Playlist-ing the sting. Lol Mood. ☔

Halfway through my work day, but I'm already buzzing, because I'm shooting and filming the touring production of La Bohéme tonight. 🙌🏻🌟

This is the energy, and where my mind is, at the moment. 🎧🎵 Anything But Me – MUNA

Thank you. 🙌🏻

I had a moment earlier today where some very intrusive thoughts and feelings just appeared without warning. The feeling was similar to being pounced on by a cat. It startled me so much that I actually put my hands up and said “stop” out loud.

Tone curves, and color theory on my mind.

Reminder to self: The shift is already here. It is safe to allow it in.

No power earlier. Assumed it was a neighborhood-wide issue. Checked power company page. No scheduled or unscheduled interruption. Checked with neighbor. Apparently just me. Reset circuit breaker. Power back. That's never happened before. Mercury in the microwave moment. @carissawrites.bsky.social 😅

All of a sudden I can breathe properly again. Oh, thank goodness.

What is it that they say about not being able to make a new old friend? You're just stuck with the ones you already have. And perhaps it's out of familiarity, and the comfort found in routine, but S and I always seem to find ourselves here. Even though our lives are very different creatures now.

These days. Always chasing light.

Really lovely but unexpected moments from the music fest today— Another photographer beckoned me up onto the stage when he saw that I was just shooting from the stairs. He was really nice (in a very 𝘬𝘶𝘺𝘢 kind of way). When we passed each other on stage at one point, he very lightly tapped my arm.

I covered a local music fest earlier today and the last band I stayed to shoot was made up of some musicians familiar to me because I used to be in a few bands years ago (believe it or not). My old drummer, J and I locked eyes on the stage with recognition, and a small smile.

“Every answer I need is already on its way to me.” A couple of months ago I wrote this down along with a few other sentences and posted them on the wall beside my bed. I read them every day. In this short span of time I've already realized what I've been searching for, for pretty much my whole life.

Ayoko na. Hahahaha. 🤣 Ugh, Gelatinous Cubes. 😑 #DungeonsAndDragons

Last two months of the year and I can feel the exhaustion already. At work, things have gotten really busy, and with all my other projects, I recognize that I have to be extra mindful about getting enough rest. (Rest ≠ doom scrolling.)

Ok na, Jen. Tama na.

📸 (11.14.2025) I liked the lines and colors in this one.

To do by tomorrow: - Transfer photos to laptop (then sort for future editing) - Copy photos to hard drive - Format memory cards - Charge camera batteries - Clean lenses and sensor - Purchase Instax Mini film

I only just got around to listening to this now, even though the album has been out for a few months already. Of course no one else sings this like Koji Tamaki, but I absolutely love this really tender, more restrained cover of ‘Melody.’ Shiho Ochi’s voice is perfect for this song. 🌻

Comms team idea to cosplay as software we use. Naturally, I want Lightroom. 😏

🌟 Mood.

There are photos I took that I couldn't bear to look at for the longest time because they reminded me of a really difficult period. This is one of these photos. I recently opened up those folders and from the sheer volume, now I know: No matter how dark that time was, I was always making pictures.

Perhaps it's just one of those days. 😐 But God, I'm just really tired.

Yesterday I did something that both surprised and terrified me all in the same moment. I volunteered to photograph 2 upcoming events. Actually, it was more proactive and confident than I'm making it sound. That's what surprised me, plus the fact that there was no hesitation to ask. Who even am I?

It's one of those mornings. Easy there, Jen. You're okay.

Keita Machida in a BL. I'm so seated for this. 😍

😬 Yes, I felt that.

🎧🎵 Parachute – Hayley Williams

The irony of me working for the same academic institution (not the same campus, but close enough) that my parents worked for once upon a time.

Power out. I can hear the wind and rain. I can feel my pulse. The feeling of being on edge is always the same. Beneath it there's anger. We've all been let down by a broken system, and by the people that keep those systems in place. For now, I'll set down the anger until the storm passes. #UwanPH

Can't sleep, so I turn to music. As a queer girl, ‘About U’ is one of those albums that really got under my skin. 🎧🎵 Right now It's like you're carrying all the weight of your past I could tell all your bruises, yellow, dark blue, and black But baby a bruise is, only your body Tryna keep you intact

I used to have a Nikon FM2; 3 lenses; motor drive; set of filters. This was back when I was in my teens. A friend of the family had gifted the kit to me, because he saw how much I loved fooling around with my dad's Pentax. That camera was lost (long story). I still wonder about it today.

Working late (and likely will be up for a while). Just taking a brief break to get some air. I have no idea if I'm just tired, but I'm in a pensive mood. 🎧🎵 "What do you say Is this the time For one more try At a happy life What do you say Is this unwise To think my fears Will not reprise"

I love this. Those synths remind me of Kate Bush. ✨

Manifesting. 🙌🏻✨

I have a friend that I met over a decade ago at an open mic, but we've stayed in touch online over the years. Not very consistently, but when life/the world/circumstances have aligned our energies in a way that feels natural, we tend to just pick up where we left off. (1/)

Didn't get to sleep until close to 4am and was up by 8am, so I'm paying for it now. Haha 🥲

Perhaps this is what it's like to be in love with life. Perhaps this is what it's like to want to be here.

In between work tasks (every moment I can spare), I sort through photos I've taken over the years. There's a lifetime's worth and I'm equally grateful for, and daunted by the volume I have to go through. Still... If I was looking for proof that this is what I long to do, well this is it.

What are the things that enchant you? For me, it's light and shadow. (Perhaps I mean that figuratively as well as literally.) 📸 UP Marine Science Institute (May 2, 2024)

Piecing together fragments of myself by revisiting the past. I now realize that I've always been taking pictures. Ever since I was 14 and begged to be enrolled in a summer photo + darkroom workshop. Ever since I first pressed the shutter on my father's old Pentax. I've always been chasing light.

Friends, do you have a public market where you live? What’s it like?

Felt well enough to go and do a small supply run this morning, but then I also let myself have an abundance of rest in the afternoon. No longer pushing myself to the absolute limits. No longer a slave to the energy of urgency. All I need is already here. And I can trust that I'm going to be ok.

Let me help you wake you up Let me help you break you up Let me help you open up I'm in love, I'm alive Oh, I'm burning 🎧🎵 Burning – Maggie Rogers

Flu-driven thoughts: I'm only just now starting to realize that she had such a need for me to 𝘣𝘦 𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘺. As if all our troubles would suddenly have been swept away if I had been. But we’re people with a whole range of human emotions. Sadness is part of the package. As is anger, or awe. Joy, or doubt.

“They say it will be better. The very nature and design of the planned redevelopment is antithetical to fluidity, porousness, and spontaneity. It is a narrowing down of profusion, a thinning of options that lead to thriving, a stifling of vibrancy.” Please read and share. Save the Baguio Market.

Thank goodness my shoot tomorrow is being rescheduled. 🥹

’Tis the season. Ghosting, by Andrea Cohen 👻

“Why is it heroic to untether? When the tense work of togetherness is so much more interesting. It's because I don't want to do it. Because I don't want to return to myself. And that's why I will.” The only thing better than the new Brandi Carlile album is the commentary version of the album. ❤️‍🔥