Here's another guest blog post, this one is from Hanna Bacalla. Hannah's photographs are beautiful. When she asked me what she should write about, my instructions were quite succinct: be honest. She quickly sent me this post with a message "It's the most honest thing I've ever written." I hope you enjoy her honesty as much as I do.
I am a self-taught photographer born and raised in the tropical island of Cebu, Philippines.
At first, I really have no idea what to write. I was confused whether I should write about my experiences, the whole process of my work or my influences? Or all of the above? I was never good at writing nor giving a piece of mind through writing. I do that through pictures.
I got my first film camera on my 6th birthday. Unfortunately, being the forgetful person that I am, I don't have much memory of it nor pictures to show.
I eventually rekindled my relationship with photography when I got my first digital camera around 2004. It wasn't anything special. Just your typical digital camera. I started shooting some friends who are also into modeling. I fell in love with photography more and more and people started to notice my work. I was even surprised that I got featured in some papers. After a few months, my camera broke. I think it was a sign for me to upgrade. But I couldn't because I cannot afford it yet. Months went by without a camera and it made me really depressed. I started doing mixed media and used the photos that I took earlier that year to create some pieces.
Finally, around May, 2006, I got my first DSLR and in less than 24 hours I got my first gig! First fashion shoot that I did for a local newspaper.
From then on it was a roller coaster ride.
Honestly, it's not always as happy as I want it to be. But by creating these images it made life a bit easier.
I have accepted the fact that it will always be a love-hate relationship between me and my work. One minute I think it's great, the next I think it is just okay or there's something lacking. But I always think that it is a good thing. It motivates me to be better and work harder.
My inspiration comes from my dreams, emotions, experiences and just random things that I encounter in life. My influences are mostly painters, digital artists and other photographers.
If I have to pick three of my favorite photographers it would be my undying love for Paolo Roversi. His work is just perfect and the feel of his photographs is just magnificent. Beautiful beyond words. I'm forever a fan of Erwin Olaf, he is one of the photographers that inspired me to get started and he's just a pure genius. Lastly, I will always love Eugenio Recuenco for his amusingly witty pictures and mind-blowing sets. He inspired me a lot and I always revisit his work if I need motivation to keep going.
Over the years, I have been redefining my style. I'm more focus on my personal work than ever before. I'm always in search of beauty and sombreness. Something that works it's way under the skin and yet remains so beautiful.
-Hannah Bacalla
hannahbacalla.com
I've been in London for almost a month now, and I can never get sick of this city. My love for London was immediate the moment I stepped off the plane. The mild weather (for a Canadian girl), the welcoming people, and the old-English styled fashion trends made it all so easy for me to feel comfortable here. The city is a fine myriad of architecture, history, and, of course, royalty.
Here are photos from my very first weekend in the city, when it drizzled in typical London fashion. But that didn't deter my spirit. I rode a hop-on hop-off bus around the city, hitting all the big tourist sights at least 3 times, indulged in Mamma Mia and Phantom of the Opera at night, cruised on the river, and developed an innocent crush on the policemen in their black & white uniforms.
Inside St. Paul's Cathedral, where I was definitely not supposed to take pictures...
A wedding outside of St. Paul's. 
The view from top of St. Paul's.
Well, I'm in England, at last.
Two hours south of London, in a small town 5 miles from the coast of the English Channel, I now find myself spending my days in a 15th century castle. There are lots of quirks about living in a brick-walled castle, the doors creak and the Wi-Fi connection is often a hit or miss, but there are also lots of perks about living here, the first of which is living so close to the English Channel.
On a typical overcast winter day in England, we drove to the English Channel at Birling Gap, where, on a clear day, you can try to spot France. En route there, as a testament to how well I've acclimated to my new surroundings, we stopped in a small town called Alfriston, in true British style, for afternoon tea. (I'm also quickly picking up the English accent and filling my vocabulary with British jargon. But that's for another post...)
ALFRISTON
Two hours south of London, in a small town 5 miles from the coast of the English Channel, I now find myself spending my days in a 15th century castle. There are lots of quirks about living in a brick-walled castle, the doors creak and the Wi-Fi connection is often a hit or miss, but there are also lots of perks about living here, the first of which is living so close to the English Channel.
On a typical overcast winter day in England, we drove to the English Channel at Birling Gap, where, on a clear day, you can try to spot France. En route there, as a testament to how well I've acclimated to my new surroundings, we stopped in a small town called Alfriston, in true British style, for afternoon tea. (I'm also quickly picking up the English accent and filling my vocabulary with British jargon. But that's for another post...)
ALFRISTON
