How does one prepare ones self for sub-freezing temperatures after years of living in the tropics? I thought I had been in cold weather before but that was until I went to Mongolia in the middle of winter. I'll never forget getting off the train in Mongolia and asking to myself, WTF am I doing here? It was like hitting a brick wall. I soon found out that there are different levels of cold. There's the cold that makes you feel alive, there's that taste of a cold beer running down the back of your throat on a hot summers day, there's cold days meant for brisk walks, then there's Mongolian cold: so cold that it hurts to breathe, instant brain freeze.
Polaroid Lift
In the days of analog, there was a process called Polaroid Lifts. The process involved shooting a single sheet of Polaroid film, as in this case, 4x5 Polaroid 59. After the Polaroid has cured you immerse the print in hot water until the top emulsion layer floats off its backing. Once the top layer is loose, it can be transferred and manipulated to a new surface receptor. This photo was from a series of musicians on behalf of Pulp magazine.
Bark Please
A few years back, I was asked to shoot people with their dogs on behalf of a dog food company. It was a great project and I had total freedom to shoot it anyway I wanted. These particular photos are 3 of my favorites.
When I walked into the house Tina Maristella and noticed it had this cool 70's vibe about it that brought back so many memories from my childhood but what makes this image so strong is the look on her face, the vertical lines of the wood panelling, her choice of clothes and the fact that the dog is looking away.
Tina Maristella
The image below of Bengy Today was another that just fell into place. I saw Bengy a couple of weeks previous to this photograph being made and asked him how long he planned to keep his beard. He informed me that he was going to shave it off soon so I asked him if he would mind keeping it until I took a photo of him and his dog. I asked him to wear all black and his leather jacket for a strong contrast to his dog Pablo. I think what makes this image work is a combination of Pablo's closed eyes, the black leather jacket, the beard, the glasses and Bengy's deadpan look to the camera.
Bengy Toda
When Mylene Dizon showed up at my studio with her dog, I remember her saying to me, "Tom, you have no idea how you want to photograph me and my dog, do you?" She was right. I then said to her all I know is that you will not be wearing any clothes. I then asked her to wrap her dog around her neck like a mink stole and once again, the dogs eyes being closed really helped make this image. I also like the look on Mylene with the slight smile and it didn't hurt having her half naked.
Mylene Dizon
Emails from Planet Fred
This was a very peculiar email I received from China:
Dear Sirs,
Very glad to know you on the internet.
Hope in future,we have chance to cooperate.
Any interesting,pls feel free to contact me.I will try to support you.
Have a nice day!
Thanks®ards,
Helen Wen
Quiapo, Binondo, and Tondo
Sometimes I spend my weekends walking around the streets of Quiapo, Binondo or Tondo, film cameras in hand, shooting whatever catches my eye. These happen to be a few of my favorite areas to shoot that are within Metro Manila. Did you know that Binondo is also the oldest Chinatown in the world? It was established in 1594. That alone is a good enough reason to visit.
The B/W image was shot with a Twin lens Rolleiflex on Kodak TMX-100 and the color images shot with Olympus OM1 on Fuji Velvia.
Sail Away
How many sunset shots have we seen of Boracay, endless I would imagine, but it never gets old. This was my take of the same theme.
Mongolia
I'm a firm believer that one must immerse themselves in a culture before they can relate to its people. So in my typical adventerous self and my quest to fit in, I thought it would be best best by donning traditional Mongolian winter wear. No, you will never see this on the runways of a major fashion show but let me say this, if it is minus 25º Celsius outside, this is the Armani of winter wear Mongolian style. I have no idea as to what animal died on my behalf but let me praise its soul and say thanks. Even the cows in the background think I'm a local. My biggest fear was not the cold but what other creatures were living inside this hide. Time to eat some Yak testicles.
