It is said that photography is a universal language. A picture paints a thousand words and could communicate to all people who see it. The viewer could either instantly comprehend or take a few moments before the photo's meaning sinks in. Then there are images that would baffle the mind and instead tap into the viewer's feelings. Their mood. The vibe. Their imagination. Such is the approach taken by Shauang Bote whenever she's using her camera. She's an avid fan of art and works well with numbers (at a government office's auditing department), but her focus on photography is truly intriguing : the eerie, the surreal, the moody, and sometimes downright dark or depressing. Not intentional, she says, but just a product of her creative process. Let's find out more about the story behind the photos of our featured Focus photographer of the month, Sherwin "Shauang" Bote. Q : You seem to be the type of person who is into different kinds of art. Why the camera, among all things? S : Fan ako ng mga kung anu-anong art, whether painting, sculpture, poetry, and music. As for me kung bakit camera... kasi, real-time. Nahuhuli agad 'yung moment. 'Di gaya ng painting na would take you hours to finish, sa camera lalo ngayon, instant na. Kita agad. Q : So how did you start your photography journey? S : Highschool pa lang, gusto ko na ang photography, kaso wala akong gear. Nanghihiram lang ako ng camera na de-film pa. Noong nagka-work na ako, nakabili ako ng mumurahing digicam. That was 2010, I think. Doon lalo nabuo 'yung kagustuhan ko na maging photographer. Then later on nagkaroon na ako ng maayos na camera, ayun! Full-blast addiction na ang nangyari, hehe! Q : How would you describe your style? S : Hindi ko alam kung ano ang style ko sa photography, hindi ko rin sure kung saang genre siya naka-classify. I just shoot what interests me. Q : Your photos strongly convey mood. Is that intentional on your part or does it just show because of your preferences? S : I guess it just shows, kasi minsan pag tina-try ko na ayusin 'yung scene to make it moody or eerie, hindi siya nagiging ganun ka-compelling. Kaya I base my photos on how I feel about the place or how I would react kung ako 'yung nasa lugar na 'yun. It has to have that emotional connection between me and the scene. Q : Kindly name one icon you look up to in each branch of art you’re hooked to. S : Uy, icons! Sa music that would be Kurt Cobain of Nirvana, aggressive yet emotional. Sa cinema naman it would be Tim Burton, eccentric and complex. In photography, I'm a fan of Alex Webb, how he takes street photos using color, lights, and may mood din. Q : How do you usually compose your shots? Do you have something specific you find in a scene? S : Usually 'pag may nakita akong dark alley or kalsada na may isang poste lang na bukas, 'yun 'yung gustong-gusto ko. Mas gumagana imagination ko sa mga ganoong eksena, hehe. Q : What has been the most unforgettable shoot you’ve had? S : That would be the Holy Week photomeet of Focus Bulacan back in 2016, sa Kapitangan. 'Yung element ng mga tao, 'yung scenario, 'yung hirap ng theme na film-style, no preview sa LCD at 24 shots lang ang pwede gamitin, plus ang weather that day na sobrang init. Napakahirap. Pero binalikan ulit namin this year, hahaha! Never again?! Q : And what’s the photo you’re most proud of? S : I'm most proud of the Masked Girl photo that I took last year. Kasi na-include siya sa isang photo exhibit this year which is really unexpected. I'm so overwhelmed na makasama sa lineup next to de-kalibreng street photographers. 'Di ko akalain 'yun. (Photo is shown above.) Q : Frustrations or difficulties so far in photography? S: Difficulty siguro is 'yung time. Minsan kasi nawawalan talaga ng oras na mag-shoot, kahit gusto mo lumabas at mag-photowalk, hindi magawa kasi you have something to attend to, like work, before anything else. Q : What’s your dream shoot? S : Dream shoot, hmmm... 'yung tipong eksena sa movie na Silent Hill, haha! Eerie 'yung feeling ng paligid tapos creepy 'yung mga tao, haha! That would be nice. Q : If you can compare your photography to a rock band, which rock band is it? S : I think Nirvana. Kinda heavy na a bit grim na medyo fiery na mellow at the same time, hehe. Q : Okay, this is easier : which song would best sum up your photography story so far? S : Siguro "Drive" by Incubus. Unang line pa lang, "sometimes I feel the feel of the uncertainty, stinging clear". Takot ako na mag-shoot at ipakita sa iba 'yung photos ko kasi hindi siya kagaya ng sa karamihan. Pero ngayon unti-unti I'm learning to embrace that fear na parang kahit hindi n'yo ma-gets ang photo ko, okay lang basta gusto ko 'to gawin, and thus the line, "lately I'm beginning to find that when I drive myself, my light is found." Q : What has been the most fun part of being a Focus Bulacan member? S : Sa akin, 'yung exhibit is the most fun. Kasi we get to showcase our photos for the people to see.. 'yun 'yung venue na nakikita 'yung actual photos, hindi lang sa monitor. Plus doon din nagkakasama-sama ang mga members nang halos buong araw kaya riot sa saya! Q : A message to Focus Bulacan followers or those who would like to join the group or start in photography. S : Sa mga photography enthusiasts, keep on shooting and sali kayo sa mga groups such as Focus Bulacan, it can help you a lot, hindi lang madadagdagan ang knowledge n'yo about photography in general but you'll also gain friends in the long run. Q : Message to fellow Focus members. S : Sa mga ka-Focus... shoot lang tayo nang shoot. Bigyan natin ng oras 'yung passion natin for photography, after all eto 'yung dahilan bakit nabuo ang group. Sipagan natin para lahat tayo mag-grow bilang photographers and as individuals as well. Salamat, Focus Bulacan! And sa family ko sa support. Shout-out sa mga photowalk buddies.. Jelens, Jing and kuya Awel... and kay Jay Salvador sa mga teachings sa mood and street photography. Salamat. Shauang's Moody Favorites (click thumbnails to view photos in full) Shauang won't find it strange if some people don't understand, much less appreciate, her art. It's not her motivation. The most important thing to her - as every artist would innately feel - is that she gets to express her feelings about the scene. And that, in a sense, is art in its purest form. Life is complicated, no matter how quotes about life would like to paint it. Time is of the essence and setting priorities is a must. No matter what we do, we have to give up something in order to gain something. It doesn't mean, however, that we can't balance things that matter to us. Our featured Focus photographer of the month Bobby Jo is a prime example. Juggling roles as a Honda motorbike mechanic, a doting father to his kids, a beer-loving friend, and a passionate photographer, Bobby has learned the art of allocating his precious time to his priorities. As a photographer, he has also found a niche : street portraiture. Shooting in the dynamic world of street photography, he observes the commotion but focuses his sight on interesting faces and subjects. It's the way he lives : understanding the chaos and living beyond it. His photography has naturally followed suit. Let's find out more about Bobby through a simple ask-and-answer session. Q : You’re a mechanic by profession, fixing motorbikes. Aside from being a creative outlet, what made you decide to pursue photography? B : We are a family of creatives. My grandfather's hobby was photography, as well as my uncle George Mesina who was my first mentor. At first hindi ko na-notice na may skills din pala ako taking picture. Using phone camera, pitik lang nang pitik hanggang may nagkakagusto na sa mga shots ko. Sabi nga ng uncle George ko, bumili na ako ng camera. My first DSLR camera nga pala was a Nikon D3100. Hahaha, actually dapat Canon, kaso kulang pera ko.. so nang babalikan ko na siya..wala na. Well, it's a different story na…at doon na ako na pursige sa photography nang makahawak na ako ng DSLR. Lalo na nang nakapasok ako sa ibang photography club, syempre lalo na sa Focus Bulacan. Q : Which photography genre got you hooked? And what’s your favorite? B : I like street photography very much and portraiture too! At first I thought that taking a picture of street scenes is just simple, without meaning, so I was like na.. pitikan mo na agad. Nagbago pananaw ko noong mag-talk about street photography si Sir Omeng (Rommel Bundalian, Fujifilm X-photographer) noong second anniversary exhibit ng Focus Bulacan. Doon ko siya mas naintindihan. Pero ngayon, mas gusto ko pang matutunan ang street portraiture. I really love taking photos of old people's faces. Q : How do you feel when you get recognized for winning or making it as finalist in photo contests? B : Feeling excited and very proud sa sarili. And very thankful sa mga taong tumutulong sa akin. To be the best is my goal. Pero minsan, nanghihinaan din ako ng loob, kasi sa totoo lang madaming magagaling na photographer. Kaya everytime na sasali ako sa mga photo contest I make it sure na I'll shoot it differently to be noticed. Q : Do you have a specific photo that you are most proud of? B : That was when I was in Porac, Pampanga. I took a picture of a wife and her husband na mabubulag na dahil sa complication sa liver. After I took that picture then I was told about their story and kung sino sila, I found out that 'yung lalake ay dating NPA and he was the chief of their community. For some reason naisip ko na what a coincidence na 'yung kinuhanan ko pala ng picture ay may nakaraan at may meaning kung bakit ko sila nahanap. Q : What’s your photography style? Can you describe your signature look? B : Gusto ko 'yung mga kuha ni Steve McCurry at ni Andrzej Dragan. Gustong-gusto ko 'yung Dragan effect. Kung makikilala man lang ako bilang photographer gusto ko 'yung sa mga portraiture na parang Dragan style. Q : What has been the most challenging aspect of photography? B : Since I love taking pictures sa streets, well it is very challenging na minsan ayaw magpa-picture 'yung mga tao na gusto ko kuhanan. Nagagalit sila and parang nagdududa na bakit ko sila pi-picture-an at bakit doon sa lugar pa nila. Not all of them though but still very challenging especially kapag nakita ko na this is very interesting to take pero sometimes ayaw nila. Q : Personally, what do you still want to achieve with your photography? B : Mastering light and the proper exposure that I want on my subject. Especially kapag portrait. Alam naman natin na 'pag mukha ng tao ang kukunan kailangan maganda ang details na 'yung parang there's a meaning behind that picture and behind that face. Parang may drama. Q : Who are some photographers you look up to and why? B : Aside from my uncle and grandfather, those will be Joey Ramos and Jeremy Sandel. Joey is known to be the best photographer by showing it, always na champion sa mga contests. And hindi madamot magbigay ng mga tips how to be a better photographer especially sa mga newbies na sumasali sa contest. Jeremy is very enthusiastic especially to his fellow member photographers to improve their skills and showcasing the works of other photographers to the public. They motivate me since they are the best photographers I know. Q : How do you manage your time and still give effort to photography aside from your work and family life? B : I know I'm spending my time at work but still if you want something you'll find a way na magawa pa rin 'yung mga bagay na gusto ko. Parang 'yung kasabihan na 'pag gusto may paraan at 'pag ayaw maraming dahilan. Pero I'll make it sure na everytime na magkaroon naman ako ng time na extra after work and family, nagfo-focus naman ako sa photography. Q : What's your most unforgettable experience related to photography? B : 'Yung kabibili lang ng Nikon D3100 ko, nang bigla akong sinama ng uncle George ko para maging second shooter sa birthday ng anak ni Ms. Dawn Zulueta, the actress. Sa Manila Polo Club. First time ko ma-experience 'yun at makita siya pati si Gabby Concepcion. Mahirap din pala tsaka nakakapagod. At syempre 'yung awarding ng Larawang Bulakenyo photo contest sa Robinsons Place Malolos. Q : Do you have plans of someday being a full-time photographer? B : For now I don’t think na I want to be a full-time photographer kasi I know na marami pa akong kailangan matutunan but if ever na makilala at mabigyan or makuha ako sa mga project then that’s the time na maybe I'll think about being a full-time photographer. Q : What do you still want to learn in photography? B : Post-processing I guess kasi marami akong nakikita na magagaling mag-take ng photo pero mas lalo pang gumaganda 'pag magaling din ang photo manipulation. Q : What's your message to fellow Focus members? B : We do have a lot of responsibilities in life but still hindi kailangan maging hadlang 'yung mga gusto nating gawin, especially sa mga bagong pasok sa Focus. 'Yung passion natin, like me I'm a mechanic, but still I have time to do what I love. And we know there's a lot of challenges we face in our lives but still without a doubt, we need to face those challenges. Think positive and love your passion. And thank you sa mga kaibigan ko sa Focus. Naging malaking tulong kayo kung ano man ang narating ko ngayon sa mundo ng photography. God bless us all! Q : Advice to those who want to excel in photography. B : Just do it. Meron tayong iba't-ibang panlasa pero ang importante we have our own style and originality. Be yourself. Bobby's Favorite Portraits (click thumbnails to view photos in full)
He's one of the nicest guys you'd meet in Bulacan's wedding industry. Hardworking and easy to work with, not to mention his looks that cause his friends to tease him as "Alden Richards ng Focus". Going full-blast in events photography after previously working as a support network engineer, he has steadily expanded his repertoire and connections with a successful recipe of consistent output and good relations with clients and suppliers alike. Now let's find out his photography story. Gilbert Fajardo is the featured Focus photographer of the month. Q : What is it about weddings or events that made you pursue it as a profession? G : Noong natuto ako sa photography nagkahilig talaga ako sa macro and portraits, and then parang naisip ko paano ko mababawi 'yung investment ko. Hanggang napasama ako sa iba't ibang team and na-realize ko na pwedeng pagkakitaan talaga ang events. One more thing na nagustuhan ko, nag-e-enjoy ako sa ginagawa ko. Q : Being a professional photographer now, how is it, compared to your previous work? G : Ang bigat ng salitang "pro", haha. Ang nakikita ko lang na advantage ng employee is may steady income ka monthly. Unlike sa photography you can't predict your income. Pwedeng ngayong month is konti lang 'yung projects, tapos the following month mas madami. In the aspect of enjoyment, mas masaya ako ngayon sa trabaho ko, 'yung pakiramdam na kumikita ka habang nag-e-enjoy ka sa ginagawa mo. Q : Tell us, how did you switch to photography? G : Nag-start talaga ako sa corporate world. One day nakahawak ako ng DSLR camera at parang sobra akong nagandahan sa output ng pictures. Matagal ko na din kasi balak bumili ng point-and-shoot camera pero sabi ko sa sarili ko, mag-iipon na lang ako para makabili ng DSLR. Noong naka-ipon ako, bumili agad ako. Kung ano lang makita ko na subject sa backyard namin pinag-practice-an ko. Little by little suma-sideline na rin ako sa mga kiddie party, nag-start na rin akong tumanggap ng mga maliliit na birthday coverage. Till the time na sumali ako sa photography club. Dumami mga kaibgan ko na photographers sa events, nakasama ako sa iba't ibang team na nakatulong nang malaki sa akin para ma-develop yung skills ko. Kahit tumatanggap na ako ng sarili kong bookings, hindi pa rin ako nagre-resign sa work ko. Sabi ko, mag-iipon at mag-i-invest muna ako ng gamit, kapag medyo stable na ako, saka ako magre-resign. Dumating yung araw na parang madami na din akong schedule at sa tingin ko it's time para mag-fulltime na. Sa grace ng Lord, hanggang ngayon nakaka-survive ako sa tulong Niya at sa tulong ng mga kaibigan ko na nagtitiwala sa kakayahan ko. Q : You’ve witnessed a lot of love stories with your camera and lens… what have these stories taught you about life and love? G : Na masarap pala ang magmahal at ang mahalin. Hahahaha. Q : What’s your most memorable event coverage? G : Ang pinaka-hindi ko makakalimutan na wedding shoot ko 'yung galing ng preps tapos papuntang simbahan, ibang simbahan pala 'yung napuntahan namin. Halos lumipad 'yung sasakyan namin, buti na lang late 'yung officiating priest kaya hindi kami na-late. Hahaha. Kaya lesson learned. Every detail sa event ay mahalaga, lalo na ang time and place. Q : If there’s a wedding or prenup shot you’re most proud of, what is it? G : Every prenup and wedding na na-shoot ko is a different experience. Masaya talaga makita silang nag-e-enjoy sa bawat isa kahit na pagod na pagod na sa mga poses and pegs. For me, ang magiging wedding shot na pinaka-proud ako, 'yung dream ko, and that is to shoot my own bride's portrait during our wedding day. Q : For the record, you're single and has yet to tie the knot. We’re sure you have plans to. If it’s your wedding, who would you like to be the official photographer? G : May prospect na ako sa ngayon pero hindi ko muna i-a-announce. Hahaha. Q : Wala namang samaan ng loob kahit sabihin mo. Okay, clue? G : Sikat sila sa Bulacan. Nakatrabaho ko na rin sila. Haha. Q : What’s your favorite gear combo when shooting events? G : Sa events, mas gamit ko madalas Canon 6D and Sigma 35mm Art. Q : What’s the most challenging aspect of being an events photographer? G : Unang-una sa lahat dapat marunong ka mag-budget ng time, importante ang time management. Dahil kapag hindi nasunod ang timeline, madaming mami-miss na moment. Being an events photographer, kailangan mo ma-document from the start hanggang sa last part ng event. It is your way to tell the story through your photos. Q : Five to ten years from now…. what would you like to accomplish? G : To have my own physical office and studio. I think of having some events-related business din. Clown, magician, kidding aside. Hahaha. Q : Aside from shooting events, what genre would you like to try or master? G : Parang gusto ko i-try mag-landscape kapag nag-travel na ako sa ibat ibang lugar. Q : Do you have a dream project? G : Yes, to work with Metrophoto and Oly Ruiz. Isa siya sa mga idol ko! Q : To those who are starting out in the events industry, what advice can you tell them? G: Start to have a good portfolio. Mag-collect na kayo ng mga pictures na magagamit n'yo to represent your name. Tingin tayo ng mga magagaling na photogrphers, then kuha tayo ng ideas from them. Time will come, magkakaroon at ma-e-establish natin 'yung sarili nating style and identity. In client's side naman, dapat i-maintain natin 'yung magandang reputation ng name natin especially sa mga kasamahan natin sa industriya. Maliit lang ang mundo kaya 'wag natin pasikipin lalo. Tayo-tayo lang din kasi ang magtutulungang mga magkakaibigan. Q : While for those interested in photography, what can they do to get good at it? G : Lahat naman tayo nag-start sa empty knowledge. Walang nag-start na magaling na agad. Basta continuous lang tayo mag-shoot and practice. Malaking tulong din na may group tayo or team, madami tayong matutunan sa kanila. Q : What's your message to Focus followers and fellow-members? G : Sa mga kasamahan ko po sa Focus Bulacan, maraming salamat po sa pagsuporta ninyo sa group natin. Patuloy tayong mag-suportahan at magmahalan. Lumaki pa sana ang ating grupo at dumami pa ang mga photo enthusiast na makasama natin. Sa lahat po ng followers ng Focus Bulacan, sana po ay nakapagbigay kami ng inspirasyon sa inyo sa pamamagitan ng aming grupo at ng aming mga larawan. Mabuhay po kayong lahat! To God be all the glory! Gilbert's Picks : Some of his favorite projects (click thumbnails to view photos in full) A lot of questions down the road that we'll wait for the answers to. Will he get to work with Oly Ruiz? When is he going to put up his own studio? Is he really serious about magicians and clowns? When will he find the love of his life? And whose portrait is he going to shoot at his own wedding? We can't tell exactly what the future holds, but one thing's for sure : Gilbert is going to keep on persevering, working hard, and being the nice guy who doesn't finish last. It's the love month and what better way to celebrate it than feature a feel-good love story? Focus Bulacan member Jan Danielle "JD" Reyes has been living the happy life with wife Christine Joy (or CJ) and one of their favorite activities is traveling. Being the photographer that he is, JD always makes it a point to hit two birds with one stone during their travels - spend quality time with the love of his life and fuel his artistic passion. Their way to recharge and relax from the stressful demands of running multiple businesses, traveling together has made them even closer as a couple and, according to JD, developed them as persons. Learn more from the question and answer session with our featured Focus photographer of the month, JD Reyes. Q : You’ve been together for years now. When did your travels start? JD : Before my wife and I met, I used to travel throughout the Philippines for work purposes only so I really didn’t fully enjoy those out-of-town trips as I was only given a day or two to check out the famous landmarks in the area as side trips. On the other hand, wifey's passion for travel included both local and international scenes. When we became a couple, the first location we were able to cross out on our list was La Union. My wife’s quite a good surfer. She actually taught me how to surf and until now she gives me pointers. It was a happy and special memory for us. We took a night bus ride to La Union and arrived at the resort early in the morning. We enjoyed the laidback environment, the good food and the music. The trip really had an impact on us because it also taught us how to live simply and peacefully with joy in our hearts. I believe that the more extravagant you live, the more stress and depression come with it. We both want to enjoy life to its fullest because time is a precious resource we can’t waste. Q : What do you love most about traveling with your wife that is different when traveling with other people? JD : Traveling with my wife is one of my outlets to release stress and unwind after long and tiring days of work. When you travel with other people, the tendency is your activities will be limited due to varying preferences. But when I travel with my wife, I can do and be whatever I want. For CJ and I, traveling helps us grow together and learn more about each other. Q : What is your favorite gear setup when traveling? JD : I have my Canon DSLR and GoPro when doing travel photography. My on-the-go lens is a Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8, which is primarily used for landscape and for portraiture as well. It is versatile and very practical to use. During travels, there are instances that you would encounter time constraints. I can save time by not having the need to change into a different lens. I also use Canon 18-135mm standard zoom lens when I need to get closer to the subject. Other items in my bag are a tripod, ND filters, CPL and a camera remote for night and long exposure shots. I also have a DIY plastic with rubber band to protect my gear in case it rains. Q: Of all the places you’ve been to… which one is your favorite or most memorable and why? JD : The most memorable one is Sagada. When I first learned that we were caving, I thought it would be like the one in Puerto Princesa where you would just sit back and enjoy the ride. But to my surprise, it was spelunking. The trail was difficult and we were not prepared. It took us more than an hour to finish it. It was also during that time that my wife almost fell off a cliff, barely hanging as her foot slid from the slippery rocks. It was indeed an adventure of a lifetime. On the other hand, our favorite is Italy. Actually, it’s my wife’s dream destination. She even learned to speak Italian during her college days. She loves to cook Italian dishes that’s why when we were there she shopped for her ingredients such as risotto, cheese and pasta. As for my personal favorite, it is Cambodia. Its history captured my interest and the temples are unrivaled in grandeur and scale. The people we met are nice with unparalleled optimism and contagious smiles. Q : Any tips you could share in traveling and travel photography? JD : Let’s stick to the saying that victory loves preparation. When you’re planning a trip especially if it’s your first time visiting the place, always read about it in advance. It is easier that way, as compared to going there completely unprepared. Next thing to consider is how much time and money you are willing to spend on each location. It will determine a lot about your approach in taking your photos. Travel and photography works hand in hand. You are basically documenting the life and the culture of the people you’re interacting with. My first rule in travel photography is to know the itinerary, so you’ll be able to determine what items you’ll need. Second is to travel light. If possible, bring only one versatile lens especially if you’re shooting for the whole day. You’ll need all the energy walking around fast under direct sunlight. However if you’re shooting at night, the camera remote and the tripod are certainly handy, and always pick a spot with sturdy flooring. Prior to traveling, you can also check snapshots of other photographers for inspiration. If I may suggest, you can check my mentor’s website at www.jersandel.com. He also has a Facebook page that exhibits his takes on different photography genres. Q : Place you’d definitely want to go back to? And, just in case, a place you’d rather not. JD : It’s all about the journey, not the destination. I believe that all places I’ve been to are worth coming back to. Yes, there were times wherein I encountered negative incidents in certain places, but those didn’t make the trip any less. What’s important is that should I visit those places again, I have countermeasures or backup plans to ensure the trip’s smooth flow. Whenever I travel, I try to understand that different places have different traditions and practices that I am not accustomed to, so I take it as a great opportunity for me to adapt and grow as an individual. Q : Dream destination you still have on your bucket list? JD : New Zealand. We’re looking forward to having a Middle Earth adventure and visiting the hobbit hole of Bilbo Baggins. And of course, we would love to see and take photos of the southern lights Aurora Australis. Q : What's the most memorable travel photo you’ve taken? JD : The most memorable travel photo would be my night shot at the Colosseo. It was the evening of Christmas 2015, my wife and I decided to check out the Colosseo as it was just a 20-minute walk from the hotel. It was freezing cold, about 4°C, as we walked up and down alleyways. We eventually ended up on a gated park so we looked for alternative ways which then led us to a shadowy street. Afraid of our lives, we walked briskly towards the Colosseo. It was already within our sight but still a couple of miles away, so we armed ourselves with a tripod and a selfie stick. Haha. At last we reached a perfect spot, I set up my tripod while my wife was on the look out, just in case someone snatched our things. We took videos and selfies, in awe of the beauty that was the Colosseo. On our way back, we passed by a convenience store with a Filipino crew and that talk made us a bit at ease afterwards. (Photo is shown above.) Q : When you’re shooting photos… what does your wife do? JD : My wife is actually in charge of the GoPro for selfies and for taking videos. But sometimes I let her use the DSLR so I could have my own portraits too. She is the type of traveler who is really after the experience. She used to say her photographic memory is the best way to capture memories. So while I’m taking landscape photos, she wanders around the place and looks for trinkets. Q : What photography genre do you still want to pursue or specialize in? JD : I would like to practice more on street photography and specialize in portraiture. Q : If you could compare your wife to a place…. what is she and why? JD : Definitely Siargao! Siargao is known for its numerous white sand beaches with calm and clear waters, and of course, the Cloud 9 surfing spot. My wife is calm and chill most of the time, but when it's time to make decisions she can immediately clear her mind and get things done. She is brave and adventurous, and she loves outdoor activities. Q : So where is your next trip? Any particular spot there you want to shoot? JD : We have a number of places lined up such as Malaysia, Singapore for the Coldplay concert, Hong Kong and Macau, USA, and of course we’re looking forward to coming back to Europe as we want to visit more historical places and stay longer to really experience the place. Q : What's your advise for photography beginners? JD : Every good photographer starts as an amateur. They say practice makes perfect, and in photography I say the same applies. You should not tell yourself that you don’t know how, that you are not an artist and therefore cannot and will never be. If you don’t step out of your comfort zone, you will never know. If you don’t try, you will never learn. Sure, people will criticize you, but don’t be discouraged easily. No one gets it on their first try. Be patient. Try to experiment and don’t be afraid to ask around. Today, information is right at our fingertips. You are just a click away to learning basic photography. Q : Message to Focus followers and co-members? JD : Photography is a never-ending learning process when it comes to adjusting lights, composing, creating tricks, and post processing. We in Focus Bulacan.. we are one big family ready to have each other’s back. This true camaraderie that stemmed from our similar pursuit permits us to develop and progress. It is true that each of us excels in different fields, but we are not anxious to share with each other what we know. This sharing and looking out for each other is a good sign of our team’s solidarity. To Focus Bulacan followers, don’t be afraid to take a shot. Whether you’re using your cellphone or a digital camera, what matters more is that you capture those precious memories and one day you can look back and remember every detail of the story in that photo. Also, we would like to welcome you to join some of our talks or seminars so you will know us more and hopefully we could help or inspire you in one way or another. There's never enough time to do all the things that we want, but when we do the things we want most with the people closest to our heart, life could be happy and balanced. JD Reyes got lucky indeed : combining his love for travel and photography and doing it with the encouragement (and presence) of his wife CJ has made life more enjoyable. The camera has been there to document their journey and these photos are mere proof that when love supports passion, results tend to be beautiful. With 2016 being another banner year, Focus Bulacan is looking forward to another successful one. It's getting more difficult each year because of ever-increasing expectations but our group loves challenges. We do not know exactly how to make 2017 even better than 2016, but we're sure our officers and members are going to give it a good try. Leading the way is this year's batch of officers, majority of them holdovers from the past year, with a few new additions to reinforce the club's think tank.
All the best, 2017 officers, and Godspeed, Focus!
We're feeling good about 2017 and part of the reason is because we have 8 new members we'll be reaching greater heights with. Like we always say, it doesn't matter what camera you're using, what you do for a living, or which genre you mostly shoot. Once you get approved, we welcome you with open arms to the Focus family. So let's see, we have an interior designer, an immigration personnel, a marketing specialist, a travel guide/blogger, a math teacher, among others. A Canon user, two Fujifilm mirrorless revolutionaries, and Nikon shooters. Just another eclectic batch of approved applicants... now considered official Focus Bulacan members. Congratulations, Batch January 2017 :
Since it's more important to us how your photos look like (how cute or dashing you are is just secondary), here's a visual introduction to Batch January 2017 : Welcome to Team Focus and we hope you make the most of your membership. Rumors say that it's more fun in Focus Bulacan, it's up to you to find out if it's true. Let's shoot soon! :)
Q : So when exactly did the photography bug bite you? E : Since elementary days pa lang hilig ko na humawak ng point-and-shoot camera kaya noong nagka-trabaho ako, isa sa mahal na nabili ko 'yung Sony Cybershot para may sarili na akong camera. Wala pa akong idea sa photography proper noon. 2011 nung binili ko 'yung Canon 1000D, sabi ko 'yung pinakamura lang, tapos nood lang ng mga tutorial sa Youtube kung paano gamitin 'yung mga settings. 'Yung mag-blur lang ang background masaya na ako, hahaha. 2014 noong in-introduce sakin ni Shauang (Bote, a fellow member - ed) 'yung Focus Bulacan, na may photography group pala sa Bulacan. First photography workshop ko talaga 'yung sa BSU ng Focus, November 2014. After nun na-realize ko na gusto ko talaga matuto ng photography. December binili ko na 'yung Canon 60D ko. Doon na nag-start 'yung eagerness ko at ni Shauang na makasali sa group. Q : Tell us how it’s like to get started and what fueled your passion? E : Masaya! Noong una gusto ko lang talaga po mag-shoot tuwing may okasyon sa pamilya. After nung Basic Photography Workshop ng Focus, 'di lang pala 'yun ang pwede kong gawin sa DSLR ko. 'Yung makapag-produce ka ng photo na katulad ng mga nakikita ko lang sa internet dati at magawa ko 'yung mga nagagawa din ng iba, basta pag-aaralan mo lang, doon siguro ko masasabi na nagsimula 'yung hilig at kagustuhan ko na matuto ng photography. Q : Along the way, who were influential mentors or photographers to you? E : Sino nga ba? Isa na siguro 'yung mga photographers na nakakahalubilo ko sa Focus Bulacan tulad ni kuya Awel Dionisio. Siya 'yung nag-guide sa akin sa Salubong Festival kung paano mag-shoot at tignan ang tama ng araw at shadow sa mukha ng mga dancers. At 'yung nakilala ko sa isang mobile photography group sa Facebook na matiyagang nagturo at nag-guide sa akin ng mga nalalaman nya at nag-encourage na din para mag take ng Basic Photography course sa FPPF. Q : If you compare and look back at your photos two or three years ago, what enters your mind? E : Sayang, hehehe. Kung sana noon pa ako nag-aral eh 'di sana mas maalam na ako. Pwera-biro, masaya naman kasi, mainam-inam naman na ang mga kuha ko ngayon kumpara daw sa dati. Q : We see you shooting a lot of different things. What genre fits you the most, and why? E : Sabi po kasi ng kakilala ko, wala naman masamang subukan lahat. Sa huli makikita ko din kung anong genre ang pinakagusto ko. Portrait and Landscape talaga kung tatanungin 'yung pinakagusto ko na matutunan, bukod sa Macro na pinagkakalibangan ko ngayon. Q : What keeps you motivated in photography? E : Siguro kasi ito talaga 'yung gusto kong gawin tsaka para sa akin, feeling ko ngayon pa lang ako nag-u-umpisa eh. Madami pa akong dapat at gustong matutunan. Q : You’ve also taken mobile phone photography seriously, with the Huawei P9. Does it give you pause that you might start loving shooting with your phone and start shooting less and less with your DSLR? E : Hindi naman siguro, iba pa din ang DSLR compared sa mobile para sa akin. Sa mobile lang kasi lagi mo siyang dala, kung may makita o madaanan ka na interesting pwede mo na agad pitikan. Saka ang ganda ng P9. Haha. Q : It seems like you shoot everyday. How do you usually schedule or decide your shoots? Does it happen spontaneously, or do you plan it ahead most of the time? E : Hahaha, nakakahiya naman. Spontaneous siguro na masasabi kasi sa umaga habang nakasakay ng tricycle 'pag maganda ung sikat ng araw ilalabas ko na ung phone ko para makapitik na at saka pag naglalakad pauwi papuntang sakayan ng FX, umiikot 'yung paningin ko sa mga nadadaanan ko. Titignan ko kung may maganda bang mapipitikan. Sa akin kasi practice ko na sa sarili 'yun. Q : Doesn’t work get in the way of photography? E : Hindi pa naman, hehehe. I still enjoy doing my job at the NLRC (National Labor Relations Commission where she works as a stenographic reporter - ed). Q : What’s your favorite place to shoot? E : Hagonoy, syempre. Walang katulad ang hometown ko. Q : What would be your dream shoot? E : Dream kong makapag-shoot ng wedding. Someday, sana. Q : Do you have a frustration with a certain photography genre? The one you’ve really been challenged. E : Challenged siguro, Portrait and Landscape pa rin kasi madami pa akong dapat matutunan. Sa Portrait dapat kong pag-aralan 'yung paggamit ng flash, 'yung tamang pag-bounce ng light sa subject, paggamit ng reflector at practice kung paano mo ipu-puwesto ang subject. Sa Landscape naman after ko marinig 'yung photography talk ni sir Jay Jallorina, mas lalo ako na-inspire. Gusto ko i-apply 'yung mga pointers niya tulad ng paggamit ng filters at paano mag-long exposure. Q : What’s your most favorite photo of all? And why? E : 'Yung photo ng Divine Mercy altar (shown above). Noong una kasi wala siya sa loob ko na gawing entry sa Larawang Bulakenyo. Noong processing at selection session ng Focus para sa mga gagawing entries sa contest, doon lang ako nakapag-decide, tapos siya pa 'yung napili sa Landmark Category noong mga judges ng PCCI kaya parang sobrang swerte. Q : You’ve attended a lot of talks and workshops. What’s the one, most important thing that you’ve learned? E: Know your gear! 'Yun talaga ang pinaka-importante eh, alamin mo paano gamitin ang meron ka. Q : And what’s the most important thing you would like to tell those who are just getting into photography? E : Cliché man pero shoot lang nang shoot. Kahit mobile pwede pang-practice lalo na sa composition, at hindi pwede ang pwede na. Q : What's your message for Focus followers and fellow Focus members? E : Sa mga ka-Focus at sa lahat ng mga sumusuporta, sobrang salamat sa experience na ito. More power sa ating lahat! Kitakits sa susunod na shoot. Elena's Picks : Her favorite captures (click thumbnails to view photos in full) The curious question is : how long will Elena be able to sustain her photographic fire? Or better yet, what would intensify it even more? With what she's showing us, our bet is that the second question is more likely to be definitively answered.
Q : We know you love to travel and you always want your camera with you. Tell us how it’s like to combine two things you enjoy doing. R : Travel and photography combined is truly an adventure and at the same time a challenge for me. Yes, love ko po etong parehong gawin and it all started during my overseas work in Singapore way back 2007. Point-and-shoot na Kodak digital camera gamit ko pa noon, 4 megapixels pa lang yata 'yun. On weekends, I’ll just go to Chinatown, Little India, Bugis, Clark Quay and Sentosa and capture whatever subjects fascinate me. Pangtanggal lang ng inip at homesickness. Although it’s an exhilarating and learning experience, the major challenge here is how will you able to capture and share photos of a place, be it on landscape or architecture, people and culture, making it more inviting and appealing to your viewers so they could also feel and enjoy the beauty of the place too, as if kasama mo din silang nakikita 'yung ganda ng isang scenery with their own naked eyes. Bonus pa kapag may narinig ka na "wow, ang ganda naman ng places na napuntahan mo." Q : And your latest trip took you to North America. Looks like you enjoyed shooting with your mobile phone. What was the main reason you took snaps mostly from your phone? R : For this trip, I took most snapshots from my Samsung S7 Edge for my Instagram account. Madaliang shots, kaunting edit sa Snapseed and voila, pwede na i-upload agad. Aside sa nagkaroon ng markings na black sa corners ng image ng photos ko using my DSL, a problem with the lens whatsoever, it was also difficult to concentrate shooting when you are traveling with friends on a limited time frame. Good thing I have with me my Samsung phone and it turned out na lumabas na okay naman 'yung snapshots from the trip. Q : Do you think the gap is closing in terms of image quality between full-fledged cameras and mobile phone cameras? R : With hybrid technology rising among the camera specs of smartphones nowadays, I think mobile phone cameras are already bridging the gap closer to full-fledged cameras in terms of image quality and camera features. Q : What, for you, makes shooting with a mobile phone camera so much enjoyable compared to DSLR or mirrorless? R : Three words. Handy, lightweight and instant. Q: Obviously, travel photography is your thing, but what other genre are you mostly inclined to? R : Food photography and child photography and portraiture, I think. I love capturing the innocent smiles of children especially my kids and my nieces and nephews. Q : And what other kind/field of photography do you want to try or always been curious about? R : I have been curious with Street Photography. It amazed me seeing some street photos by my co-Focus members like Jay Salvador, Julius Calzo and Nympha Pagtalunan…Conveying mood and emotion in an ordinary street life is quite a difficult and tedious genre for me. I have also been curious with the long exposure photography of Jer Sandel. I'm amazed at the photos of my other Focus family. You are all awesome and talented in your own ways and I am proud being part of Focus. Q : Of all the places you’ve visited, which one is your most favorite, and why? How about the one place that for you was the most picturesque? R : Japan is my favorite place among all. Aside of course that my family is living there, people are generally nice, disciplined and well-mannered. Food was great and each place has a distinct appeal, be it in the mega cities of Tokyo or nearby prefectures. I would love to explore other places like Osaka, Kyoto, Hokkaido and Sapporo if given the chance to come back. For me, Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia is the most picturesque among all the places I visited in Asia. Noong napanood ko 'yung Tomb Raider ni Angelina Jolie, na-amaze ako sa mga temples sa movie, sabi ko sa sarili ko, "wow ang ganda", sana mapuntahan ko din 'yun one day. Fast forward, 'yung dating dream ko naging reality at nakita ko mismo 'yung temple and Ta Prohm the famous Tomb Raider Tree. Luckily, my shot of the Bayon Temple was featured in the first Focus anniversary exhibit in 2014. Q : Please share your most favorite photo of all. R : The night shot of the Tokyo Skytree is my favorite among all my photos. We were then going home to my sister’s house in Chiba. 'Yung kapatid ko nagsabi , "Ditse, kunan mo 'yun o." Perfect timing lang talaga na blue hour tapos lighted pa yung Tokyo Skytree I took the shot while inside the moving vehicle swerte lang na hindi blurry ung image. The shot was taken while we are travelling at the Rainbow Bridge in Tokyo. Na feature din yun sa Photo of the Week ng Focus. Q : What does travel and photography have in common that you like. R : Memories, for me, is the common denominator of travel and photography and I love every memory documented in each of my travels. It’s just like you capture every moment and have it with you forever. Q : A dream destination that’s still in your bucket list. R : Naku madami pa, there are a lot to mention. I have only been to few places so far but my wish list would be Europe, I would love to see the grandeur of fairytale-like European castles and chateau. I would love to see also Machu Picchu of Peru, the highly-diverse culture of Bhutan as well as the wildlife safari of South Africa, and madaming local travels, unang-una na 'yung Batanes. Libre lang naman mangarap, 'di ba? Q : What's an advice that you can give to travelers and travel photographers? R: For travelers, travel, create and collect memories while you still can. Life is short. Enjoy and wander. Remember the adage, “We travel not to escape life , but for life not to escape us”. There are so many budget airlines and cheap airfare just wait for the right timing. Schedule the assigned budget para 'di mabigat and may time pa kayo mag-ipon. Kumbaga andiyan na nakahain na sa'yo, schedule mo na lang ang kulang. I am not rich and most of my travels are from piso fare and other deals ng airlines. For travel photographers, hmmm…I’m still amateur in doing this and there are still a lot to learn. Siguro just enjoy and create memories of every place. Just bring the basics, don’t bring so many gear. Travel light and be wary of your surroundings. Q : Your message to your Focus members and Focus followers? R : Hi, Focus family! I miss shooting with you guys. I hope to catch up soon. Saludo ako sa skills and galing n'yo. Hindi man ako visible and active lately, I am always here to support you guys. God bless us all and more power to us!!! To Focus followers, thank you for your support. Rest assured that the group will continuously give clearer, sharper and bolder images to everyone. More of Rochelle's favorite snaps from her North America trip Now taking a breather after working for years in the shipping industry, Rochelle wants to focus on her family and expand her photography. Having sisters who are also camera junkies, photography runs in the blood. We could only imagine the photos she would come up with on her next adventure, or her next pursuit. For now, we'll keep an eye on her Instagram account, who knows, maybe her next target destination is coming soon. All we know is she has her sights on the land of the rising sun. :) Far away in the Land Down Under is a Bulakenyo who has made it a habit to showcase the beauty of his adopted land in his photos. Originally from the town of Bocaue who used to work in the North Luzon Expressway as tollway police, he relocated to Sydney, Australia and now works there as a maintenance man. In his spare time, he feeds his passion for photography, one that has produced quite a number of wonderful photos that we are excitedly showing you here. Ronald "Onad" de Guzman is the featured Focus photographer of the month. Q : You’re a Bocaue native now based in Sydney. How did you end up in Australia? First of all nagpunta ako dito sa Oz to work, kaya hanggang ngayon I'm working here. Not yet a permanent resident. Q : How did you get started in this wild, beautiful world of photography? I started with a Sony point-and-shoot, 4 megapixels, nasa akin pa ata 'yon. Nag-enjoy taking pictures. Then upgrade ako, point-and-shoot pa rin but this time 8 megapixels, still Sony. Then sabi ko sa sarili ko gusto ko 'yung may manual control kaya bumili ako ng Canon SX110 ata 'yon, 'di rin ako nakuntento, sabi ko mas gusto ko 'yung mahaba 'yung zoom, kaya palit ulit ako ng Panasonic FZ100. Masaya na ako kasi halos covered ko na lahat ng standard focal length. Then nagpunta kami ng Snowy Mountain, 'yung isang barkada namin pinahiram 'yung Canon 400D niya sa akin, doon ko napansin ang laki ng difference ng image quality ng DSLR sa bridge camera ko. Kaya sabi ko sa sarili ko someday bibili ako ng DSLR. Canon or Nikon. It was December 2011 when I bought my first DSLR, a Nikon D7000. Doon na nag simula ang lahat. Q : What’s it like doing photography in Australia compared to shooting here in the Philippines? Masarap mag-shoot dito sa Oz, ang daming magandang lugar specially for landscappe at seascape. Kahit public transport lang pwedeng mapuntahan. Sa atin kasi bago ka maka-shoot ng magandang scenery malayo-layo ang lalakbayin mo. Dito mero din malayo pero so far kontento naman ako sa paligid ko. Saka mababait 'yung mga photog na makakasabay mo sa shoot. Approachable sila. Q : You have a group of friends you shoot with. Tell us how you plan your shoots and squeeze in the time in spite of your work schedules. Sa group shoot namin, minsan biglaan lalo kung sunrise or sunset shoot. Pero minsan 'pag medyo malayo pinaplano namin. 'Yun nga lang, Sunday lang pwede kasi may work till Saturday. 'Yung biglaang shoot sa tabi-tabi lang naman 'yun kaya pwedeng isingit before or after work. Q : What’s your favorite shooting spot in all of Sydney? Which location in Australia remains on your bucketlist? Ang daming lugar dito sa Sydney na magandang mag-shoot. Pero syempre gusto ko 'yung malapit sa amin kasi pwede ko lang lakarin lalo kung nakikita ko 'yung clouds na may potential. Sa Kincoppal-Rose Bay. Sa bucketlist ko naman, sana bago ako umuwi ng 'Pinas ma-shoot ko 'yung Red Rock (Ayers Rock). Q : We’ve seen your love for travel, landscape, and portraits. Which of them do you like doing most, and why? I love landscape kaso nag-slow down ako nang kaunti, marami nang nararamdaman like rayuma sa tuhod. Minsan 'di maiiwasan na masabak sa lakaran. Kaya minsan nag-portraiture din. Q : You’ve also amassed a fair share of gear over the years, and you’re a user of Sony, Nikon, and Canon. What could you say are the strengths of each brand, or what do you like in each? I went to Nikon at first kasi maraming lens choices, kahit 'yung manual lenses pwede. Then I bought Canon kasi nagustuhan ko skin tone niya for portrait. 'Yung Nikon naman sa ISO performance at dynamic range. My Sony a6000 is my walk-around camera and I can also use all my Nikon lenses with it. Sa ngayon Nikon at Sony na lang. Naibenta ko na lahat ng Canon body at lenses ko. Lens hood na lang natira. Q : What is your most memorable photograph? And please tell the story behind it. Most memorable? 'Yun lightning shot namin sa South Head. 'Yung na-feature sa Focus 2016 calender, July yata. We waited for the lightning storm sa taas ng burol. Pagkatapos ng shoot bumuhos ang napakalakas na ulan kaya nagmamadali kaming ilagay sa bag ang mga gear kasi we still need to walk 500 meters or more papuntang carpark. Basang-basa kami from head to toe. Pero okay naman 'yung gear, 'di nabasa. And more importantly, we got the shot. Q : How about your most challenging shoot? 'Yun na rin ang most challenging, kasi kailangan namin umakyat ng burol para makarating sa vantage point namin. At doon sa vantage point may lumang kanyon, World War II relic. Nakakatakot, baka tamaan ng kidlat eh, 3 meters away lang sa amin. Q : What is photography's role in your life? Photography, para bang pang-alis ko ng inip. Lalo 'pag I feel homesick, shoot na lang ako. Photography also made me quit smoking kasi ang mahal ng gear. Kaya 'yung yosi money ko napunta sa gear at naging healthy-living pa ako, dahil I quit smoking and I walk a lot. Q : A general tip or advice you want to tell newbie photographers. Maa-advice ko sa mga baguhan, read photography books, watch Youtube, find a mentor to teach you, and of course, practice, practice and practice. Q : Finally, what's your message to Focus followers and your fellow Focus members? I will try to shoot more para may mapakita naman na bago. SA mga member sana makasama rin ako sa mga events at shoots n'yo kung sakaling umuwi ako . More power to Focus Bulacan! Onad's other favorite photos (click thumbnails to view photos in full) Thousands of miles away but making his presence felt thru his images. Luckily for us, and thanks to technology, we can also witness the beauty of Oz. Here's to more trips, more shoots, and more breathtaking photos, Onad. "Life is an adventure." "The real fun begins at the end of your comfort zone." "Dare to discover." Probably some of the statements Marlo Bien keeps in mind as he lives everyday as if always looking for the next adventure. A wandering soul who loves to explore, Marlo is happy-go-snappy and one who wouldn't shy away from an exciting idea. He works at the Department of Transportation (formerly DOTC) as a site acquisition staff for his weekdays routine while constantly planning his weekend and holiday breakaways. With Marlo, there are just no excuses for failing to take photos or not trying new experiences. A fun-loving soul with the gift of artistic expression, Marlo Bien is our featured Focus photographer of the month. Q : Tell us how you began your love affair with photography. Marlo : I discovered my interest in photography when I was in high school. Not every cellphone had a camera back then and being a member of the school’s Multimedia Team makes you a superstar. Our job was to cover every school activity, create audio-visual presentations and other multimedia matters. Covering events was my favorite. Pagkakataon ko makagamit ng mamahaling camera and kapag nakasabit sakin 'yung camera ng school, taas-noo ako nagpapalakad-lakad, nag iikot-ikot sa campus para i-model 'yung camera. Big time. Q : You have an interesting combo working for you : photography and love for adventure. Tell us how it's like to combine the two. M : Being in the adventure gives you a better point of view to the scene. Right now I am into biking, my bike takes me to different places I’ve never been to. Kagaya sa atin, sa Bulacan, I never imagined that we have these magical places in Bulacan. Then being a photography enthusiast, pagkakataon ko na to take photographs. Uso na ang smartphones, action cams, and compact cameras. Wala akong excuse not to take a photo. Parang isang malaking kasalanan kapag hindi ako nakapag-take ng photo sa iba’t ibang lugar na napuntahan ko. I always think that it will be the last time that I’ll visit the place. Q : Have you ever considered being a daredevil photographer? M : I don’t know if it’s ‘daredevil’ but I’m not afraid to go out of my comfort zone to get an epic shot whenever there’s an opportunity. Q : Let's say you can take your bike anywhere. Where would you go and which photography gear are you going to take with you? M : (Quotes the Eraserheads song) “Kung ako ay papipiliin ay nag Amsterdam na ako…” I’d like to go to Amsterdam. Bike around the city with a camera, no specific brand pero mas okay sana 'yung mas magaan pero kumpleto din ang settings. Tapos magmamala-Sherlock Holmes ako. Q: You also shoot events. What feels mostly different when shooting a confined event as compared to an outdoor adventure? M : The big difference between shooting events and shooting an adventure is when you’re in events, you need to satisfy your client while shooting an outdoor adventure, you just need to satisfy yourself, you have the luxury of time, and you have the privilege of experimenting. Q : What's the most memorable event you've covered? M : Every event that I’ve covered is memorable. But the recent event last July was my most unforgettable experience. Everything was going smoothly, natapos kami mag-details, beauty shots, group shots and other creatives just on time. Then on our way to the church, nagsimula ang pressure. Sobrang traffic tapos ayaw gumana ng GPS ko. We arrived at the location a few minutes before the ceremony started. So ayun, we need to unload our equipment and prepare for the ceremony as quickly as possible. Iniwan ko 'yung team near the chapel to shoot some details and I went to the bride to check if she’s ready. Noong pabalik na ako, nagpapalipad na sila ng drone para sa aerial footage and then the wind blew hard, I witnessed the drone trying so hard to return to us pero wala na, para lang syang hinipan ng hangin. And that made it unforgettable. Haha! Q: What was the most unforgettable adventure you've had with your camera? M : Just like in events, every adventure is memorable. Depende naman sa’yo iyon on how you define adventure. 'Yung pagsakay sa MRT at paghabol sa bus during rush hour is a form of adventure kung sa ganoong paraan mo s'ya titignan. Pero isa sa pinakagusto kong balikan para makapag-adventure ay yung province namin, Bicol. Nandoon na ang lahat, adventure plus photo opportunities plus beautiful ladies. Q : Have you imagined yourself going full-time into photography? M : A big yes. Sabi nga ni Confucius, “Choose a job you love, and you don’t have to work a day in your life.” Siguro by the time na established na ako, kumpleto na ang investments and secured na ang future, makakapag full-time na ako. Dadating din tayo diyan. Hehe. Q : What's the photography genre you're most frustrated about? M : Portraits and model shoots. I love shooting portraits in different concepts. Hindi ko alam pero I love the pressure I feel every time na magshu-shoot ako ng model. Ang totoo, hindi ako masyado marunong magpa-pose ng model pero okay lang, I have discovered the secret para sa magandang output kapag nagmo-model shoot. Make your model feel comfortable and wala ka nang po-problemahin. Q : If there's a camera feature you want engineers to develop, what would it be? M : Wala na akong maisip, our present photography technology is already amazing. Pero noong nag-aaral pa ako, kapag magpi-picture-taking for ID or graduation picture, lagi kaming nire-remind for perfect grooming para magmukhang maayos sa picture, tapos magpabango daw kasi baka maamoy kami sa picture. Maamoy?? Q : Tell us about a photography lesson that you'll never forget. M : One that landscape photographer Edwin Martinez said during Focus Bulacan's first anniversary exhibit opening : “For me, I cannot consider my photo as photographs kung hindi siya printed. They’re just images.” Kaya nga photographer ang tawag sa atin kasi we produce photographs. Q : What's an advice you can share to photography beginners? M : My advice? Hmmm... simple lang. There’s no such thing as a bad photograph. There is a reason behind every photograph. There is a story. Kaya mo kinuhanan 'yan kasi there is something in that subject that attracts you. Posibleng hindi ma-gets agad ng viewer, pero that’s photography. Just like in paintings, some painting may appear so plain and shallow for the viewer but in reality, it has a deeper story. Marlo's other favorite photos (click thumbnails to view photos in full) Q : How about a message to Focus followers and your fellow Focus members? M : To Focus followers… You are following our page for a reason. It’s either you are amazed by some of our photographs or you are interested in photography or kung ano pa man. Thank you. Thank you sa pag-appreciate sa amin, and if you are interested in photography, do not hesitate to join us. Hehe. To my fellow members, marami ring salamat. I don’t usually get involved in groups pero this one is amazing. It’s not just a group, it’s a family. And ang family ay nagmamahalan so… I love you all mga ka-Focus! "Life is an adventure." So take risks. "The real fun begins at the end of your comfort zone." The sooner you get out of it, maybe the earlier that you feel alive. "Dare to discover." And you'll also discover a lot about yourself. Just guessing what might be Marlo's retort to the statements. For him, life is better with a lot of "Oh, well" rather than a ton of "What If". |
FOCUS Feature
Every month, we have a feature on our members, our photography idols, and other photography issues we feel deserve a heads-up. Archives
January 2021
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