about this blog

This blog posts an entry a day. Each post contains a photograph and some notes, insights, random stuff whatever.

The Photographs: Subject is anything that is taken within Metro Manila, usually that of a place, a landmark, a structure, a scene that gives a glimpse of life in Metro Manila. It may be taken the day before, or a few months ago. It may be like art photography, like cliche postcards, like documents, like mere snapshots. The subject takes precedence over anything else.

The Photographer: wordpress username battlesmith. In real life, name is Anthony. He likes to walk and take photographs. More importantly, he loves his city (or cities). He isn’t professionaly trained. Never thought about teaching himself as well. Pure amateur boy equipped with his amateur camera(s). He has been doing this for quite a while actually, 2002 to be exact, so there is a pool of Metro Manila photographs that may last years even without additions. But he is aiming for some order here, and would attempt to keep all photographs of the same format (which means not many of the old photographs will be in the mix). Besides, when one is young and starting, except when he’s a genius, there will inevitably be tons of ‘unacceptable’ photography going on in his early portfolio. this site’s photographer has horrific early years too.

Metro Manila: Manila alone is composed of 14 or so districts, much of them distinct from each other, this mere fact suggests an exciting mix of chaotic, magnificent, brutal, fug, classic, majestic, cute and plain. Metro Manila though, a hugh Metropolis containing Old Manila, its adjacent cities, suburbs and even then-rural areas is a collection of 16 very different cities. Manila alone is recognized as the capital of the Philippines

As an ever growing metropolitan area, the term Greater Metro Manila

The Cities (and the lone municipality)