Black and White Panoramic Photography in the Philippines

The Philippines greeted me with its rhythm and endless beauty. I did not set out with grand plans. My only certainty was to pack the Hasselblad XPan and a few rolls of black and white film. Color would have captured the postcard views, but stripping it away let me focus on form, texture, and light. The panoramic frame turned each scene into a story stretched wide.

Traveling with the XPan

Film photography in remote places demands preparation. There are no spare rolls in small village shops, no quick battery fixes. Yet the limitations are part of the reward. Each frame slows me down. I choose more carefully. When I explain this to locals who ask to see the photo, the exchange often becomes its own story. They are intrigued, but sceptical, they thought about the instant reward that many cherish nowadays. I, on the other hand cherish the delayed gratification. A viewport into a moment long gone, perhaps even forgotten, which therefore becomes more memorable by the refresh.

The Kids on the Inflated Tire

One day I was hoping to capture an image like this, but I just didn’t expect it to be here or then. On one afternoon on Coron I was driving around on a scooter looking for the unbeaten path. I found a beach with locals, it drew me in. Additionally, the thunderstorm approaching made me aware of that this might be the best spot to stay dry for a while. As I parked the bike, the first drops started to fall. Quickly gathering my stuff, it started to pour down, as I ran towards a tree, some locals greeted me and welcomed me underneath the tree. As quickly as it came, it disappeared. Everyone headed back down to the beach and so I followed. As I found a spot on the beach and sat down, I observed. Families started a picnic on my left, kids playing games to my right, In the midst of it all, I found children dragging an old inflated tire into the sea. They played around and on top of the tire, a simple act yet full of joy. I knew something was developing, I grabbed my camera and I framed them against the beautiful horizon with mountains in the distance and waited till I found a moment of balance. As they both climbed onto the tire, I knew I had to press the shutter the moment balance appeared as it would be a fleeting moment. For days I wondered if the negative would hold the feeling.

The Kids in the River

Later that same day, after continuing on a small backroad, I heard laughter from behind some trees. It piqued my interest and made me stop and investigate. I discovered children playing in a shallow river. The light was soft, as the sky was still covered with light clouds after the rain earlier. I felt I had landed in a documentary. With buckets in hand the kids jumped in the water amongst others already floating around in their own buckets.
During this trip, I realised that everything in color looks beautiful, especially in places like this, but black and white one tends to focus on the essentials. Especially when colors pop in countries like these, the eye is easily distracted. In black and white, the textures of the water against the leaves would be more obvious. On top of that the lighter water against the darker skin stood out. It felt the right choice for a timeless capture of joy.

The trees with the ocean

While walking towards a deserted beach, I came across a simple scene, where the rhythm of palm tree trunks were in stark contrast with the ocean beyond the tree line. With a boat laying in between the trees it became clear I was near. We all know the feeling of walking towards a beach where we are met with the sounds first as a confirmation of nearing the destination. In this particular frame, I wanted to capture that feeling. One knows what is near, without actually showing the beach yet, but our imagination knows all to well that we have reached our destination.

Reflections on Limitation and Clarity

This trip was not about photography, yet I returned home with frames that indicate like I was. Forcing myself to shoot black and white, made me look for moments that captured a feeling, something beyond the perfect holiday frames. Now looking back the restraint is was not a barrier but a path to think differently and capture what I value most in hindsight. It might not have been that obvious to me whilst I was there, but shooting in black and white panoramic format gave me space to observe and wait. It accentuated the entire feeling I was looking for during this trip. The photos now hang on my wall, reminders of how presence and simplicity can shape the stories we carry home.

About Tom Kluyver

Through his journey as a full-time photographer, Tom Kluyver has found that true creative freedom lies in embracing the constraints of film and the panoramic format, a path that has shaped his unique style and storytelling. You can see more of his work on his instagram and portfolio website.

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