My name is Tericia Diaz and I go by the nickname Teki. All my friends know that at age 23, I already know what I want to do for the rest of my life. Obviously, it is related to taking photos. Yes, you've guessed correctly, I would like to spend my life being a photographer and challenging myself to keep on improving and improving and improving. To me, it does not really matter what is in front of the camera lens-- a nice, flowery field; an amazing skyline at 5:30 in the afternoon; a cube of melting ice in front of a bright light source; a new born baby who can't open his eyes yet; a set of vintage Canon cameras; a beautiful white sand beach with clear waters; an enormous, dark cave with thousands and thousands of bats hanging upside down...(I could go on forever), I would gladly snap a photo of anything that gives me goosebumps, makes me say "Ahh, what a beauty!", or anything that triggers emotions.
All my friends know how passionate I am about photography and fortunately, they are all very supportive of me. My family are like my own private cheerleaders when it comes to me and my photography and for that, I will be forever grateful. All of them know that ever since I held my first camera (which I think I was about 14 years old when I first did) I wouldn't be contented anymore. My first camera was a point and shoot Nikon camera with 12 megapixels. Who would have thought those 12 megapixels would take me to a whole new world of sharpness in my own little bubble of point and shoot photography? Then, because of my passion for the craft, I eventually learned the professionals use an DSLR instead of a point and shoot camera for reasons that totally blew my mind! DSLR would mean thousands and thousands of exif combinations to play around with in order to get the right exposure for a dark scene or an object surrounded with hard light!
So, having discovered the power a DSLR really had, I waited for a couple of years to get my very own Canon 7D which I still use now. It is my very first camera and I'm very sentimental about it because it was my father who gave it to me as a birthday present about 3 years ago. I fell in love with it right away when I saw the photo on the box. I could not believe I'm about to open the box and actually own what was inside!
Everything went uphill from that time. I kept listening and taking down notes from a fellow photographer who's been very patient with me. I slowly learned the value of mixing and matching camera settings like aperture, shutter speed, and ISO sensitivity. The results of all my experimenting and listening allowed me to bring home amazing photos from all of my trips around Asia and my own country which is the Philippines.
Now my next plan is to just take my photography to a whole new level which is why I am very excited about applying for the 2012 Travel Photography Scholarship! Why should I be chosen to go to Omen and take photos alongside the wonderful NatGio photographer Jason Edwards?
1. It would really be amazing for an amateur photographer like me to be mentored and taught by someone like Jason Edwards. He would be imparting to me his skills and eye for photography (or at least some of the latter one if it is even possible.)
2. I am currently trying to save up for my photography equipment but as I am doing this, I am also slowly building up my portfolio as a photographer. Since this scholarship will bring me to the beautiful and picturesque Omen for free, then I would be able to bring home amazing photos which I could share to all of my friends and family, at the same time, showcase the scholarship and everything I learned from Mr. Jason Edwards himself.
3. The trip is an ell expense paid stint and since I do not have financial means to bring myself to Omen and do photography, this scholarship will be of great help.
4. I am so excited to shoot alongside Mr. Jason Edwards and learn new things which I could apply to all of my future stints. I have a very teachable heart and my passion is the same as his.
5. My parents have been wanting me to also travel to some exotic place other than Asia and to just take photographs which I could share with them so that at least they could say that by my photographs, they can experience traveling (for free) and the wonderful creations of the Lord which would be mirrored through the photos I would take home from the entire experience.
6. I want to bring people to Omen through the photos which I will be taking. I am excited to work and learn from the best of the best/the cream of the crop that is Jason Edwards.
