Photo by Icky Salazar
THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE FEDERATION OF PHILIPPINE PHOTOGRAPHER FOUNDATION, INC. VOLUME 9, 2015 ISSUE 1
PhotoWorld Asia 2015, January 29 to February 3, 2015 Glorietta Mall, Ayala Center and Asian Institute of Management, Makati City
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> CONTENTS 04 06 08 09 10 12 14 16 18 20 23 24 26 28 30 31 32 34 36 38 41 42 43 44 45 46 48 50 52 52 53 54 54
FPPF 27th Anniversary - CSAngeles PhotoWorld 2015 Speakers - CSAngeles PhotoWorld Schedule of Seminars Amir Alba - 2015 PhotoWorld Chairman - CSAngeles Mangroves - CSAngeles Toys - CSAngeles Nocturnal - CSAngeles Dance - CSAngeles Graffiti - CSAngeles Music - CSAngeles Pathway - CSAngeles Wagayway Mga Kwentong Filipino - JTanedo Tribal Games - Dariel R. A. Quiogue Capture Landscpae with Impact - Edwin Martinez Northern Palawan Photo Safari - Emily Silverman Edgardo Santiago: Master Photographer - CSAngeles Leon Pacunayen - CSAngeles The Kyoto Experience - Susan Celzo Crossing Bridges 11: Korea - - CSAngeles Of Destruction, Hope and New Beginnings - J. Salazar Painting from Photos – Valerie Devaulder Assignment: Photography 1 – Angelo Taloza Tronos - Dr. Marcelo Alonso Amazing Batanes - CSAngeles The Beauty of A Forgotten Place - Sam Occeno Treasures of Greece - Maria Macabio Australia Through My Lens - Agnes Babas Fooks A Day Off - Maggie Badilla Dozen Don’ts - CSAngeles I am A Whipmaker - CSAngeles Pope Francis: A Photographer’s Delight - CSAngeles What They Say - CSAngeles
THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE FEDERATION OF PHILIPPINE PH OTOGRAPHERS FOUNDATION, INC.
VOLUME 6, 2013, ISSUE 1
FPPF PUBLISHERS Eduviges Y. Huang, Chairperson Dr.Amado A.Castro, Finance Officer Lito N.Beltran, Project Director EDITOR-in-CHIEF CeciliaS.Angeles, csa_palay1@yahoo.com CONTRIBUTORS Lito Beltran, Noy del Mundo, Maggie P. Badilla, Dr. Czar Adonis V. Lingad Chris Malinao, Betty Lalana PHOTOGRAPHERS Edi Y. Huang, Lito Beltran, Boy Capala, Kim Lorenzo Salvador SECRETARIAT Jobelle Gabilan GRAPHIC DESIGN Archie Degamo D-WorX: www.dworx.asia Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation, Inc. A. Soriano Avenue, Intramuros, Manila 1002 Tels: (632)524 7576; 524 4175; Telefax: (632)528 0371 E-mail: pablobeltran39@gmail.com; fotoatwork@gmail.com www.photoworldmanila.com Printed by Roma Print Haus • 757-4680
THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE FEDERATION OF PHILIPPINE PH OTOGRAPHERS FOUNDATION, INC.
VOLUME 6, 2013, ISSUE 1
Editorial
The Merging Technologies This is PhotoWorldAsia 2015 theme for its coming annual convention, The Merging Technologies. Very timely. Almost totally gone are the antiquated gadgets and procedures involved in photography. Manual cameras using film of different sizes and sensitivities and the tedious processes involved in developing the negatives from which positive prints come out are almost gone. Only sentimental photographers still get involved in manual photography or black and white film photography even if digital cameras can produce this with a slight pressure on the proper botton.. The magic of today’s digital technology is amazing. A light touch on a particular botton captures exact images. Still, these images can be altered both in color or composition through digital manipulation. In fact, a picture can be altered into the desired image in no time at all. A bald sky can have the desired colors and billowing clouds complete with tiny flocks of birds flying up high in the air. Dull trees can be made colorful. Waterless creeks and rivers can display running water. Gone was old way of advertising . . . the single blanket hand painted by an artist to advertise a new movie. This used to hang across a highway or against a wall of a building near the movie house. Sometimes it was simply right there at the entrance of the theater building. Only those who happened to be in the place where this movie advertisement was hanging happened to see it. Unlike today, the magic of tarpaulins and tv ads heralds this in all corners of the city and even the barrios. Text messages, radio and television ads, flyers, brochures, cell phones and others can circulate messages with a slight touch of Send. The merging technologies do not apply in the various forms of communications only. Where electric and electronic systems are used, so are technologies involved to make life and all its systems and activities convenient and easy. Aren’t these merging technologies making the world closer and closer? Our work easier and easier? Our hearts beating faster and faster? They surely do. So . . . let’s keep up with the trends of time. (CSAngeles)
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Cover Photo by Icky Salazar
Icky Salazar’s winning entry for the Iloilo Paraw Regatta Photo Contest 2014: 2nd place, Paraw Scenic Category. Icky was once the chairman of Photo Summit Cebu and a member of Focal 7 Camera Club of Cebu City.
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27 Anniversary th
By Cecilia S. Angeles
They came alone, in groups, with friends, families or even strangers they met at the entrance of Fort Santiago during the 27th Anniversary of the founding of the Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation, Inc. (FPPF) organized by Lito Beltran, president, Edi Huang, chairman and CUP officers led by Boyet Guevarra, October 25, 2014. These guests were mostly graduates and current participants of the various photography workshops and lectures offered by FPPF not only at Fort Santiago but also in various locations in the city and the provinces as far as Banaue in the north and Zamboanga in the south. Historical Fort Santiago was
crowded with photo bugs wearing black T-shirt with this print in bold letters: FPPF 27th Anniversary. Ambience was amazing. “Hoy, ano ka na?” “Aba, my two studios are very popular. One is managed by my wife who also took the photo workshop here.” “Since I graduated from the FPPF Wedding Photography Workshop, I have covered more than a dozen weddings already. Two of them in Boracay.” “Wow, congrats. I think I will just concentrate on my advertising photography. It pays better.” Yes, I overheard this conversation during our binalot lunch. It made my heart swell a bit, for as one of the lecturers in the workshop, I discovered that our students learned from us and are reaping benefits. They brag about the opportunities they get from photography whether the basic, advanced, cruiseship or wedding. A cruiseship photography graduate regrets being employed by a ship travelling around Asia only. She prefers to get her next photo job from an international vessel not merely travelling around Asia. (WOW!)
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Winning Moments
The activities of the 27th FPPF Anniversary were not only limited to those related to photography like photo contests, shooting of models, demonstration of photography equipment and accessories by photo booths but also physical activities. In fact the anniversary started with a fun run around Fort Santiago followed by the opening of the trade exhibits which offered cameras and photo accessories at bargain prices, a photo marathon and an on-the-spot shooting of models. There were games of physical skills as well as a photo contest titled FACES exclusively for FPPF graduates. A theme for OTS or on-the-spot photo contest was the original century old features of Fort Santiago. From 8:00-12:00 after the fun run was the photo marathon and photo shoot of lovely models for the contest whose theme was FACES. Yes, the photographers who attended the 27th anniversary not only enjoyed the photo shoots, photo goods they got at bargain prices but also seeing again old friends and winning games and photo contests. This is not to mention the unlimited aroz con caldo for breakfast, binalot plus red egg and tomato for lunch and the yummy siopao for merienda. Hymn to Photography played by Kim filled the Intramurus air with its sentimental notes.
Anthony Into, 3rd place
Amateur Photographer of the year
James Singlador, 1st place
3rd IVI International Photo Contest
Joanna Fajardo-Salazar, 1st place
RJ Cabagnot, 1st place
“TuloyangBiyahesaKadayawan 2014 Photo Contest
World Reconstruction Conference 2 International Photo Contest
Arlene Donaire, 1st place
Ruston O. Banal, Jr., 1st place
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TULOY ANG BIYAHE! Sa MASSKARA 2014 On-The-Spot Photo Contest International Photo Awards top picks by country – Philippines
PHOTOWORLD ASIA 2015 Speakers by Cecilia S. Angeles
This annual photography activity sponsored by the Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation (FPPF) is usually held at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) on Makati Avenue cor. Dela Rosa Street, Makati City. This year’s convention is held from January 29, to February 3, 2015. Amir Alba, chairman of this year’s national photography convention, has announced that international speakers, both local and foreign, have been invited to share their expertise to the convention participants. Theme of the current convention is focused on the Changing Technologies. Among this year’s speakers are:
Richard Harrington He flew all the way from Chicago to share his love with us .. . . photography. And the magic of photography starts with the camera. It’s not enough to know how to press the shutter. Richard will share how to operate the camera and produce beautiful photographs. Richard is an inventor, a journalist, a reporter, a producer, a graphic designer, an animator, a master digital photographer, the loving husband of Meghan and a teacher of science and comics to his children, His being with us today is a lifetime opportunity for convention participants to learn his secrets in photography,
You Sin Ung His lecture is about the trends in Korean wedding rehearsals, techniques in artistic portrait lighting, and the design of an ideal photo studio. Wedding is a very delicate subject in photography, and his lecture can supplement the participants’ knowledge and techniques in this activity. He has received the coveted Professional Photographer of America (PPA) and since 2006. He is the president of the Professional Photographer of America in 2012.
Emmanuel T. Santos He was born in the Philippines but in 1957 he immigrated to Australia. From 1979 to 1981, he was a photographer at the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, and since then our speaker has been involved in free lance photography. He has exhibited his works in various galleries around the world including the Philippines, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia Brazil, Belgium, Israel, France, Paris, and others. He has also authored some books and publications and received international awards and grants. Mannix Santos is a versatile speaker.
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Arthur Teng He flew in all the way from Malaysia to share with us the joy and techniques in travel photography which involves by all means the EYE and the MIND. According to him, “What is seen by the eye is what makes the picture, but then, what is seen must be analyzed by the mind.” He was one of the speakers of PhotoSummit Asia 2014 in Cebu. He won international photo contests in Thailand (l987) and Hongkong (1990). He was the first president of Photographic Society of Petaling Jaya (PSPJ) and an honorary official photographer for Nikon in Malaysia in 1998-1890. He published the following coffee table books: Rustic Malaysia: a Pictorial Journey (l994), Likewise, he also contributed pictures for a coffee table book: The Philippines, a Journey through the Archipelago, Bridges of Putrajaya, 2003. He was a participant of the Omar in Focus photo tour and exhibition held in Oman this year.
Sid Maderazo He sounds mystical, mysterious. Perhaps difficult to understand, but he understands you and everybody, for he has a third eye not exactly seen at the center of his forehead. Earlier he studied at the Ateneo de Manila, but he transferred to the University of the Philippines and graduated here with the degree of Fine Arts major in Visual Communication. For some time he worked as a visualizer at McCann Erickson, a leading advertising company here. After a while he was promoted as its senior art director. Later he resigned from his work and decided to produce commercials for television. Together with some partners, he put up the 88storey Films and opened Central Digital Lab, a full service post production house involved in advertising, film projects and restoration for local and international clients. He is also a partner in Voozu, an official distributor of Black Magic Design, Lamparte, Voigtlaender and Cineroid products. He says, “Think with your eyes, and see with your mind.” So . . . . his challenge to our participants: Create art in 30 seconds. He can, so . . . you also can.
Raymond Lim He went around the world sharing his expertise not only in transforming businesses but ultimately people in the process. He started off by selling magazines and palm reading software. Combining hardwork and perseverance since young, he soon became a top sales person pursued by head-hunters for multi-national companies. Success came in easy so he decided to take the next step and put up multiple businesses. Raymond Lim is now the owner of RGB Global Holdings Pte Ltd, a property investment company making waves in Singapore. He is also a founder and CEO of TLC Training and Consultancy. He is a high impact trainer and highly sought after by many property agencies and business owners. To date, he has trained over 5,000 people in Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Indonesia, United States and the Philippines. He is also a business consultant and coach for Chein Chi Tow, Huttons, Great Eastern, Savills and Orange Tee.
Philip Dizon He learned his photography from the University of California in Los Angeles. (ULCA). He is here now in this country where he is a celebrity and fashion photographer based in Manila. Hence . . . his clients are fashion models, society girls, celebrities, movie stars and women in the upper levels of society and business. He has a way of capturing each of his subjects in photography in a very artistic way. Critiques simply describe his pictures soulful, for his models or subjects do not display ordinary poses and expressions. Neither are they captured in ordinary setting and lighting. His every photo is guaranteed a masterpiece in his craft. He is also the CEO of a pharmaceutical firm.
Lim Myeoung Hwan He has won 2012 PPA Grand Imaging Award First Place (Illustrative Category). He is a member of Professional Photographers of Korea (PPK) and Professional Photographers of America (PPA). He is Korea’s outstanding bird photographer. Yes, dear readers, he simply loves birds.
Ruel P. Tafalla A very versatile photographer is Ruel P. Tafalla. Why did I say that? Because some photographers simply indulge in portrait photography and no more. Others like still life, or landscape or seacape only. All themes in photography appeal to Ruel . . . . landscape, portrait, events, wedding, automotive and many more captured digitally or in infrared or film. Since 1999 he has been involved in photography. He is the co-founder of Lensmates Photographic Society, co-owner of Lensmates Studio, and co-founder and owner of KlikPinoy Inc. His works have been featured in the following popular magazines here and abroad: Mandala Airlines in-flight Magazine, April – June 3, 2004 (Indonesia); The New Infrared Revolution Popular Photography Magazine, Feb, 2008 (USA); Digital Photographer Philippines issue no. 7, no. 16; I-Mag Photography Magazine Vol 1 no, 11. He has won several major prizes in local and international photo contests. To wit: two first places in 2007 and 2008, Oceans category Palm Beach Post Focus Nature Phooto Contest; Wee Cho Bian Award, landscape category’ 52nd Singapore International Salon of Creative Photography 2004; Digital Camera Magazine Photographer of the Year Action and Movement category’ 2004 UK; Hnorable memtion Color Category, Salon Foto Indonesia. He has also displayed his pictures in Crossing Bridges in 2004 (Singapore), and 2005 (Indonesia). He had another photo exhibit in Makai City in 2008.
Vince Crismer C. Villena His talk is about an activity he has been involved in since he was eight years old. . . . . . flying. His lecture is Drone Photography which is not a common topic in photo conventions like PhotoWorld Asia 2015. At that very young age he was already flying remote controlled aircraft. He is one of the owners of Clearskies Inc. and has been involved with the Commercial UAV Industry. In fact he holds more than 200 hours flying Commercial UAV and also more than 100 hours flying full scale manned airplane. Clearskies Inc. provides aerial mapping, aerial photography, aerial videography and aerial survey in this country. He is a software architect doing hardware and software projects for robotics and UAV Avionics. Clearskies Inc together with RedAnts Media Inc has provided aerial videos for various TV commercials and corporate AVP’s. For 15 years now our speaker has been with the information technology. No doubt, he has mastered IT very well, and right now he shares with us a segment of this technology which is Drone Photography.
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Aihara Masaaki He is a journalist, a law professor at the Nihon University in Tokyo and a free lance photographer. He started shooting in Australia, for be believed it is the oldest country in the world, so he could capture original relics and aborigines there plus nature at its best. I can feel that our speaker loves the world including its minutest elements . . . . the insects, the animals, weeds, trees, water, landscape and everything. He can even feel through his skin the moisture among the cacti in the dessert. A very sensitive photographer, he desires to record everything in his camera. He does this by riding on his motortcycle so that he could comb and record nature and its elements at its best. He feels that everything around . . . . from the sky to the ocean floor were created for him to capture in his photography. I am sure he has not finished shooting everything in his camera. He confessed that he has been photographing Australia for 20 years now. I hope our speaker will also capture in his lens the beauty of our 7, 107 islands.
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Randell Cipriano An architect. A visualizer. A designer. A photographer. A Fujifilm user. A manager of visualizers who use 3ds Max and Vray. He uses Photoshop to improve pictures particularly their colors and composition. He particularly likes landscape and travel photography. He considers photography a path of new learning. When he visits places, he learns many things about them particularly their history and people. His Fuji gadgets capture all evidences of the place, its topography, structures built by conquerors in a particular period in our history, stories involved in these evidences. Yes indeed, he is shooting not only the physical structure but the stories involved. Very fulfilling is his photography. “I treat photography as a journey and a path of continued learning,” he said. Whenever he is free, he goes out with his camera to capture landscape displaying patterns of light to emphasize the beauty of nature. . . . “to inspire and be inspired.”
Amir Alba: PhotoWorld Asia 2015 Chairman A versatile photographer who shoots events, weddings, portraits, and more is this year’s chairman of the annual photography convention sponsored by the Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation, Inc. (FPPF). He announced that outstanding international and local photographers have been invited to speak in the photography convention scheduled at the Asian Institute of Management on January 29 to February 3, 2015. The theme of this year’s photo convention is very timely: Merging Technologies. This year’s convention also features a trade show which includes display, demonstration, operation, exhibit and sale of gadgets and products related to photography. Mr. Amir Alba hails from Balanga City. He is a businessman involved in industrial, electrical and electronics trading. In 2002 he took up the FPPF Basic Photography Workshop at Fort Santiago, Intramuros, and the following year he was a delegate to PhotoWorldAsia 2003. He was also a member of the PWA Education Committee in 2007. Since 2010 he has been teaching photography workshops at the Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation. He organized the Avid Photography FB Group in 2011, and the following year this new photo club became a legitimate member of the FPPF. (CSAngeles)
Photo by Allan Borebor and Darwin Gernale
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> PhotoWorld Cup 2014
MANGROVES
Very interesting is the May 2014 FPPF inter-club photo contest whose theme is Mangroves.. Entries show nature at its best . . . . some with complete elements: the sky, the clouds, the hills and mountains, the plants with special focus on mangrove, people and animals. First prize winner, Rere King, of Cebu Images Camera Club, captures mangrove in black and white whose composition shows prominently the rule of thirds. Anthony Ronald Aron Garcia of Lakbay Klik captures mangrove against a colorful setting. Upright young mangroves created a graphic design reflected on the clear water. Another sunset composition accented by mangrove seedlings with sparse leaves captured by Dinno Sandoval of Framed Shots Camera Club gets the third place. Anthony I. Cruz of Montalban Camera Club wins fourth place. His picture records the linear patterns of the lower segment of the mangrove. The club entry of the Pangasin-
1st - Rere King - Images Camera Club
an Photographers Club gets the fifth place. A long bamboo bridge framed by mangroves and lighted with a kerosene lamp is captured by the club photographer. Twilightzone member, Toto Celzo, wins sixth place. From a mangrove plantation he creates an abstract pattern in yellow, green, brown and white which can equal the quality of European abstract paintings. Peace . . . this is the message of the seventh prize picture of Michael Siy. The rule of third is well observed in this photo. A close up shot of patterns of mangroove roots crawling in various directions is the eighth place winner of Linda del Prado of Cebu Images Camera Club. Manila Avid Photographers captures a mangrove seed bed accented by a blue boat with young boys. This picture gets the ninth place. Completing the top ten topnotchers is a dome-like mangrove, the entry of Jai Murillo of Manila Avid Photographers, (CSA) 2nd - Anthony Ronald Garcia - Lakbay Klik Kamera Klub
3rd - Dinno Sandoval - Framed Shots Camera Club
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4th - Anthony I. Cruz - Montalban Camera Club
6th - Toto Celzo - Twilight Zone Camera Club
5th - Pangasinan Photgraphers Club
7th - Michael Siy - Images Camera Club
8th - Glinda Del Prado - Images Camera Club
9th Jai Murcillo - Manila Avid Photographers Camera Club
10th -Jerry Lee - Prima Camera Club
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> PhotoWorld Cup 2014
TOYS
Very interesting are the toys captured by the FPPF club members, the theme for the June monthly photo contest. My thoughts returned to my childhood days after seeing some of the toys I used to play with. First prize winner Raymond Low of Cebu Images Camera has captured two half-naked young boys racing with their recycled bicycle wheels driven manually with an improvised stick. Very artistic is Lee Viray Cahili’s second place paper boats floating on a clear water which reflects clearly the two boys playing with them. Endless excitement can be traced on the faces of the Ifugao boys clothed in their colorful g-strings, as they race on their wooden scooters, the lush green rice terraces in the background. This third prize winner goes to Danny Victoriano of SLR. The fourth place is captured by Robo Formacion of Lucida Camera Club. His composition shows silhouette forms of softball players in action etched against the colorful sunset sky. Another silhouette of a boy flying his kite against a distant cityscape at sunset gives Chris Lleones of SLR fifth place. At a glance the sixth placer toy house of Bryne Baun of Nikon Camera Club of the Philippines complete with two boats paddled by doll figures on a huge lake appears to be shot at the Tausog village in southwestern Zamboanga. (Frame One Volume 6 issue) The image looks very familiar since FPPF had just been there recently. Marbles? Balloons? Deceiving bubbles can mislead a viewer with the
seventh place winner of Wilfredo Leonardo of Tropang Artistiko. A distorted perspective makes the paper jeepney toy and the child’s hand look extraordinarily big and unproportional. Christopher Santiago of Framed Shots Camera Club wins eighth place for this composition. Jose Melencio Brillo of Twiliightzone captures a portrait of his Japanese spitz, a small toy monkey hanging inverted in its mouth. This gives him the ninth place. The strands of long white hair backlighted against a black background all the more makes the dog’s portrait outstanding. Brian Agana of Nikon Club captures two boys calling each other using tin cans toy telephone. The boys, one on a swing and the other on a tree trunk, look more excited with their primitive tin can phones than the realistic cellphones. This wins for him the tenth place. Jerome Ventigan of Twiliightzone Camera Club wins eleventh place with his entry of toy images blocked by lights creating jigsaw puzzle. Twelfth place winner of Manila Avid Photography Camera Club belongs to Jai Murcillo. He captures a picture of a boy spinning his top. The boy’s shadow creates a diagonal line framing the rotating top. If children enjoy playing with toys, photographers enjoy shooting them. (CSAngeles)
2nd - Lee Vray Cahili- Beyond Lenti Camera Club
1st - Raymond Low - Images Camera Club
3rd - Danny Victoriano - Samahan ng Mga Litratista sa Rizal Camera Club
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4th - Robo Formacion - Lucida Camera Club
5th - Chris Lleones - Samahan ng Mga Litratista sa Rizal Camera Club
6th Bryne Baun - Nikon Club Philippines
7th - Wilfredo Leonado - Tropang Artistiko Camera Club
8th - Christopher Santiago - Framed Shots Camera Club
11th -Jerome Ventigan -Twilight Zone Camera Club
9th - Jose Melencio Brillo -Twilight Zone Camera Club
10th - Brian Agana -Nikon Club Philippines
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9th - Jai Murcillo -Manila Avid Photographers Camera Club
> PhotoWorld Cup 2014
NOCTURNAL Nocturnal or night or evening was PhotoWorld Cup theme for July. As usual, FPPF photographers had their own interpretation of the subject for the monthly photo contest. Nocturnal was captured by the various club photographers in different compositions, and surprisingly, no two pictures displayed the same subject, the same style, the same setting. First prize winner Danny Victoriano of SLR framed in foliage his subject in silhouette, apparently a street balot vendor who was not bothered at all by the rain nor the darkness. The nocturnal ambience expressed by the second place photo of Joseph Gordon of Image Camera Club was prominently displayed in the three ceiling bulbs of a commercial wall. Premier Elipe of Oro Photographic Society won third place for capturing a seascape in color. A boy holding a flashlight keeps the firmament visible including vapors and water droplets.
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Very suggestive was CCN Bob Lacson’s nocturnal composition framing four persons with a circular mosquito net suspended up in the ceiling. A small simple light source on the table highlights the faces of the subjects inside the mosquito net against the dark background. A couple of street lamps in the background backlight the scene showing a sidewalk vendor attending to his three customers falling in line. It was not clear whether he was heating some barbecue or broiling fish. This fifth place winner belonged to Rolando Gironilla of Oro Photographic Society.
Completing the top ten were:
1st - Danny Victoriano - Samahan ng Mga Litratista sa Rizal
2nd - Gordon Joseph - Images Camera Club
Glinda del Prada, Images Camera Club, sixth; Eleuterio Catugas, Camera Club of Negros, seventh; Roger Baligod, Nayon, eighth; Jai Murcillo, Manila Avid, ninth; Jeffrey Ponce, Oro Photographic Society, tenth. (CSAngeles)
3rd - Premier Elipe - Oro Photographic Society
4th - Bob Lacson - Camera Club of Negros
6th - Glinda Del Prada - Images Camera Club
5th - Rolando Gironella - Oro Photographic Society
7th - Eleuterio Catugas - Camera Club of Negros
8th - Roger Baligod - Nayon Photographers Club
9th - Jai Murcillo - Manila Avid Photographers Camera Club
10th - Jeffrey Ponce - Oro Photographic Society
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> PhotoWorld Cup 2014
Dance
dery element revealed the dance secret. SLR member Danny Victoriano featured in his seventh place entry folk dancers shot at bird’s eye view in their colorful costumes and holding lighted candles framed by various colors abstracted by a slow shutter speed. An antique church and a blue sky formed the background for these ethnic dancers in colorful costumes. Thick leaves on the upper left corner of this eighth placer picture framed the composition of James Singlador of SLR. Feeling very young at heart were the senior citizens happily waltzing together which made Anthony T. Tinto of iFocus Camera Club win ninth place. Suzan Celso got the
1st - Boboy Ramiro - Nayon Photographers Club
PhotoWorld Cup 2014 theme for August was Dance, so this was another test to the creativity of the FPPF club members. True indeed, the first place winner was Buboy Ramiro of Nayon Photography Club for his naturally lighted picture which artistically captured a pair of tinikling dancers shot at worm’s eye view, the CCP Building in the background. Second place went to the club entry of Framed Shots Camera Club featuring dancers on the elevated concrete stairs of the park. To capture the dance jumping action, maybe the photographer of this picture commanded the dancers. “Jump, jump!” Lian Namenzo Hernandez of Nayon Photography Club placed third for his composition of a ballet dancer in black leotards doing a grand jete’ against a clean, light background. The sharp facial image of a male dancer was captured by Rey Cerezo of Makati Camera Club, as he leads his lady partner into a circular swing . . . . captured apparently with a slow shutter speed. A simple composition of ballroom dancing partners taken with a shallow depth of field by Amy
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2nd - Framed Shots Club
4th - Rey Cerezo - Makati Camera Club
3rd - Lian Nemenzo - Nayon Photographers Club
Genalyn Dionco of PLDT Camera Club won fifth place. Its backlighting made the composition more impressive. A male dancer apparently sprayed with powder captured with a fast shutter speed by Manila Avid Photographers member, Jai Murillo, landed sixth place. The pow-
tenth place for her picture apparently featuring a flamenco dancer. Eleventh place was the entry of Spice Canlas of Photographers Club of Tarlac while the twelfth place went to Wilfredo Leonado of Tropang Artistiko. Looking at the various pictures of the members of the more than 52 FPPF clubs, one certainly feels he is also dancing. (CSAngeles)
5th - Ginalynn Dionco - PLDT Lens Camera Club
8th - James Singlador - Samahan ng Mga Litratista sa Rizal Camera Club
6th - Jai Murcillo - Manila Avid Photographers Camera Club
9th - Anthony T. Into - I-F.O.C.U.S Camera Club
10th - Susan Celzo - Twilight Zone Camera Club
7th - Danny Victoriano - Samahan ng Mga Litratista sa Rizal Camera Club
11th - Spice Canlas - Photographers Club of Tarlac
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> PhotoWorld Cup 2014
Graffiti
1st - Fely Araojo - Nikon Camera Club
3rd - Carlo Romero - Oro Photographic Society Camera Club
4th - Jai Murcillo - Manila Avid Photographers Camera Club
How in the world could FPPF photographers have chosen graffiti as their inter-club theme for its September photo contest? Graffiti is synonymous to vandalism or eyesore of public and private walls. Never an art to me! But . . . looking at the winning and non-winning entries, I got goose pimples. Each one speaks of art . . . from theme to composition, color harmony to rendering and the general impact of each entry. And the photographers have an artistic way of shooting them to exclude eye destructions like an irregular painting surface or an unwanted crack on the wall. In fact, a thick green foliage exactly above the wall was converted into a hair of a portrait. Ah, simply beautiful . . . all entries appeal not only to the eyes but also to the heart, Each entry depicts very strong story like the first placer of Fely Amargo of Nikon Club Philippines. Amid an antiquated wall whose decaying concrete surface reveals a standing boy and girl balancing on a swing by optical illusion.
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2nd - Noel Ubaldo - Pangasinan Photographers Club
5th - Lea Ricolcol - Framed Shots Camera Club
Second place went to Noel Ubaldo of Pandacan Photographers Cub. This entry shot at bird’s eye view shows a child maneuvering his tricycle along three narrow wooden planks placed end to end to avoid the trash littered around. Carlo Romero of Oro Photographic Society captures third place for his multiple graffiti compositions on the total areas of the left and right walls plus the entire floor. A prominent title or label (?), Anything Goes, speaks truly of his art. A lone character in red shirt, apparently meditating, accents his composition. Contrast to the previous entry is the fourth place winner of Manila Avid Photographers member, Jai Murillo. Colors of the Philippine flag are interpreted by this graffiti artist through embossed words as big as the space occupied by the colors: HOPE for blue, LOVE for red, PEACE for yellow representing the stars on the white triangle.
6th - Erwin Lim - Images Camera Club
8th - Bong Alie - Manila Avid Photographers Camera Club
10th - Richie Garcia - Manila Avid Photographers Camera Club
11th - Lea Ricolcol - Framed Shots Camera Club
7th - Japoi Cequina - Camera Club of Negros
9th - Felamae Apogan - BPI Camera Club
Frame Shots member Lea Racolcol’s graffiti fifth placer appears a fitting illustration for children’s book. Three young ladies pose for a groufie shot (not selfie) in front of an artistic graffiti of a tiger framed artistically with yellow leaves set on a royal blue background to merit the sixth place. The graffiti artist certainly knows his color harmony. Japoie Ceguna of Camera Club of Negros black and white graffiti wins the seventh place. Two words, HARM and VIRUS written in contrasting tonal values and sizes are very prominent in the foreground. The background consists of the façade of a squatter house, a shy boy covering his face on the extreme left side. Eighth place goes to Bong Abe of Manila Avid Photographers. His graffiti comes in very striking colors depicting the close up portraits of two laborers in action framing this slogan: Workers of the World Unite! In the foreground are actual delivery workers to highlight
12th - Danny Victoriano - Samahan ng Mga Litratista sa Rizal Camera Club
the graffiti. Felamae Apugan of BPI Camera Club lands ninth place for her graffiti that can pass for an impressionistic painting of three colorful fish. A well done close up portrait in black and white of a smiling handsome young man marked with a big white X on the left side of the face and framed by huge expressions OHH, BooM, BAdZ, Zero-7 plus a young trash collector holding an open white sack merits the tenth place. A close-up shot of a colorful turkey’s tail painted on a huge wall four times the height of the ordinary person standing right against the same wall places Lea Ricolcol (FS) on the eleventh honor. Completing the September top contenders is Danny Victoriano (SLR) on the twelfth place. He captures two happy school children walking along a colorful wall with the huge cartoon image of a smiling boy, one eye closed, a thick green foliage crowning his head which appears exactly like his hair. (CSAngeles)
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> PhotoWorld Cup 2014
MUSIC
Music involves sound, and how can sound created by music be registered in pictures? Surprisingly, FPPF club members have captured music in various techniques and compositions. So through their pictures a viewer hears or sees music physically. After all music is not abstract. Michael Siy of Images Camera Club wins first place for his composition showing a centenarian guitarist strumming his guitar, a baby close to his side imitating exactly what he was doing. Jaime Singlador (SLR) gets second place for his entry showing the silhouette of a farmer sitting under a huge tree. He is also playing with his guitar. Third place goes to a musician playing his flute in black and white belongs to Joey Ramos of SLR. Robo Formacion of Lucida Camera Club gets the fourth place. His subject is not a musician but a carpenter who is making guitars. Fifth place winner is another SLR member, RJ Cabagnot. His composition displays seven colorful wine cups manipulated by feminine fingers to create music. A musician sans shirt plays the guitar for his loved
one sitting by his side, a small tree with straight horizontal leafy branches standing on the opposite side. This is the sixth place winner belonging to Jesse Narrazo of CCN. Carlo Romero of Oro Camera Club captures the seventh place. His subject is the portrait of an old, old flutist whose deep wrinkles are registered clearly on his face. Is this a Venetian blind? I wonder how it produces music. It is the eighth place winner belonging to Hipolito Buscano of Oro Camera Club. Anthony I Cruz of Montalban Camera Club lands ninth place for his composition depicting a children’s combo framed by the rear side of the jeepney. Tenth place belongs to Michael Ting of Oro Photography Club. Together with drums and cymbals the mucisian played with light based on the musical beat. Eleventh place features two young legs framing pedals of the piano. Twelfth place shows a musician in black outfit playing taps in front of a coffin.
2nd - James Singlador - SLR Camera Club 3rd - Joey Ramos - SLR Camera Club
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1st - FMichael Siy - Images Camera Club
4th - Robo Formacion - Lucida Camera Club
5th - RJ Cabagnot - SLR Camera Club
6th - Jesse Narrazo - Camera Club of Negros
7th - Carlo Romero - Oro Photography Society Camera Club
9th -Anthony I. Cruz - Montalban Camera Club
8th - Hipolito Busgano - Oro Photography Society Camera Club
10th - Michael Ting - Oro Photography Society Camera Club
11th - Casilda Larrazabal - Lucida Camera Club
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12th - Emma Foronda - Team Juan Makasining Camera Club
> PhotoWorld Cup 2014
PATHWAY
Simply pathway. No other phrase added like pathway to heaven. Easily Antonio G. Vasquez of Camera Club of Negros captured first place with his composition showing a back lighted boy traversing alone a layered path of the rice terraces in Banaue. Anthony L. Cruz of Montalban Camera Club placed second with an impressive wide angle picture taken with a fish eye lens. Very colorful is the third place winner of Anthony T. Into of iFOCUS Camera Club showing a concrete dike, a man in Christmas colors sitting on it. Apparently zoomed in at a slow shutter speed is the fourth place winner of Joey Ramos (SLR). Short-lighted school children walking along a dike of the famous rice terraces wins fifth place for first prize winner, Antonio G. Vasquez. The club entry of Image Camera Club wins sixth place. This picture seems taken at the white sandy hills of Vietnam. Evidence? The accent. . . two women wearing the Vietnam salakot.
Beautiful. This is all I can say about the seventh place winner of Edwin Loyola of Framed Shots Camera Club. He submitted a sharply captured colorful bug in shallow depth of field used as accent to its blurry green background. Images Camera Club entry gets the eighth place. Contrasting tonal values are very prominent in this picture as shown by the graceful winding path ending on a figure in silhouette at the peak of a hill. On the other hand the BPI Camera Club ninth place entry shows drab hills with three figures apparently photographers, its path a foot lower than the surface of the hill. A man in blue walking alone on a rocky path lined on both sides with colorful red and green trees lands tenth place. The picture seems taken abroad. Eleventh place winner is Ding Alcayde of Tropang Artistiko with his formal presentation of the theme. Twelfth placer is Arturo de Vera. His black and white picture appears a concrete path in the city showing cyclists, walkers and even carabaos. (CSAngeles)
1st - Dr. Antonio Vasquez - Camera Club of Negros
3rd - Anthony T. Into - I-F.O.C.U.S. Camera Club
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2nd - Anthony I. Cruz - Montalban Camera Club
4th - Joey Ramos - SLR Camera Club
6th - Images Camera Club
5th - Dr. Antonio Vasquez - Camera Club of Negros
7th - Edwin Loyola - Framed Shots Camera Club
8th - Images Camera Club
9th - BPI Camera Club
10th - Malbar Ferrer - Photgraphic Society of Iloilo
11th - Ding Alcayde - Tropang Artistiko Camera Club
12th - Arturo B. De Vera Jr. - Tropang Artistiko Camera Club
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Wagayway Festival 2014 City of Imus
1st - Toto Celzo - Twilight Zone Camera Club
Under Presidential Proclamation No. 374, President Diosdado Macapagal declared May 28 of every year as the National Flag Day, acknowledging that the newly sewn Philippine flag by Marcela Agoncillo, first received its baptism of Fire when it was waved in victory after the Battle of Alapan on May 28, 1898 in Barrio Alapan, Imus, Cavite. This event triggered the declaration of Philippine Independence on June 12, 1898.
2nd - Conrad Panelo - Tropang Artistiko Camera Club
The City of Imus annually celebrates the Wagayway festival to give homage to the brave Imuseños who fought in the battle of Alapan and to ensure that the youth will not forget the sacrifices of our forefathers. Spearheaded by Ms. Corazon del Mundo as Tourism head, the theme for the Wagayway 2014 Festival was: “Unity Towards a Resilient Community”. The City Government officials headed by Mayor Emmanuel L Maliksi believed that today, the Imuseños are fighting a battle with climate Change and its disastrous effects on lives, properties and livelihood. Ensuring unity among communities and empowering the citizens will ensure resiliency within the community.
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3rd - Darwin Reyes
THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE FEDERATION OF PHILIPPINE PH OTOGRAPHERS FOUNDATION, INC.
VOLUME 6, 2013, ISSUE 1
4th - Romado Javillonar - SLR Camera Club
5th - Pablo Apostol - PLDT Lens Camera Club
6th - Norbert Briones - Tropang Artistiko Camera Club
7th - Anthony Ronald Garcia - Lakbay Klik Kamera Klub
8th - Bong Alie - Manila Avid Camera Club
9th - Kristopher Felix
10th Boyet Guevarra Nayon
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Mga Kwentong Filipino “MgaKuwentong Pilipino” was held last 2014 as a quarterly completion of camera clubs affiliated with the FPPF. The competition dealt with three subject matters, the first dealt with the celebration of the Filipino Spirit or “Lakas ng Pilipino”. The second competition had Filipino cultural heritage as a theme, it was entitled “PamanangLahi”. And the third and last competition had celebrations and festivals as a theme and is entitled as “Pagdiriwang at Pag-gunita. There were three first place winners for each category and each first prize winner was awarded by Samsung Electronics Philippines with an NX camera. Minor prizes were also awarded by the FPPF. The competition was well participated by the affiliate clubs. The competition was initiated by the Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation (FPPF) in cooperation with the National Committee for the Visual Arts of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).
1st - Froi Rivera - Framed Shots Camera Club
The competition had for its objective the raising of the consciousness of the Filipino photographers regarding their own culture and traditions. As a mainstream visual art, photography plays a very important role in the creation if photographic images that would illustrate the richness of the culture and traditions of the Filipinos. We have always believed that photographers are the documenters of culture and history. Photographers play a very important role in reaching the hearts and minds of the people towards nation building ang national development.
2nd - Froi Rivera - Framed Shots Camera Club
3rd - Danilo Victoriano - Samahan ng Mga Litratista sa Rizal
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1st - Mandy Javillonar - Samahan ng Mga Litratista sa Rizal Camera Club
1st - Joey Ramos - SLR Camera Club
2nd - James Singlador - Samahan ng Mga Litratista sa Rizal Camera Club
2nd - Arturo B. De Vera - Tropang Artistiko Camera Club
3rd - Premier Elipe - Oro Photographic Society
3rd - Danilo Victoriano
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FPPF SHOOTS THE FIRST DAVAO TRIBAL GAMES by Dariel R. A. Quiogue
The games of childhood are the best preparation for adult life. And if you’re of the Lumad tribes living in Mindanao highlands, that means a life of farming and harvesting rice, hunting, and having a level of fitness we lowlanders only get by going religiously to a gym. Last August 14 the first Tribal Games for Peace fest was held at the Peoples’ Park in Davao City as part of the annual Kadayawan festivites. The event featured twelve interesting Lumad sports showcasing their way of life, such as: archery (pana) and sosopotan (blowgun) target shooting, and bubuntug, throwing spears at a rolling ball, as preparation for hunting; a rice pounding and winnowing race (bibinayo); a water-carrying relay using bamboo poles (sosakoro). There were also performances of tribal music and dance before and after the games. Five tribes participated, clad in their traditional attire and marching onto the field singing and dancing: Ata Manobo, the day’s champions; Ovu Manuvu; Bagobo Clata; Bagobo Tagabawa; and Matigsalog. Occasions to gather the tribes from their remote highland homes come very seldom, so this event was a great opportunity for photographers to capture a side of the Philippines we don’t often see.
Photo by Dariel Quiogue - Lumad women having fun in the water-carrying race
Media coverage organizer for the event Tommy Iñigo invited a visiting FPPF delegation composed of Mrs. Edi Huang, Lito Beltran, Ruwen Verdaguer, Amir Alba, Davao residents Dariel and Cathy Quiogue, and visiting FPPF graduate from Kerala Ajay Thoppil Chandran to shoot the games, and all enjoyed themselves very much shooting the very colorfully clad Lumads having fun at the events. Inigo said they hope to have this as a regular feature of Davao City’s big celebrations such as Kadayawan and Araw ng Davao, with potentially an event for the Muslim groups next year. Inigo also said he hopes the event will attract more photography enthusiasts from the rest of the country. Photo by Dariel Quiogue - The Matigsalog team pull their way to victory in the tug of war.
www.photoworldmanila.com / Tel nos. 524-7576, 528-0371/ www.facebook.com/FPPF
> FEATURES Capture Landscape with Impact
by Edwin Martinez
The ability of a photograph to seize a viewer’s attention is often affected by colors for they can make or break the photograph. During certain periods of the day the sun passes through layers of elements in the atmosphere especially during sunrise and sunset. The blue spectrum is reduced, and warm colors are more dominant. These warm colors are not exclusive to the sky alone. Monumental elements such as mountains, cliffs, etc. act as mirrors to colors. Mountains with snow usually absorb more colors and in some instanc-
es produce saturated boosts of red. In this case what we call Mountain or Alpen glows. Light alone is not enough to produce a good landscape picture. Natural elements such as clouds, hills and mountains, trees, weeds, grasses, rocks and stones, sandy shores plus a thousand more elements of nature burst with warm and cool colors. Each of them reflects FINE LIGHT on the landscape composition.
What makes a landscape photo dynamic? Is it just fine light? In today’s visually laden media, you will find so many photos uploaded, but there will be a few that catch your attention. Attractive landscape photos make the viewer look at the picture longer than usual. There are many visual cues that make these photos stand out. In my opinion these photos usually contains the following: Light and Color. Intense colors make the viewer more attracted to look at pictures. Studies have proven that colors play a big part in the quality of a photo as seen in the social media and photo sites. Warm and vivid colors are like magnets to viewers. Engaging Design. Lines and elements display a visual path. The viewer sees the entire image from point A to point B. Diagonal lines and curves are dynamic lines that provide displacement or movement. Elements of motion or absence of it. An element moving or the absence of the movement intrigues the viewer. It defies the common logic and makes the viewer look longer. Make sure that these elements are used together with an effective visual design. These are the basic tips that I believe make a landscape picture dynamic. There is no magic or mystery involved. No complicated mathematical configurations or degrees. Being out there and training the self how to capture dynamic landscapes in pictures is the best alternative. About the Photographer: Edwin Martinez is widely respected as one of the finest landscape photographers the Philippines has ever produced. His vast experience shooting different locales in his home country and abroad - in Iceland, Canada, and The American West, among others , have cemented for Edwin an undisputed distinction of his expertise in the field of photography. He is a Canon Philippines Brand Ambassador and a featured photographer for Singh-Ray Filters of America. His works are often featured in both local and international photography publications. Edwin also co-facilitates the Philippine’s premiere landscape photography course, Chasing Light Workshop. He likewise leads photography tours to the most challenging and stunning locations around the world. Edwin is a sought after speaker and instructor and also shoots for several high profile companies. He is an inspiration to this generation’s band of photographers. Many wait to see his photos captured from his next adventures. Visit his pages for more of his work. https://www.facebook. com/EdwinMartinezPhotography, http://500px.com/EdwinMartinez, http://edwinmartinezphoto.com/ Or you can email him for inquiries at edwinmartinezphotography@gmail.com.
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Northern Palawan Photo Safari
by Emily Silverman
The FPPF Northern Palawan Photo Safari was the Shoot of a Lifetime! As a first time photography student I did not know what to expect, but I had the time of my life! We arrived in Puerto Princesa on the morning of November 18th. We stayed in a very well maintained pension and feasted on fresh lobster, fish, crabs, prawns and mangos. We left early the next morning for a six hour ride to the tropical paradise of El Nido, where white sandy beaches and lovely clear blue water awaited us. We arrived at a quaint Inn on the beach, just in time to catch the lovely sunset over the limestone boulders in the distance. We were treated to a delicious dinner and turned in early in preparation for our sunrise shoot. The rest of the day consisted of island hopping, snorkeling in the coral and colorful fish filled waters, swimming in the amazingly beautiful lagoons, actually climbing to the top of a limestone cliff, and a late afternoon swim just outside our hotel. In the evening, we toured the city and stopped into a local market, to get a flavor of the local atmosphere
The ride back to Puerto Princesa was filled with many side trips. We visited Taytay and were able to capture amazing views from the top of Fort Santa Isabel, a stone fort built in 1667. We were also fortunate to be able to visit a small village and capture the life of it’s residents. We photographed mostly children, who were sweet and innocent. One little girl ran inside to put on her best clothes for the picture. The children were thrilled to have their pictures taken and wanted to see themselves in the view finder. This visit somehow changed my life.
out shapes that have been forming for over thousands of years, one which looked like Jesus was especially amazing. We saw monkeys who enjoyed showing off for the cameras, and took a tour of a crocodile farm. Those of us who dared, held a baby crocodile. We stopped by Honda Bay, Bakers Hill, and a weaving factory. We had a delectable farewell dinner at a charming restaurant and ended our trip with a colorful and delicious Halo halo!
I took over 1,500 shots and feel that after this trip I have improved greatly as a photographer. Our instructor was amazing and the leaders of the FPPF have more energy than any teenagers I know. I was treated like family and have new lifelong friends. Not only do I have a renewed passion for taking more compelling photographs but I have a new thirst for adventure and challenging myself in the future.
We stopped several times along the road to capture women washing clothes, farmers plowing their fields, trashing rice, and one Carabou taking a much needed rest. On our return to Puerto Princesa we took the Sabang Under Ground River tour. We were able to shoot wonderful pictures of the unusual formations. Our guide pointed
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> FEATURES Despite the amazing trends in today’s digital art particularly in photography, veteran photojournalist, Edgardo S. Santiago, remains calm and totally at peace with his old time photography. Instead of using the handy digital camera, he still shoots with his film camera, and develops his film in the traditional way with the foul-smelling developer and the equally odorous fixer in a tightly closed darkroom. A tiny ray of light is enough to destroy Ed Santiago’s precious shots. He is never amazed by the magic of a digital camera nor the convenience of lightroom. He is at ease working in the darkroom sans computer. His shots? Picture perfect! Recently, he displayed them before the new photographers who graduated from the FPPF Basic Photography Workshop. The way I observed they were wondering where lies Ed Santiago’s magic in his traditional photography amid the convenience of the modern digital system. A legitimate artist, Ed Santiago studied Painting at the UST College of Fine Arts from 1954 to 1957. But he is better known as a photojournalist, to be specific, having worked with the Manila Chronicle as a color technician or operator in rotogravure color processes since he got out of the premises of the University of Sto. Tomas in 1957. For almost six years from 1966 to 1972 he also worked as color technician and rotogravure separator as well as a magazine and news contributing photographer for the Manila Times Publishing Co. Impressed by his fine photographs the following local dailies made him a senior staff photographer: Philippine Daily Express, Expressweek, Evening Express, Filipino Express Weekend Magazine and the Philippine Tribune a year later. The Philippine Daily Globe appointed him a staff photographer from 1987-1989 and promoted him two years later as its chief photographer in 1993. His photographs had also graced the pages of Mabuhay Magazine and Lifestyle Asia. Ed Santiago’s journalism activities were not merely limited to supplying pictures to newspapers and magazines, but he also shares his knowledge and skills to students or enthusiastic groups through giving lectures and workshops in photojournalism or being a resource speaker in countless occasions. He also exhibited his works in galleries here and abroad, solo or in groups. A very fulfilling assignment given to him by the Philippine Daily Express was his full coverage of the entire visit of Pope John Paul II to selected places in the Philippines in 1980. The same daily newspaper also assigned him as its official photographer to cover the entire state visit of Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos to the United States in 1982. Likewise, he covered the inaugural flight of the Philippine Airlines to Chicago, USA in 1985. A gratifying experience was his assignment to cover the plight of Filipino workers in the Island of Nauro in Central Pacific. Like other photographers he has joined some local and international photography contests and has reaped honors and won handsome prizes. To wit: first prize, human interest category, NPC Elizalde Photo Contest, 1965; grand prize, Photo Journalist of the Year, NPC Elizalde Photo Contest 1969. In this same contest he also grabbed the second and honorable
Edgardo S. Santiago:
Master By Cecilia S. Angeles
mention prizes. In the two succeeding years that followed (1970, 1971) in the same yearly National Press Club photo contest, he won the poor third and fourth prizes respectively of the Pictorial Division and Art and Tourism categories. Back to the top, he captured the 1974 first place, Art and Tourism Category of the NPC Elizalde Photo Contest. Added to this was a minor win, honorable mention from the General Motors Photo Journalism Contest. Luck still coated his countenance, for he was the recipient at this time of a travel grant from the Press Foundation of Asia whereby enriching his photography files with shots of southeast Asian countries in addition to attending seminars on Southeast Asian Cultural Heritage from Thailand,, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines. He won two more first places in 1978: RSB photo contest and the Third YKL Cup contest. In 1980 he won a grand prize in the RSB annual photo contest and was chosen Photo Journalist of the Year. He also received a Photojournalism Award in 1993. Yes, Ed Santiago has been a constant winner in many photo contests. More fulfilling in his numerous achievements and activities are the occasions he is invited to speak in photography seminars to share his knowledge and experiences in photography or to judge photo contests where through his evaluation and personal critique of entries, he is able to impart precious on-the-spot photo tips among the newcomers in photography.
THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE FEDERATION OF PHILIPPINE PH OTOGRAPHERS FOUNDATION, INC.
VOLUME 6, 2013, ISSUE 1
Photographer 33
> FEATURES
Leon Pacunayen: One stormy afternoon of September 2014 , FPPF Advanced Photography lecturer and veteran photojournalist, Edgardo Santiago, came to my Frame One workroom at Femii Bldg. Intramuros. He was accompanied by a long time friend and school mate at the University of Sto. Tomas. He is Leon Pacunayen, a Filipino painter based in Europe. His name sounds familiar, for he is among the contemporary Filipino artists we discuss in Philippine Art History, a subject in Fine Arts, along with Fernando Amorsolo, Napoleon Abueva, Botong Francisco, Hernando Ocampo, Cesar Legaspi, Pacita Abad and many others. Going back to the FPPF office a week later, I got a lovely surprise . . . a hard bound book titled Pacunayen: An Artist Returns by Emmanuel Torres copyrighted in 1998. However, his works after the publication of this book are not included, and I really miss the opportunity to see his later art works. (Sir, Lito Beltran, Edi Huang and I thank you very much for giving each one of us a copy of your book. Truly, a treasured collection.) Leon Pacunayen is here in Manila on a home visit. Currently, he is based in Italy, for he is married to an Italian. He is a very close friend of Ed Santiago, and their friendship is sealed through the godfather ritual. Leon Pacunayen is the godfather of Ed Santiago’s children, so is Ed Santiago the godfather also of Leon Pacunayen ‘s children. Hence. . . . all Leon Pacunayen’s children call Ed Santiago Ninong, so do all Ed Santiago’s children address Leon Pacunayen Ninong also. Fair enough? Most of his art works with various themes published in the book were rendered in oil pastel, but many of them in water color, wet on wet and some highlighted with pen and ink. He painted portraits of Filipino women in the famous baro at saya costume, also, Amorsolo’s favorite subject, young girls in pony tails, portrait of elders, human activities, still life, landscapes, architectural subjects, many of them historical churches here and in Europe. To mention some: Colosseo, 1973 5”x3”, Avenida Rizal, 1958 15”x22”, Buildings by Pasig River, 1958 15”x22”, Bagiuo Scene 1958 22”x30”, City of Pines 1959 15”x22”, Manila Cathedral 1959, 22”x15”, Manila Cathedral 1980, 30”x22” Another Manila
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Filipino International Artist
By Cecilia S. Angeles
Cathedral in 1984 30�x22�. He did some paintings of barong barong also and squatter areas. Yes, he has displayed his creativity in all his paintings with the same or different subjects, each one of them a masterpiece. Very versatile indeed, Leon Pacunayen has also mastered not only painting but also etching and lithography at the Academia de Bellas Artes in Rome, the basics of restoration at the Instituto Central de Restanio and ceramics at the Institu o Ornamentale de San Gracomono. Of course, he also indulged in photography . . . no longer as a scholar but at his own expense. He also appeared in the movie, The Agony and the Ecstasy as an artist simulating the painters of The Creation in the Sistine Chapel. To mention but a few, yes, I repeat, just a few of his recognition from l961-1988 and only for his work in Italy: 9 first places, 9 second places, 7 third places, 11 gold, 9 silver, 7 bronze and many others he won in Rome, Milan and Tuscany. Leon Pacunayen who hails from Nueva Ecija became also an art teacher at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran a couple of years after his graduation at UST. And about this same year he was chosen Most Outstanding Alumus of his Alma Mater during the Silver Jubilee celebration of the UST College of Architecture and Fine Arts where he also became a member of the faculty from 1969-1075. He received the Don Andres Soriano Sr. travel grant and a scholarship in Painting by the Italian government at the Accademia de Bella Arti in Rome 1960-1964. He also worked as a scenic artist at the Dino Laurentis Studio in Cimecitta during the filming of the Agony and the Ecstacy in Rome. He has travelled extensively around the world: Asia, Europe, North, Central and South America particularly. Welcome to your native land, Mr. Leon Pacunayen.
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> FEATURES
The KYOTO EXPERIENCE
by Susan Celzo Photos by Toto Celzo
For the most pleasant travel experience, Japan never disappoints. The food is TAIHEN OISHI DESU (very delicious), everyone and the trains are punctual, the surroundings are super clean, evergreen, well maintained, the people are the most respectful. If you miss the graciousness and etiquette that was once a Filipino trait, you’ll find it still abundant in Japan. Every sentence is punctuated by ONEGAI SHIMASU (please) and/or SUMIMASEN (excuse me or i’m sorry). And the best part, there is no tipping in Japan. We came through Osaka airport and found an attractive Japanese lady. KAETAKEMOTO, waiting for us for the past seven hours. I can imagine her checking every Filipino looking passenger all this time. She didn’t want to miss us and tired as she was, welcomed us warmly. As soon as we threw our luggage in our KAWAI (cute) hotel room, we roamed the night streets of Osaka, slurping the best tasting RAMEN (noodle soup) and the most delicious GYOZA (dumplings) with free bottomless green tea, only at Shiromaru Ramen House. And off to Kyoto early the next morning. Best way to go anywhere in Japan is by its efficient trains. The train station is where I shop for reasonably priced clothes, sandals, KitKat, sake and food. This is also the place towatch people. Kyoto is beautiful and serene. Traditional and busy. The Kyotoites takes great pains and pride to be a part of the preservation of their culture and heritage. Our Japanese host, MR. NOBURO OKAMOTO who studied at Brooks Institute of Photography in California, the Alma Mater of Mrs. Edi Huang, booked us at no less than Kyoto Hotel Okura, a Manila Hotel feel-alike. We felt at once welcomed, acknowledged and cared for. The Professional Photographers of Japan Convention of which we were a part of was held at the hotel. Tourist buses took us around Kyoto, the touristy areas and the picturesque secret places that only the local photographers know. The highlight was Lunch at a local restaurant that serves nothing but Tofu. Tofu appetizer, Tofu soup, main dish Tofu, sweet Tofu dessert and even the drink was liquid Tofu. There’s no missing taho here. The mystery of Kyoto is its Geishas or Maikos, those pretty ladies in beautiful brocade kimonos walking the streets of Gion hurriedly, going from home to tea house and then another tea house every night. Most Japanese have never
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seen a Geisha in their lifetime and tourists say the same thing. They appear so fleetingly like their beautiful flower, the SAKURA (cherry blossom). But during our final convention dinner arranged by the PPJ, there were six beautiful Geishas who danced, sang, played musical instruments, poured our wine and posed for pictures gamely. No rushing to cross the street this time. The two Filipino boys ( Ka Lito and Toto Celzo) were in dilemma choosing between the delicious dinner and the beautiful geishas. Such is life. To our new Japanese friends, we bow deeply to all of you and from our hearts say DOMO ARIGATO GOZAIMASU (Thank you very much). If you plan to travel to Japan, take us with you. We speak ten words of Nihongo to get by.
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> FEATURES
FPPF Joins Crossing Bridges 11 in Korea By Cecilia S. Angeles
Chilly to the bones! This was Korea, as it welcomed some 150 photographers who landed at the South Korea Incheon International Airport to participate in the annual Asian photography interaction called Crossing Bridges 11, November 1-7, 2014. Initially we stayed at the SUNY Korea State University of New York on the first day where our host, the Professional Photographers of Korea (PPK) led by Korean photographer Kim Yong Bong gave us a welcome dinner. We also stayed here overnight, and the rest of our seven days stay in Korea was a beautiful story in our photography.
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Wow.. . . . this was all my lips could utter, as Korea’s colors drenched my sight during our tour of our Asian neighboring country. Our cameras simply clicked and clicked through the sealed glass windows of the bus to capture even the passing scenes of this colorful country. Yellow, red, green trees and flowers of all sorts and colors highlight huge parks, highways and all the places we visited. Every segment of the scenic scenery appeared an artist’s masterpiece on canvas. Very early in the morning of the next day, November 2, was Jollabukdo Day. We were on the bus as early as 5:00 a.m. We had a long
roll of sliced Korean sushi or maki or kimbap or whatever apparently for breakfast on the bus. We visited the Gochang Seonunsa Temple, then the Chrysanthemum Festival housed on a huge field surrounded by red, green, yellow, orange and other very uniquely colorful trees. We visited a couple of fish markets by the bay. The first one was the Gemso Fish Market after which we also captured the Korean sunset. The following day was Panasonic Day, one of our sponsors of the activity. After we visited the Gimje Geumsansa Temple amid the colorful Korean winter trees then photographers were taken to a Korean traditional village, later to the Jinan Maisan and then to Gyeonglu Bukguksa Temple. . November 4 was called Aurora Day. Our four buses filled to capacity with Asian photographers went around Silla Daeneungwan, then to Samneung. Some tried night photography while the others had an earlier rest.
More maple colors on this day, and it seemed the Asian lensmen would never get bored shooting the colors of Korean winter. We visited the huge Eco Gallery Studio where we were grouped and given models to shoot, and on the following day our trip took us to Seoul Coex where we got thrilled with the Photography Trade Show. In fact, many photographers bought some photo gadgets and printing materials to be taken home to their respective Asian studios. Our last stop over was the Changgyeoyunggung (Choswon Dynasty).We went back to SUNY where we had a farewell dinner.
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Of Destruction, Hope and New Beginnings By Joanna Salazar
A popular proverb says, “Give man a fish, and you feed him for a day; show him how to catch fish, and you feed him for a lifetime,” but what happens if an essential component of fishing is taken away? How can a man fish if he has no boat? Last November 2013, super typhoon Yolanda hit most of the Visayas and left a trail of destruction to life, property and consequently to livelihood. Bantayan Island, known for its pristine beaches and one of Cebu’s fishing grounds, is situated at the west of the northern end of Cebu Island. Bantayan was one of the worst affected areas hit by super typhoon Yolanda, with the island left cut-off and isolated. “When we read the news about the destruction in Bantayan Island, we immediately thought about the fishermen. Were they safe? Do they still have their homes? Are their boats okay? How can they feed their families if they no longer have boats? How can they survive?” asked FPPF President Lito Beltran. He further quipped, “We were able to get in touch with some of the locals, and our suspicions were confirmed.” “We all know how critical the pump boats are to the fishermen, so we at FPPF together with some generous and kind-hearted donors raised funds in order to build and donate pump boats to the affected fishermen,” shared FPPF Chairperson Mrs. Eduviges Y. Huang. She further revealed that with the help of Icky Salazar, former chairman for Photo Summit Asia–Cebu, they drafted and implemented guidelines in order to identify the beneficiaries and ensure that the boats are used accordingly. “Nagpasalamat gyud ko sa FPPF ug sa mga donors, karon naa na ko’y pump boat, maka pangisda na gyud ko ug makapabuhi usab sa akong pamilya”. “ I would like to thank FPPF and the donors, I now have a pump boat, I can fish again and provide for my family,” a tearful Godofredo Escaña shared. He is one of the beneficiary fishermen. His house and his pump boat were destroyed by typhoon Yolanda. He is married and has nine children. There were 14 fishermen from the municipalities of Sta. Fe and Madridejos, Bantayan, Cebu who received the pump boats last June. The pump boats were fully equipped with the necessary parts.As they say, a picture shows a thousand words. Allow us to show you through our pictures, the start of new beginnings.
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> FEATURES Painting from
Photos By Valerie Devulder
take pictures to preserve memories. I also use them as a reference for my paintings. Instead of making my model sit for hours and days to finish a portrait, I just take pictures of my subject and use them as reference. On this page are some flowers I pictured with my cell phone, and here they are as oil paintings.
I
Occasionally, I paint on the spot especially seascape, landscape, portrait or still life. Painting a composition either on a small or big canvas takes time especially if the artist is using a small brush. And there are layers of color mixture and painting strokes to consider before the painting is finished. Oil paint needs a lot of time to dry. Here are flowers which I painted from pictures. I eliminated unwanted elements in the original pictures. I also altered the colors and made them more intense than the natural pigment. I improved the tones of the light and shadows. Instead of dubbing the white paint from the tube for the highlight, I tinted it with a shade of color which my feelings dictate. When painting a portrait of actual size, I usually scale my reference picture. Some people want their painted portraits like a xeroxed copy of themselves Doing so eliminates distortion and certainly the personal expression of the artist. But you see, costumers are always right, so the artist follows what they demand. I must confess that I am very dependent on pictures for my painting.
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Assignment:
Photography 1 By Angelo Taloza
At the Philippine Women’s University this semester, one of my subjects is Photography 1. I didn’t know that this subject could stir so much excitement plus a little headache and trembling hands. Every meeting my professor gives assignment which we discuss thoroughly in the class, so I need to understand each lesson which I show in my amateurish shots and the critique of these shots. Critique is evaluating each picture based on the particular assignment for the day. Yes, every meeting Professor Cecilia S. Angeles gives a specific lesson to discuss starting with the history of Photography and the camera and its parts. Lessons became complicated when Ma’am Angeles gave shooting assignments to illustrate the specific lesson. For example, how to capture deep depth of field and shallow depth of field and how to distinguish one from the other. During our classroom discussion, I have learned the techniques to capture these shots and what subjects are good for each of them. Deep depth of field shows sharp elements from foreground to background, so this technique is good for landscape, seascape, cityscape or class pictures or crowd. Shallow depth of field shows blurred background, and only the main subject is sharply focused. This is done by setting the camera at big aperture like F2.8 or F3.5 or F5.6 or bigger. The aperture for the deep depth of field is smaller like F18 or F22. I also observe techniques in good composition like the rule of thirds. In fact, together with Ma’am Susan I went to Sky Ranch in Tagaytay City to shoot this particular lesson. (I had close bonding with Ma’am Susan}. I am now enjoying my photography unlike before when I was bored to the bones. I am excitedly happy, as I am learning a lot in this art. Ma’am Angeles, thanks for encouraging me in what I am doing in this class, Photography 1, and I consider this learning in photography a big achievement in my life. Thanks for your support. Without you, my learning in photography is impossible. (Photography can also open for you greater opportunities. Keep shooting. CSA)
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> FEATURES
Thronos By Dr. Marcelo Alonso
Beautiful, unique chairs dubbed as Thronos exhibited at the Helena Benitez Hall of the Philippine Women’s University showed the social, political and spiritual environment for which each displayed chair was created. Each one has the power to demonstrate the authority of the person sitting in it. Thronos is actually an exhibition of the Interior Design students of this University, a required project of the course in the School of Fine Arts and Design (SFAD). Thronos is not just an exhibition of the seat of power. It is an amalgamation of three powerful personages in one exhibition: the throne for the head of the sovereign state that leads the country, the papal throne that nurtures people’s spirits, and the throne for the beauty queen who has captured this royal seat because of her outstanding physical grace and lovely countenance. PWU President, Dr. Jose Francisco Benitez, assisted by Honorable Carlota Hilvano, PRC Member, Board of Interior Design and faculty members of the interior Design Department cut the ceremonial ribbon. The exhibit opened on August 29, 2014 at six o’clock in the evening at the Helena Benitez Hall along Taft Avenue, Manila. The following Fine Arts students majoring in Interior Design participated in the exhibit: Kamilah Cassandra Adriatico, Ellen Alido, Ivy Baduya, Trina Kristel Calicdan, Shannine Caringal, Marinel Caylo, Ivy Chavez, John Faderon, Cristal Kaye Gagarin, Steffy Anne Garcia, Israa Heggi, Reca Hernandez, Rozalyn Lagan, Angelo Llido, Maricar Macatula, Hannajo Macawili, Geri Magasakay, Aira Malang. Madeleine Mallapre, Klara Mata, Liezl Robles, Juli Samiley and Miguel Talan.
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Amazing Batanes By Cecilia S. Angeles
From its topography . . . . landscape and seascape . . . . to its native people, Batanes amazes local and foreign visitors, tourists, vacationistas, and I am sure, even its native residents. Beautiful!! Everywhere you turn your sight stirs delight. Etched against the sky are huge boulders composed of lime and stone. Some are chopped off to accommodate the patterns of public roads winding in and out of the valleys, mountains and hilltops tracing the natural contour of cemented highways. All around . . . wherever one turns his eyes is picture perfect. The hills carpeted in green or lined with local crops, strange grass, and still stranger trees, its sandy shores punctuated with huge rocks lashed every now and then by roaring waves. Batanes displays proudly its terrain in picturesque rocky forms etched against a dull sky. At least, when FPPF photographers were there on April 5, 6, 7, and 8, 2014 we missed a good sunrise and sunset. It was very windy throughout the day. Batanes is composed of ten small islands, but only Batan, Itbayat and Sabtang are inhabited. The following islets are not: Dinem, Silayan, Ditarem, Misanga, Mavudis, Dequey, Vuhus. The total land area of Batanes is only 230 square kilometers though its territorial waters measure 4,500 square kilometers. It has six municipalities seated at Basco: Mahtao, Ivana, Uyugan, Sabtang and Itbayat. Sometimes Batanes intercepts the radio programs of Taiwan because it is nearer Taiwan than Manila. Batanes is sparsely populated. As of 2010 its total population was 16,604 or 75-81 people per square kilometer. Its population growth according to the 2010 census is 0.08, indeed a direct contrast to the conditions here in Manila. (Data based on Breathtaking Batanes brochure.) The Batanes stone houses with thick layers and layers of cogon grass roof tops, indeed an identifying mark of the
original Batanes architecture seem to be disappearing slowly. I was here in 1997 together with my students who were members of Feati Kameradare photography organization. My memory still recalls communities of stone houses in many places. These houses had foot thick layers of talahib grass for roof. Natives wearing bakul gave us pleasant smile or a nod of the head, an indication of a warm welcome to us strangers. Today, many of these cultural houses have no roofs. Only the walls remain standing with the prominent upper triangular parts lined with happy green vines gracefully clinging to the stone walls and creeping on all directions. All sorts of weeds grow on the yard and the interior. New houses with modern architecture have replaced many stone houses. I feel sad. I fear that the beautiful Batanes culture will soon disappear. Where in the world can you find an honesty store where there are a lot of goods for sale, but there is no salesgirl, neither salesman tending the store? So the buyer is the salesman. He, too, is the cashier. This honesty store has been existing for several decades already. Very literal is the message . . . . . “Sir, Ma’am, what do you need? What do you like to buy? Help yourselves. Enjoy picking the items you need. Get all the goods you like.” On another table are a pad paper and a pen apparently to help self buyers get the total cost of the items purchased. Only honest people patronize the Honesty Store. So far, its owner hasn’t met any dishonest costumer. On a corner street opposite the old ancestral church of Ivanah lies the Honesty Store. It used to stand alone, but today the owner has built her house adjacent to Honesty Store. Despite her proximity to her business, nobody tends Honesty Store. Well, when honest buyers patronize an honesty store, do we need sales people or a security guard?
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> FEATURES
The Beauty of a Forgotten Place By Sam Occeno
F
or a first time trekker to the northern highlands of the Cordillera, one anticipates the renowned beauty of its rice terraces. Alas, as our ride winds up the sinewy road to Baguio City what we beheld instead were house terraces. Cramped all over the hillsides as if competing for what little space the city could offer.
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But all were not lost, for somewhere within lies one of Baguio City’s forgotten places. The Dominican Hill and its (in)famous occupant, the Diplomat Hotel. Known for its hauntings, the once crumbling and abandoned complex is now undergoing major repairs or so it seems. Lucky for our group, we were allowed to wonder around inside the Gothic inspired building all the way up to the top floor!
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> FEATURES
TREASURES
Never have I thought that one day I will set foot on the soil of one of the earliest civilizations on earth. I have seen the wonders of Greece only in photographs. Since then I have dreamed of traveling to Greece. That dream came true on September 29, 2014. A few hours after we arrived there, we wasted no time to visit Acropolis at sunset. It took us only ten minutes to get there on foot. Seeing Parthenon for the first time I was speechless. I wasted no time taking photographs. Parthenon in spite of
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its gradual decay over time is still standing proud and one can only imagine the grandeur it once had. The National Archeological Museum and the Acropolis Museum house many treasures of Greece dating back before Christ (BC). From Athens we flew to the Santorini Island not knowing what to expect including my donkey ride up on steep cliffs and down Oia town. I really didn’t expect climbing up and down the stiff cliffs. We visited two towns, Fira and Oia (pronounced I’a) and captured their scenic landscapes.
OF GREECE By Maria Macabio
In Oia are the famous Black Beach and Red beach. From Santorini Istand we took a ferry to go to the beautiful historical island of Naxos which is very rich in natural resources. One of its abundance is the marble quarry. The marble rich soil of Naxos provide its produce to the rest of the islands of Greece. Mykonos is my favorite island maybe because we were able to relax and enjoy the beach which is a few steps down from the hotel. I love Little Venice, the Kato Mills of
Mykonos and the tiny shops along Little Venice as well as the landmarks inside Little Venice like the Panagia Paraportiani ( Our Lady of the Side Gate)and the Panagia Tourlioni Ecclesiastical Museum with rare Byzantine icons and holy vestment not to mention the shopping. I have traveled to many places, and Greece is among my top favorite. I like to thank my friend, Nora, and her son, Michael, who invited me to see this amazing country we call Greece.
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> FEATURES
A
ustralia is where I practised what I have learned from FPPF Basic Photography Workshop. I took up the photography seminar in the third quarter of 2012. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to finish the two topics which consist of concepts because I was already busy that time preparing for my trip to Australia. Road trips are somehow a national pastime for Australians, and I have done a lot of it since I arrived here. Australia is not just a country but a continent, bigger than Europe excluding the Russian territory. First, I explored Brisbane, then the human friendly Steve Irwin Australia Zoo in Beerwah, about 120 kilometers from Brisbane. From Brisbane to Mackay in North Queensland on my fourth day was my first long road trip in the country . . . . . 1,100 kilometers, to be exact. We passed by Agnes Waters and Seventeen Seventy for the night. I took some pictures of sunset while having dinner at Seventeen Seventy, about 15 kilometers from Agnes Waters. Queensland is one of the biggest states which consist of an imaginary 12 countries of the European continent and maybe even more. We had short road trips in some regions and cities where I enjoyed shooting the beautiful landscape. The longest road trip I enjoyed most was during the spring of 2013 at North Queensland going down south and crossing New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and a 12-hour boat trip from Dockland, Melbourne to Devonport, Tasmania. This was almost 4,000 kilometers covered for more than a week. During this long road trip, I needed a terabyte to store all my pictures. I captured tons of photos that I had to fix and save. Spring is a favourite subject in photography in addition to autumn which displays exotic colors of nature. I flew to Adelaide, South Australia on February 2014 and stayed in Bumbanga Region for almost two weeks simply to explore how it would feel to see the landscape during summer whose temperature reached 48 degrees Celsius during the day and as low as 10 degrees Celsius at night, The high percentage of humidity in Queensland and the negative temperature in Tasmania might have added to the electrical problem of my camera with kit lens., especially that I had to change lenses even if it was foggy or drizzling at the tulip farms in Wynyard and when we visited the Cradle Mountain National Park. I was having problems with my camera. South Australia during summer looks like the countryside of Tuscany. The place features some interesting ruins existing there since 1800. Hills, plains and valleys were just amazingly gold in hue especially at an early morning or late afternoon. I explored Perth, Western Australia in May 2014. Here, I captured awesome pictures of Australian animals in their real habitats including thousands of white and red-tailed black cockatoos, corellas, Australian shell ducks, black swans, koalas and kangaroos right under my nose. Lastly, we did another long road trip from Queensland to Tasmania on the first week of July 2014. However, we explored the inlands this time which was shorter than the
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Australia
through
My Lens By Agnes Babas Fooks
last long road trip we did during the third quarter of 2013. We only travelled about 3,000 kilometers for four days. We assumed that there was not much to see because it was winter in the Southern Hemisphere. Trees simply looked like branching sticks at this time of the year. I captured a few shots especially in the New South Wales border and Victoria. I took a photo of the sunrise in the mists framed by twigs. I submitted this picture to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology and was chosen as one of the top 25 weather photos. At Mackay, Queensland I was lucky to capture good sunrise and sunset scenery almost every day because the weather was favorable. About 100 meters from home was Salonika Beach, and a little farther away were salt marshes. Wild birds inhabited the area from pelicans, black swans, whistling ducks, moorhens, and other wading birds. A bit life threatening were the crocodiles, deadly snakes and harmful insects all over the place. Backyards and open front yards were flocked by ibis mowing the grass. A large flock of chestnut-breasted mannikin finch feed during spring, sunbirds and other Queensland birds settle in the yard. Their existence was already heaven for me. These road trips taught me a lot of things in photography, from practising angles, adjusting ISO and/shutter speed,/ aperture, good compositions, exact exposures using natural light as background. When is the best time to take pictures though out Australia considering basically its wind and fire? We usually have normal winds at 20-60 knots in two weeks straight. The weather is always a factor for outdoor photography here. It has always been a big challenge and sometimes, I don’t have the choice but just to keep on clicking my camera because the places I visited were simply overwhelming. Sometimes, I got lost in the wilderness of photography especially when I was in a place with endless subjects and having that feeling of bliss and excitement of sharing them to people who could also feel the very moment when I was there. Constantly, I receive questions in the email asking me for what purpose is this photography that I am doing. There is not much money on it especially when you’re just starting to create your niche in this field of art. I often tell them, “This is my passion, and I always want to enhance this creativity to share to people.” Yes, I do this when someone asks simple questions like what is ISO or something that’s basic in photography. There were some people who offered me a software to enhance my photos which I already have in my work computer, but I usually tell them that I don’t like to ruin the credibility of the photos that I take. Maybe in the future, I will. Tasmania, Australia Website:www.ozesnaps.com(working on some parts) Email:agnes@ozesnaps.com
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A DAY OFF By: Maggie P. Badilla
I have been an artist/gondolier in Venetian Macao since 2007. Macau lies on the western side of the Pearl River Delta across from Hong Kong to the east, also bordered by Guangdong Province in the north and facing the South China Sea. Photography is my hobby.. A day off is precious to me, so I keep an outline of my plans for this very special day. I sleep early for my precious day off. Inevitably, I wake up at two o’clock in the morning because of the regular weekend party on the 10th floor of our venue which is just above my flat. I can’t sleep with the noise in the party, so, I get up and amuse myself with the view of Zhuhai and Macao. Yes, I live close to the border of China.
Zhūhǎi is a prefecture-level city on the southern coast of Guangdong province in the People’s Republic of China. Located in the Pearl River Delta, Zhuhai borders Macau to the south. Using my Samsung Galaxy Zoom S4 I capture the early morning scenery of Zhuhai and Macao. It is often a perfect moment. The fine weather caressed by the morning breeze is sometimes disturbed by a sudden strong rain. Still my Samsung captures the beautiful views of Macao. Yes, the lack of sleep does not even affect my photography as you can clearly see on this spread.
Dozen Don’ts
By CSAngeles
Some don’ts Frame One readers may follow to improve their pictures: 1. Don’t shoot landscape, seascape, cityscape, crowd with shallow depth of field. 2. Don’t include false attachment in your composition like a twig crowning the head or a pole passing through the parts of the body.
7. Don’t crop on joints but between joints. 8. Don’t crop portraits on bust line but above or below it. 9. Don’t crop either small parts of the anatomy like a portion of the ear, elbow, toe, head and others.
3. Don’t put horizon line in the center to divide the picture into two.
10. Don’t focus on the shadow but on the highlight.
4. Don’t forget to give a breathing space to the subject.
11. Don’t center solitary subject, but keep it off the center.
5. Don’t forget to focus on the main element of the picture.
12. Don’t shoot an empty foreground.
6. Don’t shoot with the lens facing directly the source of light.
I Am a Whip Maker
THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE FEDERATION OF PHILIPPINE PH OTOGRAPHERS FOUNDATION, INC.
VOLUME 6, 2013, ISSUE 1
Rembrandt Guinto del Monte of Sampaloc, Manila, a physical therapist who works as an operating room attendant at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute revealed, “I am a whip maker.” He showed me a number of them . . . . very long, colorful, flexible and neatly braided. His whip is not used to punish erring children, nor to discipline them. This whip is a gadget used by bull riders or bull fighters as you may call them to add grace to the wild reactions of these cows during rodeo shows. Perhaps feeling uncomfortable with the weight of the rodeo rider, the wild bulls react to the rider’s unusual weight on their backs or the leg pressure of these riders on the bull’s sides. These bulls are not exactly tame, neither are they trained to hop and dance or throw out the bull rider on its back. Bull riders use the whip to complement the art of bull show Do you consider the bull fight an art? It is to me, but it is more of a sport. The bull rider wins if he is not dislodged from the cow’s back despite its frantic reaction to the abnormal situation. The bull rider does not punish the bulls with this several meters long whip. I may be wrong, but I consider it an artistic display of how the bull rider makes the whip fly in the air in its full length and various forms. As the bull rider hops on the back of this animal, the cow reacts wildly as the bull rider slash the whip artistically in the air. The rider’s prolific hand can direct the whip to sway, slash, coil or fly about the air, as he hopelessly balance himself on the cow’s back. Often the cowboy is ejected automatically off the animal’s back. Where he lands is beyond one’s imagination. Sometimes, the poor guy falls right under the cow within the perimeter of its four hoofs. Sometimes he falls head on beside the bull. To record this death defying danger, a photographer needs to set his shutter at the fastest speed. According to Rembrandt, our whip maker, bull fighting is not dangerous. Players are given trainings, and safety regulations. Also, they wear safety equipment not necessarily seen by the spectators. So . . .bull fighting should not be regarded as a dangerous sport. Bull fighting is a regular activity in Masbate, and it seems only in this place here in the Philippines is bullfighting observed regularly. Bullfight lovers in the country never miss this show, hence bull fans need to go to Masbate. (CSAngeles)
Photo by Victor Sision
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> FEATURES Pope Francis: A Photographer’s Delight
. . . What They Say . . . . Maraming salamat po. Everything I need FPPF gave it to me. Thank you po. Glory be to God. Thank you guys for incorporating your knowledge to us. Composition helped me broaden my art. What I thought was right was wrong, and it motivated me to learn more.
By Cecilia S. Angeles
I learned a lot. . . more than I expected. The Workshop inspired me to pursue the craft. Joe Beltran Attending the Basic Photo Workshop helps me a lot in photography. I am very impressed with all the speakers. They gave to us all their precious ideas and experiences in photography. The lesson in composition helped me broaden my art. I think the place is too small for a big number of students. Very good teachers. Detalyadong magturo.
Photo by Michelle Ann Mayor
I enjoyed the basic photo workshop. I will surely take up the Advanced Photo Workshop. More power.
Cameras . . . . . however sophisticated or simple, whether for selfie or groupie . . . . . clicked and clicked the whole duration of his stay here in the Philippines. Amateur and professional photographers ran after him and his entourage. Whether they captured him or not, they were happy. Fulfilled. Proud. Blessed. Personally each Filipino felt his Mercy and Compassion, the theme of his travel to Asian countries. Everybody loves him, and he loves everybody . . . . the sick or the healthy, the young or the elderly, the rich or the poor,
The Basic Photography Workshop is very interesting and lively. I have learned from Ms. Cecille. The lecture was not boring, and I hope that Ms. Ces will also lecture in the remaining workshops. Jorel R. de Guzman
We felt this message every time he kissed children, waved at people, embraced whoever went to him to kiss his ring, pat their shoulders or heads. Certainly, Filipinos experienced seeing or feeling the nearness of God with Pope Frances.
Sessions were very informative. Topics discussed were delivered nicely and accurately. Kagandahan pa eh medyo kwela si Mam Cez, so I do not need to drink a lot of coffee. The negative side is the projector.
Not everybody can afford to meet him in the Vatican. It takes a whooping sum for ordinary individuals to see him where he does his spiritual duties. And does not limit these duties among the Roman Catholics, for he also respects other sectors of reigion. Yes, indeed. He understands religious freedom, for this is a part of democracy. Our country is indeed blessed with Pope Frances’ visit this year, 2015.
Ok magdiscuss ng topics ang mga instructors. I learned a lot. They are joyful. I learned that pictures have a lot of different stories. Jose Enciso Mr. Ador is good and knowledgeable in the technology.
FPPF Basic Photography Workshop assessment: Great lecture, cool instructors, more critique. Keep up the good work. Arvie Rainier Caancan The workshop is good and very helpful. My experience here at FPPF is soooo fun. Good instructors. I like the critique portion. It helps me to know how I can improve my shots.
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Very informative. Everything was discussed clearly. Every question was answered thoroughly.
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