…I just wanna write a little disclaimer: I am not a photographer. I like taking photos but I don’t think I deserve to be called a photographer. Maybe I’m just a snoot but it seems everyone who lugs around a DSLR considers himself a photographer. I think in order to be called a photographer, you should live and breathe pictures. Even without a camera, a photographer takes photos with his mind…and slaps himself after for not bringing a camera. Oh yeah, plus points in photography street cred if you know how to work a film SLR.
I do have proper background in photography, however. I was a Communication Arts student and one of my major subjects was Black and White photography (FOTOCAM). We took pictures using a film SLR, developed our own film, and printed our own photos! I remember my blockmates and I slaved ourselves in the dark room. We came to the darkroom early in the morning, cut some of our classes, and left late in the evening. Carebears sa mumu. A lot of my clothes have been “victimized” by fixer stains. I got used to seeing in the dark. I remember almost throwing up because of the smell of chemicals.
By the end of the term, I got a measly grade of 1.5 (4 being the highest), my lowest grade during my entire stay in DLSU. Yep, I got higher grades in Economics, Finance, Statistics, Accounting and Algebra. After this course, I threw all my desire to improve my photography skills and focused on video production instead.
In a few years, DSLRs became more affordable so everyone started to carry them around as if it were the latest designer bag. It became the new status symbol. I would scoff at them because I knew most of them just use the automatic function. I might suck at photography but at least I know the principles of aperture and shutter speed.
Fast forward to 5 or 6 years and I got myself a DSLR, a sweet Canon EOS 550D. I guess next time, I should bite my snooty tongue :-p
My dad and I decided to get a SLR because we knew we would be touring New Zealand in a few months. I don’t really remember lots of things from the Lord of the Rings movies (I think they were fighting over a ring or something?) but one thing that I got from the movie was: New Zealand has beautiful and breathtaking landscapes. Taking photos using a point and should would be a waste. I know I would need a wide angle lens to capture all the beautiful scenery.
I wanted to buy a bridge cam like the G10 (at that time, there was no G11 and G12) but for a little more, I figured we might as well buy a DSLR.Besides, I would not exactly be a poser since I was academically trained in photography, right? :)
I don’t think my Sony Cybershot could take the beauty of the Fox Glaciers…
When I got back to Manila, I enrolled in a Digital Photography course sponsored by the Ayala Foundation. Guess what, I was given the award for being the best student! My classmates however, were total photography noobs who didn’t even know the meaning of JPEG and megapixels so I guess being the best didn’t really count that much :) Still, I feel I came a long way from my FOTOCAM days!
I also started a photo blog that year. I felt taking photos everyday improved my skills. Like all other things, practice makes permanence!
Nowadays, I take photos using my Iphone. Using the camera apps for the Iphone is very addicting! Instragram and Hipstamatic are my new photography best friends :)
I guess, I’m more of a photography enthusiast rather than a photographer. Maybe I’m making too many parameters over the term “photographer” but I feel being a photographer is a title one should earn through hard work and practice.
For now, I will continue to enthusiastically take photos and improve my craft. When one of my photos get published in Life or Nat Geo magazine, that’s when I will wear the photographer badge :)
forkyeahmanila posted this
