Photoblog: Art Fair Philippines 2014

Before I continue this post, let me first warn you that this is going to be long and very visual. 

Okay, continue...

"Parking lot turned art haven" that's how I will describe Art Fair Philippines 2014 held on February 20-23, 2014 at The Link. I was overwhelmed by the installations and great talents, I hope everyone will get the recognition they deserve.

I am reminiscing last year's Art Fair because Art Fair 2015 opened yesterday. It will again be held at The Link and will run from February 5 to 8, 2015.

I will include almost all the photos I took at the Art Fair Philippines 2014 to somewhat give you a tour at the 28 galleries installed in no particular order below:

Planet Ocean Exhibit

If you walk around Greenbelt lately, you probably have seen this exhibit. I was waiting for a friend and attended the mass last week when I saw these breathtaking photographs displayed. Most of which capture the beauty of our environment. I wanted to take several photos but I was in a hurry that time.

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.

First sem A.Y. 2010-2011: Photo-blogged

If I were to describe the First Semester I've had, I'll use a line from Eminem and Rihanna's Love the way you lie, "I can't tell you what it really is, I can only tell you what it feels like..".
Exactly that, because it is hard to describe but in five words it is:
1. Sleep-depriving- Sometimes I don't even sleep. Now, my body clock's reversed. Screwed. I'm always alive during the wee hours of the night. Turned zombie. I.need.to.restart.my.bodyclock. Seriously.
2. Too hectic- deadlines here and there, write. write. write. (even when writer's block happen almost every time that I needed it) Juggled three editorial tasks along with quizzes, projects and exams for I was an EIC for a group in Lit, Assoc Ed for a group in Feat and Features Ed for a group in NPM. Tiring but I got through it easily because of good and helpful colleagues,Thank God!
3 and 4.Fun and memorable- I got to meet awesome people, cover events, do things I've never done before, gained a lot of experience with a rollercoaster of emotions and taught me some tough lessons (good or bad), travel, have photoshoots, sleepover, interviews, learn a lot of things, practice them,and get good grades in the process. and I guess that is why it ended as #5. Fulfilling. The word itself says it all.

I think these aren't enough though, in a span of almost 5 months so much has happened and I guess it'd be more vivid if I put them into photos. Let's include the non-school related stuff as well.

June

June 16, 2010.Wednesday. Taken right after Sir Nestor Cuartero's first Feature Writing Class meeting. After this day, so much has happened. A magazine project etc.

July

July 9, 2010. Watched this for free! I'm a sucker for concerts that I joined a contest on radio. Thanks to U92FM for this opportunity. I was hella lucky to win tickets especially that this is THE USHER. Totally made me OMG!

August

Met two Legendary personalities. National Artist for Literature, F. Sionil Jose at the Annual Journalism Seminar and Manix Abrera, my favorite cartoonist!

September

Mona's 18th and Trojan Women shoot for Achaean Lith magazine. I had fun on both.

October

Had a free Walk this way tour, courtesy of the Mr. Carlos Celdran. I was also able to interview him for Halo-Halo magazine and Metro Bullet News blog. He was the man of the hour then because of the Damaso thing and I was lucky he agreed for an interview.

There are several memories to share but those were just some that encapsulated over the past five months. I know second sem will add more to these. I am looking forward to that.