How do you compose yourself or find the right angles when taking photos in gigs?
I compose myself with a lot of poise. Just kidding. I’m always ready to accept any moment, just like getting into a fight, you have to know where to aim and when to duck. It’s something you get with practice. I actually take a lot of lessons unrelated to photography to get the philosophy of movements (not seriously but on and off I’ve been taking Yoga, dance and now just recently Kung Fu where my teachers give me invaluable lessons that I translate into how I do my work). You know when to stand back, to fight, to endure and keep your balance. Lately I’ve figured out you must know when to step back or leave when you know you’ve gotten what you needed. (Although not as brutal as a wham bam thank you ma’am sort of thing, but I save a little bit for myself so I have some sanity left for the future. A creative job like this which includes a lot of manual labor at stake is a vortex for burn out).
I guess what you mean is how to I compose a photograph. Like I’ve said many times before, you look for the story. I have to honestly tell you that I only heard of the rule of thirds in the last few years. I realized that I didn’t have to know the theory because I play balance by sight. If the photo is appealing to my eye, then it’s good enough for me.
If we live solely by the technical dos and don’ts of photography then we’ll all have the same photos. That would be a boring world. I think you must know the technical basics, but be free to do whatever you want, as long as you’re getting a message across.
One may be able to create a pretty picture, but capturing a story is far more difficult than any technical direction. That is something I am still currently working on myself. :(
All photos should have one goal onstage or offstage, and that’s getting a message across. :)
» Asked by drumkitt
miss idol, im really a big fan of urs. nainspire ako gawing hobby at seryohin ang pagkukuha ng larawan, una kong sinubukan ang kumuha ng litrato ng mga nagpeperform na banda. pero tila mau kulang sa mga larawan na nakuha ko. baguhan pa lang kase ako sa larangang ito. lubos ko pong tatanawin na utang na loob kung mabibigyan nyo ako ng mga kaukulang tips sa tamang paghawak at pagpwesto ng camera at tamang pag set up nito para makakuha ng magandang larawan ng tulad ng sa iyo. alam kong wala sa camera talaga ang sulusyon kundi nasa kumukuha nito, pero kung makakabasa ako ng mga tips mula sa iyo. isang karangalan ito. at kung magtagumpay man ako kahit kaunti lang sa pangarap kong maging mahusay na photographer siguradong saiyo ko unang iaalay ito. maraming salamat miss idol. patuloy kitang titingalain bilang idolo ko. :)
Unang una, huwag ka masyadong seryoso. Hindi mo ikamamatay kung hindi ka makakuha ng magandang larawan. Ikalawa, wag mo mashadong dibdibin ang gawa mo kung maganda o hindi. May kanya kanyang interpretasyon ang mga litrato. Mayroon din namang antas ang kagandahan, ngunit nasa sa iyo na kung makikita mong nag iiba ang iyong gawa. Ang huwag na huwag mong gagawin ay ang ikumpara ang sarili mo sa gawa ng iba, dahil nabanggit ko na iyon dati pa at kung ano pang samu’t saring payo tungkol sa larangan na ito.
Pano ba sa tagalog ang backread? SORRY NAG NOSE BLEED NAKO!!! Hahahaha!!!
» Asked by Anonymous
The Art of Decision Making
One of the things I always tell those who have attended my workshop is that the most important skill they have to develop is decision making.
It’s not just about deciding on where to point your camera or when you will click, it goes as far back in ways as simple as deciding where to eat. If you’re hungry for example, you walk along a strip of restaurants, unable to decide (with the normal excuse of because you’re too dizzy to think) until you keep walking and walking and you end up so tired that you just end up in a place where you stopped. Most of the time, you end up leaving with a full stomach and an unsatisfied palate.
I don’t think there are any rules to decision making. Most of it is personality-based. It’s something that I think you develop over time, like “What do I want to be when I grow up?”. Most of us don’t figure it out until we’re older, but we experience things to get us to that point where we can decide.
I had no idea that this would be my profession after taking up fashion in college. I worked with a lot of musicians, but who knew that I’d end up taking this on as a profession. But there came a point in my life where I decided. Nobody told me what to do, I was aware of the possibilities, I was shown the possibilities but it was ultimately MY DECISION.
Let’s talk about deciding whether or not you want to become a concert photographer.
Any techniques on how to post process grainy pictures? Thank you. Idol kita! :)
Grainy pictures are nice. I’ve always liked grain, it gives that raw, rock and roll feel to it. I don’t see why people keep wanting to make photos clean and clear when there’s beauty in the imperfection of the picture. It is more about what is happening in the picture than the technical aspect of the shot. As long as you get the story, then that’s what matters to me.
The Canon 5D MkII hasn’t given me a problem with noise and grain. However, whatever camera you hold, there is the POSSIBILITY of a “color noise” problem when there’s just too much different colors going on in an event. It could produce unnecessary color noise in some parts — those sudden red, green, blue or magenta dots that are out of place.
I have used a Canon 350D and a 40D just so you know that I have encountered all kinds of results from starting from entry level cameras.
This even happens to me in situations where I use low ISO. It’s how a digital camera records it, I guess.
Lightroom has a noise removal option which you can control, but I don’t overdo it and sometimes I think twice if I have to do it, or I like it the way it is.
» Asked by Anonymous
What makes a good photographer in your opinion & what advice can you give to a budding photographer?
Another difficult question! Haha! I’m not complaining though, this is fun because you guys make me think and in turn we all learn from each other.
I guess asking me what a good photographer is, is kind of asking me what a good person is. In that sense there’s this invisible moral line we all have that lets us know the difference between good and bad.
A good photographer has respect for the subject, his or her colleagues, or maybe at least respect for the assignment that he needs to deliver the photos for a greater cause.
In my ideal world, this ‘good’ photographer should not be arrogant, should be very helpful in sharing knowledge to other people. Never sees a hopeless case in aspiring photographers or any project at all.
Also, he or she does not treat photography or the material things it brings about as some form of “cult” trade. Art should be for everyone, regardless of who you are and what tools and influence you use.
Now, in the case of determining one’s artistic taste is, again, subjective.
In the most superficial sense I can only say that when a photographer is good, the product is good, too. I know that circumstance and subject get in the way of this, but if by any chance you overcome the limits of your work each and everytime, I guess I can say you’re good. I can’t even say that for myself because I’m in constant search for the thing that’ll push me further than what I have already asked from myself in the past few years.
A good photograph, if you want to know, maybe you can read this other post where I was asked how I determine a good picture.
- What advice can I give to a budding photographer?
You are not called a budding photographer if you are not on the path to being a complete and final product. We all are students of life.
I was asked if amateurs have a chance at being professional. Like I said, you’re not an amateur if you don’t think you will end up being a professional in the end. It’s a perception issue, if you want to keep at it and be an amateur forever and go ahead. The chances you get in life are really up to your decisions and never up to anyone to dictate.
» Asked by Anonymous
Good day Ms. Nina! I'm a big fan of your pics and blogs!
That said, may I ask what for you constitutes a good picture? and does anybody have the right to say whether a picture is superior or inferior?
WHEW! Difficult question! Normally I don’t really THINK about it. Because I remember having a conversation with Robert Javier of The Youth, he said, “When there is consciousness, there is corruption”. It doesn’t necessarily have to apply to you because some people like to think beforehand what photo they want to produce. Up to a certain extent, I do that, but I only think about the possibilities of what could happen in an event so I’m prepared. However, I can never predict it, so I still have an open mind and not latch on to an idea.
So, in a sense, a good photo to me is something that I was able to capture without expectation, or something that occurred because it was ONE of my expectations. Do you get what I’m saying? Either way, I just let the chips fall where they may, but of course, I control the camera, so I have to have that detached awareness that anything is possible, like driving a car on a highway, which I normally compare to taking photos.
You have to treat creativity like being in a love affair. When I was younger, “Wag mong pilitin” was an advice told to me and in turn I have also told some other people regarding their relationships. Think of it that way, if you’re forcing yourself to produce something and you’re locked in to that thought, it stops you from considering all other possibilities.
Of course, there are some artists who have a very definite vision of what they want to come out and they are able to. Think of the movie directors who are really hands on with work. On some level, they are blessed with that capacity to control and produce work. It’s personality based, in my opinion, since I consider myself romantic, with a love-hate relationship with my work and my belief in destiny and that one day I will find another photo to replace a photo that I consider good.
Everybody has the right to say that a photo is superior or inferior, especially when it comes to his or her own work. Think of the saying, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. The opinion on beauty varies and there is never a constant definition. I guess one can only call it inferior when there has been a definite expectation on what you need to produce and you didn’t produce it. Although to you it can be perfect, but to your client it isn’t. So there really is no definite answer.
Honestly, I only question myself based on my decisions and not by other people’s work. They can inspire and aspire me to be better, but ultimately not compare superiority and inferiority. It’s all about expression and finding that voice that truly represents you.
I wrote an entry that mentioned something related to this question. I hope you guys find the time to read all of my answers here on tumblr, including the FAQ so I don’t repeat anything.
“who’s better or who’s worse is subjective. TO ME, you cannot debate on two separate events and two separate photos taken in two separate spaces. I always say that there are just moments missed or events that you were not there.” (source: Facebook Notes)
Thank you for taking the time to check out my blog! I really appreciate it!
» Asked by krtorres
