MANILA, Philippines - Yahoo, Inc. has announced on Tuesday a massive redesign of photo-sharing site Flickr which now not only boasts of an image-driven interface but a generous serving of one-terabyte free storage for all users.
If at first glance, the rebooted design seems confusing for long-time Flickr users who have gotten used to its dominant text and white spaces. Browsing and viewing of photos, however, have become a breeze with the tiled new look.
This inspired Philstar.com to revisit the platform and to choose a set of a few worthy Filipino-run photo streams that capture the life and color of the Philippines and beyond.
Jay Lamorena (link)
Sports, transportation, faces, pets, streets, workers, beaches, concerts--one can witness Philippine life's different facets in Lamorena's photo feed.
He shoots concert stars in neutral filters, a beach in dreamy high contrast, faces at their height of expressiveness, a Ferris wheel as if it's in stop-motion and finally a sunset to playfully explore its frequently captured aesthetic.
Jerwin Lim (link)
Although a few shots of his friends' beaming faces on an adventure serve rather than as ellipsis than a highlight, Lim's collection of black and white candid photos and high contrast images is a rich gallery of local seascapes and landscapes.
Lim's discernment in capturing the movement of water is also a definite eye catcher.
Aimee Maranan (link)
Not many Flickr streams spell high definition as well as Maranan's. Her images are not easy to miss as they pop out from the computer screen like National Geographic magazine's photos come to life.
Like other photo lovers, Maranan also often falls for boats and sunsets, but hers are poster and postcard worthy at their best.
Lady May Pamintuan (link)
Pamintuan seems fond of neutral shades channeling the vintage trend in popular photography. She also experiments with grain and explores local and foreign urban scenes that show her taste for composition, detail, motion and the mundane.
Dianne Rosete (link)
Rosete's Flickr account only contains a few choice shots, but the diversity of the handpicked images showcase the photographer's adaptability in dealing with various subjects.
Her images of the city draw the viewer into the life-like play of light and color that is nothing but artful.
Marvi Vitalis (link)
This young photo enthusiast's stream consists mostly of still photography from food, handwritten typography to close-ups of flora as well as occasional images of city life's least glamorous scenes.
Vitalis also has a fascination with churches and cathedrals that it is no surprise if she decides to explore architectural photography soon.