Illustrado Magazine – Filipino Abroad

Tag: Filipino photographers

  • “I AM an Empowered Filipina” Nikon Photo Competition Returns in its 3rd Edition

    Press Release – Photo Credits – Cristina “Tunayums” Linaza

    12th March 2012

    In collaboration with Nikon, Illustrado Magazine’s annual Women of Substance event enters another year in its successful photo competition under the new theme “I AM an Empowered Filipina”

    Dubai, UAE – Women of Substance 2012, the annual event organized by leading Filipino lifestyle magazine, Illustrado, in partnership with Nikon, brings another year in the much-awaited photography competition this time themed with “I AM an Empowered Filipina.” After two successful editions of the Nikon Photo Competition, Illustrado and Nikon embark once again on this collaborative project which aspires to continue contributing to the upliftment of the Filipina’s international image, as captured by the lenses of photography aficionados in the region.

    Last year’s Nikon Photo Exhibit at the Illustrado Women of Substance Event – ribbon cutting ceremony with guest of honor Consul General Benito Valeriano of the Phil Consulate in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. Also seen here from left to right are Consul General Adelio Cruz, Nikon Representative Shaji Shanmughan, Lalaine Chu-Benitez of Illustrado and Ramon Benitez, Creative Director at Leo Burnett Dubai.

    According to Lalaine Chu-Benitez, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Illustrado, “Filipinas are becoming increasingly known for being the strong, resilient and hardworking women that they are.  By capturing their essence through superb photographs we aim to celebrate and share their unwavering spirit with the rest of the multi-cultural community in the region.”

    This year’s competition theme is also specifically aligned to Nikon’s existing campaign “I AM Nikon” which encourages people to have fun and enjoy adventures in life. Nikon’s official representative commented, “Through our association with Illustrado and with this competition, we underline Nikon’s mission to encouraging people to celebrate life and seize the moment.”

    He added, “Women have always been a great subject of photography.  Being able to capture, not only their beauty, but their strength of character is something that will challenge and at the same time fulfill their creative inclinations.” 

    Photography enthusiasts around the Gulf are invited to submit photos depicting the theme “I AM an Empowered Filipina.”  Based on the last two editions, hundreds of photographers vie for this competition, of which only a lucky three will take home the coveted title and Nikon prizes.

    New to this edition is the Nikon prize to be given to a fourth winner who will be able to successfully predict the number one winning photograph. This will be done through an online voting process conducted at Illustrado’s Facebook page during the week of the 25th March 2012.

    Last year’s entries included various images of Filipinas from different ages and walks of life depicting beauty, motherhood, joy, Filipinas at work and in sports, among others.  The winners among 30 finalist from countries – the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, were Jerry Pilapil (1st place), Donald Rosales (2nd place) and Harry Cruz (3rd place), all from the UAE.

    Finalists’ works will be showcased at the Nikon Photo Exhibit during the Women of Substance event that will be held on the 30th March 2012, Friday, in the Godolphin Ballroom at Jumeirah Emirates Towers. The last day for entry submission is on the 24th March 2012, Saturday.  Photographers may submit up to a maximum of three (3) photographs for consideration.  All images should have been taken within the Gulf region.

    For more information, please contact Illustrado at (+971) 4-365 4547/365 4543.   All entries in high resolution format should be e-mailed to admin@illustrado.net.  Low resolution entries will not be considered.

    To view last years winners and finalists, click on the link below –

    http://63e.945.myftpupload.com/?p=4497

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    About Women of Substance

    Illustrado’s Women of Substance is an advocacy in conjunction with International Women’s Day. It is a celebration of Filipina empowerment, achievement and contribution aiming to provide inspiration to boost the morale of the Filipino community, and to be a reflection of the positive and balanced international image of the Filipina. Every year, Illustrado presents Filipina honorees from the Gulf who exemplify achievement, societal contribution and exceptional character.

    About Illustrado

    Illustrado is a unique lifestyle-community magazine published in Dubai devoted to uplift the morale and the image of Filipinos in the Gulf.  The slogan ‘Taas Noo, Filipino’ and the vision of ‘Helping the Filipino flourish – global vision, native soul’ define the substance, style and corporate ethos that has helped Illustrado gain respect and recognition in the region as a wholesome, positive, highly engaging and richly visual medium that has accorded due respect and recognition to the Filipino community.  Illustrado’s distinctive approach combines premium production values with a very down-to-earth philosophy; it is not only a magazine, but is a social enterprise that speaks and aspires to enrich a very diverse range of readers, veering off the usual media fare of gossip, scandals, sensationalism and materialism.  For inquiries on the Women of Substance Event, please contact Johanna Dalocanog at +971 4 365 4543 or 365 4547, or e-mail johannadalocanog@illustrado.net For general inquiries on Illustrado contact the above numbers or e-mail us at: admin@illustrado.net

     

     

     

     

  • Filipino Photographers: Czarro Ann Infante de Guzman & Maynard dela Cruz

    Filipino Photographers: Czarro Ann Infante de Guzman & Maynard dela Cruz

    A platform for Filipino photographers from around the world. CZARRO ANN INFANTE DE GUZMAN Czarro Ann Infante-de Guzman was working asan Architect in an architectural and structural firm (Al Falasi & Partners Architects and Engineers) in Dubai, before deciding to become a full time mom to her daughter, Jaelen.  “Being a plain housewife is hard yet fulfilling. Sometimes I manage to do freelance architectural work at home,” shared Infante-de Guzman. Infante-de Guzman, who says her sense of aesthetics was largely influenced by her father, started photography in 2010 without attending any formal photography course or workshop. She shares, “My father is an artist. He is the one who influenced and trained me, encouraging me to compete in several drawing contests in our province. Now, my camera is my tool for expressing my love and passion for art.” MAYNARD DELA CRUZ Maynard Dela Cruz  is a freelance photographer  based in Abu Dhabi. Curently, he is the Public Relations Officer of Shootercada Photographer’s Circle, a group of Filipino photography enthusiasts. Dela Cruz says his interest in photography started when he bought his first DSLR. “The sound of a clicking shutter was like a song being sung in my ear,” said Dela Cruz. While Dela Cruz does mostly portraits, landscape, wedding and fashion, he has slowly begun to expand his repertoire. “Until now I’m learning because the world of photography is so vast,” said Dela Cruz.  
  • Filipino Photographers: GLENN WESLEY DULAY & ROZEN ANTONIO

    Filipino Photographers: GLENN WESLEY DULAY & ROZEN ANTONIO

    A platform for Filipino photographers from around the world. GLENN WESLEY DULAY Glenn Wesley Dulay works as a Workshop Supervisor, as well as a Web and Graphic Designer. Like most other enthusiasts, he got into photography as a hobby, initially joining friends for fun shoots until he got really engrossed and joined GPN (Gulf Photographers Network) and then MESS (Middle East Shutter Squad). Glenn says that the experience and support he has gained from both groups were crucial in his becoming the photographer that he is today. This enthusiast prefers portrait and fashion photography, and also gets the opportunity to cover prestigious events in the country, such as shop openings and product launches with the likes of DeBeers and Chopard, to name a few.   ROZEN ANTONIO Caviteño Rozen Antonio is a graduate of BS Computer Science at De La Salle University Dasmarinas and currently works as a Sr. Marketing Executive in a cargo airline company in UAE. Rozen’s start in photography two years ago was better than the average hobbyist as one of his first images made it among the 30 finalists at Illustrado’s “The Filipina” photo competition in 2010.  Thereafter, his engagement with the art deepened. He says he fell in love with fashion and beauty photography and that keeps him continuously practicing and learning from the more seasoned photographers in the local community. In 2011, two of his pictures made it to Illustrado’s Women of Substance photo competition – two in a group of 30 finalists chosen from hundred of entries, providing him even more  motivation and inspiration to aim higher in his chosen field of creativity.  
  • Illustrado Scrapbook: Sam Coran, PJ Tiongson & Gerber Bench Yrac

    Illustrado Scrapbook: Sam Coran, PJ Tiongson & Gerber Bench Yrac

    A platform for emerging Filipino photographers from around the world. SAM CORAN Sam has taken on a number of odd jobs from being a service crew in a restaurant, a tour guide, a salesman, a call center agent, even a receptionist for a fitness center, saying that before becoming a photographer, he didn’t know what to do with his life. He was studying Social Sciences at the University of the Philippines in Baguio, but needed to quit in his third year due to financial reasons, which somewhat added to his listlessness. In 2008, from his scrimping and saving, he was able to buy his first DSLR and instantly fell in love with the craft. With a new found sense of determination, Sam enrolled in a self-paced study program with The New York Institute of Photography to study the fundamentals of photography. Then, after just a year, with growing success in his newfound field, he needed to quit his day job to accommodate a growing number of clients. “Photography for me, is my life. I am nothing without it,” says Sam with a drive and purpose that he once thought he did not have. PJ TIONGSON PJ describes herself as a flight attendant by profession and a frustrated painter. Originally from the City of Pines, Baguio, PJ first became acquainted with film – black and white photography to be exact – in college when a friend who owned a studio invited her to be a model for them. Since then, PJ’s interest grew, and the same friend became a photography mentor.  PJ acquired her first digital SLR in 2006 and shortly after, discovered that she liked taking portraits of people, especially women. She began experimenting with self-portraits, as well as shooting friends and family. Working for an airline has allowed PJ to not only have the world as visual playground and have multicultural subjects for her portraits, it also affords her the unique opportunity of sourcing photography books wherever she may be.  Her photographic diligence was rewarded when some of her photographs were featured in their company’s 2011 vintage Hollywood glamour calendar. “I am still a passionate ‘wandergirl’ as well as a freelance photographer who loves shooting beautiful, exciting, dreamy, dramatic, and soulful photographs,” PJ gushes. Frustrated painter, maybe. Fulfilled photographer, definitely. GERBER BENCH YRAC In his senior year in high school, Gerber had the opportunity to attend a photography workshop by Philippine Star.  Back, then it was still all about film based photography and Gerber learned the intricacies of developing his own film in the darkroom.  Since then, he has been fascinated with the idea of capturing time and space using light and shadows to capture angles, expressions and emotions.  He also understood that lights and shadows do not just meet, they breathe life; that expressions and emotions do not just interpret the essence of the moment, they give a soul for everyone to understand and empathize with. He met and joined Doha Pinoy Shooters Club in 2008, a local photo club in Qatar and from there, the awards and accolades came pouring in. He won Photo of the Year in 2009, was included in the Top 5 photographers, won Best Image in the Landscape Category and recently Photographer of the Year for 2011.  Moving forward, Gerber has set his sights on the Scarborough Camera Club which he will join this month. His ultimate project is to create his own photobook.          

  • Illustrado Scrapbook: Radi Morada & Dennis Dalisay

    RADI MORADA

    Radi T. Morada is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering and is currently working in an Oil and Gas Company in Dubai. His first taste of photography began when his wife bought him his first DLSR and subsequently, a good friend encouraged him to enroll in a photography class at Lightform International. After completing his photography class, he continued reading photography books and attended various workshops to further improve his passion.  He states, “Photography changed how I see the world and I want to capture moments that will last forever.”

     

    DENNIS DALISAY

    Dennis Dalisay is a freelance photographer based in Dubai.  He is known for classic self-styled-portraits and unconventional shots of infrared images.  He says he always had a fascination for photographs that tell a story and capture the real meaning of life. After getting serious with his hobby in 2010m Dennis found it very fulfilling to discover his creative side.  Working with Parc Cruz and Jay Alonzo has given him great inspiration and has driven him to pursue a career in photography.

    Born an artist, he started writing music, as well as playing the piano/keyboards from an early age.  Currently, he is employed at Emirates Airlines as a Senior Aircraft Technician and travels every three months to Canada to be with his wife and kids.

     

  • Illustrado Scrapbook: Jay Morales & Rafael Dela Cruz

    Illustrado Scrapbook: Jay Morales & Rafael Dela Cruz

     

    Illustrado Scrapbook

    JAY MORALES

    For hobbyist photographer Jay Morales, capturing memorable moment was the passion which led him to photography. Jay started self study in 2007 in the Philippines.  In Dubai, he enrolled and graduated from the Basic Photography class offered by community organization OPPPS and attended relevant workshops. While learning, Jay says, he didn’t only gain practical knowledge in the art, but also a lot of friends who have also become his mentors and inspiration. Currently, Jay has a “365 Days of my life in Photography” project – wherein he takes one significant picture a day.  His goal is to try out different techniques in lighting, discover new tricks, and to learn more, as well as share his hobby which is his outlet to relieve stress and homesickness. Jay likes doing portraits, beauty, portfolio and fashion photographs, as well as shooting events and products.  He says his style is “lifestyle with a twist or funny take” combined with off-camera lighting.

    RAFAEL DELA CRUZ

    Rafael Dela Cruz, also known as Bodz to his family and friends, has been doing photography for the last three years now.  He was initially engrossed in architectural photography and used to practice nightly using automatic settings on his camera until a friend taught him the joy of going manual. Rafael joined a Filipino Photography Weekend School and continued his learning through books and magazines on the internet. To further gain experience and motivate himself, he volunteered to take photos of finished interior design projects for is company until he got so good at it that his images were used for the official company portfolio. Three years down the road since he started, Rafael professes that he has realized that photography is a continuous learning journey.  Always an eager learner, he says that he always studies and observes other photographers in action and tries to learning something new from them every opportunity he gets.     Save
  • Illustrado Scrapbook: Adelle Lumalang & Jaime Tasarra

    Illustrado Scrapbook: Adelle Lumalang & Jaime Tasarra

    ADELLE LUMALANG Adelle is a happy, positive self-confessed “photoholic.”  Currently the President of Shootercada Photographer’s Circle, a group of Filipino photography enthusiasts based in Abu Dhabi, Adelle says her intense love affair with photography started in 2008 when she decided to explore this visual world that had always tickled her imagination. She says that from the first time she laid her hands on her first DSLR, her singleton life has revolved around photographing people – something that gives her immense pleasure.  Adelle is into portraits and weddings and is continuously working to improve her craft to eventually become a pro in the field. On weekends, when not doing fun shoots with her buddies, Adelle can be found on the streets of Abu Dhabi shooting charitable events as a volunteer.   JAIME TASARRA Jaime Tasarra is a Dubai based Architect and photography enthusiast, as well as a 3D visualization expert. A graduate of the Far Eastern University in Manila, James currently works as a Design Architect. He started photography four years ago and won 3rd place in the “Burj Khalifa Photo Competition.” Apart from his penchant with architecture, James  also loves  portraiture; one of his photographic styles is to capture  natural beauty with the minimum of post processing.
  • Illustrado Scrapbook: Jeffrie Innocencio, Aubrey Tiosen & Andy Ramos

    Illustrado Scrapbook: Jeffrie Innocencio, Aubrey Tiosen & Andy Ramos

    JEFFRIE INOCENCIO Senior Graphic Designer/Associate Photographer Being a Senior Graphic Designer helps Jeffrie connect the visual outcome of his shots to the moment in real life that it represents. Jeffrie took a basic film photography course in Manila under the Federation of Philippine Photographer’s Foundation in 2004. But interest in photography intensified only when a member of one of the photography associations in Dubai encouraged him to pursue photography as a serious hobby. Working in Dubai for the last 5 years as a senior graphic designer and associate photographer for a media and advertising company, Jeffrie’s interest in photography has expanded to the following categories: portraiture, fashion, product, landscape, interior and architecture. Jeffrie says casually. “I don’t consider myself as being formally educated in photography post processing; I just relate my everyday work to everyday life.” AUBREY TIOSEN Photographer Aubrey took to photography like bees to honey. Last year, she purchased a second hand DSLR camera and took to the streets snapping photos of anything that sparked her eye and fired her imagination. “I fell in love with the camera and how it could capture moments of our life on film,” confessed the photography enthusiast, who is also quite surprised at how quickly she took to the speed of the shutter. “I only took a one week basic photography workshop in the Philippines and was very surprised, but immensely pleased, to have been awarded 1st Place in Portrait, 3rd Place in Still Life and 4th Place in Composition.  Then I took a Wedding Photography Workshop and won 2nd Prize in the Details category.” Aubrey would have probably continued racking up the awards and accolodaes had it not been for the opportunity to work in Dubai, which came to her by — of all places — Facebook. “A media company just found me through my Facebook page,” explains Aubrey who now works as a photographer in a media company. “It’s certainly a dream come true for me. Who would have thought that the click of my camera would bring me to Dubai?” ANDY RAMOS Photographer, Graphic Designer An often asked question is if photographers are made or born?  In some cases, like that of Andy Ramos, a photographer was self-made. Without any formal training in photography, he acquired the necessary skills through his own effort, persistence and hard work. “I am insatiably curious,” says Andy, attributing the persistence and effort he put into teaching himself to become a photographer. “I want to be both a practitioner and a professional,” he explains. Having taken up photography only in 2009, Andy, who works as a graphic artist still pretty much considers himself a student of photography.  He experiments and photographs objects, landscapes, still life and people. In every picture, his hopes to capture one’s imagination through the basic principles of photography: interesting concepts, vivid colors and fascinating elements. “Later, I hope to move on to a level where my photographs will not just be a thing of creative beauty,  but a medium that will move people and inspire them.                      
  • Illustrado Scrapbook – Zedrenan Cayon, Ryan George Francisco & Christopher Sanan

    Illustrado Scrapbook – Zedrenan Cayon, Ryan George Francisco & Christopher Sanan

     

    Illustrado Scrapbook

    Renante ‘Zedrenan’ Cayon

    Renante ‘Zedrenan’ Cayon and his camera have been inseparable since he first dabbled in the hobby some two years ago.  Born in Oslob, Cebu, the graduate of Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Visayas, currently works as an Interior Designer in Abu Dhabi.  He received with first basic photography training with OPPPS (Overseas Pinoy Professional Photographer Society) and hasn’t stopped practicing and attending workshops since, to continuously enhance his skills at every opportunity.  He is an active member of Shootercada Photography Circle – Abu Dhabi and specializes in portrait and fashion photography.  

    Ryan George Francisco

    Ryan George Francisco loves to tell stories through his images.  What started in November 2008 as a simple effort to learn how to use the camera to take pictures of his loved ones, blossomed into a passion as he started to see the world in a different light through his lens. The avid hobbyist attended highschool in Abu Dhabi, is a graduate of the Far Eastern University of the Philippines and currently works as a Senior Stores Officer in the renowned general hospital in the capital – Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC).

    Christopher Sanan

    Christopher Sanan is a Kuwait-based architect who graduated from the Philippines’ Adamson University, with a passion for 3D works, “toys hunting” and photography.  Chris says the latter is his way of chronicling history – no wonder he excels in landscape and portraiture.  Like his contemporaries, he started in photography some two years ago and has always been interested in grabbing the attention of the viewer by bringing out the elements of an image that tells the story. Save
  • Illustrado Scrapbook: Marco Paulo Sugpatan Epino & Raffy Dulay

    Illustrado Scrapbook: Marco Paulo Sugpatan Epino & Raffy Dulay

     

    Illustrado Scrapbook

    Raffy Dulay

    Raffy Dulay’s burning passion for capturing enchanting sceneries started when he was merely thirteen years old. “Whenever my family and I would go on vacation, I’d gaze longingly out the window, wishing I had a camera to capture every amazing detail out there,” he confesses. Raffy’s love for his art has been hardened by his need for self-development. What’s impressive is that he’s never had any formal lessons in photography; he’s been gorging himself in how-to photography books and videos since day one – that is, when he first laid his hands on a camera. Primarily a nature photographer, Raffy likes using natural elements – lighting, rain and shadows – to enhance the quality of his shots. It’s these skills that landed him a job as an Event Photographer for one of Bahrain’s travel magazines. At present, Raffy works as a Graphic Designer at an advertising agency – – far cry from his previous career – due to better opportunities. No longer photographing professionally, he’s set up a community of talented hobbyists, the Middle East Shutter Squad, and seeks to share the meaning of this addictive art with fellow camera-trigger-happy photographers.

    Marco Paulo Sugpatan Epino

    Marco Paulo’s first forays in the realm of photography were simply dismissed as something on the side. Since then, he’s found himself scouring every single field – right down to the basics – completely enthralled by how photographic images can express form and texture with the simple press of a button. He’s also fostered a great love for photojournalism as well as landscape and street photography. He’s listed technology and conceptualism as the main movers of his career direction, the greatest influence being his mentor, Richard Martinez whom he later assisted in photoshoots as an assistant Photographer and Light Man. Long past his shutterbug days, Marco lives and breathes his art as a Photographer, Graphic Artist and Web Designer at a media company based in Abu Dhabi.

     

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