MY SARISARI STORE

Wide Open Workshops.

The worst thing is to feel that as a photographer I am benefiting from someone else's tragedy. This idea haunts me. It's something I have to reckon with every day because I know that if I ever allowed genuine compassion to be overtaken by personal ambition, I will have sold my soul. The only way I can justify my role is to have respect for the other person's predicament. The extent to which I do that is the extent to which I become accepted by the other; and to that extent, I can accept myself. 

- James Nachtwey -

Leanne Jazul.

It's more difficult to get publications to focus on issues that are more critical, that do not provide people with an escape from reality but attempt to get them deeper into reality. To be concerned about something much greater than themselves. And I think people are concerned. I think quite often, publishers don't give their audience enough credit for that. In fact, at the end of the day, I believe people do want to know when there's some major tragedy going on; when there's some unacceptable situation happening in this world. And they want something done about it. That's what I believe. We must look at it. We're required to look at it. We're required to do what we can about it. If we don't, who will? 

- James Nachtwey -

Leanne Jazul.

My work is nothing more than the visual diary of a very long walk.

- Andrew Stark -

   

Wide Open Workshops.

Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter.

- Ansel Adams -

 

Every time someone tells me how sharp my photos are, I assume that it isn't a very interesting photograph.  If it were, they would have more to say.

- Author Unknown -

The goal is not to change your subjects, but for the subject to change the photographer.

- Author Unknown -

 

One photo out of focus is a mistake, ten photo out of focus are an experimentation, one hundred photo out of focus are a style.

- Author Unknown -

 

 

Wide Open Workshops.

Photography records the gamut of feelings written on the human face, the beauty of the earth and skies that man has inherited, and the wealth and confusion man has created.  It is a major force in explaining man to man.

- Edward Steichen -

 

I just think it's important to be direct and honest with people about why you're photographing them and what you're doing.  After all, you are taking some of their soul.

- Mary Ellen Mark -

 

 

Wide Open Workshops.

I think a photography class should be a requirement in all educational programs because it makes you see the world rather than just look at it.

- Author Unknown -

 

J.a. Santos and Rick Rocamora.

The world just does not fit conveniently into the format of a 35mm camera.

- W. Eugene Smith -

 

The creative act lasts but a brief moment, a lightning instant of give-and-take, just long enough for you to level the camera and to trap the fleeting prey in your little box. 

- Henri Cartier-Bresson -

Luis Liwanag.

The best way I know to discover a new place is through the protection of the lens, armed with a smile, and a good pair of sandals.

- Brandon Hoover - 

Rick Rocamora.

Actually, I'm not all that interested in the subject of photography.  Once the picture is in the box, I'm not all that interested in what happens next.  Hunters, after all, aren't cooks.

- Henri Cartier-Bresson -

 

J.a. Santos. 
   

Wide Open Workshops.

I always get anxious when people ask me to write about my photography. I didn't get into making pictures so I could write. If I wanted to write I would have become an author. I like creating myths with my pictures. I want people to think about them, create their own stories about the subject and even wonder about the photographer.

A photograph is one big lie. The more I talk about it, the more exposed that lie becomes. I know a good picture when I see it, not when I read about it.

- Noah Kalina -

 

 

 

 
 

Wide Open Workshops.

For what does a street photographer do but walk and watch and wait and talk, and then watch and wait some more, trying to remain confident that the unexpected, the unknown, or the secret heart of the known awaits just around the corner

- Alex Webb -

 

 

 

 

It's marvellous, marvellous! Nothing will ever be as much fun. I'm going to photograph everything, everything!

- Jacques-Henri Lartigue -

 

 
 

Wide Open Workshops.

Disciple art of walking and wondering. It is not that you just drive along, jump out of the car and take a picture and get back to the car. It is really about walking and feeling the situation. How do you enter the situation. Some situations you get comfortable just walking right in. Others you have to sort of dance around the edge and come in here. The whole sense of the process, a rhythm of the process. The process of going back to a place. The process of learning about a place.

- Alex Webb -

 

 

Photographers sometimes take pictures of each other; occasionally they they take pictures of each other at work; more usually they take photographs - or versions - of each other's work. Consciously or not they are constantly in dialogue with their contemporaries and predecessors.

- Geoff Dyer -

J.a. Santos

 

Leanne Jazul and Luis Liwanag.

Luis Liwanag and J.a. Santos.

Wide Open Workshops.

Develop interest in life as you see it; in people, things, literature, music - the world is so rich, simply throbbing with rich treasures, beautiful souls and interesting people. Forget yourself.

- Henry Miller -

 

 

 
 

Wide Open Workshops.

Wide Open Workshops is a two day photo walk organized by Luis Liwanag and Leanne Jazul. For this particular workshop it doesn’t matter if you are a newbie or an experienced photographer and it doesn’t matter if you have a cheap camera or an expensive DSLR. What really matters is the level of passion you bring into the workshop. The photo walk is a stimulating exchange of ideas between likeminded people about street photography in general and what makes a good picture in particular. 

Luis and Leanne don’t impose their views about photography. In fact they will let you lose in the streets of Manila for several hours and ask you to come back with your best shots. After an excellent lunch that is included in the workshop fee you will be able to discuss your pictures with all the participants. 

Before you hit the streets Luis and Leanne will show you some pictures and discuss which elements make those pictures strong (composition, balancing elements, leading lines, symmetry and patterns, viewpoint, background, depth of field, etc).

What makes the workshop even more stimulating are the “guest photographers” who are joining the workshop while you are shooting in the streets. It is interesting to see the shooting style of all those different photographers. On the second day we were lucky to get the company of Rick Rocamora a multi awarded Filipino photographer. It was funny to see how Rick Rocamora was able to make instant connections with people he met in the streets and how he made them comfortable before starting to shoot. Rick is a great guy, willing to share his knowledge and experience with all the participants. Meeting him was one of the highlights of the workshop. 

The second day is build on the same pattern as the first but you now have the possibility to try out the stuff you have learned during the workshop.

I really recommend this workshop to anybody who is based in Manila. The price hardly covers the meals, the transport, the snacks and the drinks. I understood from Luis Liwanag that they are not after the money but that they just enjoy sharing their passion for photography.

I personally learned a lot and I will for sure drop by again in one of their workshops.   

In this short photo series I will post some of my pictures I took during the workshop. It is in no way an example of great street photography. It is just what I shoot during those two days.

For updates of the workshop you can join the facebook page of Wide Open Workshops or contact Luis through following email address wideopenworkshops [at] gmail.com

 

Luis Liwanag.

 

Luis liwanag, Leanne Jazul and J.a. Santos.

Leanne Jazul, J.a. Santos and Luis Liwanag. 

Luis Liwanag.