a Photographic Saga

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Photography: my Passion, my Journey

November 19, 2008 | Articles | 197 views

Text and photos : Leonard Pe

The author, photo credit: Joey Cue

What attracted me most about photography are the beauty of nature and emotions of people I encounter. For me, photography is a medium to convey myself and the art I create. It brings out the fervor of my creative psyche.

When I was still a kid, I’m fond of looking at photos in books and magazines. National Geographic photos inspire me a lot. When I started photography four years ago, Bobby Timonera and Arnell Umali had great influence on me, I learn a lot while shooting side by side with them. In time, I also met a lot of photographers who share my passion, Chi Busque for one, gave chance for me to reach the farthest places in the Philippines from the south to north as far as Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte during our adventures just to catch that magical landscape light.

Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 @ 200mm 1/200s, iso100

Misty Morning (2007).  Siquijor Province

I do best shooting landscapes and candid photographs, in a photojournalistic approach. I don’t want to intervene. I put myself merely as an observer and document what I experience. My shooting style works for me, it reflects in my photographs and people appreciate and like my works.

Canon 20D EF 86mm @ f2.5, 1/100s iso800

Sleepy

As I don’t want to intrude with what is happening around me, I almost always get that chance to capture that pure moment of human emotion. As with nature, I photograph it as it is. My own rule of thumb, blend in, capture the moment with the right technical settings and get it always the first time.

Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF 35mm @ f/2.8 1/40s, iso400

Bird’s eyeview, Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Parish

Being affiliated to a photo organization is also important, it is where you can interact, learn and share. Once in a while I join photo competitions and several of my photos were selected and some won. One of the advantages of these competitions is that you’ll learn that your photos maybe very good for you but not to the eyes of other people. Even how good you are with your craft, it will teach you humility.

I am also connected with FluidLight Studios, primarily providing photo printing and wedding photography services.

One of my accomplishments as a photographer is the promotion of tourism of our city. A lot of people ask where I have taken my landscape photos, they are surprised to know that some of them are taken just within the city limits. With the photos, people are becoming aware of what is happening around. Also, environmental issues are becoming an everyday problem. I’ve seen beautiful sceneries converted to something man-made or being destroyed. In my own way, I wanted to capture and preserved these sceneries, which someday people might not see anymore.

My very first camera was a film Canon 300V, which I still use once in a while, and I also have my grandfather’s Rollieflex TLR medium-format. I mainly shoot with my Canon 20D and Canon 40D. I had owned several short and long lenses in the past, now I only use Canon EF-S 10-22mm, Canon EF 35mm f/2 and the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8. These lenses cover all of my needs to shoot my travels, landscapes and weddings. I prefer to shoot with minimal gear, light and discreet.

Photography is more than a lifelong journey because even after an artist is gone, his works will still remain and admired for years to come. There is no boundary in this endeavor and my quest in becoming a better photographer will always be a learning process. When people tell me they admire and love my photographs, for me, that’s priceless.

I’m always looking forward to find that perfect moment to capture when nature unfurls its endless beauty.

Canon EOS 40D, Canon EF 10-22 @ 16mm f/14 1/10s, iso100

Border between Davao del Sur and Sarangani Province, Mindanao

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