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FOCUS FEATURE

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The Black Nazarene : Faith & Photography by ARFEL LEONARDO

2/23/2015

 
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The annual Feast of the Black Nazarene, or more popularly known as the Traslación, is one of the foremost religious events in our Catholic-dominated country. The parade (which falls on January 9th) regularly draws millions of devotees, forming a sea of people around the dark statue of Jesus Christ as it travels back to Quiapo, Manila's Minor Basilica. People from all walks of life troop to the event - the rich and the poor, the famous and the common folk, the old and young, the passionate and those that are just there for the spectacle. And yes, even photographers who wish to document the phenomenon with their cameras.

Focus member Arfel Leonardo has been shooting the Black Nazarene parade the past few years, each time coming home with powerful and iconic images worthy of feature. We are compiling our favorites from his Nazarene series and showing them to you here, along with a short Q&A about his experiences in shooting the yearly event.


Q : Paano ka nagsimula sa photography?

Arfel : Noong maka-graduate ako ng college, niregaluhan ako ng DSLR. Makalipas ang ilang araw nag-umpisa na akong maglaro.

Q : Anong favorite genre mo?
A : Travel photography talaga ang gusto ko.

Q :  Panata mo na ba ‘yung mag-shoot ng Black Nazarene parade?
A : Pasasalamat. May ibang kaibigan pa akong taun-taon kong nakakasama sa kapistahan ng Black Nazarene.

Q :  Ano ‘yung pinaka-challenging sa pag-shoot ng Nazareno?
A : Siguro 'yung pagsabay sa agos ng mga tao ang pinakamahirap.


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Q  : May nangyari na bang muntik ka nang ma-disgrasya habang nagshu-shoot?
A : Wala pa naman.


Q: Paano mo pinoprotektahan ang sarili at camera mo habang nagkakagulo ang mga tao sa parade?
A : Proteksyon ko na sa sarili ko 'yung pagsabay sa direction ng parade at pagkatapos ko kumuha ay yayakapin ko na ang camera ko.

Q : Ano ang kadalasang hinahanap mong subjects sa parade?

A : Hinahanap ko talaga facial emotions, mga pattern, motion at shadows.

Q : Ilang oras ka nagshu-shoot sa parade?
A : Tatlong oras sa umaga kasama 'yung misa. Dalawang oras sa gabi bago makapasok sa Basilika ng Nazareno.
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Q: Sa dami ng magagandang photos mo ng parada ng Nazareno, ano ‘yung isang pinaka-paborito mo?

A : 'Yung kuha ko na maraming confetti. Kahit kitang-kita na pawisan na ang mga namamanata hindi nila pansin ang pagod at hirap makasampa lang sa karo at makahawak sa Nazareno.
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Q: Meron ka pa bang ibang event na gustong makunan ng litrato?

A : Gusto ko 'yung Sinulog Festival ng Cebu City.

Q : Ano naman ang mga lugar na dream shooting destinations mo?

A : Sana makapag-shoot ako sa Rio de Janeiro, Paris, at sa Machu Picchu.

Q : Ano ang advice na mabibigay mo sa mga gustong mag-shoot ng mga event na maraming tao gaya ng Black Nazarene parade?

A : Pumili ng tamang lente. Mas wide mas okay. Pero kung talagang hindi kakayanin ang lumapit sa siksikan ng mga tao, pwede na rin ang telephoto lens... mabigat nga lang.

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Q : Sa mga baguhan sa photography, anong advice ang gusto mong i-share?

A : Pag-aralan at mahalin ang manual mode ng camera n'yo.


Q : Ano naman ang message mo para sa mga Focus members at followers?
A : Para sa Focus members, sana mas marami pa tayong matutunan at makapag-share din ng ating mga nalalaman. Sa mga followers, huwag kayong mahiyang magtanong sa Focus members. Balang araw makakasama na rin namin kayo sa aming grupo.

More of Arfel's photos of the Nazarene parade (click thumbnails to view photos in full)

Shooting a massive event like the Black Nazarene parade is never easy. We all have our own reasons in doing things. In Arfel Leonardo's case, he loves doing it because it's his faith and passion. Reasons enough to justify the difficulties.

And as evidenced by his photos, reasons enough why he excels in doing it.


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