My students in the UPFI May 2012 Digital Photography class

It’s heartening to see their photos. Although, as exepected, not all are immediately perfect as it is but during the critique session, I, more or less, demonstrated how to better capture or frame a particular photo: does the photographer need to move a few inches to the left or right or even go down for a better angle? Focus more on a particular element? Adjust the settings for better exposure? This are just some of the things that, I imparted. Of course, there were promising images. With better adjustment of contrast and saturation, might already be a winner.

The workshop participants were a varied lot with the youngest at just 12 years old. There were college and high school students and professionals all wanting to know how to better take pictures, understand their equipment better, or just to start Photography as a hobby.

Prancess, one of the younger participants emailed me to share her learnings, which I do appreciate a lot:

…A few important and core lessons I learned from our class:
What is my intent in taking a photograph?
A photo should excite and make a viewer interested.
This is a chance to share and inspire others.
Learn to see order in all the chaos in the world…

Keep on shooting guys. Hope well be able to schedule a fun shoot together soon.

A sikad driver at the wharf of Naval in Biliran

The workshop will focus on the short history, discuss on the basics, common settings in cameras, composition, basics of lighting, basic photo editing as well as other important details. The discussions will include hands on shoot as well as photo critique.

DISCOUNTS:
- 10% off on your 2nd workshop.
- Register in groups of 3 to get 5% off each.

LAST DAY OF REGISTRATION :
5 days before the first day of the workshop.

WORKSHOPS ARE OPEN TO PUBLIC. LIMITED SLOTS.
An initial fee of P500 is required to reserve a slot.
(this fee is non-refundable and will be deducted from the total course fee thereafter)

To REGISTER:
1. Drop by at UPFI Film Center, 2/F Cine Adarna bldg. Magsaysay and Osmena Ave.,UP Diliman QC
2. Download the registration form.

Digital Photography
Schedule : May 7 to 11, 2012 (5 days)
Time : 1pm to 6pm (25 hours)
Course Fee : P 6,000
Requirement : Digital Camera preferably D-SLR

For those who can’t make this schedule, I have another workshop, this time at the Filipinas Heritage Library later in the month. For more info, check my post.

Me as interviewed for the show Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho

The travel feature, done in six segments focused on places, food, people and, of course, for this special, me as a travel photographer. I was shown packing up and answering questions like how to pack and what to bring, what it is to be a travel photographer, being mobile, sense of place as well as enjoying places and the local food.

Check out my post in Langyaw.com for an in depth story about this shoot/trip and a link to the video.

From the series, "Looking for Mr. Vhoy"

The schedules are the following:

Digital Photography 101
April 23, 25, 27, and 30 at 6-9pm / May 23, 25, 28, and 30 22 and 29 at 9am-4pm.

Digital Photography 101 introduces beginning photographers to the art of taking photographs using a digital camera. It is also a refresher course for photography enthusiasts and hobbyists. Through this workshop, participants will gain skills in the aesthetic and technical aspects of digital photography needed to take photographs with beauty and meaning.

Topics that will be tackled during the workshop include:

·Photography: then and now
·The digital camera (types, components, and settings)
·Exposure and light
·Camera lenses
·Composition, perspective, and elements of design
·The digital workflow
·Shooting various photography subjects

Lectures will be given in a classroom setting, while the application of lessons will be done through actual photoshoots or assignments. Photographs taken by participants will be critiqued by the lecturer and co-participants.

Participants are required to bring their own digital camera, preferably an SLR. Workshops will be held at the Filipinas Heritage Library, Makati Avenue, Ayala Triangle, Makati City.

Screenshot of the new starting page of estancabigas.com

Its now segmented with enough information about the photographer, important updates like workshops, news, FB page as well as the latest blog post in one glance. The slideshow is still to be updated with new portfolio images depending on new works that I will be including at my main portfolio gallery.

All these were designed from bits and pieces of code and inspired from two of my photographer friend’s sites. More to follow soon.

Phototreks: Hanoi

Check the Hanoi photo safari site for more info.

From the series, "Sabong"

I will be handling again the Digital Photography 101 workshop at the Filipinas Heritage Library this month.

For details about the workshop:

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY 101
WEEKNIGHTS: MARCH 21, 23, 26, AND 28, 2012 AT 6-9PM

Intended for beginning photographers and even photography enthusiasts or hobbyists, Digital Photography 101 is an introduction the basic principles of digital photography.

It will give the participants the needed technical and aesthetic skills to produce good quality photographs. Topics include the following among others:

• Introduction to photography
• Importance of light in photography
• The digital camera and its settings
• Lenses and perspectives
• Composition and the different design elements
• Overview of the digital workflow
• Tips on shooting various photography subjects

Instructions will be given in a class setting and there will be actual photo shoots or assignments and critiquing to oversee the individual progress of participants.

Requirement
Digital camera, preferably SLR

Venue
Filipinas Heritage Library, Makati Avenue, Ayala Triangle, Makati City (across The Peninsula Manila)

Participation fee and discount
P4,000 inclusive of handouts, meals, and certificate. Cash or check payments are accepted at the library or through a BPI bank deposit. Payment through BPI EPS and major credit cards is also accepted.

Due to the limited number of available slots, interested participants are requested to register at least one week prior the class by paying at least P2,000 (nonrefundable; full payment is due on the first day of class).* An early bird discount of 10 percent will be given to those who pay in full on or before the deadline (except for credit card payments).

*Payment is transferable to another class if a written notice is given at least five days prior the start of the workshop. Otherwise, a P1,000 no-show penalty will be deducted.

For more details, please call 892-1801, send an SMS to 0917-559-4417, e-mail cruz.ct@ayalafoundation.org.

The double spread page as published in the Sunday Times Magazine (London)

One of my The New Cathedrals series got published in the Sunday Times Magazine of London last January. It was under the SPECTRUM section.

The caption reads:

Stairways to Heaven
With shopping bags in hand, worshipers congregate around a temporary altar to receive Sunday mass at the Ayala Center in Cebu, one of the Philippines’ busiest shopping malls. The ‘pop-up’ service is one of many taking place in public spaces across the country in an attempt to entice the nation’s Catholic population, numbering more than 70m, to find time for worship during their hectic daily schedules. The initiatives hasn’t pleased everyone; some traditionalists argue that it is putting people off going to church altogether.

This publication follows the Geo (Germany) print of the same photo last December 2011 in a double spread.

Houses on stilts at night. Mactan, Cebu

I am pleased to announce that I will be handling the night sessions of the Digital Photography 101 workshop at the Filipinas Heritage Library this February. The venue is a respected institution and known for its focuses on Photography workshops and exhibitions.

Below are the details:

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY 101
WEEKNIGHTS: FEBRUARY 22, 24, 27, & 29 AT 6-9PM

Intended for beginning photographers and even photography enthusiasts or hobbyists, Digital Photography 101 is an introduction the basic principles of digital photography. It will give the participants the needed technical and aesthetic skills to produce good quality photographs. Topics include the following among others:

• Introduction to photography
• Importance of light in photography
• The digital camera and its settings
• Lenses and perspectives
• Composition and the different design elements
• Overview of the digital workflow
• Tips on shooting various photography subjects

Instructions will be given in a class setting and there will be actual photo shoots or assignments and critiquing to oversee the individual progress of participants.

Requirement
Digital camera, preferably SLR

Venue
Filipinas Heritage Library, Makati Avenue, Ayala Triangle, Makati City (across The Peninsula Manila)

Participation fee and discount
P4,000 inclusive of handouts, meals, and certificate. Cash or check payments are accepted at the library or through a BPI bank deposit. Payment through BPI EPS and major credit cards is also accepted.

Due to the limited number of available slots, interested participants are requested to register at least one week prior the class by paying at least P2,000 (nonrefundable; full payment is due on the first day of class).* An early bird discount of 10 percent will be given to those who pay in full on or before the deadline (except for credit card payments).

*Payment is transferable to another class if a written notice is given at least five days prior the start of the workshop. Otherwise, a P1,000 no-show penalty will be deducted.

For more details, please call 892-1801, send an SMS to 0917-559-4417, e-mail cruz.ct@ayalafoundation.org.