Daan Photowalk - Sneak Peak Avenue

Daan (Street), a Street Photography (SP) group, is having a photowalk on May 19 from 8am onwards along Taft Avenue.  They are inviting photographers who wants to get into this exciting genre of SP.  Seasoned and all levels of street photographers are also welcome for camaraderie enjoying the common passion for SP.

Meeting place will be at the Plaza Salamanca on the corner of Taft Avenue and T.M. Kalaw at 8 a.m. where participants will be oriented about the photowalk. 

The first leg of the walk will have the theme of "Overcoming Fear in Street Photography".  Some tips will be given by experienced street photographers. Armed with the tips, the photowalk then commences.

A pit stop for snacks somewhere in Herran and some review of photos taken in the 1st leg.  A short talk on tips and techniques in creating great street photographs in preparation for the second leg of the walk.

The walk will culminate somewhere in Vito Cruz (venue to be announced) for lunch (KKB) and orientation about the upcoming seminar of Eric Kim in Manila.  There will be also a c & c session / open table discussion for photos taken during the PW and Q & A as well.

Don't miss this photowalk!  This is a free orientation for getting into the exciting world of street photography.

For sign-up and inquiries, please e-mail: listratistasadaan@gmail.com or contact the following:

• Joval 09435478626
• Reddi 0933329011 or  09333290118

Eric Kim's Workshop in Manila

For updates on what's happening in the photography scene, please visit my Photography Events Calendar.

Bawal Mag Shoot Dito (BMSD) Pilipinas Ayala Malls Photowalk

On May 11 2012, Bawal Mag Shoot Dito (BMSD) Only in the Philippines held their Ayala Malls Photowalk.  This photowalk in the Greenbelt Malls in Makati is also a protest walk to denounce the strict rules of photography in the Ayala Malls.  BMSD is advocating for more relaxed rules on photography in the malls and public places open to the public especially with DSLR users.

The assembly started at 11 am at the McDonalds in Paseo de Roxas in front of the Asian Institute of Management in Makati.  Around 11:30 am, they assemble in front of the restaurant to start the photowalk. With the press present interviewing Mel Cortez, the founder of BMSD, the Ayala security personnel were trying to stop the media from using their video because they did not have any permit to shoot.  After sometime, the issue was resolved and the photowalk started around 11:50 am.

The photography enthusiasts walked around and inside the Greenbelt Malls and surrounding areas. One of the spots they stopped was at the mural of Jaime Zobel's photos.  It was an IRONY that Jaime is into photography yet the Ayala Mall's policy toward DSLR users does not sympathize much towards the photographers.

At the Jaime Zobel's Photos Mural in Greenbelt

They passed by Ayala Museum, Phil. Stock Exchange Plaza and then proceeded to the Ninoy Aquino Monument at the corner of Paseo De Roxas and Ayala Avenue for group shots.  The walk did not have much of the usual resistance from the security personnel. I think they have been instructed to allow the photographers to shoot freely.  There was freedom contrary to what DSLR photographers experience usually when they shoot in Makati especially if you include buildings in your photos.

The second part of the photowalk was to join and support the protestors in front of the Chinese Embassy at The World Center, Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue to protest China's bullying of the Philippines over the issue of sovereignty of Scarborough Shoal.  The photowalk concluded there.


Here are the photos of BMSD taken in different locations of Makati during the photowalk:

Near McDonalds at Paseo De Roxas Infront of AIM

At Greenbelt Park

In front of Ayala Museum

In front of the Phil. Stock Exchange Plaza

At Ayala Ave cor. Paseo De Roxas

Group hug at the Ninoy Aquino Monument in the corner of Ayala Ave and Paseo De Roxas

Another group hug at the Ninoy Aquino Monument in the corner of Ayala Ave and Paseo De Roxas

In front of the Chinese Embassy, The World Center, Sen. Gil Puyat Ave.

In front of the Chinese Embassy, The World Center, Sen. Gil Puyat Ave.

Here are the videos of the photowalk.

Playlist version of the videos.  All of the videos plays in sequence.



Individual videos:

























Although small in numbers due to the photowalk being held during a work day,  this photowalk was a significant milestone for BMSD.  After it's accomplishments in putting into light photographers right to shoot in public places, this adds to the lists of photowalk protests done in Luneta, Intramuros, QC Circle, and SM MOA.  It's definitely still an uphill struggle and a long way to go.

As a DSLR users, definitely you have encountered problems with mall security not allowing you to take pictures.  Even DSLR are so common nowadays, it still have the stigma that you are a professional photographer or you will use your picture for commercial purposes when you take a picture with it.

Please feel free to comment and share your Bawal Mag-Shoot Dito moments with mall security.

Yours truly, covering this event
Photo credits to Jonple Baltar

Photowalk: April 21 2012 with Daan SP Group Part 2

This is the continuation of the post Photowalk: April 21 2012 with Daan SP Group Part 1.

Arriving by taxi at the Glorietta 4 Park around 5pm, we waited for A.G. de Mesa. A few minutes passed and he arrived.  It was our first time to meet A.G.  Joval invited him to join us in our photowalk.  A.G., a more seasoned Street Photographer, writes for Eric Kim's Blog.  A.G. had a Leica M4-P rangefinder and a external flash with him.  We started talking about shooting in film and film cameras.

I told A.G. that I'm excited to see an actual Street Photographer shoot ala Bruce Gilden / Eric Kim in your face flash style in action.  I have seen it in videos but not in real life.  I always have questions whether it is advisable to do it here in the Philippines like what they do in the streets of New York or L.A.

Joval, Boyet, & A.G. at Glorietta 4 Park

After a few minutes we decided to move on and start the late shift Part 2 of the photowalk. We walked  to the Ayala Triangle.  We roamed around the area to shoot and wait for other friends Amiel Lapuebla and Ed Marfori to arrive.

Ayala Triangle area is actually a good place to shoot Street in the afternoons.  There are the runners, the business district employees going home, the nearby residents walking their dogs, people chilling at the cafe's and restaurants in the area.

The afternoon sun's angle creating a perfect back-lit for street portraiture

Residents dog walking

2 Cute Dogs

Around 6:45 pm, Ed arrived but Amiel left due to some prior engagements. We left Ayala Triangle and walk towards the nightlife area of Makati Avenue.

At 7pm, the nightlife area seems to be still asleep.  The sun has set and we have only the street lights to paint our camera sensors.  Shooting in this lighting becomes a challenge.

Shooting in Artificial lighting

A.G., armed with his flash, manages to shoot a few subjects ranging from street vendors, and interesting people walking around.  I checked the reactions of the subjects and surprisingly he did not get any objections at all.  Watching him shooting with the flash and surprisingly without any untoward incidents or objections made me conclude that this style of Street Photography can done here in the Philippines as well.  This gave me more confidence to look into this style which will be useful especially at night and back-lit street portraitures. Hopefully we will see some of A.G.'s photos shot during this photowalk here in this blog after it's  been developed and "marinated".

A.G. waiting for potential subjects

With a few "interesting" subjects passing by, we decided to have dinner and the awaited Photo Drink (PD) which is usually bundled with the afternoon/evening photowalks.  We decided to hang out at Gilligans.

With a few buckets of SanMig lites, 3 can of Coke Zero for me, good BBQ dinner, and pulutans, talking about SP ranging from poverty porn, editing, Eric Kim's up coming visit to Manila, debates about SP, etc... time passed by very quickly.  I think we got too loaded to shoot anymore.

Joval and Boyet shooting across the tables meeting real estate agents telling them what Street Photography is

By the time, we settled the bill, it was already 1 am, and time to go home.  Thanks guys, for a nice day and night of Street Photography!

The nightlife area of Makati Avenue seems to be a good area for flash photography style of street photography. We will definitely come back there better prepared next time with our flash and our GUTS to shoot those interesting subjects. Coming Soon!

Photowalk: April 21 2012 with Daan SP Group Part 1

This photowalk was with Daan friends.  Daan is a Facebook group of Street Photography enthusiast where learning SP is relaxed, fun and encouraging to beginners in SP like me.

We started early at around 8:30 am with Boyet picking me up at the Feria Overpass in Commonwealth Avenue. We arrived at Boyet's sisters Makati office at around 9:05 where he parked his vehicle.

We walked from Dela Costa cor. Makati to Ayala MRT-3 station which was the agreed rendezvous with the rest of the guys. It was a Saturday so Makati seems to be less ideal for street photography in those hours.  Passing through the quite Ayala Triangle and the walk ways around the closed shops of Greenbelt, and Glorietta, we took photos warming up for the main event until we reach the meeting point.

Around 10:30 am, Jaime and Joval joined us and we boarded the Shuttle Bus at the New Fort Bus Terminal (first time for me) to Market Market.  We decided to have lunch at Jollibee courtesy of Joval since he was late and the lunch treat was his fine for his tardiness. Thanks Joval, I really enjoyed my Champ Burger, fries and up-sized Coke Zero!

At 12 pm, we left Market Market going to Bonifacio High Street. The main event started.  The hunt commenced for capturing the extraordinary from the mundane!  Although, the place was not too busy, it was just right with enough crowd.  There is something about this place for street photography.  Lots of geometries, the play of lights between the shops shaded area and the open walkways, the shadows, the crowd, the dogs, the ambiance, etc...

A play with geometries and light

Group hug: From Left to Right: Boyet, Jaime, Joval and me
Photo by Jaime Tan Ventura Jr.

By 1:45pm, when another fellow Daan member, Zina, joined us, we headed to the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial by taxi. It was just minimum fare.

Arriving at the memorial, we checked in with security and the office for permission to photograph.  They reminded us about the rules and we assured them that we will be respectful in the place and the content and theme of the photos.

The place was fascinating. The rows of crosses and an occasional star of David dominated the landscape.  It was ideal place for shooting patterns, urban landscape, and travel photos.  For street photography, it's also ideal with patience required since the place is not always teeming with people.  But the geometries, the drama, the play of lights in the structures makes it the ideal waters for catching a "big fish" that occasionally might bite.

Rows of Columns

Pondering on what is on the other side

A tourist maybe doing a video documentary

From Left to Right: Joval, Boyet, Zina, Jaime and me
Photo by Jaime Tan Ventura Jr.

We left at around 3:15 pm for Zina to catch a bus at Market Market to go to her University. We had a snack at McDonalds to re-energize from the zapping heat of the previous stage of the photowalk.

After rehydration and carbs loading, we headed again to Bonifacio Hight Street.  It was a different scene in the late afternoon, with more crowds, the dog walkers, and the cooler temperature of course. What really attracted me were the dogs.  There might be a bit of Elliot Errwit influence on me.  Elliot was a very famous street photographer who loves to photograph dogs and include them in his street scenes.  He has 4 books out of 17 books dedicated to dogs.

The crippled dog, owner and a stranger

Guards at rest

At around 4:45pm, we decided to leave the place to meet other friends in Glorietta for the next chapter of this photowalk.

This post's continuation is in Part 2: http://thescienceandartofphotography.blogspot.com/2012/05/photowalk-april-21-2012-with-daan-sp.html

BMSD EB-Cosplay Open Photo Shoot and Earth Day Photowalk on April 22 2012

BMSD, Bawal Mag Shoot Dito ((NO SHOOTING ALLOWED HERE), a group that advocates photography rights in the Philippines, is having a Grand Assembly EB this April 22, 2012 with an open photoshoot with Cosplay theme at the Emilio Aguinaldo College, Dasmarinas, Cavite.  Members, and non-members are welcome.  Entrance is free.

Tentative list of cosplay characters attending are:

• Baby Doll - Sucker Punch
• Genan Shiranui
• Ohana Matsumae
• Spawn
• Carina Veritti
• Nakoruru
• Li Syaoran
• Ran Mao
• Loki
• Hatsune Miku

The event will be held at the Dasmariñas (Cavite) Campus of the Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) at Congressional East Ave., Burol Main, Dasmariñas, Cavite. Below is the google map location:


View Larger Map

Simultaneous to the Grand EB, there is also an EARTH DAY Photowalk  in conjunction to the 42nd anniversary of Earth Day.  The assembly will be 8am at Bluewave, Edsa corner Macapagal Avenue.  It will be a photowalk to highlight these environmental issues:

• No to cutting of trees in SM Baguio 
• No to irresponsible mining in Paracale, Camarines Norte

Hope to see you in one of these events!

Taal Photosafari with Grupo Potograpika

Last Palm Sunday, I went with the group Grupo Potograpika (GP) with their Taal Batangas Photosafari. We went to the town of Taal and visited the Taal Basilica, some heritage house, balisong store, balisong factory and a peanut brittle/panutsa factory.

All photos where taken with Canon G12.

Here are some of my SP photos:

Juxta of palaspas vendor

Minimalist style frame within a frame. Shot inside Taal Basilica.

Same style but with another subject.

Here are some of the travel photos:

Inside the Taal Basillica. Two of my photog friends Kat & Mon was in the spotlight.

The Taal Basillica

Raw peanuts for the peanut brittle/panutsa

Cooking the peanut brittle in the kawa (big wok)

Cooked peanut brittle shaped laid in the table for hardening/cooling before packaging

Sharpening the balisong at the factory

Ballpen balisong and the cute baby balisongs

Traditional capiz windows

Evening Street Photography Photowalk at Makati

Last March 23, 2012, I joined my friend Ed Marfori for a SP photowalk at the Greenbelt Area. It was quite late already, almost 6pm when I arrived, so there's not much sunlight anymore.

I like to roam around the Glorietta and Greenbelt areas of Makati for street photography. It's a different atmosphere. It reflects more of upscale urban settings of the business districts and at night the nightlife and fun of the area.

Instead of my Canon 40D, I used my daughter's Canon G12, which I prefer for SP because it's smaller and thus more stealthy. One of the least advertised capability of the camera is the low light mode.  Although it can shoot only 1824 x 1368 pixels JPG Medium, since it uses pixel binding techniques to control noise, it comes out with amazing results.  The ISO settings can be set to ISO 12,800 even though the G12 specs only limits it to 3200 in the normal modes.  The trade off is it shoots like in auto mode, you cannot control the aperture or the shutter speed. Of course you can alter the ISO for it to adjust to a closer aperture/shutter speed combination you want.  You can also set the exposure compensation dial in this mode for more control. All photos below are shot in lowlight mode except for the last one.

Here are some of the photos shot that day:

1/160 at f/4.0, ISO 3200

Shot on the way home, using the Buendia MRT overpass. 1/40 at f3.2, ISO 3200.  I got away with slower shutter speed because the person is walking away from the camera. If he was moving left to right, it will require at least 1/125 to freeze him in the frame.

1/125 at f4.0, ISO 400, metered at background for silhouette effect. 1/125 shutter speed to at least freeze the moment of the passer-bys since they are moving across the frame left to right.

1/40 at f2.8, ISO 3200.  I utilized the street light for rim light effect + shadows. 1/40 acceptable since they are moving away from the frame.

1/40 at f2.8, ISO 3200

1/200 at f/4, ISO 1250

1/30 at f2.8, ISO 1250, shot in normal mode, not in low-light mode