tag:projectrice.wowbantayan.com,2008-01-11:/mt4//1 2009-11-11T21:59:15Z Movable Type Publishing Platform 4.01 Best Wishes for Kevin Weir: *feel better fast* tag:projectrice.wowbantayan.com,2009:/mt4//1.448 2009-11-11T21:18:02Z 2009-11-11T21:59:15Z PJAMES http://www.projectrice.org/mt4/
Kev in Santa Fe 534x285px vs2.jpg



















Kevin with LittleFish, photographed in Philippines, 2008

Feel better Brother,
PJAMES
]]> Homeless Portraits updated tag:projectrice.wowbantayan.com,2009:/mt4//1.447 2009-10-26T22:14:12Z 2009-10-26T22:24:23Z Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/150s f/3.5 at 54.0mm iso400Nelson, photographed 2009 in Manila Philippines on the street where he sleeps - he still has a smile for all who pass by him, even though where he... PJAMES http://www.projectrice.org/mt4/ P6092176 edit b&w channels vs2.jpg


























Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/150s f/3.5 at 54.0mm iso400

Nelson, photographed 2009 in Manila Philippines on the street where he sleeps - he still has a smile for all who pass by him, even though where he has to sleep & eat would make others cringe.

This homeless alley (as I call it) in Metro Manila, has been cleared of those who sleep there to make room for new office buildings that are now operational, and Kevin Weir just told me yesterday that he did not see Nelson on that street or anywhere near, on his last outing with his camera.

Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES
]]> A Most Important Photograph: newborn baby & Mother tag:projectrice.wowbantayan.com,2009:/mt4//1.446 2009-10-20T19:54:10Z 2009-10-21T20:56:07Z Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/13s f/2.8 at 14.0mm iso1600LittleFish and her new baby Chris James, photographed just moments after his birth in Santa Fe, Philippines.I'd taken my motorcycle over to see the Family for a casual... PJAMES http://www.projectrice.org/mt4/ P3148906 edit color 600px_filtered FS vs2.jpg






























Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/13s f/2.8 at 14.0mm iso1600

LittleFish and her new baby Chris James, photographed just moments after his birth in Santa Fe, Philippines.

I'd taken my motorcycle over to see the Family for a casual visit, and found LittleFish already in labor and ready to give birth - needless to say I was quite nervous and apprehensive, as I'd never been present for a baby's birth, and I made my way through a dozen people there at the small concrete & bamboo room that was prepared with a floor mat & plastic, and little else.

Thank God I had my camera with me that day, and new right then I'd be venturing somewhere I'd never been before, in attempting to photograph this event, and half of me just wanted to forget the camera and try to make sure LittleFish was ok, as she didn't even appear conscious when I tried to speak to her, and her eyes were rolled back into her head.

Now it was me who was scared, but I had to trust the mid wives around her to make sure she would be alright.

UPDATED Wed. Oct.21, 2009:

I managed to get through the crush of people & Family crowded at the door to the room where LittleFish was, and found a corner of the room and sat right on the floor - a few people noticed me there, but all the attention was on LF and the baby who was being born as I was in the room.

After a few moments on the floor I actually left the room; I felt light headed and faint, so I got up slowly and popped outside for some air, then went back inside the room to find the midwife gently wrapping the new baby in clean white cloth, and clearing his nostrils with a suction device - and I remember thinking that 'the baby's not making any noise; babies are supposed to cry out, but I don't hear anything...'

That scared me, not hearing the baby.

But actually, the little baby was just being quiet; his eyes were open, he was calm and he was moving his arms around - he was breathing just fine, and in a quiet mood it seemed - and it took me a few moments to realize that he was really OK.

Sitting back down on the concrete floor, I brought my camera up and tried to stay as invisible as I could, and began to shoot a few frames (thank GOD the shutter release on my E1 is extremely quiet for a big digital SLR) without a flash - there was no way I was going to distract anyone there with a camera flash, so I had to shoot at ISO 1600 in the low available light, hand held, with a very slow shutter speed.

The result is above; one of the most important images I've ever taken.

I remember putting down the camera on the floor & kneeling over the baby, talking to him and telling him welcome to the world; welcome to the Philippines...and I turned to ask LittleFish if she'd named him, and she just slowly shook her head 'no'.

I turned back to the little baby and decided I had to call him something - he needed a name, if only a nickname for the few minutes with me;  couldn't stand for him to be nameless, so I began talking to him again '...well, your father's name is Christopher, and my name is James....and you deserve a proper name here on your first day in the world....little Chris James...how does that sound?...I think I'll call you ChrisJames and your mama can name you anything she wants later...'

Everyone heard me talking and calling the baby ChrisJames, and LittleFish turned to me a few moments later with a small smile (she was still very weak) and whispered said she likes that name....and that will be his name, he's ChrisJames, she said.

Thanks for reading today,

PJAMES

]]> another setback for me tag:projectrice.wowbantayan.com,2009:/mt4//1.445 2009-03-18T03:42:09Z 2009-03-18T04:02:36Z They say when the shit comes, it happens in 3's - and last month it was next to no internet signal to get online, then came the Bronchitis, and now the most recent stone in my shoe is a failed... PJAMES http://www.projectrice.org/mt4/
I won't get into details here right now, but basically 4 days ago when I attempted to check in for the period March 14, 2009 thru April 28, 2008 (dates previously agreed to by my myself & the hotel vendor on Dec.13, 2008 when I arrived) I was told they were sold out and they would not be accommodating myself & my Family, and no other reasons were given.

For now, I have to get my Family and baby into a safe place to live & sleep, without there being a budget allocated for this (hence my Dec.2008 agreement with the hotel vendor) and I don't have to tell you what a mess this is as I try my best to sort it all out.

I'll get back online as soon as I can; when my Family's in a safe place.

Thanks for reading and Keep the Faith,
PJAMES

ps: LittleFish has just given birth to a baby boy on March 15, 2008 - more details coming.
]]> everyone's been sick here... tag:projectrice.wowbantayan.com,2009:/mt4//1.444 2009-03-09T03:45:58Z 2009-03-09T04:57:56Z PJAMES http://www.projectrice.org/mt4/
My 1 yr & 5mos. adopted baby's also been sick with a lung infection that caused her many breathing problems, coughing, high fever etc. - and it was when she got sick that I also came down with the upper respiratory issues and fever, ending up with severe bronchitis.

I've actually been trying for the past week to physically get online, and there's been very little internet available here; most of the time the signal's dead for most of the days, with intermittent access at a few different times of the day, but it's been a crap shoot.

Bantayan Island Philippines: Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/400s f/5.6 at 54mm iso400
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A local poor girl on the beach selling cooked crab - she makes the long trip to Sta.Fe from Bantayan Town each day to earn a little money.

As soon as I'm physically back to normal I'll be able to get back to shooting & editing - above, from one of my last days I was out shooting last month: the little girl above was actually doing good business with travelers and locals who were buying her fresh crab, and I was amazed she was making daily long trips from here home (over 1hr. each way at her own expense) to spend the day selling in the hot sun, making money to help support her Family.

Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES

]]> the Kids get back to playing tag:projectrice.wowbantayan.com,2009:/mt4//1.443 2009-02-10T02:19:13Z 2009-02-10T02:26:36Z PJAMES http://www.projectrice.org/mt4/
Pictured: MH's Grandson Kalle & daughter Uzel, at home.
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/250s f/5.6 at 14mm iso200
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Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES

]]> Mama Helen recovering tag:projectrice.wowbantayan.com,2009:/mt4//1.442 2009-02-08T01:47:28Z 2009-02-08T02:01:30Z PJAMES http://www.projectrice.org/mt4/
I just left Mama Helen's house and spent this morning with the Family & kids; she seems to be recovering from her hospital stay last week - she's moving around and doing her usual routine but she does look thin.

There were many visitors at the house this morning, neighbors and friends beginning to cook some rice & hot water for drinks, etc.

Mama Helen's daughters son Kuji seems to be getting by with TB; he's happy & smiling, and the Family's giving him as much fish & rice to eat as they can, to help him recover (I don't know if he's been getting his medicines since last year from the local Clinic, but I'm willing to bet not)

Kuji photographed last month:
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/20s f/3.5 at 52mm iso800
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PJAMES



]]> Mama Helen taken to the Hospital tag:projectrice.wowbantayan.com,2009:/mt4//1.441 2009-02-05T04:31:47Z 2009-02-05T04:41:48Z I've been offline the past week due to a Monsoon that rolled in and took out our internet here in Philippines.Right before we lost our connection I recieved a text message from LittleFish, informing me that her mother Mama Helen... PJAMES http://www.projectrice.org/mt4/
Right before we lost our connection I recieved a text message from LittleFish, informing me that her mother Mama Helen was taken to the local Hospital here on the Island, suffering from fever & "60 over 40" blood pressure, so it was serious.

I was in Cebu City at the time getting a Visa extension done, so as soon as I got back to the Island I rushed over to the Family's house, and Mama Helen was there - just released from the local Hospital.

She appeared weak but in good spirits, and I'll have more details later.

Mama Helen last month at home: Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/250s f/5.6 at 54mm iso100
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Because I know the Family has no money for Hospitals, I asked how much the bill was, and she told me she herself had to pay P2,000 (about $40USD) of a total cost of over P5,000 - the balance of which was picked up by a local program for indigent Families here.

I don't know where they got the $40 from for the bill; I'm sure they borrowed it from friends, and I'm sure they won't be able to pay it back, as they're still in debt from a $400USD loan they got in June 2008 to repair their fishing boat and squatters shack from Typhoon Fengsheng's damage (reported here on the Blog last summer)

More later,
PJAMES



]]> Weekend Shooting in Santa Fe tag:projectrice.wowbantayan.com,2009:/mt4//1.440 2009-01-26T04:06:34Z 2009-01-26T04:15:31Z PJAMES http://www.projectrice.org/mt4/
These Barangays on the Island are fishing communities and inherently quite poor, but when you roll in everyone comes out delighted & curious to see you.

Spontaneous portraiture with the kids who came out to greet me yesterday:

Sillon, Philippines: Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/160s f/5.6 at 54mm iso200
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Sillon, Philippines: Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/160s f/5.6 at 54mm iso200
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Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES
]]> Weekend Shooting in Santa Fe tag:projectrice.wowbantayan.com,2009:/mt4//1.439 2009-01-26T03:43:01Z 2009-01-26T04:04:48Z PJAMES http://www.projectrice.org/mt4/ P1256342 edit 675px PR.jpgI haven't taken a day off from shooting & editing images since I left the USA, but I wanted to get out on the motorcycle and roll through some other Barangays I don't normally drive through, so we took off to see some friends & Family in Balidbid & Sillon and enjoyed the drive.

These Barangays on the Island are fishing communities and inherently quite poor, but when you roll in everyone comes out delighted & curious to see you.

Spontaneous portraiture with the kids who came out to greet me yesterday:

Sillon, Philippines: Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/160s f/5.6 at 54mm iso200
P1256333 edit 600 PR.jpg





























P1256342 edit 675px PR.jpgP1256342 edit 675px PR.jpg
Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES


]]> Weekend Shooting in Santa Fe tag:projectrice.wowbantayan.com,2009:/mt4//1.438 2009-01-26T03:43:01Z 2009-01-26T04:00:15Z PJAMES http://www.projectrice.org/mt4/
These Barangays on the Island are fishing communities and inherently quite poor, but when you roll in everyone comes out delighted & curious to see you.

Spontaneous portraiture with the kids who came out to greet me yesterday:

Sillon, Philippines: Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/160s f/5.6 at 54mm iso200
P1256333 edit 600 PR.jpg






























Sillon, Philippines: Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/200s f/5.6 at 54mm iso200
P1256342 edit 675px PR.jpg
Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES

]]> LittleFish and son in town tag:projectrice.wowbantayan.com,2009:/mt4//1.437 2009-01-24T03:41:49Z 2009-01-24T03:48:31Z I spotted LittleFish and son Kalle in town at the used clothing market, for an evening out 'roaming around' as it's called.Since I had a package of Hany chocolate candies with me, I handed it over to Kalle who loves... PJAMES http://www.projectrice.org/mt4/
Since I had a package of Hany chocolate candies with me, I handed it over to Kalle who loves them - he started right in and opened it up.

Roaming around w/chocolates: Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/160s f/16 at 14mm iso100
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Pregnant ladies also love chocolate, so LittleFish just smiled and said "thank you kuya..."

I believe the baby's due by next month.

PJAMES

]]> Mama Helen & Family at the SINULOG Festival tag:projectrice.wowbantayan.com,2009:/mt4//1.436 2009-01-18T02:48:05Z 2009-01-18T03:09:42Z PJAMES http://www.projectrice.org/mt4/ Mama Helen & Family arrive for the opening of SINULOG in Santa Fe. this weekend.
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/160s f/11 at 14mm iso100 w/flash
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It was so good to see the Family able to get out and enjoy a bit of the Festival happening here in town this weekend; I spotted them right as they arrived by tricycad.

Mama Helen has been looking very tired and gaunt recently, so I was thrilled to see her out with her kids.
...from left to right are LittleFish & son Kalle, Angelica & her Mama Helen - LittleFish is expecting her new baby next month, and she's in very good spirits - so when I see her these past few days Im always FEEDING her, as pregnant ladies are always quite hungry:)

Her & her husband were having a chicken dinner at the roadside BBQ later that evening, so I sent over more food to the table and a liter bottle of Coca Cola.

The kids really enjoyed running around to the local vendors selling toys, oki-oki used clothing, snack foods and such, and when I saw Sandman and asked to see how his severe burns were coming along, he opened his shirt and I was astonished to see NOTHING there anymore - it was all healed!

Now, it was dark outside at night when he showed me, but I really couldn't see any scaring, just smooth skin, so I'm going back later today to check on him in the daylight to make sure he's out of danger.

Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES



]]> Mama Helen recalls the June '08 Typhoon: Part 2 tag:projectrice.wowbantayan.com,2009:/mt4//1.435 2009-01-14T03:34:34Z 2009-01-14T03:41:37Z Mama Helen, clearly looking tired and thin during our recent talk about the June 2008 Typhoon and its aftermath, with Cris translating off camera.Santa Fe, Philippines: Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/30s f/2.8 at 14mm iso100After Mama Helen's... PJAMES http://www.projectrice.org/mt4/
Santa Fe, Philippines: Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/30s f/2.8 at 14mm iso100
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After Mama Helen's house collapsed during the storm, they quickly ran to their cousins house to seek shelter, but that house also collapsed - so they literally had no where to go.

After the storm died down, they went back to the rubble of their house and sifted through anything they could salvage, including a small bag of rice.

During the first week post Typhoon, there was no food to be had anywhere - The Parents gave the rice to their 10 children who were sleeping in the local school gym, and Helen & David survived solely on coconuts and coconut milk for almost two weeks.

Kevin Weir came with us the day we met with the Family, and brought along a big 25kg. sack of clean rice; riding it all the way from the local rice vendor to Mama Helen's house, on his motorbike.

Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES

]]> Mama Helen recalls the June '08 Typhoon tag:projectrice.wowbantayan.com,2009:/mt4//1.434 2009-01-12T00:19:06Z 2009-01-12T00:28:25Z PJAMES http://www.projectrice.org/mt4/
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/640s f/5.6 at 54mm & 14.0mm iso400
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During Chris' conversation with Mama Helen, Mama explained that when her house first began to come down in the wind, the Family was asleep and was woken up by very loud crashing noises.

Mama Helen & Papa David then grabbed all their children and crammed them all under a few bamboo tables to shield them from the debris which was smashing into the house from all directions.

PJAMES

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