This is the result of Typhoon Pepeng’s(PARMA) return! Dagupan City was almost totally submerged. Walking in the flood was fun! =)

It really is an honor and a privilege to be part of this once in a lifetime event. Good luck to all the other finalists. Mabuhay!

Here’s the list of the Finalists:

Finalists: Top Ten Posts of the Year, The 2009 Philippine Blog Awards

This was the time when we visited the cemetery. We only had candles and a matchbox in our hands. We did not bring any cleaning materials since the grave was settled on an “apartment-type” location. This apartment-type could reach up to 7 rows or so!

Then these kids offered us to paint the gravestone(headstone, tombstone) where the name, birth date and death date are inscribed. They painted the gravestone with good strokes of their hands. They did a great job. These kids are 7 year olds and studying! They make a living out of doing a not-so-typical “art work”. But we witnessed how they enjoyed it. They’re having fun and at the same time earning!

Before November 1, these kids will be out again, doing their “graveyard shift”

As we were walking home, I can’t help but stop and shoot the horizon. I felt the happy feeling. Sunsets comforts me that tomorrow is another day.

This is Hans, a very handsome and sweet boy. He loves to pose for me. This one’s picture perfect. I love his angelic smile

On our way home, the sun was setting. I was at the passenger seat when I shoot this. Those ‘electric giants’ on the right added a nice concept.

That was a few months ago and I got busy and never had the chance to visit the profile. Come the time where I had the opportunity to check the profile, and said to myself, “These are what I wanna do with my photos. These works are breath taking! I wanna learn more! I wanna do more!”.

I got excited! I wanted to meet the person behind! I wanna shake his hand and tell him, “You’re really amazing Paul! Thank you for inspiring me!”. The excitement didn’t end there. I immediately contacted Paul through his site and asked him if I can feature him here at PhotoSpill.

The next day I received an email, it was from Paul Timpa himself! Despite his busy schedule, he took the time to answer the questions I have prepared. He’s very accommodating to ask and share what’s needed. He was very kind to share about him and his photography.

You are special Paul. Thank you once again.

AN INTERVIEW WITH PAUL TIMPA – BEHIND THE LENS

Christina Estrada: Tell us a little bit about yourself Paul.

Paul Timpa: I grew up on eastern Long Island, New York, on the South Shore.  Growing up on the shore you instantly fall in love with the beach and the ocean.  We had a close family and we traveled a lot around the U.S., especially the East Coast.  One of my very first memories was at an airport – I must have been four or five years old, and at the time, they would let children sit in the cockpit of the huge 747 airplanes before they took off.  I remember it as clear as if it were yesterday.  Fun fact: I went to the largest high school in the United States (at the time)… we had well over 5,000 students in the high school alone.  Following high-school, I went to college in upstate New York, and then I began my travels.

CE:  How did you get into photography?

PT: I think everyone is “into photography” in one way or another.  I’ve taken photos my whole life.  I really started taking it seriously when I lived in Europe in the mid-90’s, because I wanted to capture all of the amazing countries I was lucky enough to visit.  That’s where it all started.  Several years back, when I had a trip to Tahiti and French Polynesia, I bought a digital SLR to ensure I could really capture the essence of that beautiful area.  That’s when technology met my passion, and everything took off from there.

CE: What was the first camera you ever owned and how did you come across it?

PT: I’m sure it was a Kodak disposable film camera that I picked up in the local grocery store!  Everyone had those when I was growing up.  Especially the underwater ones.  They were great for the beach.

CE: Can you describe the defining moment or image that made you want to become a photographer?

PT: I’d say when I got back to the United States after living overseas, and I really was able to use the photos I’d taken to remember all the amazing experiences… that’s when I started to develop a deep passion and respect for it.

CE: Did you go to school to enhance your skills in photography?

PT: I haven’t gone to school for photography.  There are so many great resources on the Internet, and plenty of fantastic magazines that teach technique.  The best way to learn, of course, is to just get out there and practice every day.  Nothing beats experience.

CE: How long have you been a photographer?

PT: I’ve taken photography seriously for as long as I can remember.  I gradually transitioned into doing it as a career over many years, starting with smaller shoots, moving into travel stock photography, and finally assignments.

CE: How would you describe your style?

PT: I’d say my style is vibrant and dramatic.  I enjoy taking photos that have a lot of impact, and I use wide-angle lenses in my travel photography quite frequently to make viewers feel like they’re “in the scene”.  My goal is to take photos that make people say “wow, I want to go there!”, whether it’s a tropical island in the South Pacific or a local building in Midtown Manhattan.

CE: What photographic organizations do you belong to?

PT: I’m part of the Sierra Club photo group and some local NYC meetups.

CAMERA /ACCESSORIES

CE:  What is your opinion on post-processing, especially enhancing pictures?

PT: It really depends on what the picture is for, but overall I keep things relatively minimal.  If the shot is for my stock library and it’s of a particular location, I keep it very natural.  People are potentially visiting the locations I’ve shot based on my photos, so it’s critical that the place actually looks like what’s in my pictures.  For architecture assignments, it’s the same.  The pictures must accurately reflect real life.  I won’t even use super-wide-angle lenses in my architecture photography if they exaggerate perspective and size.  On the other hand, if a photo is purely meant as a piece of art, to be hung on a wall for enjoyment, I’ll certainly feel free to adjust the saturation and contrast to make the photos pop, or I’ll use HDR to capture the scene.  Ansel Adams said “The negative is the score, and the print the performance” and I agree with that. One thing I never do though, even for my art pieces, is digitally add something that’s not there.  I’ve never “cloned in clouds” from another photo to make the sky look more dramatic.  What’s there in the photo is exactly what was there when I took the shot.

CE:  What sort of equipment and software do you use?

PT: I shoot with a Canon 5D Mark II and the following Canon lenses:  16-35mm F2.8 II, 24-70mm F2.8, 70-200 F4 IS, 24mm Tilt / Shift, and 100mm F2.8 Macro.  I also have a Canon 400D with Canon 10-22mm and 17-85mm lenses.  I use a Manfrotto tripod and my trusty wireless remote control.

For software, most of my tweaks are done in the Canon RAW converter, Canon DPP (Digital Photo Professional).  I then use Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo for any additional work.  For HDR, I use Photomatix.

CE: Because there are misleading images nowadays, by using HDR imaging (High Dynamic Range), especially on your real estate and architecture photography, are you still giving your clients and its customers the actual image?

PT: Absolutely.  HDR helps cameras to “see” what the human eye sees.  Even the best cameras are unable to capture the range of light to dark that we see with our eyes.  For instance, if you’re standing in a room, you can see what’s inside the room and also what’s outside the window.  A camera cannot do that.  With a camera, you have to choose to expose for one or the other.  HDR simply allows you to capture both the inside of the room and the outside in one photo.  I’d say that most architecture images today are HDR or some kind of exposure blending.  I think HDR has gotten a bad rap because it’s all too easy to overdo it and create unnatural results.  If done in moderation with an eye on reality, the results can be very natural.  I’m sure there are many shots of mine that are HDR that viewers aren’t aware that they’re HDR.

CE: What type of cameras do you shoot with?

PT: I shoot with Canon digital SLRs.  I find them to be very intuitive.

CE: What is your favorite photography accessory, other than your camera?

PT: It’s a three-way tie between my wireless remote control, my Lee filters (ND’s and Polarizer), and my Singh-Ray Vari-N-Duo 8-stop Neutral Density filter.  I like the wireless remote control because it’s what makes the night shots possible, and I use the filters to get long exposures of water, beaches, and waterfalls.

CE: If you had to choose one lens which one would it be and why?

PT: That’s a tough call between the 16-35mm and the 24-70mm, but I’d have to go with the 24-70mm, because on a full-frame camera, it’s plenty wide, but you can also get in tight enough for closer compositions.

CE: What lighting equipment do you take on a shoot?

PT: I generally use natural light, but for some added fill, I occasionally use a Canon 430EX flash unit with diffusers and reflectors.

CE: How do you protect your camera when not in use? When traveling? When on the way to a job? What if it rains?

PT: I use Tamrac bags which are great products.  The cameras are stored in those bags when not in use, and I travel with them.  I never check my equipment in on flights – it’s always carry-on luggage.  If it rains, I generally don’t shoot, but I do carry around a few huge Ziploc bags in my camera backpack to protect the equipment if I get caught in some rain.

CE: Do you clean your camera yourself or do you send it somewhere to do it?

PT: I clean the exterior, but if necessary, I’ll send the camera back to Canon to have the sensor cleaned.

CE: Do you plan on buying any new equipment and if so what do you have your eyes on?

PT: I’m thinking about picking up the Canon 50mm F1.4 for additional low-light work and the occasional portrait.  I love the background blur you can get with wide-aperture lenses.

LOCATION

CE: Where is your favorite location to take pictures?

PT: Any tropical setting.  I love warm weather and the ocean, so any time I can combine those with my love of photography, I’m happy.  There’s something so amazing about shooting on a beach as the sun slowly dips behind the horizon.

CE: What is your favorite time of day to shoot outdoors?

PT: Definitely at dusk, during that last three or four minutes when the sky is deep blue / purple, just before it goes completely black.  That is easily my favorite time to shoot.  Put your camera on a tripod, set a nice long shutter speed, and take a shot.  Pure magic.

CE: How long did it take you to master low-light and night photography?

PT: Well I’m not sure anyone masters any area of photography! … but you learn night photography over time.  With practice, you can get very comfortable shooting in low-light situations in a few months.  There’s really just two main points… (1) you must use a tripod, and (2) you simply cannot touch the camera… use a remote control or the self-timer.  Also use manual focus… if you do those three things, you’re half-way there.

THE JOB

CE: What was your first paid photography job? Did you enjoy it? Were you scared? Did you make any mistakes?

PT: It’s been so long, I’m not sure I remember what was first!  It was probably shooting a hotel.  I definitely enjoyed it, and I think we’re all a little scared on that first shoot – you really want to do well.  Luckily with digital, it’s easier to see mistakes as you make them, and you can correct them on the spot before it’s too late.  I imagine in the film days, it was much more difficult.

CE: Have you ever had anything go wrong at an assignment and if so, how did you handle it?

PT: Not on assignment, but one time shooting a tropical location for my portfolio, I went into the ocean with the remote control in my pocket and that was the end of it.  I had to use the self-timer for the rest of the shoot, which is not nearly as convenient.  Now I bring more than one remote!  I’ve also had some pretty huge waves crash over the top of rocks and soak me and my equipment.  Then it becomes a mad dash to dry everything off as soon as possible.

CE: Do you have an assistant/2nd shooter that accompanies your assignments?

PT: So far, I’ve been able to handle everything solo.  I don’t use a lot of lighting equipment, as I prefer natural light, so that’s makes it easier.

CE: How do you deal with rejection of your work?

PT: I look at photography as an art form.  It really is art.  And art is about opinion, personal preference, and what something means to you as an individual.  Some people may like a particular painting, or sculpture, or photograph, and some people may not.  But either way, there’s no right or wrong, because there’s no right or wrong in art – there’s just what you enjoy or don’t enjoy looking at.  So in that respect, I can certainly appreciate that there are people who prefer a different style of art than what I produce, and I’m perfectly comfortable with that.

CE: What has been your most memorable assignment and why?

PT: I’m not sure I have a most memorable assignment, but my most memorable moment from my photography career was the first time I saw my photos published in a magazine.  There’s something incredibly exciting about turning a page in a magazine and seeing your picture there, knowing that thousands, if not millions of people are looking at it.

CE: What do you feel is the most challenging thing about photographing assignments?

PT: I’d say the self-imposed pressure to do well.  When you’re shooting for yourself, or your portfolio, you only have yourself to please.  When you’re shooting an assignment, you’re shooting to please someone else, and for that reason, I need the photos to be absolutely perfect.

THE WORKS

CE: What is your favorite photograph you’ve ever taken?

PT: If I had to choose, I’d say it’s a photo of my wife snorkeling in Moorea, French Polynesia.  It’s the most beautiful place in the world, and my lovely wife is in the shot which makes it extra special.  It was also completely spontaneous.  I was standing there with the camera nearby, she hopped in the water for a swim, and I just took the shot.  Some of the most memorable photographs are made that way – completely unplanned.

CE: What are your favorite three images you have shot recently? Can you describe their creation in regards to location, lighting, composition, camera settings etc, also your thoughts when creating the images and what they mean to you?

PT: This is so difficult!  I’ll try to pick three images that I appreciate for three different reasons.

The first is a photo of Oak Creek in Sedona, Arizona.  I like this picture mostly because it represents one of my favorite things to do, and that is to see “new things”.  Prior to this trip, I had not visited the red rocks of Sedona before, and they were just so breathtaking.  I always get excited when I witness something new for the first time, and these rock formations are nothing like anything I had ever seen before.  Everyone should try to get to Sedona at some point.  This photo was taken at the sun was setting, in the middle of winter.  You can see the trees have no leaves on them!  I wanted to get some long-exposure shots of the flowing water, so I used my 3-stop ND filter to help slow the exposure, and a polarizer to help slow the exposure and also bring out the red in the rocks and the blue of the sky.  The shot was taken at F20 for 1.6 seconds at ISO 100.  I had just finished setting up and then the sun suddenly dipped behind a cloud, making everything a dull gray.  It was also surprisingly freezing out there.   I waited for at least a half hour with my finger hovering above the remote control button, just waiting for one tiny glimpse of the sun to cast a golden light, before it set for the evening.  I was so lucky that for one brief moment, the sun peered through the clouds and lit up the scene from the right, in just enough time for me to get three or four shots.  Then, just as quickly as it came, it was gone.  Travel and landscape photography is a lot about patience.

The second shot is from Costa Rica, from my most recent trip.  This shot makes me smile because it involved so many of my favorite things.  It was warm weather, I was at the ocean in this surreal scene, the sun was setting, and my wife was by my side.  As the sun was getting lower in the sky, I saw that there might be the opportunity for me to line it up in that little dip in the rock formation.  I set up my tripod so that it would be ready when the sun hit that spot.  This was taken at F8 for ¼ second at ISO 100.  A wave crashed through the rocks at just the right moment, and the slower shutter speed created the effect I was hoping for.

The third shot is taken right here in my “backyard” in New York City.  This is the Statue of Atlas and St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Rockefeller Center.  I wanted to try to capture the drama of the statue with the Cathedral in the background.  I tried out a variety of focal lengths and compositions before finally settling on this one.  This was taken at F5.6 for 1.3 seconds at ISO 100.  When I got home, I liked the shot, but it wasn’t until I converted it to black & white that it really accomplished what I’d hoped.  I like this shot because I was able to capture something meaningful to me just steps from my front door, proving that it’s not always necessary to travel the world to find something interesting to shoot.

CE: What gives you ideas and inspires you to create such amazing imagery?

PT: I just love travel and beautiful scenes.  When I’m traveling, or even every day in New York, I see amazing things and I just want to share them with other people.  The ability to show other people an image and say “look at how beautiful the world is” is just a great feeling.  Also, I don’t always go out with the intent to shoot something specific.  I prefer to just walk around and enjoy my surroundings.  Then, suddenly something will just pop out at me, and I’ll feel compelled to photograph it.  That’s my main method!

OTHERS

CE: You have three separate trips to Italy, Paris, and Mexico in the next few months are these more on travel photography?

PT: These trips serve a variety of purposes!  First and foremost, they fulfill my love for travel.   I capture images for my portfolio and to sell as stock photos, and of course I enjoy some leisure time and just relax in the amazing surroundings.

CE: With in-demand assignments in the US and to other countries, how do you manage your one-on-one digital photography in New York City and your “on-location: NYC workshop? Do you do these workshops personally and by yourself?

PT: Yes, I do them personally.  I hold the workshops mostly just in the summer when it’s warm in New York because they take place in Central Park (or other outdoor NYC locations), and I schedule them around my assignments.  They’re only two-hours (versus other workshops which can last several days), so it’s not difficult to schedule them.  I live right in NYC, so they don’t require any travel.  I just walk out my door and two-minutes later the workshop begins!

CE: Have you done FREE workshops?

PT: I haven’t given any free workshops, but I have a blog where I write very detailed tutorials on a variety of different photography subjects, from nighttime and low-light shooting to action shooting to HDR to composition.  These articles cover many of the topics I cover in my workshops.  On my Facebook page, I also answer any questions from readers.

CE: Do you try to help others learn about photography? If so, please explain how.

PT: Absolutely.  I’ve written and continue to write a wide variety of detailed articles on photography technique based on questions that come from readers on my Facebook page.  It’s very rewarding and I do it just because I love to share what I’ve learned over the years.  I have over 5,000 readers of those articles, and I so appreciate it when someone writes me a note to say how much they’ve learned.  That’s why I do it.  It’s one of the things I spend a lot of time on.  Not a week goes by that I don’t happily answer questions about photography from people all over the world.

PERSONA

CE: Does your wife travel with you on your assignments?

PT: My wife does not travel with me on my assignments, but for international trips where I take photos for my stock portfolio, she is most certainly there by my side to enjoy the travel!

CE: How does your wife and Pesto (your cat) support you in your career?

PT: They’re my biggest fans!  My wife has always been very encouraging in my photography and has been incredibly supportive.

CE: Which five words would your friends use to describe you?

PT: Fun, passionate, ambitious, technical, and logical!

CE: What ambitions have you not yet achieved?

PT: I wouldn’t mind the cover of National Geographic!  But seriously, I’m very happy with what I’ve got.

CE: What would you like to be doing in 5 years from now?

PT: The same as I do now… traveling and photographing the world.

CE: If not a photographer, what would you have been?

PT: Something in technology.  I love computers, though I probably spend way too much time in front of one!

CE: We know that each of us has someone or something, which inspires our life and work. Can you tell us the true basis of your inspiration?

PT: Variety.  It never ceases to amaze me the variety of things in the world.  From different cities to tropical locations, different cultures, different ways of seeing the world.  I’m driven by the constant need to see “what’s out there” and to capture it with my camera.

CE: How did your several years of stay in Europe influenced your photography and as a photographer?

PT: It just made me appreciate and grow to love all the different cultures and scenes.  “Europe” in general is fairly small.  You can easily visit France, Italy, Spain, etc. in no time at all and experience all the different cultures, cities, and architectural styles.   Seeing all those different settings makes you just want to see more.  Photography is a natural extension of all that travel, because you want to capture it to treasure into the future.  It also made me love architecture and architectural photography because there are just so many incredible sights to photograph.

CE: I’ve noticed that your photography is more about travel. How do you differentiate travel from photography and photography from travel?

PT: Well now they’re one in the same for me.  I can’t image traveling without photography.  I think I would constantly be saying to myself “oh wow, this would just make an amazing picture.”  Luckily I’ve learned to embrace it.  For me, photography is no longer just something I do while traveling – it’s now fully part of and incorporated into the travel experience.

CE: What do you think of the photography industry at the moment and how do you see it 5 years from now?

PT: I think it’s in a huge state of transition, both technically from an equipment standpoint, and from an industry perspective.  Technically, the cameras being produced now are just phenomenal.  You can get amazing picture quality for under $1000 U.S.  The industry is being shaped by this, as the technology is now accessible to even more people.  It’s difficult to predict where we’ll be in five years, but I’d say that one way or another, the industry will be shaped by the increasing number of capable photographers.

CE: What advice do you have for somebody who wants to pursue photography?

PT: Two things, one technical, one philosophical.  First, know your camera like the back of your hand.  It should be, actually it “needs” to be a natural extension of your body.  You want to get to the point where you don’t even need to think about the buttons, functions, menus, etc., your hands just control the camera instinctively on autopilot while your mind arranges the shot.  This can only come with constant practice and shooting.  I always say this to anybody who asks this question – you need to be able to set the shutter speed, aperture, ISO,  focus points, and auto-exposure bracketing at midnight, in pitch black, in a sandstorm, in 15 seconds flat, without thinking.  With enough time behind the camera, you’ll get there.

Philosophically, I’d say develop your own style.  Shoot what makes you happy, and what you’re passionate about.  While it’s certainly OK to seek input, advice, and constructive criticism on the technical aspects of your photography, especially in the beginning, I don’t think it’s necessary or even helpful when it comes to style.  If all photographers incorporated the suggestions of everyone else, well then all photography would look exactly the same.

CE: What would you say to other enthusiast photographers (like me) who are “in-the-process” level?

PT: Study your own pictures.  After you come back from a shoot, look at the photos and think to yourself “what do I like about this photo and why?” or “why didn’t this shot capture what I intended”?  You’ll be amazed at how fast you learn.  This is an oversimplification, but for example, maybe you’ll look at ten sunset shots from a shoot and you’ll see that you always like when the horizon is toward the top or bottom of the frame, and you never like it when it’s right in the middle.  Next time you’re out, you’ll instinctively know to place the horizon at the top or bottom.

Additionally, learn to use your camera on Manual (M) mode.  Sure, Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority are “convenient”, but in my opinion they don’t produce the best pictures.  The best pictures come when you, the photographer, make a conscious decision about the shutter speed, the aperture, the ISO, and the overall exposure.  I shoot in Manual mode 90% of the time, and I absolutely recommend it to anyone starting out.  I believe your pictures will improve drastically.

Most importantly, have fun.  Photography can be incredibly rewarding, whether you just do it personally for your own pleasure, or you’re making a career out of it.  It’s an amazing art form.

CE: Have you been here in the Philippines? There are beautiful beaches and other scenery that you can include in your photo memorabilia

PT: I have not yet been to the Philippines but I have seen many incredible pictures and spoken with people who have visited, and it looks absolutely stunning.  I would love to travel there one day and of course photograph that beautiful country!

CE: Thank you so much for your precious time Paul, it’s a rewarding interview for me and the readers out there. My special regards to your wife and Pesto. And lastly, keep shooting

PT: Thank you very much for this wonderful opportunity to share some of my experiences with you.  It’s been such an incredible pleasure speaking with you, and I consider it an honor and a privilege that you were kind enough to discuss with me all aspects of photography and our beautiful world.  It’s been a really great experience, and I appreciate it so much.

WHERE TO CONTACT PAUL TIMPA

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Paul-Timpa-Photography/61614262929
Website and Portfolio: http://www.timpaphotography.com/
Blog with free tutorials: http://timpaphotography.com/blog/
Stock Licensing Site: http://www.timpaphotography.com/purchase

Paul is a New York City based photographer who captures high-impact images of travel and architecture for advertising, publishing, and corporate clients. His style often incorporates long exposures, dramatic lighting, and unique viewpoints to bring out the beauty of the locations he shoots.

One of Philippines’ old architectural structure. The mansion of Don Mariano “Anoy” Ledesma Lacson.

The Ruins

The golden sunset helped me capture this fresh blossoming flower. This one’s for my mama. =)

During our flight from Manila to Zamboanga City. It’s like walking in the clouds =)