Sunday, December 7, 2008

photographing photographers

How do you make portraits of professional photographers? The thought of matching wits with them on making the lighting perfect and setting your cameras to the most foolproof priorities is enough to give one a creak on the neck. That's probably how one would feel when surrounded by the world's top contemporary photographers like last week during the Angkor Photography Festival here.

We had a chance to hang out with the six photographers from the Philippines attending the festival and who are also vying for the festival's top prize - $1,300 cash and a chance to publish their winning photos to the Paris Match Magazine.

While throwing a party for them in the house, we thought of giving them a dose of their own medicine through photographs we probably would never want to have... mugshots!


Charles is a commercial photographer who works for an ad agency in Manila. He literally slept his way to the festival and is perhaps a walking irony for coffee ads. His affairs on the mats made him notorious here.


Carla is a fierce fashion photographer who does editorials for glossies in the Philippines. Well remembered for her emotional spells throughout the festival.


Akira Liwanag made history in the festival as the youngest photographer ever to qualify for a spot in the festival. At seventeen years old and still in high school, this kid who has barely gotten past his puberty is years beyond his age and is amazing with the lens.


Former London resident Sarah Encabo returned to the Philippines to further pursue her passion for photography and is now with Manila Times.


John is this festival's Romeo - breaking the hearts of countless Indian photographers during the festival with his wild antics. This shutterbug is the ultimate pro - on the roll with Reuters, which just happens to be the biggest news agency in the universe.


Candice is perhaps the most socially-relevant photographer in the group who believes that a photo is powerful enough to instill change. But that doesn't mean she can't be the wackiest as well!


Although not part of the festival, Vincent is a shutterbug who can give any Magnum photographer a run for their money.


Don is an avant garde photographer armed with nothing but a camera phone... but beware... his images are as potent as a Nikon D3X could deliver!


The gang before the storm... they are probably all back in the Philippines as of writing while Don, Vincent and I are left back here in the eye of a cyclonic week of countless photoshoots, editing, meetings, and endless work!

29 comments:

Megan said...

witty and fun, great way to get to know some interesting photogs!

blagadag said...

ang mga kodaker!!!

Luis Batchoy said...

where's your mugshot loven

Dakilang Islander said...

wow mararating ko rin yan balang araw pagsawa na talaga ako sa numero..heheh

Sharon said...

Aren't these fun shots!!you'll have to tell us who the winner is...

Sreisaat said...

*lol* Brilliant!

escape said...

ang cool ng mga photographers na yan ah. nice job. galing ng idea. galing ng pinoy!

the spool artist said...

@megan: it sure was fun meeting these great shutterbugs!

@blagadag: tumpak! hehehe.

@luis batchoy: i thought you would let me get away with that! i'll think about posting it... hehehe

Luis Batchoy said...

oh no you don't you are the blog star of this thing afterall... seen the babak niaraki shots on my older posts? Wanna hear ur comments loven, ciao!

kegler747 said...

Wow! mga photogenic din pala ang mga photographers :) hehehe

pusangkalye said...

looks like you really got a gang there ready to kick some butts......

the spool artist said...

@dakilang islander: pre, sali ka next year! im sure pwede ka pa... check out their website at www.photographyforchange.net for more info...

@sharon: the winner was a thai photographer whose entry called "chicken bang bang" chronicled the life of a chicken from daily life to its untimely demise as somebody's dinner! it was a pretty cool entry and the winner really deserved it!

@sreisaat: ti ano na, madayon na kamo di sa christmas???

@the dong: pare, im sure you'll have a big chance here kung sasali ka rin dito sa festival!

pusangkalye said...

busybusyhan kasi Kuya Loven. I appreciate you more kasi alam ko kung ganu ka ka-busy.

the spool artist said...

@luis batchoy: saw your post already! yup, maybe we should plan a roadshow exhibit for those photos here in cambodia!

@kegler747: hahaha, oo naman, di pwede yan na behind the camera lang parati!

@pusang gala: hey anton, they sure did kick some butt! hehehe. musta ka na? ano pano mo sa pasko?

chezza said...

If only you can wear accessories--hats and necklaces--like these mugshots, it wouldn't be plain and scary looking like the true ones...Time to tell the police perhaps?, he,he,he...
Btw, you lot are crackers! :)

The Dork One said...

love the theme! ang cute!

aaaand you're back!

fuchsiaboy said...

wehehe!

definitely back to the groove.

im not up to working again. :(

the spool artist said...

@chezza: yup, if only police mugshots are these! i'm sure britney spears and lindsay lohan would have called their stylists first before LAPD took the shots!

@alex: i know... i missed surfing through the retarded's notebook and will surely update myself on your posts soon!

@fuchsiaboy: i thought you'll be extending your rest since it's holiday today!

RedLan said...

This is the funny side of phtographers. gwapo ni charles, former childstar talga. wow, galing naman ni akira. bata pa. nasa group pic ka ha.

i am excited to receive your postcard. I sent a card for you too. take your time loven.

Anonymous said...

Nice shots!

Anonymous said...

Wala man dre naka butang kung pila ila mga patong? haha! Ibutang lang in Khmer riels para taas man!

Tani sadya man da inyo pakwa ah' gapon sa iloilo may ga welga sa jaro plaza.

the boomerang kid said...

bongga ang photos!

loven, puwede ba mag-request/suggest ng topic on your blog? can you write about your photography equipment--camera and other tools? i'm upgrading from a point-and-shoot camera to a DSLR and i'd like to hear the opinion of a professional photographer, syempre, pati advice on cameras and what-not.

it'd be greatly appreciated!

KRIS JASPER said...

really cute!

LOL!!!!

CAn I steal this idea for our staff photo board?

Looking For The Source said...

merry christmas!

enjoy!

god bless!

The Islander said...

hahaha! ang galing.. nakakaaliw. naaliw naman ako dun sa fishball vendor..

Gilbert Semillano said...

Loven, nice crazy pics, lol! Merry Christmas! I just came from Iloilo, grabe, hataw! Got snaps over at my blog, take a peek one time :-)

Felix said...

MERRY CHRISTMAS BRO! :)

the spool artist said...

a very merry Christmas everyone!

Anonymous said...

Just popping in to say nice site.