 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. |
Inform & Inspire
Tips, advice, and hopefully helpful information from our members intended to speed up the learning curve of photography beginners. Archives
August 2016
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