New camera, new lens are like having new eyes. It’s one of the means to try and stop yourself from doing the same thing over and over. Of course, it costs you, but a steep price must be paid for passion — for when it burns out, there are no definite means of getting it back.
“we’re more receptive to other people’s thoughts when we get enough sleep. Part of being a photographer is being very observant, not too emphatic, but only to the point of finding some semblance of truth and being able to show them objectively.”
I also believe in the psychic power of sleep but then that deserves to be in another entry.
Oh and I now understand why rockstars wear shades most of the time.
Tinulog 2012. I’m staying at Movenpick hotel (formerly Hilton) in Mactan Island here in Cebu. See you tomorrow Manila. Zzzzz
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
EMMANUEL T. SANTOS. He’s one of the top 50 photographers in the world according to Magnum photos. He is a Filipino based in Australia and has mentored Ashley Gilbertson who is now one of the top War photographers today. I would list down all Mannix’s achievements here, but I’ll just tell you to check out his website because there’s a lot! Haha! Thank you Armi for this sneaky picture of us talking!
Armi introduced me to him when we went to Kiko Escora’s exhibit. Even though I wasl already familiar with his work, I couldn’t get the courage to talk to him. I didn’t know what to say anyway (I’m not worthy! LOL) Good thing there were so many exhibits going on in Manila and by our third stop in Manila Contemporary, I went up to him and told him who I was and what I have been ‘trying’ to do for the past few years.
He told me he’s been published by Rolling Stone Magazine back in the day and has taken photos of Bowie and Santana. I love this set he did with “One Giant Step” (he actually brought that astronaut suit here in Manila and took photos in Sagada).
In the short while we spoke, there was so many things I learned and I wouldn’t be able to say everything he said clearly because he said it best. In the end, you know that it was a good conversation when you take home a great feeling of being brave enough to get close, gain trust and shoot from the heart.
Typical formula for a major heartache. Haha. I struggle with that every now and then when you open up yourself behind the lens. Bravery is needed when capturing great moments.
I’ve always known what I had to do, but sometimes there are just people you meet along the way who happen to be there to remind you and also give you a different ‘take’ on things. Perspective is the one thing that people don’t often consider changing, even in real life situations. We’re always so bent on looking at things the way we see it, we never consider the thought of being someone else for a change and looking at it from that ‘angle’.
I’m so lucky to talk to someone who’s been through it all and has achieved so much that with a lot of heart & a lot of love, you can eventually get to where you want to go.
What I’ve achieved is only an extremely small part of the grand scheme of possibilities.
I know I’ve got a long way to go, so I’m off to get my voice back (literally & figuratively).
“When documenting random moments, there’s a level of unselfishness you need to achieve in order to fully capture the potential of an idea. It is the acceptance of being an observer realizing that you are not part of the story, but merely an interpreter without the desire to influence, manipulate or even be noticed. Letting go of who you are and embracing the image that’s in front of you is what matters.”
— RosariOko ——
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.
