By JER SANDEL

I've been getting a lot of questions about my photo entry to Focus Bulacan's "Balance" theme contest. I'm happy to have won the contest, even happier that I'll get to share how it was done. It's not as complicated as it seems.

The first thing we do, of course, upon learning the contest theme, is to conceptualize our entries. I actually entertained three ideas for "Balance". The first was a photo featuring the yin yang symbol, because as we all know, it connotes balance. I was thinking of arranging white sugar and black coffee into an intricate yin yang design, and photograph it in a top shot. The photography part was easy, it was the subject styling that made me consider another concept. So I did. The second idea that I wanted to do was a model doing a headstand. I always thought of headstands as cool and difficult and my appreciation for it stemmed from my admiration for the UP Pep Squad over the years. But then I thought, how could I present it dramatically? And the model that I thought of wasn't really confident in posing for me because she was still perfecting her headstand execution.

So, finally, I moved on to the third idea, and this one I knew I could pull off : a gymnast and a ballerina doing a difficult pose against a sunset background. A silhouette "balance" photo. That was the plan. The question now was : who would do the poses for me? I didn't personally know of a gymnast or ballerina.

Enter Sir Toti Villanueva of the Malolos City Sports and Development Office. He knows a lot of athletes from different disciplines, especially those based in Malolos or nearby Bulacan towns. I was confident he could find me a subject for my shoot. He didn't disappoint - half an hour after I messaged him, he gave me two names, one of a gymnast's mother,  the other, of a ballerina. To cut the story short, I got my subjects, and they told me the poses I wanted were doable for their daughters. We then scheduled the day and time of the shoot.

Then the problems crept in. On the night before the shoot, my ballerina model had to beg off because of an unforeseen conflict with her school schedule. Logistically, it wasn't possible for her and her mom to go to the shoot location. I understood... thus I had to think of a way to get the shot that I wanted. Then, to compound matters, in the afternoon two hours before the shoot, it rained. The shoot location being outdoor, I had doubts our plan would push thru.. a sentiment shared by the gymnast's mom. In my mind, I was talking to the rain : I don't care if you're just a drizzle or you pour out hard, but you have to stop by 5PM (our call-time for the shoot). It was an illusion of control but more of a helpless wish. The contest submission deadline was two days away and my schedule wouldn't allow me to set another shoot. It was this day or nothing. Shoot or bust.

When I arrived at the location - the parking lot of Malolos Sports and Convention Center (again, thanks to Sir Toti) - gymnast Sam and her mom Cecilia were already there. I surveyed the scene and looked for puddles of rainwater. I found a large one just in the location I wanted it to be - against the sunset backdrop I was planning to feature.

Remember the silhouette peg I had in mind? Well, we were going to do just that, but this time with an added element - water reflection. We didn't expect it would rain but the rain suddenly gave me an extra element to incorporate in my photo. After explaining to Sam and mommy Cecilia how we were going to do the shoot, I only had to look for a spot and angle that would best feature the silhouette poses. I also wanted to create an illusion where the foreground would look like a water reservoir... not just a rain puddle.

(See photo below : I used a low angle for the camera on a tripod. Just enough elevation to see the subject's body outline, while low enough to create the illusion I wanted.)

So with everything set... it was time to shoot. I had only one model to work with, Sam, but I placed the camera on a tripod for a specific reason : I was going to take multiple photos of her - in different spots and positions - and I'll blend the photos together in Photoshop. The crucial thing was - her poses shouldn't overlap so I could blend the photos seamlessly in post-processing. Also, I didn't want the clouds to move too much (again, for that seamless look), so we had to do the shoot quickly. Do a pose, shoot it, re-do it just to be sure, shoot it once more, then move on to the next spot and pose.

Luckily for me, Sam performed like a professional. Well, she's been training regularly for two years, maybe that's why. I was hesitant at first in showing her the poses I wanted, but each time I showed her, she would just smile back, as if telling me, "that's easy." She did make it look easy. In all, I had Sam do four different poses (in four different spots). But in post-processing, I decided three poses would look better. Always odd, never even.

No magic. Just a few tricks. I always shoot in RAW. I love the control it gives me to correct certain settings, and also room for creativity. While I had a yellow silhouette peg in mind, what I wanted for my photo was something more relaxing to the eyes. And since I was working with a female subject, I also wanted a feminine color.

(Below is the RAW photo, straight from the camera, still untouched.)

The exposure was spot-on for me. What I played with is the white balance tint (see the slider pushed all the way to the right) so the photo would have a pink and purple look. Like I mentioned above, I wanted relaxing and feminine colors. It took just one slider adjusment to achieve it.

Here are the three individual photos that I blended together. I had Sam start from my right and move on to her next spot to my left. No overlapping. She moved her mat with her.  I also blended together the mat.

Blending was done the simplest way : put one photo on top of the other (as a layer), create a layer mask, then brush on the layer to combine the two photos. After blending the three photos that I showed above, the result was this photo below. As you could see, it's far from perfect. The shot was too wide and showed a lot of distracting elements. So I cropped it and went for a portrait orientation instead.

The next step - and the most difficult one - was to clone out the poles and power lines from the background and water reflection. I didn't want those distractions in the photo. I wanted the viewer to focus on the gymnast/s, the shadows, and the reflection.

Finally, I adjusted the white balance once more, gave it a warmer look, so the pink color stood out more. The final result was a pink sky and purple reflection - which showed a "balance" of its own. Then of course, there was balance in the difficult poses... and finally, balance given by the water reflection. I contemplated on presenting the photo sideways (the left side being the reflection, the right side the real-world), but decided against it : the photo had a strong appeal on its own because of the simplicity, so why make it complicated to look at?

Again, my thanks to Sir Toti Villanueva for the connections, the location, and even the behind-the-scene photos. To ma'am Cecilia Yacob and awesome Sam, thank you for the help and cooperation. I feel sorry we didn't get to take a group picture after the shoot. Finally, thanks to everyone who voted for my entry.

One model. An empty parking lot. And rain.

To God be the glory.

On the second day, Fuji X Photographers Niko Villegas and Rommel Bundalian will offer insight on Fashion and Street Photography.

Read more details about the talks on our dedicated F/2 Exhibit page : http://www.focusbulacan.com/exhibit-talks.html

We hope to see you there!

Focus photographers Jer Sandel and Dennis Santos will be in Polytechnic University of the Philippines - Sta. Maria, Bulacan campus for a photography talk during Information Technology week. If you happen to be a PUP-SM student or part of the IT week celebration, do drop by.

For the second offering of our Insight Workshop Series, we have partnered with Canon Imaging Academy to bring professional photographer BORJ MENESES to Bulacan, for a talk on glamour lighting and photography.  It's set for November 29 (Saturday) from 8 AM till 1 PM at Mariano Ponce Hall in Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center. The event is for FREE.

Borj is one of the top professionals in the country, his work often gracing the pages of FHM Philippines, Stella, ASEAN Dragon, and Pampanga Pep. His philosophy has long been to "get it right in-camera", being very particular with lighting, styling, and poses of his models. In this talk, he'll be dispensing tips and techniques on how to shoot better glamour photos, based on his vast experience.

We would like to thank CANON (Canon Central Luzon, in particular) for making this happen, as they continue to enrich the experience of photographers not just with their products but also with opportunities to learn from the best.

SIGN UP PROCEDURE

If you're interested to attend the workshop, PLEASE READ and follow these instructions :

1.) Make sure you are available and will be able to attend on the said event date and time : NOVEMBER 29 / 8AM - 1PM. Be responsible in signing up. We are offering limited slots, so we don't want to waste slots by giving them to people who suddenly might not show up on the day of the talk. (We will blacklist those who are no-shows without prior notice for our next events.) Also, we prefer to give slots to people who will attend the whole duration of the talk. So if you're planning to attend then leave in the middle of the proceedings, we advise you not to go ahead in signing up.

2.) If you are sure to attend, please send a PRIVATE MESSAGE (not a comment) to Focus Bulacan's Facebook page  stating you are interested to attend the talk, then include the following personal information :
- Full Name (real name)
- Date of Birth
- Mobile Number
- Email Address
- Address (Baranggay and municipality will do)
- Occupation
- DSLR or Digital Camera used (Brand / model)
- Years since you started shooting or since you bought your camera

3.) Wait for our inbox reply, then wait for a confirmation text message. Reply to our text message to confirm your slot. We will give 24 hours for you to reply thru text.

4.) Once we receive your text message reply, we will then confirm your slot. We will also publish a list of confirmed attendees about 3 days before the event.

* Please note that we will only be offering 30 slots. We will be using the time stamps of your Facebook private message to determine the order of priority. If you've run out of slots, we will put your name on a waiting list, and will contact you if in case someone from the list of first 30 slots back out.

** You have to sign up personally. You can't sign up for someone else, and just the same, you can't be signed up by someone else.

*** In the unfortunate case that you have to back out, please inform us ASAP so we could offer your slot to those in the waiting list. Please be responsible with your sign-up and slot.

If you have questions or clarifications, drop a comment in the Facebook box below.

We'll see you on November 29! :)

We're formally launching the Insight Workshop Series with BASIC, a free digital photography workshop slated to take place on November 15, 2014. Venue will be Roxas Hall in Bulacan State University's Malolos Campus (we will privately notify attendees of the specific room number). Focus Bulacan is proud to be collaborating with BSU's Office of the Student Publications in making this initial workshop happen.

How long is the workshop?
It will be a one-day workshop that starts at 8AM and ends around 4PM. Focus Bulacan members Jer Sandel and Jay Salvador will be the speakers. Mr. Sandel will be discussing the basics of digital photography while Mr. Salvador will dispense tips on how to shoot better photos.

What will be discussed?
Topics include (but not limited to) the following : brief history of photography and understanding the camera, the essential principles of photography, operating your DSLR and digital cameras, guidelines for photo composition, basic post-processing, and practical tips for better photography.

Who can attend the workshop?
The workshop is open to both DSLR and digital camera users. Since this is our pilot workshop in the series, we are limiting the attendance and will offer only 30 slots for interested parties. 15 slots for (current) BSU students and 15 slots for non-BSU students.

Is it really free?
The workshop is absolutely free. You will pay nothing. However, we will not be providing lunch to participants. Workshop attendees may go out of the BSU campus (or eat inside campus premises) during the one-hour lunch break.

How to sign up?
If you're interested to attend the workshop, PLEASE READ and follow these instructions :
1.) Make sure you are available and will be able to attend on the said workshop date and time. Be responsible in signing up. We are offering limited slots, so we don't want to waste slots by giving them to people who suddenly might not show up on the day of the workshop. (We will blacklist those who are no-shows for our next workshops.) Also, we prefer to give slots to people who will attend the whole duration of the workshop. So if you're planning to attend only the morning (or only the afternoon) portion of the workshop, we advise you not to go ahead in signing up.

2.) If you are sure to attend, please send a PRIVATE MESSAGE (not a comment) to Focus Bulacan's Facebook page  stating you are interested to attend the workshop, then include the following personal information :
- Full Name (real name)
- Date of Birth
- Mobile Number
- Email Address
- Address (Baranggay and municipality will do)
- Occupation
- DSLR or Digital Camera used (Brand / model)
- Years since you started shooting or since you bought your camera

3.) Wait for our inbox reply, then wait for a confirmation text message. Reply to our text message to confirm your slot. We will give 24 hours for you to reply thru text.

4.) Once we receive your text message reply, we will then confirm your slot. We will also publish a list of confirmed attendees about 3 days before the workshop.

* Please note that we will only be offering 30 slots. We will be using the time stamps of your Facebook private message to determine the order of priority. If you've run out of slots, we will put your name on a waiting list, and will contact you if in case someone from the list of first 30 slots back out.

** You have to sign up personally. You can't sign up for someone else, and just the same, you can't be signed up by someone else.

*** In the unfortunate case that you have to back out, please inform us ASAP so we could offer your slot to those in the waiting list. Please be responsible with your sign-up and slot.

That's about it. Follow these simple steps and you're all set. Do it early so you don't run out of slots. We'll see you on November 15! For questions or clarifications, drop a comment in the Facebook box below.

A few months ago we had a Product Advertisement theme for our monthly contest. Two entries stood out from the rest, finishing a close 1st and 2nd, almost a so-called "photo-finish". The 1st place winner, a cologne photo, garnered 77 points, to edge out the 2nd placer (photo of an alcoholic drink), which got 72 points. Someone had to win, but the two photos were really good, even to the eyes of our guest judge, professional product and glamour photographer Borj Meneses, who voted for both in his ballot...after asking for the RAW files of the photos to double-check the extent of post-processing (and confirming the result was more due to the set-up and planning of the shots).  To quote what he said, "Hats off to both photographers for the effort of coming up with good photos. I can't decide which one is better over the other but I think it's not going to be fair if I choose just one." (You may view the contest at http://www.focusbulacan.com/contest/august-2014-theme-contest-product-ad)

So we thought it would be cool to feature how the photos were done.... not in Photoshop, but in actual shooting. We'd like to commend our members ERICK AUSTRIA (first-place winner with his Lewis & Pearl cologne photo) and JAY SALVADOR (runner-up for his Tanduay Ice photo) for sharing their setup and info how they executed their images.

Without further ado, here's how they did it...

Erick Austria, Lewis & Pearl cologne photo :

Basically there were two goals that I wanted to show in my product photo entry :
1.) Does it sell itself without much explanation or text description?
2.) Does it make the product so attractive that consumers will want to buy it?

After I set these goals, I started looking for some reference of product photography tutorials. Thanks to my friend and everybody’s friend, Google, I found a tutorial from a German guy of AKEL studio in which he shot the Axe product upside down inside an aquarium and pouring water to have the splash effect. I liked the execution of water splash product photography and I was challenged if I can do the same or at least come up with the same effect.

I started looking for a product that I want to shoot that will fit the execution. After a few days of looking at every product in the supermarket, holding the product, turning it upside down, looking at every detail, being followed by store customer service representatives, being asked by my wife if I’m okay... I know I looked like a crazy guy holding the bottle upside down and looking how the lights will affect the shape, shopping for commodity is different than shopping for a product to shoot. To cut the story short I ended up buying Lewis & Pearl Cologne, I liked the product name with the “Rain” label on it.

To better explain how I did my contest entry, I made diagrammed photos :

Finally, some success...

The raw photo, and the processed photo. Cleaned up the background and boosted the contrast. The bubble effect was real and definitely not photoshopped. A lot of trial and error but once I got the shot that I wanted, that was it.

Jay Salvador, Tanduay Ice photo  :

OBJECTIVE
Produce a colorful and dynamic shot of Tanduay Ice

MATERIALS and EQUIPMENT USED :
5 TANDUAY ICE in different flavor and colors - main subject
BOND PAPER - serve as reflector
WATER SPRINKLER - used to create a mist effect
24x 36 inch FLAT GLASS – this is where the subject will be placed and creates the subject reflection
2 BLACK CLOTHS - 1 for backdrop & 1 used beneath the flat glass to make a clear reflection of the bottles
2 WHITE CLOTHS – serve as a diffuser
3 STROBE LIGHTS – 2 strobes serve as main light and 1 strobe with color gel (amber) for the backlight


SET UP
Place the black cloth underneath the flat glass and place the bottles on top of the glass and arrange it in V-formation.

Cut the bond paper and stick it to the bottle as shown in figure below. This will serve as reflector and it will help improve the color and glow of each bottle.

Place 2 strobe lights in each side with ½ power.
The 2 white cloths will serve as diffuser and will give a nice gradient light effect to the bottle.

Place the 3rd strobe (with amber color gel) behind the subject and aim it at the backdrop, this light will separate the subject from the background. All the strobes were triggered by the built-in camera flash.

The resulting raw photo :

And the final, processed output. Cropped and boosted contrast.

When we put effort and thought into our photos, mixed in with some experimenting then correct execution, more often than not we would get the result that we want. Erick and Jay created these photos because they were challenged by the contest. Sometimes, what we need is motivation to do the best that we could. And it was enough to create striking product ad photos... and win first and second place in the competition.

Our big thanks to Erick and Jay for sharing with us how they did the product ad shots. We hope this feature helped inspire other photographers who also want to do this kind of photography. Remember : planning, setup and execution are key. Photoshop is just secondary.

Cheers!

Finally! We're happy to announce the Insight Workshop Series.

What is it?
It's a series of workshops  that we will organize, to be conducted right here in Bulacan. It will range from basic to advanced topics in photography. It's Focus Bulacan's way of providing Bulakenyo enthusiasts and beginners a prime opportunity of formal instruction and training in photography.

How will we do it?
Focus Bulacan will be working or collaborating with sponsors, instructors, and other organizations in offering these workshops. All to be done with our best effort to make sure each workshop (or talk) becomes a success - in terms of attendance and learning.

How is this different from other workshops?
This is our pledge : We will NOT be doing this for the profit. Some workshops, we MIGHT be able to offer for free (with the help of sponsors), and some workshops, we WILL offer in the most affordable prices. And we are willing to be audited by our sponsors to ensure that our pledge is upheld. Our motivation is not to gain financially, but to improve photography in Bulacan. After all, our group maxim is "clearer, sharper, better".

Who may join the workshops?
It's open to everyone interested, but please keep in mind that for every workshop, there are limited slots. We'll be having a systematic sign-up procedure for the workshops. We just ask interested parties to grab a slot while it's still available, and do it the specified way.

Why are we doing this?
As mentioned above, we are doing this because we want to help improve the level of photography in Bulacan. This workshop series will go a long way in attaining that goal.

When will this begin?
Soon! We're in the process of securing sponsors. Once things are finalized, we shall be announcing the first workshop. Stay tuned : we will announce it in our Facebook page.


Clearer. Sharper. Better. Let's make it happen!

Photography is a creative process that requires a lot of experiment and a fair dose of trial and error. It's said that it takes roughly 10,000 hours of practice to master something. Well, we're cutting it short for you by offering these tips about photography. Hopefully your learning curve gets shorter by avoiding these mistakes.


What piece of advice can you give for anyone who's into photography, especially for those starting out?

Ali Viaje : "Huwag mahiyang magtanong sa mas may alam. Remember that asking questions is a part of learning."

Marlo Bien : "Invest more time on yourself and less money on your gear. Have a good sleep. Be healthy. Remember that you can't take a good photograph if you aren't feeling well because you are stressed."

Jay Salvador : "Mas okay nang ma-criticize kesa makabasa ka ng sugar-coated na comment. Masakit ma-criticize pero doon ka matututo."

Kenneth Calzo : "Shoot anything under the sun, let your eyes explore. Light is your best friend, use it well according to your satisfaction."

Crisel Centeno : "Use manual mode, don't let automatic settings dictate your photos. Try and try lang sa pag-adjust sa aperture, shutter speed at ISO hanggang sa makuha ang tamang timpla!"

Rochelle Acosta : "When you have the passion for photography, nurture it and never stop shooting. It is a continuous learning process. Capturing amazing photos does not always rely on the gear. Photography is an art of expression and reveals the artistic side of us. Shoot not to impress but to express."

Jer Sandel : "No matter how many books you read, tutorial videos you watch, workshops you attend, or photos you view for inspiration... if you don't shoot and put what you learn to practice, then you actually learn nothing. Shooting is the validation of your learning."

Sherwin San Diego : "To improve, magtanong sa marunong na, hangga't maaari sa mahusay na photographer. Huwag matakot subukan i-explore ang camera n'yo. Different venues, different lighting situations. Mag-research, sa dami ng magaling ng photographers, marami nang available na magandang photos na makikita sa internet, hindi masama mag-imitate ng style. Try to imitate their styles and later develop your own. 'Wag matakot na mag-shoot nang mag-shoot."

Russ Pueyo : "Read. Madaming magazine and books na available for free about photography, syempre 'di mawawala diyan si Google, na napakadaming information na maibibigay."

Allan Cruz : "Learn the basics and learn your gear."

Joel Domingo : "Your camera should become an extension of your eye. Gamayin mo nang husto ang gear mo."

If you knew then what you know now, what beginner's mistake would you avoid?

Ali Viaje : "Avoid over-processing your shot. Minsan kasi maganda na 'yung shot, pumapanget pa 'pag masyadong in-edit."

Mhoie Mendoza : "Battery grip. Akala ko noong una porke mukhang pro 'yung camera eh pro na."

Jay Salvador : "Sana 'di ako pumatol sa poverty porn. Tsaka dalhin lang ang kailangang dalhin, dahil baka wala ka pa sa location eh pagod ka na."

Khim Lumarlan : "ISO...akala ko 'pag madilim kayang sagipin palagi ng ISO. Kaya pala naimbento ang flash para 'yun ang gamitin minsan."

Jer Sandel : "I'd invest in a dependable external hard drive to back up my photos when I'm on travel. Sooner rather than later. In my more than 6 years of shooting, the experience I regret most is back in 2009 when I lost my Grand Canyon photos on my way back to California. I copied my camera files to my 3-year-old laptop, the drive crashed, a data specialist couldn't retrieve the files, and that was it. I'll always remember my photography trip to Arizona but I don't have the photos to show for it. I still haven't gotten over that loss. Learned my lesson. Hopefully it doesn't happen to you."

Kenneth Calzo : "Sabi nga ng motto ko, "dont mind the actuations, mind the moments you did not capture". Madalas tinitipid natin 'yung shutter count kapag may shoot tayo dahil iniisip natin na baka maubos agad. Ang mga DSLR ay ginawa para gamitin sa pagkuha ng litrato. Mawawalan siya ng purpose kung hindi n'yo sya masyadong gagamitin dahil nagtitipid kayo ng actuations. Sabi nga nila, "nasa huli ang pagsisisi" lalo na at di mo nakuhanan yung gusto mong kuhanan."

Red Bautista : "Don't just buy DSLR because you're so eager to have one. Consider reading or watching reviews about it, if possible, buy the best unit the first time. If you can't afford it, save for it, because if you buy an entry-level camera then you will upgrade eventually, ibebenta mo 'yung pinaglumaan mo. Of course it will be sold for almost half the price. Lugi ka."

We all gain experience, but we only learn from experience if we reflect on them. Wise people don't make the same mistakes. The wisest people are those who learn from others' mistakes. There's no reason to look back in anger if we mean to improve or guide others. Just like the tips we just shared to you.

Till the next Insight post! We'll go right into the basics of shooting, the Holy Trinity of Photography : aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.

We'd like to begin our Insight series by going to the very basic : the meaning of photography. Before going into intermediate and advanced tips, let us first have a clear understanding of what we're getting into. Photography, in the simplest term, is creating images with the use of a camera. You've probably come across a hundred - maybe even a thousand - different definitions of photography. But ask yourself : what is photography for you? How do you see it? How do you define it? Your journey through the wonderful world of photography may most likely be influenced by its meaning to you.

We asked some Focus Bulacan members on how they define photography. These are personal meanings that were shaped by years of learning, shooting, and appreciating photographs.

Rochelle Acosta : "Photography artistically captures and uniquely preserves the timeless beauty of a subject."

Nympha Pagtalunan : "Photography can freeze time, capture each precious moment. It is a visual interpretation of ideas within ourselves, processed by the technology called a camera."

Lheo Halili : "Photography is a way of expressing myself."

Erika Santos : "Photography for me is to inspire and touch the hearts of people by capturing the moment."

Ejay Caluag : "Photography for me is an art of showing how great this world is."

Red Bautista : "Photography is an art form. It must have feelings, story and texture. Without these elements, it's not photography, it's just taking pictures."

Joel Domingo : "Photography helps me see what others can't."


We also asked Focus Bulacan Facebook page followers about their definition of photography. Here are our most favorite answers :

Rhen Reyes : "Photography is appreciating everything around us. Sharing the beauty of life that we see everyday, giving life and color to simple things that some people don't give attention to, and for me the number one importance of photography is not just taking pictures. It's preserving memories. Memories we will cherish forever and share with the next generation."

Mon-mon Lipio : "Photography is like story-telling using art of light. It's a reflection of life, preservation of time for us to inspire and express what we feel and see."

Arlyn Miranda : "Photography is not just an act of taking pictures. It is also a kind of art , expressing our feelings, ideas and point of view. Although I'm not that good in taking pictures, I know in my heart that I really love photography. Everytime I take images, I feel happy and contented. Photography is also my life, I take negatives to develop. In life, you may experience either happiness or sadness. But in the end, you will learn something. God is always there. One thing, photography is my happiness."

Khevz Badilla : "Photography is an art of capturing God-made emotions through the use of man-made apparatus."

Andrew Punongbayan : "Photography is showing everybody else how you see the world."

There's an infinite amount of definitions. Photography is subjective. The true meaning of photography lies in the eyes and mind of those who are viewing a photograph, those who are in the photograph, and those who are taking the photograph. No matter which side you're at, you are free to choose your own definition.

We hope these definitions inspired you, even for just a bit. Just enough to spark your curiosity and take a second approach at how you view photography.

Focus Bulacan is a mix of photographers from divergent backgrounds, exploring various genres. Our style, taste, and preference may differ, but through it all we have one thing in common (aside from our love for photography) : we all were beginners at one point in time. Some of us still are. When we picked up our first camera, none of us knew how to shoot beautiful photos right away. We know how it feels like to be  beginners. We struggled and had our share of disappointment. We are very appreciative of people who taught us, books and reading materials that informed us, and ultimately, photos and tips that inspired us. All to improve our photography. Make no mistake, we are still learning.

Now that we have applied what we learned, producing photos that satisfy our passion and in turn inspire other people, it's time to pay it forward. We are introducing FOCUS INSIGHT. Basically it's an effort by our members to share what they know and contribute to helping people who are starting out in photography.  We will be dispensing practical tips and advice on how to improve on photography. Topic-by-topic, genre-by-genre. Focus Bulacan members will offer their opinions and knowledge with the aim of enlightening other enthusiasts and keeping the passion alive.

We're not sure how much help this endeavor can provide, but we assure you one thing : we will try our best to speed up the learning curve.