeling all kinds of things. i’ll miss her steady presence, her banger pics, and all the moments in between :)

lsdc’s emerald stage ✷ june 2024

one of my favorite media covers! taking photos of dancers—capturing all those movements—was a bit of a challenge for me. adjusting everything according to the lighting of each performance kept me on my toes. big thanks to kuya adrian, my senior, who helped me fine-tune everything through the lens :)

post-processing was a hassle, especially with the number of pictures i had to go through. after the concert, i still partied, and when i got home, i went tirelessly went straight to editing (you have to imagine the sleep i had after editing all of those)

june 2024 ✷ animo pride concert, dlsu manila

taken on nikon d7300 (forgot what lens)

one of my best and favorite events i’ve had the chance to cover. front row at the animo pride concert, and i was just starstruck. everything about this event felt special, from the energy in the room to the incredible performers on stage. i’m still in awe just thinking about it!!!

the drag queens were absolutely stunning. marina summers, taylor sheesh, ms. jade so, and so many more. each one brought their own unique magic, and the crowd couldn’t get enough. seeing them perform live, so close, was surreal. i could feel the passion and pride in every movement. honestly, it was one of those moments that makes you remember why you love what you do. :”)

my gf ✷ may 2025, qc

taken on my phone

today, i took photos of my girlfriend after her first-ever photoshoot for her upcoming dance concert with her new group! she looked so cool, i kept telling her how good she looked, especially with her hair all styled and flowing just right. she has this quiet kind of glow that always shines through.

i tried editing one of the shots on lightroom, playing around with a pinterest-inspired look i've been wanting to try. it's not perfect, but it felt right to begin this style with something (and someone) that makes me feel inspired.