RIDER'S PASSION: Chii X RS Motovlog / InfinitiX Photography
As a computer tech assigned quite far from home and in need of a fast way to travel, Chii uses his first ride Suzuki Raider J155 FI as his main mode of transportation from home to Caloocan. That Raider J125 FI has been his ride buddy for quite some time but he now owns a Honda RS 125.
It wasn't actually a plan for Chii to be riding, much less owning a motorcycle beforehand. It wasn't something that he though he'll be doing and becoming a hobby and now a part of who Chii is. But because of work and the commute, he decided to get his own ride. His parents were actually against it for the usual reason, his safety but owning a motorcycle would mean a fast way to travel and save some time for his hobby. Several years after, this ride from home became his usual routine until he tried to ride for leisure going to Tagaytay with friends and the rest is history.
Photography? Chii started his photography hobby more than 2 years ago and just like his motorcycling adventure, this isn't a planned thing or a hobby he thought he'd pick up. Because of his exposure to the photographers or Maniniyots of Marilaque, he tried to take a photo on his own using just a mobile phone and now photography is a part of his routine and his career. To improve his shots and to cover more events, Chii decided to up his game by getting a standalone camera that he can use on the streets or events that he covers around 2020.
After resigning from his day job and staying at home, Chii discovered DownShiftVinci on YouTube giving him the inspiration to travel and learn about vlogging. DownShiftVinci became the reason why Chii picked up an action camera and go to places he's never been to before on a motorcycle. The first place where he's done his first solo ride was a whopping Kaybiang-Nasugbu-Tagaytay loop just to test out his action camera and go on a ride solo. He started to see other videos as well from other vloggers like Motour Pilipinas which showed and urged him to go to different places soon and record the whole journey. Hence the birth of Chii-RiderSkyles Motovlog which is now known as Chii x RS Motovlog two years ago.
The photography scene in Marilaque has been going on for quite some time now but the moment that he found out that his photo was taken while enjoying the ride, he decided to try it and fell in love with it. The appreciation, and the happy messages that Chii was receiving has turned his hobby into passion. The thought of making other riders happy with his art made him go back and strive to be better. As they say - Consistency is the key, consistency made the followers of his page explode reaching an awesome 43k follower and 30k likes.
Taking photos and editing them isn't something that you'll learn in a day, tho he has been using his DSLR for quite some now, it wasn't until 2021 that he learned to shoot on manual and learned to edit photos on Lightroom. This has made his shots better drastically.
As they say, nothing that is worthwhile comes easy. You have to strive and give it your best shot every single time as there are always challenges along the way. For Chii, it was the process as a whole that made his ride a little bumpy. Started out as a vlogger, Chii was naturally bashful and reserved so speaking in public, showing his other side and sharing his life in camera didn't came easy. This barrier made him strive more than he's ever done it before and muster all the confidence he can get to gain the strength that he has now. This has placed his name in the industry and gain him more followers and sponsors. Doing this and photography at the same time wasn't an easy feat, they're different on their own respect but similar in some ways. "Enjoy lang kahit mabagal basta umuusad, kaya naman pagsabayin kaya birada lang kung kaya dahil sanay na ako minsan sa Multi-tasking....."
When there are hurdles along the way, you are rewarded with the best price possible. Being a person who can ride, document his adventure and shoot photos made Chii discover a side of him beyond shyness. From going to places he's never been to because of his ride, a vlogger with a whole bunch of people to support him and a photographer giving out smiles to the other riders, Chii is very thankful to the people who he has met along the way, those people who stayed true and never ceased to support what he loves to do. These things are the reasons why Chii is where he is now and how Chii X RS Motovlog and InfinitiX Photography became who he is.
This is Chii Earl Samala and this is his passion.
Wanted to see more of his portfolio? Visit his Facebook page through these links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InfinitixPhoto
All photos are shot by: Learn and Teach Photography (Richard Torres), Idethmotov2 (Edriel Uri), TenTen Moto (J.R. Villanueva) and Pitik 'N Everything (Kyle Noveras)
