Readers may be interested to enter their images to the Alfred Fried Photography Award. The competition invites everyone with a passion for photography to provide a visual answer to the question: What Does Peace Look Like? – a relevant topic internationally and in our own country. This is the only photography award worldwide that reaches out to people, encouraging them to express through their images how they think of peace—this fundamental need of all of us—and to use their creativity and their photographs to make a very strong statement for peace. The competition is free of charge and open to everyone—professional or amateur—to submit unlimited series or single shots and 10,000 Euro will go to the winner.
The Peace Image of the Year will be released to the public and international media on September 21, 2016 in connection with the United Nations International Day of Peace. It will be on display for one year at the Austrian parliament and afterwards will become part of the parliament’s art collection. The winning images, the shortlist, plus a special jury edition of 300 images will form a travelling exhibition for one year to promote the quest for peace through excellence in photography. The winners will be flown to Vienna for the award ceremony at the Austrian Parliament on September 20, 2016. Deadline for submissions is June 1, 2016. Visit www.friedaward.com for more details.
OpenToonz, a 2D animation software based on the “Toonz” software which was developed by Digital Video S.p.A. in Italy, customized by Studio Ghibli, and has been used for creating its works for many years is now offered as free and open source even for commercial use. Since it is open source, users can modify its source code freely.
The developers, Dwango in cooperation with Digital Video and Studio Ghibli aim to develop a new platform for connecting the academic research into frontline animation production. More details and software download link are available at https://opentoonz.github.io/e/.
With the onset of summer plus the El Niño climate phenomenon, we can expect clear starry nights for most of April and May. This is welcome news for those who would like to try their hand at night sky photography. To budding astrophotographers, the website, www.project-nightflight.net, dedicated to the beauty of the night sky may be of help. The site states: “Our Mission is the Starry Sky. Project Nightflight internationally promotes the conservation of the starry sky as environmental resource. To support this goal, we work together closely with international news media. We provide news portals, nature related websites, books, magazines and newspapers with: High resolution images of the unspoiled night sky; Catching stories about the magic of the starry sky; Useful tips for stargazing and astrophotography; Informative articles on light pollution prevention.”
The site has a Test page with “a collection of tests, handy tools, useful gadgets and helpful procedures which we came across during our astronomical imaging ventures. Whether you are searching a specific information or stopped by accidentally, we would be pleased if you find something useful.” There is also a page titled Audio Pics where nightscapes are accompanied by natural sounds of the night, recorded during the imaging sessions. Clicking on the play button next to the images brings the scenes alive with the sound of ocean waves, chirping crickets, nocturnal birds and other nighttime sounds.
Abandoned (Gerzon M. Etino)
Milky Way Above the University (Roy Cruz)
Peekaboo (Jorge Nover Diongson)
Wawa Dam (Arellano Galdo III)
Untitled (Man Fai Hui)
Untitled (Roli Talampas)
No Goodbyes (Glenn Santiago)
Untitled (Argel Solis)
Breitling Navitimer (Anton Quintos)
Father Daughter (Alaric Diman)
The Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day for 2016 is on April 24. If you haven’t got one yet, you still have time to construct your own pinhole camera for the event. All accepted entries are displayed in the photo galleries of http://pinholeday.org/. Visit the site to know more about pinhole photography and event participation rules.
And now to our featured readers beginning with six new contributors.
From Kuwait, Gerzon Etino shares “Abandoned,” a long-exposure photo of a beached boat. He also shares that in December 2014, he won first place in the Red Bull 5 Pics over 352 other photographers. Gerzon writes that photography is the medium by which he expresses his art. “Especially I love to shoot during the Magical Hour where photographers call it the ‘Golden Hour’ or the ‘Blue Hour’, where for me it is the most magical and mystical time or moment of the day,” he writes. Aside from the Red Bull 5 Pics, Gerzon has also won in the World Icons Photo Contest. He has also organized two photo exhibits whose proceeds were donated to victims of Typhoon Yolanda in 2013 and to the poor children of Brgy. Umilig, Buenavista, Guimaras through the I Care Project.
Gerzon currently works as one of the radio hosts of the Radio Kuwait Filipino Service of the Ministry of Information of the State of Kuwait.
Alaric Diman sent in the photo, “Father Daughter.” He writes: “The attached photo was taken in December 2013 at Mango Farm during my cousin’s wedding. The subjects are my sister’s American husband and their daughter Emily. The photo not only paints a thousand words but it recalls a good memory that sets a reminder and appreciation to all father and daughters and parents and children. Even though I am a son, each time I see this photo I am reminded of the sacrifices of my father in raising me and feel extra thankful for the time spent.”
The photo titled “No Goodbyes” comes from Glenn Santiago, a photo newbie. He shares: “I took this photo during a farewell party for our manager. As I saw his secretary go up the stage to hug him, I quickly raised my camera to capture this sincerely decisive moment.”
Jorge Nover “Jut Jut” Diongson, a member of MyPhone Photography group submitted the black-and-white photo, “Peekaboo.”
Arellano Galdo III contributed “Wawa Dam.” His description reads: “Photo was taken where we took our rest after our hiking at Mt. Pamitinan. Wawa Dam also known as Montalban Dam, is a gravity dam constructed over the Marikina River in the municipality of Rodriguez in Rizal province, Philippines.”
From Korea-based Filipino photographer Roy Cruz is the night photo taken at the U.P. Los Baños, Laguna titled “Milky Way Above the University.” Roy shares that he got into photography in 2006 when he was sent to work in Cebu. “The beauty of the island just captivated me, and I wanted to capture it,” he writes. “I picked up my first DSLR, a Canon 350D, and began my journey in photography. My main passion is travel and landscape photography. But I also enjoy documentary photography, due in part to my development communication background at the University of the Philippines Los Baños. Aside from my personal photography pursuits, I have also done freelance work in Manila and South Korea, where I have been based for the past seven years.” Roy, an educator, photographer, and musician maintains a blog site at www.roycruz.com.
Other photos on today’s column come from previously featured contributors.
Roli Talampas, U.P. professor, shares an untitled photo of a souvenir shop from a recent trip to Burma.
Man Fai Hui who was last featured here in 2011 sent in the untitled photo taken in infrared. “I’ve been on and off in photography since I was transferred to a new location way back 2012. But this time. I was given a break,” he shares. “It seems that the photography industry is booming and lots of newbies are coming in, although I am not as professional as the others nor well skilled and talented, just plainly a hobbyist who wishes to capture the memories of time. I guess I feel so old now and still wanting to do what I really adore. Furthermore, I would like to share my comeback shoot and hoping that giving me a small spot on your column will inspire others to pursue and will never stop capturing the moments. Even if we are a bit of age, but if you have this passion, skill, and eye, definitely you will able to express it through your lens.”
The untitled baby photo comes from Argel Solis. “Several years ago, I submitted a photo that was published on Raffy’s Through a Lens Clearly, that was a picture of my niece,” writes Argel. “During that time, I said that my main reason for getting into photography was because I wanted to capture my family’s moments since I didn’t have that much pictures as a child. Now, my first child was born on March 13, 2016 and I wanted to share a photo that I captured during our stay at the hospital. I really felt fulfilled that I was able to do the main reason I got into photography.”
And from Anton Quintos is a macro shot titled “Breitling Navitimer.”
Readers may now view issues of Picture Perfect including this column at www.mb.com.ph.
For comments, suggestions or just to share an image or idea, email throughalensclearly@yahoo.com or rfyparedes@yahoo.com.