December 2020 Year-End Challenge: ECHO PHOTO SHOOTOUT

Since 2020 is a year like no other, we altered our year-end challenge. Instead of the annual Focus Portrait Project (where members are randomly paired and tasked to shoot each other's portraits), this time we launched the ECHO PHOTO SHOOTOUT. Participants were randomly paired and each must recreate a favorite photo of his/her partner while the partner does the same. The challenge is to effectively emulate the photo inspiration while giving it a personal creative flavor. The activity was a prime opportunity for members to learn from each other. Conceptualizing, instruction, and shot execution were coordinated online. The challenge required working together... despite being physically apart.

The entries were put to a one-week voting period among Focus members.


Here are the Echo Photo Shootout entries and our top placers :

Original Photo by Robert Damiel Francisco

Echo Entry 1 by Justine De Leon

Original Photo by Justine De Leon

Echo Entry 2 by Robert Damiel Francisco

Original Photo by Omac Principio

Echo Entry 3 by John Denry Salazar

Original Photo by Erik Madlangsakay

Echo Entry 4 by Mon Juan

Original Photo by John Denry Salazar

Echo Entry 5 by Omac Principio

Original Photo by Jeric Capule

Echo Entry 6 by Jer Sandel

Original Photo by Alfie Grutas

Echo Entry 7 by Redehn Lat

Original Photo by Ry Jacinto

Echo Entry 8 by Kim Claibern Mendoza

Original Photo by Shauang Bote

Echo Entry 9 by Bill Cruz

Original Photo by Bill Cruz

Echo Entry 10 by Shauang Bote

Original Photo by Mon Juan

Echo Entry 11 by Erik Madlangsakay

Original Photo by JM Pagtalunan

Echo Entry 12 by Ayie Salva

Original Photo by Allan David

Echo Entry 13 by Troy Benito

Original Photo by Lee Baleva

Echo Entry 14 by Jacob Mendoza

Original Photo by Troy Benito

Echo Entry 15 by Allan David

Original Photo by Redehn Lat

Echo Entry 16 by Alfie Grutas

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5th Place : 14 points (7 votes) / Entry 12  / AYIE SALVA

4th Place : 17 points (9 votes) / Entry 9 / BILL ELLIS CRUZ

3rd Place : 22 points (11 votes) / Entry 7 / JOHN REDEHN LAT

2nd Place : 22 points (more 2nd-place votes) / Entry 13 / TROY BENITO

1st Place : 25 points (13 votes) / Entry 1 / JUSTINE DE LEON

Congratulations to our top placers, especially to Justine! Since the Echo Photo Shootout awards the same amount of points as Focus Portrait Project from previous years, 1st Place gets an extra 20 points, 2nd Place gets 15, 3rd Place gets 10, 4th Place (undisclosed) gets 7, and 5th Place (undisclosed) gets 5 points that will reflect toward Focus Bulacan's 2020 Photographer Of The Year competition. Participants automatically get 5 points for submitting entries.

A round of applause for all the entries and participants! This concludes Focus Bulacan's 2020 Competition. We shall announce the year-end winners of Photographer Of The Year (POTY), Newcomer Of The Year (NOTY), and Most Improved Photographer (MIP) soon!

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