He's back! Congratulations, Hans! Your road back to Focus membership is right on track. Good to have you once again! 1st Place gets an extra 10 points, 2nd Place gets 7, 3rd Place gets 5, 4th Place (undisclosed) gets 3, and 5th Place (also undisclosed) gets 2 points for the 2018 Photographer Of The Year competition. Participants automatically get 3 points for submitting entries.

20 entries in all. Good luck to the participants!

Salute to the participants! Your efforts showed : this was one of the most difficult contests to vote in. But as always, voters could only choose their 3 favorites. Our appreciation as well to everyone who voted, including guest judge Ruben Ranin.



The Top 3 :

Congratulations once again, Awel! Beginning to run away as this is now your fourth contest win this 2018. 1st Place gets an extra 10 points, 2nd Place gets 7, 3rd Place gets 5, 4th Place (undisclosed) gets 3, and 5th Place (undisclosed) gets 2 points for the 2018 Photographer Of The Year competition. Participants automatically get 3 points for submitting entries.

We don't have a photomeet for May so up next will be our May theme contest (Golden Hour).

Shooting startrails requires technical knowledge, a specific set of equipment, some luck, and a lot of patience. Our April 2018 PhotoMeet allowed participants to learn the basics of star trail photography and gave them an on-the-spot experience of shooting it. Owing to the unfavorable night sky conditions, however, they were given a week to reshoot on their own and produce their entries. After another week of voting, we can now announce our top photos.

The Top 3 :

A clear and comfortable victory. That's now two in a row photomeet contest wins. Congratulations, Awel! 1st Place gets an extra 10 points, 2nd Place gets 7, 3rd Place gets 5, 4th Place (undisclosed) gets 3, and 5th Place (undisclosed) gets 2 points for the 2018 Photographer Of The Year competition. Participants automatically get 3 points for submitting entries.

Thanks to everyone who voted, with special mention to guest judge Ricky Ladia.

How do you give a visual interpretation to a concept associated with sound? The participants tried their best (we hope) and the voters picked out their favorites. Shout out to guest judge Ricky Ladia and all Focus members and applicants who cast their votes. All your input are appreciated.


"Music" Top 3 :

Congratulations, Alfie! Your good vibes photo bested 17 other entries. May this be just the first of many contest wins for you. 1st Place gets an extra 10 points, 2nd Place gets 7, 3rd Place gets 5, 4th Place (undisclosed) gets 3, and 5th Place (also undisclosed) gets 2 points for the 2018 Photographer Of The Year competition. Participants automatically get 3 points for submitting entries.

Coming up : Our Star Trails photo contest.

The closest contest we've had in years. It came down to the very last vote - that of guest judge Ruben Ranin - to determine the winner. An exciting finish to a very challenging photowalk and contest. Kudos to all the participants and voters!


The Top 3 :

A come-from-behind win. Congratulations, Awel! 1st Place gets an extra 10 points, 2nd Place gets 7, 3rd Place gets 5, 4th Place gets 3, and 5th Place gets 2 points for the 2018 Photographer Of The Year competition (points will only be recorded for official members). Participants automatically get 3 points for submitting entries.

Up next is our Music theme contest for March.

Different and personal interpretations of TRUE LOVE. So which one resonated the most with voters? We shall now find out. Thanks to everyone who cast their vote, especially our 2018 Theme Contest Judge RICKY LADIA. Cheers!



TRUE LOVE TOP 3 :

Way to go, back-to-back! Congratulations, RY JACINTO! Safe to say that you're off to a great start. 1st Place gets an extra 10 points, 2nd Place gets 7, 3rd Place gets 5, 4th Place (undisclosed) gets 3, and 5th Place (also undisclosed) gets 2 points for the 2018 Photographer Of The Year competition. Participants automatically get 3 points for submitting entries.

Up next : March PhotoMeet Contest. Film-style photowalk!

Four Focus applicants made the Top 5, spearheaded by our winner, RY JACINTO. Congratulations! We don't usually announce the 4th and 5th placers but since this is unprecedented in terms of applicants' finish : 3rd placer Maynard Pasakdal, 4th placer Rachele Lacson, and 5th placer Hans Aliwalas are also applicants. Way to go, hopefuls! 1st Place gets an extra 10 points, 2nd Place gets 7, 3rd Place gets 5, 4th Place gets 3, and 5th Place gets 2 points for the 2018 Photographer Of The Year competition (points will only be recorded for official members). Participants automatically get 3 points for submitting entries.

Thanks to everyone who voted, including our guest judge Ruben Ranin who cast his vote all the way from Surigao. Till our next photomeet!

It's another year full of contests and competition - all aimed at improving the skills of Focus photographers while keeping them motivated to shoot. Here's everything you need to know about this year's competition :

Purpose. Focus Bulacan’s photocontests are meant to inspire improvement by providing an organized form of objective and subjective evaluation of photos. Photograph entries are individually assessed, then compared to other entries, with these assessments being the basis for voting. The results and feedback of the contests should serve as critique, which in turn would guide the participants as to where improvements should be made in their next photos.

Approach. Contests are competitive in nature. Competitiveness - within the boundary of rules, fairness and sportsmanship – spurs improvement. Participants are urged to do their best to win contests while adhering to these guidelines. However, may we remind everyone that there will be winners, there will be losers, yet the ultimate goal is for participants to learn something from the feedback and critique on their photo entries. Winning isn’t everything. Wanting to win AND learning from trying are everything.

Methodology. Focus Bulacan contests are open only to official members and applicants. Likewise, only members and applicants are allowed to vote on the photos. Entries will be kept anonymous so as to eliminate bias and make voters assess the photos purely on their merit.

PHOTOMEET AND THEME CONTEST GENERAL MECHANICS :

• Make sure your photos comply with the category or theme of the contest.
• Only one (1) entry is allowed per participant.

• Do not put borders or watermarks or any other mark of distinction on the photos.

• Post-processing is allowed, unless stated otherwise. Creativity doesn’t end at the click of the shutter. However, putting text or borders on the photos are not allowed, unless specifically instructed by the Competition Officer to be allowed for a particular contest.
• Please resize your entry to 1,000 pixels on the long side.
• For photomeet contests, entries must be taken on the date of the photomeet.
• For theme contests, entries must be taken on the same month of the theme.
  
• Old/stock photos are not allowed.
• Entries will be subjected to a vote by official Focus Bulacan members and applicants.
• Contest organizer reserves the right to ask for RAW copy of the entry, for authentication purposes.

PHOTOMEET AND THEME CONTEST ENTRY SUBMISSION PROCEDURE :

• Follow contest general guidelines (regarding restrictions and photo resizing)
• Rename your entry in this format :

              If PhotoMeet contest : YOURNAME_PHOTOMEETNAME.JPG
              (Example : ALDENRICHARDS_MALOLOSPHOTOWALK.JPG)
              If Theme contest :
              YOURNAME_THEME.JPG (for your entry)
              (Example : ALDENRICHARDS_EMOTIONS.JPG)

• Email your contest entries to focuscompetition@yahoo.com
• Indicate in Subject the name of the photomeet or theme contest

              (Example : "DULANSANGAN CONTEST ENTRY")


PHOTOWORLD CUP CONTEST MECHANICS :

• Make sure your photos comply with the category or theme of the contest.
• All images must be taken from 2017 to 2018 only.
• Infrared and sepia photos are not allowed.
• Cellphone photos are strictly not allowed.
• Photo entries must not be published in print or online, or entered in other contests, or posted in social media sites (Facebook, Instagram, 500px, Flickr, website, etc.)
  
• Photos that previously won local and international awards prior to monthly theme judging will be disqualified.
• "Kapatid" shots are not allowed to be used by the same photographer who previously used the image; except by other photographers who shot the same photo if it was done at the same time.
• Photo inspiration is allowed for as long as it was not totally copied.
• RAW/SOOC (straight out of the camera) JPEG copy of entries shall be provided  by the participants along with the final output file of the entries
• Only one (1) entry is allowed per participant.

• Do not put borders or watermarks or any other mark of distinction on the photos.

• Please send high-resolution copy of your photo entry (as opposed to photomeet and theme contest requirement of resizing it for web). We need high-res files of entries, as they will get printed for the FPPF PWC competition .
• Post-processing is allowed, unless stated otherwise.
• Entries will be screened by Competition Officer Jer Sandel and PhotoWorld Cup Adviser Joey Ramos. Approved entries will be printed and submitted to the national PhotoWorld Cup judging.
  

PHOTOWORLD CUP ENTRY SUBMISSION PROCEDURE :

• Follow contest general guidelines
• Rename your entry in this format :

              YOURNAME_THEME_EDITED.JPG (for your entry)
              YOURNAME_THEME_UNEDITED.JPG/RAW (for RAW file of your entry)
              (Example : ALDENRICHARDS_EMOTIONS_EDITED.JPG /
               ALDENRICHARDS_EMOTIONS_UNEDITED.CR2)

• Keep in mind that you have to submit BOTH your photo entry and its raw file. Incomplete submissions will be disqualified from the contest.
  
• Email your contest entries to focuscompetition@yahoo.com
• Indicate in Subject the name of the PhotoWorld Cup theme

             (Example : "HOUSE OF WORSHIP ENTRY"

• Only Focus members and applicants are allowed to join our contests.
• For photomeet and theme contests : only members, applicants, and guest judges may vote (public voting).
• For PWC contests, Competition Officer and PWC Adviser will select the entries for submission to the national PWC judging.
• For 2018 photomeet and theme contests, we will use public comment voting system where votes will be posted as comments on the website contest page.  You have to use your personal Facebook account in order to vote. The comment section is at the bottom of the contest page, click HERE to get the idea. We strongly encourage voters to offer critique along with their votes. Voting mechanics are also published whenever a contest is posted for voting.

Voting Mechanics

• Contest is open to Focus Bulacan official members and applicants. Voting is also open only to members and applicants, plus official guest judges.

• There's no specific criteria where to base your vote. Just vote for the photo that you think best represents the activity or theme.

• Please view each and every photo before casting your vote.

• Pick one photo for 1st place, one for 2nd place, and one for 3rd place. Cast your vote by stating the entry numbers of your 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place photos. 1st place votes get 3 points, 2nd place votes get 2 points, and 3rd place votes get 1 point. (Guest judge's votes count for 10 points for 1st place, 7 points for 2nd, and 5 points for 3rd.)

• You need to pick three photos. If you name only one photo, your vote would only count for 1 point.
• Although not required, voters are encouraged to offer constructive critique on their picks.
• Participants may not vote for their own photo. Self-votes will be nullified and offender's entry (if he/she has one in the contest) will be automatically disqualified.

• The entry that accumulates the most number of points wins.

• Use your Facebook account to cast your vote. State your vote in the Facebook comment section at the bottom of the contest page.

• To the participants : win the contest thru the merit of your photo, not by other means.

• Voting usually takes a week (7 days), with the winner announced the next day once voting ends.

 
Vote Solicitation/Influencing

• Soliciting or influencing votes is strictly prohibited.
  
• Do not ask voters to vote for your entry or influence them to do so by showing them your entry.
  
• Keep your entry anonymous as much as possible.
  
• Proven cases of vote solicitation/influencing will lead to disqualification of involved participant.
  
• Please report cases of vote solicitation or vote influencing to Competition Officer Jer Sandel. Rest assured that your report will be handled confidentially.
  

Unlike the previous year when we had a panel of 3 judges for each type of contest, for 2018 we shall have one guest judge for photomeet contests and one guest judge for theme contests. Each judge's votes will count for 10 points for their 1st place picks, 7 points for 2nd place picks, and 5 points for 3rd place picks. Each guest judge will be asked to vote in every photomeet or theme contest.

PhotoMeet Contest Judge :

• RUBEN RANIN - award-winning photographer, former President of i-Focus Camera Club, member of the PhotoWorld Cup Committee, 2017 Canon PhotoMarathon Philippines Grand Winner

Theme Contest Judge :

• RICKY LADIA - photography instructor, advertising/food/fashion/travel photographer, the first Tamron Image Master in Asia

Competition Officer Jer Sandel has finalized the points system for our 2018 competition, with changes from the previous year's :

Points/Scoring System - Points awarded for contests and accomplishments :

• For every submission of entry to a Focus PhotoMeet or Theme contest : 3 points
• Bonus points for placing in the Top 5 of a PhotoMeet or Theme contest :

          + 10 points - 1st Place
          + 7 points - 2nd Place
          + 5 points - 3rd Place
          + 3 points - 4th Place
          + 2 points - 5th Place
          (No additional points for 6th place onwards)

• Scoring for Focus Portrait Project :

             Submission of entry : 5 points
             + 20 points : 1st Place
             + 15 points : 2nd Place
             + 10 points : 3rd Place
             + 7 points : 4th Place
             + 5 points : 5th Place

• Scoring for Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk contest :

             Submission of entry : 3 points
             + 20 points : 1st Place
             + 15 points : 2nd Place
             + 10 points : 3rd Place
             + 7 points : 4th Place
             + 5 points : 5th Place
             Bonus points :
             + 10 points : if included in Honorable Mentions list
             + 20 points : if included in Finalists list
             + 30 points : if People’s Choice winner
             + 50 points : if Grand Prize winner
             * +10 points for Photowalk Leader (who can only enter Leaders Contest, not the regular contest)

• Scoring for Fujifilm Nationwide Photowalk contest :

             Submission of entry : 3 points
             + 20 points : 1st Place
             + 15 points : 2nd Place
             + 10 points : 3rd Place
             + 7 points : 4th Place
             + 5 points : 5th Place
             Bonus points :
             + 15 points : Top 5 finish (2nd-5th place)
             + 25 points : for Grand Prize winner / People's Choice winner
             * +10 points for Photowalk Leader (who cannot enter the regular contest)

• Scoring for Focus Anniversary Exhibit and People's Choice + Juror's Choice contest :

             Submission of entries for exhibit : 10 points total (regardless if photos are approved for exhibit or not)
             Bonus points for People's Choice :
             + 20 points : 1st Place
             + 15 points : 2nd Place
             + 10 points : 3rd Place
             + 7 points : 4th Place
             + 5 points : 5th Place
             Bonus points for Juror's Choice :
             + 25 points : Juror's Choice (only 1 will get chosen)

• Points for FPPF PhotoWorld Cup competition :

             + 5 points for submission of entry (regardless if approved for national contest or not)
            
             Bonus points according to contest ranking :
             + 10 points : Enter the Top 30 of a PWC contest (13th-30th place)
             + 20 points : Place 2nd-12th (Top 12) in a PWC contest
             + 30 points : Place 1st in a PWC contest

             Bonus points according to year-end competition ranking :
             + 75 points : Finish 1st in PWC Photographer Of The Year competition
             + 50 points : Finish 2nd-5th in PWC POTY competition
             + 30 points : Finish in Top 10 of PWC POTY competition
             + 50 points : Win PWC Rookie Of The Year competition
             + 20 points for each Focus participant if Focus Bulacan finishes in Top 10 of Club Of The Year competition
          

We apologize for giving the voters a heck of a task : selecting just three photos out of a lot of 26 deserving entries. Truly, it all comes down to personal preferences. Thank you to everyone who voted and shared their opinion! Our guest judge Ruben Ranin's watch has just started. (Thank you, sir!)

The dust has cleared. Here are Sagisag at Sigasig's Top 3 photos :

Do we smell a back-to-back? 2017 Photographer Of The Year ALIH VIAJE is off to a raring start. Congratulations! 1st Place gets an extra 10 points, 2nd Place gets 7, 3rd Place gets 5, 4th Place (undisclosed) gets 3, and 5th Place (also undisclosed) gets 2 points for the 2018 Photographer Of The Year competition. Participants automatically get 3 points for submitting entries.

Prep up for our next contest! Coming soon!

Our version of the Christmas exchange gift tradition : picking a random partner and shooting each other's portraits.  FPP 2017 is now the 5th edition, with this year's theme "black and white".

Here are the FPP 2017 entries :

The photos were presented during Focus Bulacan's year-end party and on-the-spot voting ensued. After the two-hour polling period, the Top 5 were determined :