“Old soul” is how her friends describe Alexis “Apa” Laura Feliciano, a photography hobbyist who is gifted with finding the right light when taking pictures. She can turn a simple object like an old typewriter into a work of art.
But Apa hardly calls herself a photographer. She just likes taking photographs.
Even as she professes her love for shooting landscapes, her Instagram photos show that she has an eye for portraits. The eyes of the people she photographs pierce through the heart of the audience.
Apa gets her inspiration from Henri Cartier-Bresson, the famed French photographer, who popularized the idea of “capturing the moment.” He is described as a humanist photographer and is known to be an early user of the 35 mm film.
Street photography fascinates Apa. She likes photographing the streets of Manila because she finds beauty in the old house and old buildings. She memorializes her favorite Filipino architects through her photographs of run-down and dilapidated structures.
Apa, a twenty-something graduate of the University of Sto. Tomas, currently holds a corporate job. But it does not deter her from pursuing one of her first loves. Her job brings her to different places both here and abroad and gives her the opportunities to shoot whatever catches her eye.
She has been using an old Canon DSLR for a long time now. She’s not the type who upgrades her tools like changing clothes. Whether using DSLR or her handy Sony smartphone’s camera, Apa dishes out wonderful photographs worthy of publication.
By profession and by vocation, Apa is a writer. Her depth of understanding Philippine culture may not be typical for someone so young. She supports heritage conservation and loves history.
A self-confessed — and true blue Japanophile — she collects Japanese literature and has extensive knowledge of the country’s history. She’s been to Japan and plans to go back when the opportunity comes. Her knowledge of J-pop and Japanese films is almost unimaginable.
She’s always dreaming of photographing famous rice terraces around the world but her ultimate dream destination is Bhutan. She’s in love with its culture and, of course, the country.
These days, Apa is contemplating on going beyond still photographs. Her project of capturing the lives of Philippine indigenous tribes has always been in the pipeline.
The young photography enthusiasts has never wavered in her love of images. It’s almost seems embedded into her DNA that when she sees that the light is good, even her morning meal turns out to be a work of art.
Also published in GADGETS MAGAZINE June 2019 Issue
Words by Marlet D. Salazar
Photographs by Apa Feliciano