Tammy David

At The Maximum

A bakery, a zoo, a pool table, a mosque, a massage parlor, a barber shop…inside prison. Only in the Philippines.

New Bilibid Maximum Security Prison. Muntinlupa City, Philippines

© Tammy David

It Takes an Island; or How to be Alone by Tammy David

Pointing the camera at herself, David’s work, It takes an island; or how to be alone, is personal and honest. Her documentary is not the Kodak moment or the Facebook profile type; instead she rids of the picture perfect circumstances to reveal a part of her life story only a select few (if at all) have seen. She lays it out for us. She looks like that when she wakes up; she exercises in her bathtub; she has a habit of pulling her hair. No touch-ups and no styling, David invites the audience to look at her. Putting an honest face to documentary photography, she shows that the simple truth is as good and as relevant a story as any other. (Silverlens Gallery 2010)

THE BIGGER PICTURE by Tammy David

African-American rights, Gay rights, Women’s Rights and now to add the list of civil rights movement is Fat Rights. On the forefront is the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) founded in 1969 with majority of the members coming from the United States where the term super size originated.

NAAFA’s goals is to end size discrimination “in all of its forms and help build a society in which people of every size are accepted with dignity and equality in all aspects of life”. For the members, they want society to see the bigger picture those who are considered morbidly obese are people as well.

Last July 2008, NAAFA members across the country and the world convened in Los Angeles for the annual convention. The week long caucus included activities to which the 100+ members attended ranging from discussions about different insurance policies and Hawaiian themed dances.

© Tammy David

CROWN AND COUNTRY by Tammy David

Like boxing and basketball, beauty pageants are very much part of the Filipino culture. Beauty pageants are a metaphor for Filipino culture because they glorify beauty, reflect filial and societal mores, and provide an aspirational platform that is manifestation of the country’s colonial history.

The quest for the most prestigious crown in the country, Binibining Pilipinas, (Miss Philippines) does not only require Filipino citizenship or a bikini body. Like any sport, hard work and sacrifices are crucial to win the crown. Long “duck walks” to lengthen the leg muscles, non-stop simulated “question and answer” segments to ease stage freight and even nose jobs to look more like their popular Latin American counterparts. Every sequined-studded, tiara-laden, stiletto-decked pageant aspirant represents a bold quest for the crown. Each aspirant have their own motivations, such as using the pageant as a stepping stone to stardom, financial gains or just plain affirmation that she is indeed the loveliest of them all.

© Tammy David