Camerahaus X Xposure Zone CNY2026 Photowalk
Creating Stories Through Photography Chinese New Year Photowalk 2026 in Binondo
A morning that started with coffee and strangers, then ended with full memory cards, new friends, and the happiest kind of street chaos in Manila Chinatown.
Here’s the truth about photowalks, the best ones do not feel like events. They feel like stories in progress.
On Chinese New Year 2026, CameraHaus teamed up with Xposure Zone, led by Rommel Bundalian, to bring photographers into Binondo while the district was alive with celebration, movement, and light.
The simplest way to start a photowalk, coffee at 7 AM
Everything started at 7:00 AM inside Cafe La Manila, with free-flowing coffee and a room full of photographers who were half-awake and fully excited. There were old faces, familiar laughs, and a lot of new faces too.
You could spot the first-timers instantly. They arrived alone, no group, no entourage, just a camera and curiosity. And that’s the magic of this hobby, it makes introductions easy.
After breakfast, the best moment was watching that shift happen. People who came in solo walked out smiling, already talking to someone new, already planning what to shoot next.
Richmond Chi’s workshop made Binondo feel like a map
Then came the workshop by Richmond Chi, a Binondo local, and it changed the energy in the best way. After his talk, it felt like you already knew where to go, what to look for, and how to frame the chaos without getting overwhelmed by it.
Instead of wandering, people started shooting with purpose. Details got noticed. Corners got explored. Stories started forming.
Binondo was packed, and that was the point
When the group finally stepped into Binondo, the streets were already bursting with movement. Dragon and lion dances, crowds, music, vendors, and nonstop motion in every direction.
That kind of environment can feel intimidating. But for street photographers, it’s a gift, it’s where stories are loud, visual, and impossible to fake.
What people really came for, photos, and the feeling of being part of it
Here’s what I noticed, the camera gear matters, but it’s not the headline. The headline is the experience. The city gives you the story, and the group gives you the courage to chase it.
Some photographers shot wide and close. Others hunted details. Some focused on people, others focused on rhythm and motion. Every style worked because the streets were giving everyone something to take home.
3 lessons you can steal from this photowalk
If you want your own photowalk to feel meaningful, not just busy, here’s the playbook this event nailed.
- Start with warmth. Coffee and breakfast turns awkward arrivals into real conversations.
- Give people a “how to see” framework. A local workshop makes a crowded location feel shootable.
- Design for connection. New faces showing up alone is not a problem, it’s the point. People leave with new friends.
Thank you, and see you next year
Binondo was packed, the streets were busy, and the celebration was nonstop. But the energy stayed positive all the way through. Thank you to everyone who joined, whether you came with friends or came alone.
If you left with one great photo, that’s a win. If you left with one new friend, that’s an even bigger win. Until next year.