Point and Shoot: The Photography Class Experience

I love taking photos but not learning its intricacies and all the more, the principles behind it. I knew only a little knowledge about photojournalism but had no idea with what they call plainly as Photography.

Until came Communication 63, a subject which appeared on my enrollment list during my last semester in college. All of my colleagues had some interests on the subject and here was I with not so much interest and not knowing any basics of it.

Our first output was to come up with a sunrise photo. Of course, the output implies a good start for us and I had the chance to take a beautiful Dumaguete sunrise along the Rizal Boulevard at 5 in the morning. 

Yet, I had the courage to learn new things on that final semester. I listened to the instructor, took notes, practiced frequently on how to do with the settings with a camera(digital/point and shoot) so that the image would appear good. 

Here is a series of Journals I wrote in the past (Photography Class Requirement): 

Journal# 1 in Photography  

Photography Class this semester is a chance to know what this medium is all about. The class started with a symbolic sunrise picture and with a new instructor, I expect that new ideas and new knowledge discoveries would come alive as the semester goes. I haven't really thought of photography but why not? Since this is also a part of the media that I will probably work on in the future or if not, I can use it for some occasions and whatever knowledge I may acquire on this field, I could probably share it with my peers and to people I may meet along the way.

Journal# 2 in Photography  

In the first lesson we have taken, I've realized that usually the first steps in taking photos are usually in the family and of course through school requirements. Photography is all about lights and if there is none, the image may seem not to be clear. A small amount of light can do a big difference in the case of photos. 

We also brainstormed about our own understanding about photography and I never hesitated to answer that for me, it is the art of taking pictures. I have also got from Sir Clee that when the image is flashed, different perspectives or points of view may arise from the audience as well as the meaning that is implied. 

Journal# 3 in Photography  

Sir Clee explained how the camera did evolve to its present form and that it came from the camera obscura, the crude form of a camera but it was first used by painters to view their subject but the image they would see was the reverse of the actual. 

Just before any work is to be done, we are told how to handle our cameras. Pointing the lens to the sun is a no no for it will destroy the lens and also the camera should not be exposed to humidity and to water. We were also taught how to shoot and the dos and donts of the shoot. 

Because most of us use digital cameras, we were also taught how to use it and how to shoot using the kind of camera and it just needs some good adjustments to have a better output. 

Journal# 4 in Photography 

I think an important and one of the best things I learned about photography is knowing what is white balance and how to adjust it in the camera. It really helped me in coming up with better photos in the given requirements by the instructor. 

I've learned how to adjust from fluorescent lighting to incandescent when in indoor and from sunny to cloudy in the outdoor shoots. 

Aside from it, I also learned about how to take a subject and who to have a good composition. The rule of thirds is always a favorite learning for me. It gives me a sense of knowing how to shoot in the manner a pro does through this principle. But the hard thing is application. I need to practice more to enhance the skill.

Journal# 5 in Photography

For me, one of the hardest lessons that we have taken up is coming up with the experimental exposure. 
I still have to search up on the net on how to adjust because I have the difficulty in adjusting the camera in the locations that I have to shoot in. 

The light conditions, the shutter speed and the aperture and how it is to be dealt with are my next to be learned principles in photography. 

 Journal# 6 in Photography

It is interesting to know that what is supposed to be an error made by capturing not sharp images can be controlled by adjusting the camera presets and made to be a diversion from the art of photography’s status quo.

Blur as it is called Bokeh can be manipulated by adjusting the ISO-Aperture-Speed of the camera.

On that meeting, the different kinds of lenses were discussed briefly namely; auto focus, wide angle, and prime which was a fixed lens. Along with the lenses, Aperture was also discussed. From then on, I understood what it is as the size of the opening the lens.

Since one of the next outputs will be decisive moment, the class was told of tips how to capture one. I learned that a photographer must keep his eyes open when events occur as it is and be ready to capture the desired output.

Journal# 7 in Photography

ISO-Aperture-Shutter Speed relation was further discussed in detail for us to know the importance of adjusting these components in order to achieve a good output.

I learned that when you want to capture a sharp photo, an adjustment should be made in the shutter speed, ISO and Aperture and it also depends on the light conditions. Whenever I get hold of a camera, I would try to adjust it based on the Exposure.

Journal# 8 in Photography

Since our course has a demand of journalism and not mere photography so we were taught of the principles of photojournalism as gives life to a news item in news item whether in print or in TV broadcast.  The photo should possess the same ingredients that of a news story. 

Photojournalism is a risky job for media people as they would be faced in the exact situation when a phenomenon occurs. I also did not notice if our instructor did not tell the class that weddings  today are shot in the photojournalism manner.

He also informed us of what are the beginnings of photojournalism and that there was this point in history of USA when only three photos of the “Great Depression” made a big impact to the world. I learned that a picture can tell it all as long as it has a story content, even without letters, it could convey a story for itself.

Journal# 9 in Photography

Black and white photography was discussed and from it, we saw pictures and affirmed our amazement to it but I was also threatened by it because of my love for colors. But it was really different to see photos in black and white.

Our instructor also discussed the Reduction Theory and from it, I took my technique of capturing what I would like as an output for the exhibit, that before shooting, a conceptualization should be made. And with the process is editing and I also learned for the first time how to edit a photo in Adobe. I was really not interested in photography but now, I found it essential because I am fond of keeping a memorabilia and one way to come up with one, is through photos.

Journal# 10 in Photography 

Black and white photography was discussed in a more thorough way and there were more insights shared by our instructor. The number one commandment towards the capturing of pictures is go for the crisp ones or the sharp ones so that I would be easier for the photo to be converted to black and white and the output would be desirable.

He also said that black and white would change the perspective of a photographer and the eye for detail would be needed. I was struck by the quote: “The devil is in the details.”

Journal# 11 in Photography 

Many photos in black and white were again shown and tips were given on the editing and coming up with the pictures for the exhibit but I did not have any topic yet at that time.  

He also discussed the truth in photography and that the world is vanishing and that documenting through photos is one way of preserving the past. From this concept, the topic comes from or should I say the central theme of our upcoming exhibit.

Journal# 12 in Photography

It was the day of our proposal and I had two preferences: the “mataderos” of the public market or the Dumaguete Catholic Life. I also had the passion for covering the religious side of the Dumaguete populace who still at present are true to their faith in God as they make it a routine to visit a church or light a candle in the belfry. The “matederos” also have a unique  life worthy to be captured and that they live to kill these animals for the people to have meat to be bought.

Journal# 13 in Photography 

The Photo Walk was one of the most unforgettable moments in my student life at Silliman and though I did bring just a point and shoot, I was still happy of the photos I captured and it was really Dumaguete.

The experience of an early morning photo walk was for me a worthwhile experience to be remembered. The walk itself and the places we have covered were also significant and the people who have witnessed the endeavor kept on asking us what we were doing and they were glad to hear that it was a class requirement and smiles also were painted into their faces.

Journal# 14 in Photography 

I was one of the last people to pass the photos for the exhibit and I really tried my best to come up with photos with photos around the theme religious/catholic life of Dumaguete.

I woke up at three in the morning of Wednesday, August 18, 2010 to shoot the events at the Cathedral Church everyday and I was the first one there to arrive just in time for the opening of the church. I prayed that I will be guided to capture some moments of people’s religiosity evident in it. I moved form the church to the belfry and vice versa until seven in the morning. After the camera went out of battery power, I went home.

The next day, our instructor approved three of my photos which incidentally were intertwined in the theme I just proposed. Maybe it was just luck or maybe  God’s providence to come up with a picture of a praying pregnant mother, little boy touching Virgin Mary’s image and an old man praying in front of the Sto. Niño. It was a representation of  a family of faith and that is Dumaguete.

I immediately post-processed my photos with the help of some classmates on one photo and I then passed it to our instructor. I then brought the photos for data storage at OK Photo Supply and test printed it.

Journal# 15 in Photography

The preparation for the exhibit at Hotel Palwa  was one of the very happy moments in photography class. The joke was on Ms. Maputi who called our instructor, Mr. Clee Tan instead of his family name, Villasor. We were there to mount our photos in the illustration boards.

At midnight, it was Kring’s birthday and I was singing the weirdest birthday song the world has ever heard and that was in the tune of an old Marian song Immaculate Mother. (Sorry for the blasphemous act). But nonetheless it made the night for us as the people around me were almost dead to pressures of the upcoming event and their laughter was at least a remedy to ease their burdens of the mind and body.

Journal# 16 in Photography 

It was one of the simplest openings I witnessed and yet it took the attention of the people of the library.

The ceremony itself was quick and I was just amazed that I was part of the exhibit though I admit,

my pictures are not so good but at least I tried my best out of it.

Dean Genove was there in full support and her speech was again a voacbulary check exam. It really made my nose bleed at times. JOke! I just admire her feature writing prowess.

The Cafeteria snacks made my day because they were so irresponsible in turning over the snacks for the event and I was really pissed

off and out of my hungry stomache, I gumbled in anger to the chicken heads. GRR! I went home ahead.

The Photo Walk and the Photo Exhibit at Robinson's Place (Dumaguete)

 Pose with classmates, Czarina Lea Morado and Sun Mei Lee at Robinson's Place Dumaguete during the Exhibit Opening. 

These were my exhibit photos reflecting the religious life of the people who live in Dumaguete: from the mother's womb, to childhood then to their adult years. My photos main title was "The Transcendent Faith" 

The next photos I will be featuring are part of my final output for the semester. It was a magazine of my printed photos. 

Its concept came from a photographer friend. I wanted to create memories of my school, Silliman and Dumaguete before I leave its abodes.