Backpack Photography 101 Banaue Workshop Gallery

It’s time for me to step back this time and give the photographic spotlight to the participants of the first Backpack Photography Banaue 101 Workshop. The Photography Workshop designed for beginners and starting into photography was held last March 19-21, 2010 at the highlands of Banaue, Ifugao province. It was three days of unexpected fun and cultural immersion. Lagalog and I were more than pleased when we saw the outputs of the participants during the photo critique session. So here are 2 of my choices from each of the participant’s favorite sets.

I like the soaring feel Araceli captured on this photo. It was the perfect shot with the Ifugao Warrior soaring through his dance with the backdrop of pine trees and mountains suggesting the setting.

There’s always room for creative camera options and while Abie was playing with her Olympus E-PL1, I thought the Diorama Filter effect rendered well and appropriate. Making our Ifugao Hut cottages where we slept looking like miniature toys.

Miake made a good choice of taking a tight shot of this Ifugao Chieftain garbed in bright red robes and she was able to show the details up to the head dress.

It’s a dramatic profile with subdued lighting of a Mumbaki doing a prayer ritual. There was a slight blur under dim lighting but Joy was able to capture the mood and character here.

Eye contact pulls you into the picture and Steph was able to do this. Even if there are other elements in the picture, the main subject’s eye contact and toothful smile pulls you in back to her.

Loid peeked through a space between two wooden long boards to get this interesting framed composition of Hapao Rice terraces at noontime making it look you were peeking in with her.

I like the dramatic mood Ros captured here. The perspective rendered by the shed and most importantly her presence there made the picture complete.

It was challenging enough to take a picture of this highly active kid but Araceli captured him pushing a window shade. The lighting was beautiful and there’s the natural catch light in his eyes. Lovely colors on this wonderful portrait.

I like the serenity on this picture Nids captured at the Banaue Ethnic Village boating Lagoon. The use of negative space and the neat reflection of the trees on the water has a calming effect.

Agnes captured this neat symmetrical reflection composition on a lagoon at Banaue Ethnic Village. A very relaxing scenery making you think there’s autumn season in the country with the varying color of the trees.

Loid captured interesting expressions on these siblings under a nice window lighting.

I love how Joy shot this Dancing Ifugao Warrior. There’s the smooth bokeh that still suggest the environment, the focused expression on the warrior’s face and his stance.

Steph decided to display in full detail this macabre gallery of skulls on an ifugao Hut. But it would help though if she had a main focus on the scene but good job still.

An interesting shot by Nids taking a photo of souvenir item and the rice terraces. It makes you think what those hanging items are. If she had moved a little though to show a bit of the drum it would be perfect.

Taking a shot of a popular landmark as the Banaue Rice terraces is a challenge. Most people would instinctively capture its sweeping grand scale but Miake opted to focus more on the details here avoiding the usual “postcard” shots of the terraces.

I like the low angle semi-mono shot of this items. There’s also a hint of repetitive pattern here on the background. Well executed photo by Ros.

Now here’s a good example of a beautiful portrait under natural light. Abie took advantage of the dramatic window light. Beautiful natural catch light and expression on her face.

Agnes’ early attempt at waterscapes was quite fruitful in her capture here on the Hapao River. We had to do some minimal post-processing to brighten up the scene and correct the color cast from her filters. Other than that, we have here a keeper.

Congratulations to everyone who joined us (Abie, Agnes, Araceli, Joy, Loid, Miake, Nids, Ros and Steph) in this workshop and seeing these photos makes everything about the workshop worth the while.

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Join our next Backpack Photography series, Batanes Outdoor and Travel for as low as P12,500 (exclusive of airfare) on June 24-27, 2010. Take advantage of Seair’s 15th Anniversary special for P1500 off on flights to Batanes until May 15. Check details here.