Monday, August 26, 2013

Basic Digital Photography with Sir Nicolay

On a previous post I mentioned my interest in Photography and how I've been inclined with several type of cameras which were upgraded once in a while. This love and passion for photos wasn't just that. As they say, you have to work hard and learn from it.

My interest in Photography heightened in 2008 when digital cameras were emerging in the market. Come 2009, Digital Single Lens Reflex cameras popularly known as DSLR also became popular to the masses. Before, you can only see it carried by professional photographers but from 2009 to date, it has become an accessory. It's sad because some just buy it for luxury and status symbol without maximizing its awesome features. I hope they realize its beauty like we photography-enthusiasts do.

To learn more of it, I sought for professional help. Self-taught photography works for others but it's good to learn from the pros once in a while. My blockmates and I were psyched to know that we will be having our PhotoJournalism class as part of our Third Year Curriculum. As a preparation, most of us on our block bought DSLRs only to find out in 2011 that we will be using the old school analog/film cameras for our PhotoJournalism class. Anyway, back in 2010, my friend Pam shared this Basic Digital Photography class by Sir Nicolay. I found it interesting since I was really looking for one. She gave me the link, I checked it and I immediately counted myself in. However, she wasn't able to join me for some reason so I asked my cousin Jam to enroll with me. Good thing her Mom was supportive. I enrolled us on the April 6, 2010 schedule and we're good to go.  

As background, Sir James Nicolay, a photography-lover and an academic teacher in Xavier who graduated in UP has been teaching Photography for the past two years. He holds his Photography classes in UP Diliman. There are several courses he offer and they come with certificate: Portraits 101, Still-Life and Landscape Photography, Basic Editing, Black and White, Outdoor/Street Photography and etc. You may check his website here to know more about his updated classes, rates, reservation and work. 

Our Basic Digital Photography (BDP) class was four hours worth of lecture and application. First, we were introduced to our cameras, tried its features, learned the basic rules of photography and then finally we were asked to apply everything we have learned. We were about 4 or 5 in the class and that makes Sir Nicolay more hands-on with his teaching. That makes it a good learning experience. If you are a photography enthusiast, I encourage you to take the class too. It's not a hassle for it won't took long and you'd learn a lot. Here's a photoblog of our BDP class with an anecdote for that day:

That is my classmate's Sony DSLR and my Telephoto lens in blur. Our gears for the day's class.

Thursday, August 01, 2013

DJ Quentin Mosimann is coming to Manille!

Last May, Filipino fans got the chance to watch the Swedish DJ Avicii perform. This August, another renowned DJ is coming to Manila.

After the Close-up Summer Solstice, Swedish Mafia and Avicii’s concert, here goes another surprise for the party people out there. The grass in the party-music scene looks greener as more and more international DJs are visiting the archipelago, DJ Quentin Mosimann will be joining the list.

DJ Quentin Mosimann at work (Photo credits)