Shutter Box Philippines :: Digital Photography and A Whole Lot More

The first Valentine’s Day contest from Wacom Asia Pacific, the Wacom Valentine Photo Contest being held on the Wacom Asia Pacific Community invites us all Asia Pacific residents to test our ability to capture the theme “Love Story” on digital film.

The Wacom Intuos3 and Wacom Bamboo Fun pen tablets are up for grabs as prizes for the best photos, plus a Wacom Mentor Award for the best written photo retouching or photo manipulation tip.

No purchase needed and there is no entry fee.

Rules: All submissions must abide by the contest and submission rules of the Wacom Community. In particular, submissions may not contain any nudity, adult situations, violence or other obscenities, and must be original. Submissions of fan art or other copyrighted images or characters will not be considered. Wacom reserves the right to reject, remove, and/or disqualify entries at its discretion.

Eligibility: All residents of Wacom Asia Pacific countries (does not include China, Hong Kong or Japan). Limited to one entry per person (except Wacom Mentor Award). No entry fee necessary.

Submission Deadline: Contest officially ends at midnight, Tokyo time. Please be aware of time differences when submitting.

Requirements:

More info at http://www.ph.wacom-asia.com/community/contests/valentine/index.php

If you want to gain more insight into the most powerful of photography genres then look no further than to DPP Issue #18.

Featured in the cover is the rock legend Pepe Smith.

Digital Photographer Philippines Magazine Issue # 18 - The Portrait is expected to be delivered by the printers today and should be available in stores this weekend.

FREE Training at Power Mac Center Greenbelt 3

Some free trainings that might particularly interest photographers would probably be Your Photos & Web on January 25, 2008 and the Photoshop training on January 30, 2008.

You can avail of the FREE training by registering online at www.powermaccenter.com, by email training@powermaccenter.com, by phone (729-7087) or by registering in person at Power Mac Center, Greenbelt 3.

Travel Factor

inivites you to

PHOTOHOLIC ‘08:
ILOCOS HERITAGE TOUR (Take 3)
March 15 - 17, 2008

This is Travel Factor’s 3 Days 2 Nights Photography Tour of Vigan, Laoag, and Pagudpud.

Photoholic trip is open to all photographers at any skill level with any kind of camera; film or digital (point&shoot and even camera phone users are welcome).

Open also to all who just want to hang out with us and explore the beauty of the Philippines.

ITINERARY
Mar 14, Friday
McDonald’s Quezon Avenue (beside Q.Ave MRT station)
10:00 PM Registration and distribution of name tags/tickets
10:20 PM Boarding of Passengers
10:30 PM Time of Departure (we will not wait for latecomers)

Mar 15, Saturday
06:00 AM ETA Vigan
Vigan:
St. Augustine Parish Church of Bantay & Bell Tower
Paburnayan Pottery Making
Breakfast at Villa Angela Heritage House
Crisologo Street Walking Tour
St. Paul’s Cathedral & St. Paul’s Bell Tower & Plaza Salcedo
Buffet Lunch at Villa Angela Heritage House
Batac & Paoay:
Marcos Museum & Batac Church
Paoay Church
Malacañang of the North
Laoag:
Sand Dunes
Sinking Bell Tower
Pagudpud:
Sunset at Cape Bojeador’s Lighthouse
8PM or later
check-in at Polaris Beach House, Saud Beach
Buffet Dinner at Polaris Beach House
Socials & Games

Mar 16, Sunday
04:00 AM Assembly at the lobby of Polaris
Breakfast on the bus
Sunrise at Bangui Windmill
Trek to Kabigan Falls
Bantay-abot
Picnic Lunch at Maira-ira Blue Lagoon (beach bumming)
Patapat viaduct
Agua Grande
Sunset at Saud Beach
Buffet Dinner at Polaris Beach House
Socials & Games

Mar 17, Monday
Relax, take more photos, beach bumming @ Saud Beach, swimming, resort hopping
Breakfast at Polaris Beach House
Buffet Lunch at Polaris Beach House
Buffet Merienda/Early Dinner at Polaris Beach House
06:00 PM ETD Pagudpud to Manila

Mar 18, Tuesday
05:00 AM ETA Manila

ROOM DESCRIPTION

• 6-pax sharing: 3 queen size bed
• 4-pax sharing: 2 queen size bed
• 3-pax sharing: 1 queen size, 1 single bed
• 2-pax sharing: 1 queen size (depends on room availability)

*** solo travelers will share room with others.
*** choice of rooms are on first pay, first serve basis

PACKAGE PRICE
P4,800 per pax P5,000 per pax (peak season)

** All registration forms received on/before Jan 26, 2008 can still avail of the original P4,800 package rate.

PACKAGE INCLUSIONS

• 3 Days and 2 Nights air-con room accommodation at Polaris Beach House (beach front resort at Saud beach)
• Full board meals (3 Breakfast, 3 Buffet Lunch, 3 Buffet Dinner)
• Exclusive use of Deluxe bus with CR — Florida Bus (Manila to Pagudpud & v.v.)
• Guided tours in air-con deluxe bus from Vigan to Laoag to Pagudpud
• Souvenir for each participant

FOR INQUIRIES/COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS
email your concerns to travel.factor@gmail.com with your name and contact number
Subject: PHOTOHOLIC INQUIRIES

DISCLAIMER
Recommended for fun-loving & adventurous people who like to meet new friends while traveling.

More info on the Photoholic ‘08: Ilocos Heritage Tour (Take 3) at Travel Factor.

Basic Lighting Seminar BATCH # 21

(now includes portable wireless lighting - strobist)

by

Ken Go

February 16, 2008 Saturday (1:00pm to 5:00pm),
February 17, 2008 Sunday (Scheduled shoot)
February 18, 2008 Monday (6:00 pm to 9:00 pm) for the Critique Session and Portable Wireless Lighting

Unit 602 Cityland 10 Tower 2, H.V. Dela Costa St. Salcedo Village,
Makati City, behind RCBC Tower.
Map to the studio - http://www.photosbykengo.com/misc/map.jpg

Maximum of 10 Participants

Topics:

1. Types of commonly used studio lights
2. Light modifiers
3. Trigerring lights
4. Measuring light
5. Light positions
6. Types of portrait lighting
7. Dealing with models
8. Portable wireless lighting (Strobist)

1st day of seminar will be on discussion of the topics, there will be no shooting to be done. Though there will be a hands-on practice in measuring lights using a flash meter. You will not be required to bring anything during the 1st day.

2nd day, scheduled shoots for the group (9am, 1pm and 4pm), models will be provided. Participants should only come on their time slot, to avoid over crowding. During the shoot, each participant will be asked to conceptualize a lighting set-up to be done with their model, other participants on the same group will be assisting. After the participant finishes the shoot, other participant on the group will do the same, so the previous participant will now be acting as the assistant. (round robin system) this guarantees a hands-on set-up, thus learning from actually doing it rather than just listening. This will also make sure that the participant will the only one shooting at the time of his/her set-up, so he/she gets all the needed angles to complete the shoot, no more wrestling for a spot just to get the photo.

3rd day, Portable wireless lighting discussion, includes gear needed and how to apply basic lighting techniques to this type of set-up. For the Critique session we will allow fellow students and me to critique ones work, as they say getting better needs one to realize its faults as to make sure to correct it the next possible time.

Kindly bring 1 to 2 of your favorite photo from the photo session printed on at least 5R, ink jet prints on photo paper are acceptable, this will be used for the critique session.

Seminar Price is P 3,000.00 - inclusive of handouts, certificate, models and make-up artist for the shoot.

If you want to sign-up kindly email Ken at  seminars@photosbykengo.com the following info:
Name:
Email:
Cel. No.:
Preferred time slot for Sunday (9am, 1pm or 4pm):

Travel Factor

invites you to

AKYAT ‘08: MT. PULAG FUN CLIMB
(FEB 23 - 25, 200)

LOCATION : Benguet-Ifugao-Nueva Vizcaya Province
ELEVATION : 2,922 meters above sea level
JUMP OFF POINTS : Kabayan and Bokod Benguet, Tinoc Ifugao and Kayapa Nueva Vizcaya

ITINERARY
DAY 0  Friday, Feb 22
22:00 - Assembly at Cubao (Victory Liner)
23:00 - ETD for Baguio City

DAY 1  Saturday, Feb 23
05:00 - ETA Baguio City/ Breakfast
06:30 - ETD Baguio City for Ambangeg, Bokod Benguet
10:00 - ETA Ambangeg, Register at DENR / Briefing
10:30 - Go straight to Babadac Ranger Station
12:00 - ETA Ranger Station. Lunch
14:00 - Start Trek
17:00 - ETA Camp 2. Set Camp

DAY 2  Sunday, Feb 24
04:30 - Wake-Up Call, Breakfast
05:00 - Start Trek towards Summit
06:00 - ETA Summit !!
08:00 - Start Descent
11:00 - ETA Ranger station
12:00 - Lunch
17:00 - ETA Baguio (option to go Ukay-Ukay)
22:00 - ETD for manila (Victory liner)

DAY 3  Monday, Feb 25
05:00 - ETA Manila (Rest Day!!!)

PACKAGE  RATE:

P4,000 per pax
Includes:
- Bus tickets (Manila - Baguio - Manila)
- Jeep service (Baguio - Ranger station - Baguio)
- Tent Accommodation
- Camp meals (Dinner day 1, Breakfast and Lunch Day 2)
- Registration fees and Climb Certificate
- Local Guides

All Participants are required to attend the pre-climb meeting on Feb 11, Monday for the Basic Mountaineering Course (exact details to be announced). More info on the Akyat 08 Mt. Pulag Fun Climb at Travel Factor.

Digital 101: Photography and the Computer

by Jay Alonzo
February 2, 9, and 16 (9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.)
This workshop, designed for digital camera users who want to learn the basics of photography, discusses topics such as:

- Factors affecting photographic output
- Basic understanding of light
- The digital camera and its functions
- Exposure setting
- How to see and take better pictures
- Basic image manipulation and output considerations

To further develop the participants’ knowledge, this workshop will entail photo assignments, critiquing, and a photo clinic.

Requirement:
Digital camera, preferably SLR

Venue:
Filipinas Heritage Library, Makati Avenue, Ayala Triangle, Makati City (across The Peninsula Manila)

Speaker:
Jay Alonzo has been teaching photography for more than 11 years and is now considered as one of the country’s leading photography instructors. Since 2001, he has been regularly conducting photography classes at The Alcove (Filipinas Heritage Library’s photography nook) and for a wide range of clients such as Oishi, Holcim Philippines, Pilipinas Shell, Procter & Gamble, and Microsoft, among many others. In 2007, he has been tapped to teach overseas.

In between classes, Jay is involved in shooting for hotel, tourism, and restaurant businesses. Also, Jay is currently a photo contributor for High Life and Mabuhay (Philippine Airline’s in-flight magazine).

Fee:
Php 4,000.00 inclusive of handouts, meals, computer use, and certificate.

Due to the limited number of slots, interested participants are requested to register on or before January 30 by placing a partial payment of at least Php500.00 (non-refundable). A 10% discount will be extended to those who will settle the payment in full on or before the deadline.

For more details, please call 892-1801, send an SMS to 0917-5594417, email cruz.ct@ayalafoundation.org or visit www.filipinaslibrary.org.ph.

The 2008 Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition, which is now on its  44th year, is the most prestigious and successful event of its kind in the world.

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition is an international showcase for the very best photography featuring natural subjects. The competition is owned by two UK institutions that pride themselves on revealing and championing the diversity of life on Earth - the Natural History Museum and BBC Wildlife Magazine.

Held annually, the competition aims to find the most stunning and original wildlife pictures taken by photographers.

Being accepted into this competition is something that wildlife photographers, worldwide, aspire to. Professionals win many of the prizes, but amateurs succeed, too. And that’s because achieving the perfect picture is down to a mixture of skill, vision, originality, knowledge of nature and luck.

Amateur and professional photographers of all ages worldwide can enter and get a chance to be named the 2008 Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

Each year thousands of entries are received and judged by a specially selected expert panel. The winners are announced at an awards ceremony that takes place each October at the Natural History Museum, London.

The 2008 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition is open to anyone with an appreciation of wildlife and a passion for fresh, innovative photography. Entrants stand to win an impressive £10,000 prize if they are given the coveted title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2008 or £23,550 share a prize fund if successful in other categories.

The competition has 11 adult categories plus 4 special awards. You can even join the Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2008 if you happen to be 17 years old and younger.

Judges are typically looking for pictures that are memorable, either because of the behavior displayed or because of their aesthetic appeal - and ideally, both.

It will cost you £20 to enter online and £27 to enter by mail.

Deadline for submitting your entries is on March 24, 2008 by mail or March 31, 2008 for online submissions.

More info on the 2008 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition at the Natural History Museum.

Camera Club of Negros

invites you to

IPHOTO

a free seminar in commemoration of Photo Week 2008

The venue is at the La Salle Alumni Hall in Bacolod City on 5PM January 23, 2008

For those interested to join, please email nic_led@yahoo.com to register.

IMAGINATIONS SOAR HIGH
at the 12th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta!

February 7 to 10, 2008
Clark Freeport Zone

The 12th annual Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is the biggest aviation sports event in the country today. Hot air balloon and airplane pilots from all over the world fly into the Philippines to join their local counterparts in this breathtaking event.

Join the EPSON Photo Contest Marathon!

Win Php 20,000 in daily cash prizes, PLUS products and freebies from EPSON!

Check out the EPSON Photo Workshops and Activities!
EPSON brings in the country’s top workshop facilitators to give a FREE 4-day lecture workshop on photography and digital retouching techniques.

There will also be a shooting workshop on glamour fashion photography featuring models in aviation gear.

Witness Exciting Aviation Events!

• Daily Hot Air Balloon Flights
• Daily Flag Jumps
• Skydiving
• Micro Light Demonstrations
• Small Plane Fly-bys and Fly-ins
• Remote-Controlled Airplane Exhibitions
• Aerobatics
• Light Airplane Balloon-Bursting Competition
• Ultra-Light Formation Flying and Bomb-Dropping Exhibitions
• Helicopter Fly-ins and Exhibitions
• Rocketry Demonstrations
• Kite-Flying Exhibitions
• Ultra-Light and Motorcycle Races

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!

Day passes for the 12th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta are available in Makati City for Php 100 at OneWorkshop

G/F 2241 La Fuerza Plaza II
Don Chino Roces Ave. cor. Sabio St.
Makati City
See location map http://www.owg.cc/locationmap.html

For ticket inquiries , call 819-2074 or 810-5094.
For photo contest mechanics kindly email one_workshop@yahoo.com

EXCITING PRIZES AWAIT THE DAILY WINNERS!

Winners of the two (2) Best Photo Entries per day will each receive Php 10,000, PLUS a Certificate of Excellence, an EPSON coffee table book and a HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE courtesy of SM!

Winner of the two (2) Grand Prizes will each receive Php 20,000, PLUS a Certificate of Excellence, an EPSON printer and coffee table book, and a slot in an OWG Creative Centre Photo Workshop worth Php 6,000.

EPSON Photo Contest Mechanics

The EPSON Photo Contest Marathon is open to all visitors and guests of the 12th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta.

Students, amateurs, hobbyists and professional photographer are welcome to use any digital SLR, digital point-and-shoot or cell phone camera to interpret the given theme for the day.

DAILY CONTEST THEMES

Day 1: Happiness and beauty:
e.g. nature, beautiful people, family, colors, camaraderie, hot air balloon formations etc

Day 2: Triumph, passion and love:
e.g human interest, event activities, decisive moments etc

Day 3: Majestic view:
e.g sunrise, sunset, landscape, cloud formations, nature etc

Day 4: Creative moment:
e.g Hot Air Balloons and Clark and Pampanga landscape in focus etc

Photos for all daily themes are allowed to show entire or partial logos, signage or references to the 12th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta and/or EPSON.

Participants are allowed to submit multiple entries per daily theme.

Participants may win multiple daily prizes and compete for the Grand Prize.
CLOSE RANGE ACCESS PASS PROCEDURE

Participants must first secure a Special Shooters Pass ID from the on-site OneWorkshop booth. The access pass enables participants to use the special shooting area that allows photographers to shoot the balloons at close range.

Access passes are limited. The PIHABF event organizer may close the special shooting area once the limit has been reached.

Rules and Guidelines

• Photos MUST be taken during the 12th Philippine Hot Air Balloon Fiesta competition period of February 7 to 10, 2008.
• White borders around the area are optional, but must not exceed one inch (1″) on all sides.
• Built-in camera B&W, sepia tone and colored prints are allowed.
• Printed output that is manually retouched and/or painted over is not allowed.
• Creative effects done within the camera at the time of exposure, such as multiple exposures, flash fill, lighting and filtration are allowed.
• Digital retouching of density, contrast adjustments, minor cropping of composition, burning and dodging, and global adjustments IS TOLERATED.
• Major manipulation of main images through adding and subtracting IS NOT allowed.
• The name of the participant should not appear on the face of the entry.
• The decision of the board of judges will be final.

Submission of Entries

All entries must be printed on 8 x 10 EPSON photo paper. Only prints from the on-site EPSON ProLab OneWorkshop printing booth will be accepted.

Standard fee for 8 x 10 printing is Php 350 per print on EPSON Satin Photo Paper.

Participants using the EPSON printing service will be entitled to the following:

• Special Shooters Pass ID (Can be secured in advance at OneWorkshop in Makati City before the event. Limited to 100 pass per day only)
• EPSON signature cap
• FREE to attend the glamour fashion shoot and daily photo / digital retouching workshops. Top Photographers to conduct the workshops daily from 1PM-3PM: Jay Alonzo - Feb 7, Borj Meneses - Feb 8, PARC Cruz - Feb 9, George Tapan - Feb 10

All entries must be submitted by 3PM daily from February 7 to 10.

Winners and finalists will be required by the 12th Philippine Hot Air Balloon Fiesta and its photography event organizer OneWorkshop, Inc. to submit the ORIGINAL digital files of their entries for evaluation and publishing purposes.

Recognition of Winners and Finalists

Winners and finalists of the EPSON Photo Contest Marathon will be announced and awarded daily following the hot air balloon night glow.

The daily winners and ten (10) finalists will be on display each day at the designated OneWorkshop exhibit area.

An exhibit of all 10 winning entries and 40 finalists will be mounted at SM City Clark, featuring formal opening and ribbon-cutting ceremonies with PIHABF and an SM Executive Officer. Mounting, panels and cocktails are sponsored by EPSON.

A special feature on the ten (10) winning photographers together with all winning entries and finalists will be exhibited online for one year at www.philphotography.net sponsored by OneWorkshop and at www.philballoonfest.net

Entry Retrieval

Non-winning entries may be retrieved on the day after submission from the on-site OneWorkshop booth.

Non-winning entries may be retrieved after the event at OneWorkshop, G/F 2241 La Fuerza Plaza II Don Chino Roces Ave., cor. Sabio St., Makati City.

Deadline to retrieve entries is February 25, 2008. Entries not claimed after the deadline will automatically become the property of the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (PIHABF) and EPSON who may dispose of them as they see fit.

Restrictions and Disclaimers

The PIHABF and EPSON reserve the right to reproduce, exhibit or publish submitted images for promotional purposes but shall indicate and acknowledge the photographers. PIHABF and EPSON may display the prints in a public venue or publish the prints for the purpose of promoting the competition or any off-shoot event arising from the competition without financial compensation to the photographers. Copyright for the photograph, however, still belongs to the photographers.

PIHABF, EPSON and its photography event organizer OneWorkshop, Inc., as well their immediate family or household members are NOT eligible for participation in the EPSON Photo Contest Marathon.

Due care will be taken to ensure the safety of all entries. However, PIHABF, EPSON and OneWorkshop, Inc. cannot be held responsible for the damage or loss of any entry.

Note: This announcement is subject to change and updated from time to time.

You might also want to check out Up, up and away in Pampanga; a tour organized by Anton Diaz of Our Awesome Planet, Ivan Henares of Ivan About Town, Old Manila Walks and Manila Boy which will take you to the 12th Philippine Balloon Fiesta, VFW Outpost, Mount Arayat, Abe’s Farm and Nurture Spa Pampanga.