Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf: OPPPS – Overseas Pinoy Professional Photographers Society

Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf: OPPPS – Overseas Pinoy Professional Photographers Society

The Overseas Pinoy Professional Photographers Society (OPPPS) was established to share photography ideas and techniques to both amateurs and professionals in the field. But apart from merely fostering the love for the art of photography, the group has also equipped many a budding artists to venture into the field as freelancers, giving some of them a veritable alternative career option.

Founded in January 2003 with a clear vision and purpose of mapping out training workshops to photography enthusiasts, the organization provides courses on Digital Photography, Digital Darkroom (Post Processing), Studio Portrait and Fashion Photography (Indoor and Outdoor), Going Places with Camera and OPPPS (Field Trips), Simplified Photo Journalism, Photo Essay and other Photography related topics. Part of the learning also includes slide shows, photo contests, member critiques, field trips, among others. “The first few months of the organization is about building up the camaraderie of the founders, knowing each other’s strength and how we can utilize that strength in the organization,” says Co-Founder Milo Torres. “We have had few workshops amongst us then we invited other enthusiasts to attend our mini-workshops until we started the short 10-session course in Digital Photography that we offer for beginners.”

When word got out, the group increased in number. “We feel happy when the effort and the time we had invested were never wasted or ill-consumed,” he says. “We feel blessed when we were able to pursue the noble path of community service reaching out to share and be able to offer oneself for the betterment of our fellow kababayans.”

The group is both open to members and non-members but the former has advantages such as advanced photography workshops, discussion and meetings facilitated by professionals with unquestionable expertise, chance to submit shots for comments and reviews, being part of competitions, among others.