I took this photograph of an old man smoking his pipe while walking around Burnham Park in Baguio City. My attention was grabbed by the deep, striking and detailed lines on his face which represented years of living (dangerously perhaps?) and amassing experiences known only to him. It was like seeing medal decorations on the chest of a military officer with each scar-like lines representing the battles he fought in the arena of life.
I could only wonder what kinds of battles he fought through his long life and to remain such a striking figure even without trying and still produces that captivating presence by standing out amidst a crowded place. Here he spends the remainder of his years huffing from his cool pipe probably reliving his glorious past, or maybe he's still at it and his battles ranges on and was just taking his 15 minute break huffing much needed smokes to get away temporarily from the madness that surrounds him and in this quiet solemn moments, the old man has come to appreciate the beauty of life in such laid back and simple pleasures.
