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FOCUS FEATURE

EVERy photographer HAS A STORY TO tELL.

featured focus photographers and other stories worthy of highlight

Focus Member Feature : CHI LOPEZ

2/13/2014

 
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4 first-place finishes (including three straight). 3 runner-ups. The guy is on fire! And because we believe we should strike while the iron is hot, we're having perennial photocontest contender Ralph Derrick “Chi” Lopez for our first-ever Focus member feature. He has more than earned it. To better understand what Chi has done, just take a look at Focus Bulacan’s list of contest winners, better known as its “Page Of Fame” : CLICK HERE


Unfortunately for him, and luckily for other Focus members, the Photographer Of The Year competition only started this 2014. Otherwise, it would have been a runaway victory for Chi. But clearly, others have taken notice of his performance. We had a quick interview with Chi to ask him some questions regarding his success in Focus Bulacan’s contests. It also served as a perfect opportunity to know more about him, plus a chance to force him to agree to a short photoshoot. “Ganito pala ang feeling, ‘di kasi ako sanay na ako ‘yung model."

Drummer for rock band Ice Cream Project turned contest-winning photographer. Chi Lopez takes the spotlight.

Q : How does it feel to be the first-ever featured Focus member?
Chi : Una sa lahat, salamat, mga ka-Focus. Kayo ang dahilan kung bakit ako nandito, haha. Ayun. Masarap maging first featured Focus member. Syempre, una ka. Basta masarap, parang ice cream.

Q :
What's your secret, bakit ka laging nananalo sa contests? Or tips na pwede mong i-share?
C : Wala naman akong secret. Meron man eh hindi ko sasabihin, secret nga e, haha. Siguro inspired lang talaga, hahaha. Saka alam ko ang taste ng mga taga-Focus, haha. Sinusunod ko lang naman 'yung theme. Una syempre iniisip  ko muna kung anong shot gagawin ko tapos 'pag 'di ako na-kuntento, kumukuha ako ng idea sa internet. Lahat naman siguro ginagawa 'yon.  Kapag may nagustuhan ako, mas pinapaganda ko pa. Kailangan mag-effort,  'wag 'yung basta may maipasa lang. Competitive ka dapat at 'yung shot mo. Masarap manalo at masarap mag-tally, hahaha!

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Q : Anong reaction ng loved ones mo kapag nananalo ka? Sinasabi mo ba sa kanila?
C : Gabi pa lang alam ko nang ako ang panalo (before the results are revealed in the morning - Ed.) kasi nga nagta-tally ako, haha. Lagi kong tanong sa kanila, “hulaan n'yo kung sino panalo.” Sasagot naman sila ng “eh 'di ikaw.” Hahaha. Saka kahit hindi ko sabihin, nababasa naman nila sa Facebook page, hehe. Masaya naman sila at mukhang proud naman.

Q : When did you start with photography? Noong una ba nakita mo na agad na magtatagal ka dito?
C : 2009 ako nag-start. 'Yung sister ko talaga ang unang natuto. Humihiram lang ako ng camera sa kanya noon. Naaalala ko pa dati ang ina-upload ko pang photos eh mga kuha nya. Ginagawa  ko lang noon eh kumuha tapos ipo-post, hindi ko inisip na magtatagal ako dito.

Q : May nagturo ba sa'yo o saan ka natuto ng photography?
C : Sumali kami ni Jay Salvador sa basic photography workshop ng FPPF noong 2010. May nag-organize at dinala ang FPPF dito sa Malolos. Ayun, natuto naman kahit paano at hindi sa pagmamayabang, nanalo din ako sa isang theme contest noon.

Q : May photography idol ka ba o  nag-influence sa photography mo?
C : Wala eh. Madaming magagaling pero iniisip ko lang na hamo lang sila, sige lang. Hindi ko na hinahangad na maging ganun kagaling. Basta nakakakuha ako ng maayos, ayos na sa'kin.
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Q : Which do you love more, music or photography?
C : Pwedeng pantay na lang? Hehe. Kasi kapag pinili ko photography, baka magtampo si music at hindi na ko makatugtog nang maayos. Kapag pinili ko naman music, baka magtampo si photography at hindi na ako manalo, hahaha!

Q : Hmmm... music, photography, or your girlfriend?
C : Ah, eh.. next question. Haha! Ibang usapan 'yan, hahamakin ko lahat ng photographers at musicians para sa nag-iisang tao na 'yun. Sino kaya 'yun? Kinikilig na siguro ngayon 'yun, hahaha!

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Q : 5 years from now, how do you see yourself and your photography?
C : Hmmm.. Gusto ko din naman na makilala ako sa larangan na 'to. Mag-produce ng mas magagandang photos, ma-publish sa magazines 'yung shots ko, 'yung may mapuntahan 'tong ginagawa ko ngayon. 'Yun siguro. Tingin ko  madami pa akong kayang gawin, wala pa lang pagkakataon. Hehe.



Q : Anong gusto mo pang matutunan sa photography?
C : Siguro matuto na lang at maging magaling sa Photoshop. Kasi parang matuto ka lang naman ng basic  photography ayos na e. Kapag marunong ka na, ang hahanapin mo na lang magandang ilaw, magandang liwanag at saktong moments para maging maganda ang shots mo.

Q : Anong tips ang mashe-share mo sa ibang nagsisimula pa lang sa photography? Or tips in general for everyone who's into photography?
C : Sa mga nagsisimula pa lang, mag-shoot lang nang mag-shoot. Lahat ng makita n'yo sa paligid kuhanan nyo lang. Haha. Lumabas kayo at mag-explore. Magbasa at manood ng videos sa net.  Nasa internet na lahat ng katanungan n'yo at mga dapat n'yong malaman. Huwag kayong mahihiya kung entry-level lang 'yung camera n'yo. Huwag din muna maghangad ng magandang gamit, magandang shots muna. Sali kayo sa Focus! Hehe. Lahat welcome. Mas madami, mas masaya.

Q : That's about it. Any parting words?
C :
Ano pa ba. Tuluy-tuloy lang. Magmahalan, magtulungan. Kung may nakaka-angat, palakpakan lang at mas lalo pa nating iangat. Lahat sana makita nating nag-i-improve. Effort lang. Happy shooting! Happy focusing!

Q : Last question! Bakit Chi ang nickname mo? Ang layo sa Ralph Derrick.
C :
Haha. Nakuha ko 'yung Chi sa drummer ng Slapshock. Dati kasi Slapshock songs pine-play namin sa band.


So it's all clear. Musician. Photographer. Lover. Jester. The next question is : is he going to add Photographer Of The Year to his byline? Or will someone else step up to pull off the upset in the competition?

We shall find out.

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Click on thumbnails to view Chi's winning images :
September 2013 : On The Job (2nd Place)
October 2013 : Scott Kelby Photowalk (1st Place)
October 2013 : Emotions (1st Place)
November 2013 : Food Photography (1st Place)
November 2013 : Vivid (2nd Place)
December 2013 : Focus Portrait Project (2nd Place)
January 2014 : New Perspective (1st Place)

    FOCUS Feature

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