Street Photography

My Scholarship entry - A 'place' I have visited

Philippines | Monday, January 14, 2013 | 5 photos

My name is Jessie, and I am a student of the University of the Philippines Film Institute. As an emerging photographer, I admit that I have much to learn in terms of technique and taste, though the Film Institute provides me an avenue where I may explore and develop preferences for visual art. Through the guidance of the university’s faculty such as award-winning filmmaker Sari Dalena and cinematographer Nap Jamir, I realized my passion for fine art black and white photography and experimental cinema. My subjects are typically people, male or female, young or old, in a fixed studio shoot or in a public transportation boat. I discovered my preference for photographs that look as if these are painted. For this point in my life, I have chosen to produce works that are visually stunning and sometimes even surreal, but at the same time, emotive.

As a young photographer, this opportunity will enable me to explore and learn a facet of photography that is elusive to me: travel photography. It is very tough to pursue this trade when one comes from a developing country. Art is indeed a luxury in the Philippines, but, hopefully, with this scholarship I will be able to follow my dreams.