I'm in the Philippines with my family right now. We've been island hopping like crazy so our sleep patterns have been changing a lot lately.
When I was taking a nap a few days ago, I was awoken by live, grand piano playing. It's such a strange thing to hear in the P.I. Manila is the most "Americanized," metropolitanish area in the Philippines, but it's still a very earthy environment. The streets are filled with pedestrians, pedicabs, jeepneys, etc. The buildings are strong and weathered from years of typhoons. The color palette of the environment is a bit gloomy from the overall eroded architecture and the overcast days of the rainy season, yet you could feel its charm and liveliness at the same time.
After waking up, I thought about reality's superiority to film and photography. If I were to juxtapose elegant piano playing with an unlikely scene to hold its sound, this movie wouldn't have the same powerful affect as actual experience. Yes, it may instill a slight emotion, but it wouldn't be recognized as an authentic oddity.
We take film and photography for granted, because they are artificially filled with constant holy moments. Decisive moments bombard each scene, where each frame is perfectly rendered.
It just makes me think of the trip to the Caramoan Islands. I was so busy trying to capture its essence (so that I could share it with ya'll)...but nothing could quite capture the true experience and grandness of those tiny islands, covered with lush palm trees and white, sandy beaches. Photography, moving image, and writing have their limitations. Beauty is captured and best felt with the eyes and mind given to us. If only my vision could screen capture experience. (I know...nerdy).
Posts
