Text by Alex
It’s not only the Chinese who believe “the moon abroad is rounder.” Before the pandemic, Filipino travel photographer John Kimwell Laluma often traveled the world, photographing scenic spots and popular landmarks. However, when the COVID-19 outbreak hit globally, his travel plans were postponed. Even more unexpectedly, the travel restrictions lasted far longer than anticipated, forcing him to shift his photography focus back to his homeland.
▲Sojoton View,Negros Island(photo by jkl.photos @IG)
Laluma named this photography project “Pieces of Home.” He started by using Google Earth to scout interesting locations, particularly those with nighttime scenes. He believes that night scenes offer the most beautiful lighting, though the biggest challenge is having to wake up at 2 or 3 a.m. “Beautiful light and atmosphere can create powerful images — all you have to do is be there,” he said.
▲Panabo, Davao (photo by jkl.photos @IG)
▲Niludhan Fall, Dawis, Bayawan (photo by jkl.photos @IG)
Laluma shares a photo of a local waterfall he captured. “It’s like our own Antelope Canyon National Park (in Arizona, USA), a challenging spot to shoot where I had to stand in water almost chest-deep. But the place was dark enough that I could use a slow shutter speed to capture silky water flow without needing filters.”
▲The photographer had to stand in waist-deep water to take this shot. (La Carlota City, photo by jkl.photos @IG)
▲A dried-up pond resembling California’s Death Valley (photo by jkl.photos @IG)
California’s Death Valley was also on Laluma’s travel wish list, but he hasn’t been able to visit yet. Instead, he found a dried-up pond in his hometown, where the texture of the soil rivaled the desert landscapes of Death Valley — equally impressive. Laluma’s stunning works also include blooming red bell trees, the Geminid meteor shower, and the core of the Milky Way.
▲Blooming red bell trees (photo by jkl.photos @IG)
▲Geminid meteor shower (Murcia, Negros Occidental, photo by jkl.photos @IG)
In fact, after starting the “Pieces of Home” project, Laluma realized landscape photography isn’t just about bringing home a collection of “personal masterpieces.” “When I’m out shooting nature, I feel a sense of peace, and I hope to convey that feeling through my photos, refreshing the spirit and soul of viewers.”
▲Core of the Milky Way (Kabankalan, Negros Occidental, photo by jkl.photos @IG)
▲Don Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental (photo by jkl.photos @IG)
More of Laluma’s landscape works can be found on Instagram.
▲(photo by jkl.photos @IG)
▲San Carlos, Negros Occidental (photo by jkl.photos @IG)
▲Mt. Kanlaon (photo by jkl.photos @IG)
Source: PetaPixel