Batanes is a coveted destination, mostly for managing to keep its natural beauty maintained. 

It has a quiet way of life, with its residents relying mostly on farming and fishing to make a living. This zen atmosphere has made the Northernmost point of the Philippines a favored destination to get away from the rush of the urban lifestyle. Photographer Lita R. Puyat has managed to capturethe island's peacefulness as part of her submission to Fotomoto's exhibit at Art Fair Philippines 2026.

Lita is one of 11 photographers taking part in Fotomoto's exhibit. Fotomoto has been a regular at Art Fair Philippines since 2022, shedding a spotlight on the art of photography in the Philippines. This year, Lita will be presenting eight black and white photographs in "Batanes Revisited." She first visited Batanes in the late '90s to liberate herself from the demands of commercial work. 

"Photographing for one’s soul vs. photographing for a client is like night and day,” shares Lita. " Her previous visit left an impact, as she recalls her time spent with the island's residents. "The simple folk I encountered warmly welcomed me, unflinching when I pointed my lens at them, no fanfare or posing—unlike today, just about everyone to pose uninhibitedly for photos on our mobile phones," says Lita. "Shooting a medium format film camera required careful thought and technique. Nothing instant or automatic about it."

Her career can be traced back to her first exhibit at the Ayala Museum in 1993. In just a few years, she found herself becoming one of the most in-demand photographers in Manila. She is well-known for her fashion, editorial, fine art, and advertising photography, often displayed at museum galleries, literary publications, newspaper ads, coffee table books, billboards along EDSA, and even supermarket shelves.