Monday, October 25, 2004

Take A Picture

When we were younger, my brother and I had identical clothes. Shirts, pants, socks, even underwear, my mom would buy two of each, one a smaller size than the other. I think that was her way of not showing any favoritism to her two sons. My sister who came after me did not have any problems with identical clothes.

Whenever we’d pose for family pictures my parents insist we wear our identical clothes. Of course no one mistook me for my brother and vise versa; he was always the taller, better-looking one. Back then I knew I was no visual match for my brother. At first I tried to blend with the background. Later on, I changed my tactic; thinking that my brother’s good looks may have a halo effect, I made sure I was always beside him. Years later I realized my folly when I encountered the saying, “Ang maganda, ‘pag tumatabi sa pangit, mas lalong gumaganda.” (“When something beautiful is placed beside something ugly, it’ll look even better.”)

That’s what drove me to be interested in taking pictures. If I cannot look good in front of the camera, might as well learn how to take great pictures so that I’ll look good behind the camera. But still, whenever I’d flip through the pages of Vanity Fair or Entertainment Weekly (especially their Photo Issues), I look at those celebrities—especially the not-so-photogenic ones—and think, hey, if they can do it, why can’t I?

That’s why when Sunday came I was a little worried. This was my first serious photo shoot ever, Photo-Me and grad pics notwithstanding. Everything else before that was an aim-smile-and-shoot session. Here I get to (drum roll, please) pose.

It was held at Daniel’s house in Ayala Alabang; he also wanted Nelz to take pictures of him and his brother around the house. He had several ulterior motives: [1] they are about to renovate their house and they want photographic remembrances of it; [2] he needs better quality photos that he can use for his business (say, on their brochure, for example). Me, I just want a chance to play model for a day.

Daniel’s house

But Daniel and I actually have a similar motive why we’re having our pictures taken: we’re not getting any younger and our looks are not getting any better (sans medical enhancements), so why not immortalize our looks now? Years later we can look at our pictures and say, gosh, where did our youth go?

After we met Nelz and had lunch at Festival Mall, we decided to shoot Daniel and his brother first while I went around taking photos of the house. Nelz chose a spot in the balcony for the shoot. When he asked for a chair, Daniel innocently asked, “Do you want a monobloc?” Nelz and I practically shrieked in horror. “I will not be immortalized in monobloc!” I exclaimed.

Nelz shoots Daniel; note the chair isn’t a monobloc.

We started kinda late, so by the time Nelz took my pictures it was nearly 5 pm and light was fading fast. But by that time I was itching to go in front of the camera. We were able to finish one roll (I think) before the light became too low for shooting.

Phillip and Zeki were at Phillip’s house in the same village. They wanted to drop by during the shoot; Nelz said the Zeki must have been under the impression that it was a nude session. Whatever would possess Zeki to think I’ll agree to strip in front of a camera? I wondered. I have baby fats! Besides, I was a bit embarrassed to give Phillip Daniel’s address. You see, we were in Daniel’s house and while he’s gay-tolerant (at least with me), I’m not sure how he’d feel if four faggots were to suddenly converge in his house. He might think, what’s this, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy (minus Useless Guy Jai)? My experience with straights is that they generally prefer gays on a more-is-to-one ratio: more straights, just one gay. The more gays they’re confronted with, the more uncomfortable they get.

Luckily when Phillip asked if they can swing by the house, we had finished the shoot. So the queer guys went straight to Starbucks while the straight guy went straight to mass. How queer.

I don’t know how the pictures will turn out. Thank god Daniel and I don’t have identical shirts; if we had, I’d have insisted we’d have a shot together wearing them. As the saying goes, “Ang maganda, ‘pag tumatabi sa pangit….”

*****

(More pics of Daniel’s house in The McView Point.)