Batch 10 2009 of the FPPF Basic Photography workshop turned out quite a number of creative types who made the 5-day sessions more enjoyable than usual.
Take their First Place winner in Still Life, for example. Tom Balete‘s final work in the workshop was his 8×10 image of transparent jelly balls which showcased his mastery of depth of field and creative use of light.
Transformation by Tomas Balete
Jelly balls are transparent in color, round in shape and crystal-like in feature. Tom placed the jelly balls on a glass top table inside a dark room and used two table lamps as light sources. The lamp diffusers were covered by colored cellophane plastic. One lamp was used for back lighting and another lamp was hand held by the photographer above the jelly balls while looking at the viewfinder to create a reflection on the jelly balls.
“Jelly balls themselves are simple and colorless, but when light reflects on it, it changes color and transform into a brilliant feature. Likewise, humans are simple, but when the light of God shines upon us, it will transform us into his likeness making us beautiful in His eyes,” Tom explains.
The winners of Batch 10 2009:
Still Life:
- Tomas Balete – First Place
- Dennis dela Cruz- 2nd Place
- Voltaire Manalo – 3rd Place
- Jester D. Edquilag – 4th Place
- Cyrus G. Gabilla – 5th Place
Environmental Portraiture:
- Dennis G. dela Cruz – First Place
- Roy Andreas Culata – 2nd Place
- Lesli Evangelista – 3rd Place
- Lauren Joseph ‘Lap’ B. Velasco – 4th Place
- Maritess Omila – 5th Place
The Top 10 winners in Still Life. In front are (L-R): Dennis G. dela Cruz 2nd Place, Tom Balete 1st Place, Voltaire Manalo 3rd, Jester D. Edquuilag 4th and Cyrus G. Gabilla 5th.
Photo shows all the Top Ten winners in Portraiture, Batch 10 2009. The top 5 winners in foreground are (L-R) Lesli Evangelista 3rd, Roy Andreas Culata 2nd, Dennis G. dela Cruz 1st, Maritess Omila 5th and Lauren Joseph 'Laps' B. Velasco 4th.
Did we say this batch was creative? You bet! Aside from their photographic output, Batch 10 was also the most musical of all the workshop batches past and present. There were four guitars in the classroom during the final workshop day, their graduation, and there was a stream of several singers and musicians from within their ranks who made their graduation day that much more memorable.
Photo shows Batch 10 participant Arvin C. Taruc playing a melodious instrumental number, Saan Ka Man Naroroon, on the 10-string Laudara guitar.
Even their Australian classmate, Darrin Owen, joined in the fun. Darrin led the class in an impromptu chorus.
