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Letting Go

As a young boy, I've always wanted to be Superman. Not because he had superhuman strength but because he had the ability to fly. Flight still fascinates me even at this age.

 

So when I got an invitation to see the Hot Air Balloon Festival, I immediately said yes. We drove 2 hours north of Manila to Clark Freeport Zone. We arrived at 3pm.  The main event was scheduled at 530pm. Since we had time to spare, we went our separate ways and wandered through the grounds equipped with our cameras, ready to shoot.

I roamed aimlessly. An hour passed and suddenly the sky was filled kites of all shapes and sizes. I was mesmerized. I felt free. Reality drifted as fantasy took over. I was a kid again.

 

Not wanting to miss the moment, I grabbed my camera and started to fire away hoping to capture the very essence of what I was feeling.

I was in for a disappointment.

 

Too dark...too light...too near...too far...not wide enough...not long enough...

 

I started to panic. Each photograph didn't do justice to what I truly felt. Frustration settled and I was once an adult and loosing the moment.

The harder I tried, the crappier the images got. I just couldn't make it happen. I felt incapable and defeated.

 

I strayed away from the crowd. Found a grassy field. Packed my camera and just sat there.

Not wanting to ruin the day, I told myself 'if I can't photograph it, then I might as well take pleasure without having to do anything'. I let go.....I stopped being a photgrapher.

 

I was a kid again.

 

 

 

And there I sat until light was no more.
COMMENTS
LatentE said at 10:46 p.m. on Feb 9, 2008:
I think you've done an excellent job of capturing the fun and frustration of being a kid and wanting to do something but finding that it's not as easy as first thought. A while back I saw this incredible Internet video of people that put on these special webbed suits, allowing them to imitate something like flying squirrels. They would then jump off high mountain cliffs and zoom down through the sky like Superman. There were multiple camera angles, from the ground and from helmet cameras. The human kites would skim down the sides of the mountains, flying at great speeds while almost touching the rock faces they swept by. I forget how they landed. Probably by using standard parachutes. You've brought a kid's smile to my face, just as that video did.
Joaqy said at 1:58 a.m. on Feb 10, 2008:
Angelina Jolie (her stunt) did something like that in the movie TOmb Raider. Yeah, that was really cool stuff! Thanks.
Phbascon said at 4:35 a.m. on Feb 10, 2008:
the last few shots will have to be my faves joaquin!
Rheap said at 6:18 a.m. on Feb 10, 2008:
Great tabblo..
Leftofcenter said at 8:05 a.m. on Feb 10, 2008:
well you DID capture the excitment and the freedom of kites in a clear blue sky.. the last shots are INCREDIBLE of course and very moving with yr little story attached to them...
Coy said at 7:24 p.m. on Feb 10, 2008:
Oh, Joaquin. You should re-read the words you've just written. You thought you missed the whole feeling but to the reader, you've just re-created the excitement and tension of each moment. You allowed me to join the adventure [or misadventure] by making the situation unfold through your "miss-taken" photographs. It was like a video but on freeze frame. I wish we can go to an editing room and make it move and put scoring on it. But the point of everything was revealed in the end. Some things are not meant to be captured but experienced. Letting go doesn't mean turning away but allowing distance to clear your perspective. And the distance gives you freedom. The freedom made your spirit fly to witness something even more majestic. What a sight!
Decoy said at 7:30 p.m. on Feb 10, 2008:
ah, this is good! I love kites, and your words together with your great layout made your message come thrue in a beautiful way. Well done Joakim, I really enjoyed this tabblo!
Joaqy said at 7:53 p.m. on Feb 10, 2008:
Coy: "Some things are not meant to be captured but experienced". Those are the exact words which I wanted to say. THANK YOU!
Joaqy said at 7:55 p.m. on Feb 10, 2008:
Annelies & Anna: What would I do without your support? Thank you. :)
Chiloedream said at 8:07 p.m. on Feb 10, 2008:
Excellent. Merci Joaqy
To1n3tt3 said at 2:31 a.m. on Feb 11, 2008:
wow the art of letting go. =)
DocEna said at 8:33 a.m. on Feb 11, 2008:
LIKE THE KITES...
Noe said at 11:23 a.m. on Feb 11, 2008:
Excellent tabblo Joaquin, as always... love the shots (of course) and with the text... is just perfect! =)
Abking said at 10:56 p.m. on Feb 11, 2008:
Very fresh layout to tell your story. You really captured it, even when you were losing it.
thenares@***.com said at 4:41 a.m. on Feb 17, 2008:
I knew there was more to your sungitay moments......WAX, YOU ARE A POET!! With what you have written,you've opened not just a window but a whole sliding door to the inner you. I am impressed!
Sirnicolay said at 8:09 a.m. on Apr 24, 2008:
Lovely narrative.. makes the tabblo a LOT more special :)
Chilla said at 3:00 a.m. on Aug 13, 2008:
This is a beautiful tabblo and it tells a story. I think one of the great things about Tabblo is that one may not have the greatest shots but put together they can make a great tabblo! Well done and I have really enjoyed it.
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