Finding the light

Light reveals the different shapes of the bottles.

The camera is a brilliant little contraption. It takes pictures, captures scenes and produces photographs. But, technically, it basically gathers light through its lens and a sensor captures the light streaming in. All cameras – whether SLRs, rangefinders, DSLRs, pinholes or what-have-you – are built the same in this sense.

But not a lot of photographers realize this. Most are oblivious to this fact and go on their ways taking photographs without taking account of the light when in fact, some of the essential questions a photographer should ask before pressing the shutter release button is: Where is the light? After which, the photographer should ask: Where is it coming from? What color is it? How strong is it? How weak? Is it appropriate for the shot? Among others.

To be a successful image creator, one has to see the light and describe it in terms of its direction, source (or sources), power, color, size, duration and most importantly, usage.

Shooting the town red

(L-R) Charles Borja, Dennis Oppus, Ryan Macalandag,
Ariel Angalot, Justin Paolo, Lourd Pocon

Not just the town nor the city, but, some parts of the province as well.

September 3, 2011. We just came back from MetroCentre Hotel in downtown Tagbilaran for the Visayas leg of the 2011 Canon Photo Marathon. The Canon Invasion as some Nikonistas were calling it (you know who you are, guys) prompted all photographers from all walks of life in the region - and from all camera brands, too – to line up and get red-tagged.

Now, most of you know that I am a Nikonian (I use a Nikon D7000 for my professional work). But, I also own a couple Canon film cameras which make me, at least, eligible I suppose. (Paste smiley icon here.)

Red is the color of Canon and together with a few hundred others, we wore red Canon shirts and scoured the whole island to capture three photos to best represent three complexly-worded themes. The whole-day photo contest was a literal battle of wits, creativity, muscle (for those who walked and jogged) and gas for those who – like us – were driving around with cars, motorbikes and huge beer bellies. We went to as far at Loboc to shoot. Well, a few of us anyways.