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Sunrise at Acadia, Bar Harbor, Maine

Matterhorn from the Gornergrat, Zermatt, Switzerland

Tulip Festival, Pella, Iowa

Beginnings

I only know of one granduncle who was a professional photographer and was the photographer at my parents' wedding. He kept saying he had run out of film though when asked to keep taking more pictures. Ugh, not one I would like to have around at some of my important functions (sorry, lolo). His brother, my grandfather, was a photo buff too as well as my dad who takes pretty decent pictures. I am quite lucky to have been the first grandchild, first child and first niece so I have quite a collection of good baby pictures of me taken by all of the above. As I grew up though, I started becoming more fascinated by photographs I would see in books and magazines and wanting to know how certain shots were done. I was also starting to get quite dissatisfied with just our regular everyday pictures of family and friends.

We were tourists on vacation in the United States for the first time many years ago when I was trying to decide what I could collect to remember that trip by. I bought all sorts of knick-knacks in all the places we visited but it was when we went back home to Manila that I realized that the pictures we had taken were the best souvenirs of all. The challenge now was to be able to take the best possible shots under all circumstances.

Shoot before you eat!

I did not have my own camera for a long time. Let me rephrase that - I did not have my own SLR camera for a long time. I started out with one of those little boxes that used disposable flash cubes. Looking back now, that was a hoot to use. But it did not allow for much flexibility. When I finally got my first SLR 10 years ago, I did not know much about cameras at all, so I got one of those autofocus cameras that my photo teacher frowned upon. Good thing it has a manual override so I was able to survive my photo classes. I now have three other cameras - a second SLR which I use as a backup, a Hasselblad 2 1/4, and a 4x5 Toyo Field. However, my primary camera is still my first SLR, partly because I have 2 zoom lenses for it that allow me to cover 35mm wide angle up to 210mm telephoto. It is also very convenient for me to use. Besides, my aim is not to have every shot I take win some photography prize, but that it tell the story of that particular moment and capture it to my satisfaction.

Whale-watching off Gloucester, Massachusetts

I guess you could call me a semi-pro. I've been asked to be the official photographer at company events, balls, birthday parties, and weddings. I got paid well but I started losing interest when I realized that the pictures were all starting to look the same. Besides, I was wanting to get more into landscapes and just the fun pictures of friends, family and anything that suit my fancy. So now I'm at a point where I'm just shooting for fun. I also like the freedom of not having to worry about what a client wants or does not want. I do have a portrait studio set-up but all the backgrounds and lights are stored somewhere in a relative's house. Maybe later I'll play around with that some more just to hone my skills in that area.

Weddings are fun sometimes

I'm amused when someone looks at a good picture and says it must be the camera. It is partly true but not entirely correct. I was at a wedding of a friend once and the official photographer who was a friend of the groom's was brandishing a Hasselblad around. I was taking pictures on my own as well but I just had my regular 35mm SLR. I was shaking my head a few weeks later when the bride called me frantically and was wanting to get my pictures instead since the pictures Mr. Official Photographer turned in were so bad he might as well have used a Brownie instead of the Hasselblad. Obviously, he just did not know how to use that thing. The point here is it is possible to take pretty decent pictures with whatever you have even if it is just a regular point-and-shoot. The key is knowing your camera's limitations and when and how to use it.

The Korean War Memorial Washington, DC

People need to take a few seconds before clicking that shutter. It could make the difference between a good picture and a bad one. Our brains can discriminate enough so we do not "see" what we do not want to see. A camera lens, on the other hand, sees everything. Is that a garbage can behind Uncle Bob? Take a minute to move it out of the way. What about that pile of laundry next to Grandma? Pick it up and get it out of the scene. Try to get into the habit of looking at the entire frame in your viewfinder before finally taking that shot.

Sergei and Katia

Nancy Kerrigan

Oksana Baiul

It's a given that the most photographed subjects are people. You can get quite fancy with a studio-like set-up complete with backgrounds, lights and props. Or, just a regular flash will do too. I personally prefer outdoor shots under a cloudy sky. Yes, you read that right - cloudy skies give that even lighting that works well with people. Conversely, bright sunlight is usually anathema to photographers unless you're looking for harsh shadows and high contrast.

A studio set-up

Using a regular flash

I am quite fortunate (or unfortunate, depending on how you see it) to have friends who are such goofballs that they feel comfortable in front of the camera. Of course one does not always mean the other but never mind. I have the most fun when my subjects are loose and not too self-counscious because that projects in the pictures. Children are also quite fun. They're very unaware of themselves and do not need much prodding. I usually just let them do their own thing then I follow them around. It's amazing how they just make their own pictures for you.

Roy and Lyn

Danae

Taking good pictures is hard work. Sometimes you have to make a decision between enjoying the moment or capturing it. If you find yourself on a beautiful beach and want to just take a walk, do you just leave your equipment behind or should you take it with you just in case you see a gorgeous sunset? Do you bring your extra lens with you on an exotic trip or do you leave it behind to save on space and weight? These, among other things, are questions you have to keep asking yourself and making decisions on. I've had my own misses and mishaps, but after all the years I have been involved in this avocation, I'd have to say it has been worth my while. Photography is my way of capturing moments in time and has served to make my life all the more richer. As you work on your craft, I trust that you will find that it does the same for yours too.

One of my more rewarding assignments was taking pictures of the children of battered women with Santa. I will never forget those faces. For security reasons, I'm not allowed to display those so I just put up one of me taking them - he-he-he. (Thanks for the pic, Curt.)