Let’s Z Places: ZVCC at BGC - Zone V Camera Club

Let’s Z Places / BGC

By Arlene Donaire

It was the first ever Zone V Camera Club-organized photowalk for the year, held at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig last 29th of January.

The excitement over the mini-reunion was palpable from day one, when the activity was announced to d-day, when the 21 members converged on that fine Saturday, with a weather that was just perfect for outdoor shooting.

Fun shoots are part of the Zone V’s culture but “Z Place/BGC” was the first time, that we designed a photowalk around the goal of giving members a window for creating photos for our club’s monthly contest while also enjoying the company of friends.

BGC, with its progressive and modern architecture-rich backdrop provided a suitable location for photo hunting, from a perspective of lines, angles, and curves – geometry, that is.

For many of us that joined the walk, it was also an educational experience, to be guided by walk leader, Jijo de Guzman, a Canon Crusader of light, who is an exceptional all-around photographer admired by many and an effective photography instructor.

The thematic shooting of “geometry in architecture” requires focus and creativity on top of the usual techniques for harnessing the play of lights and shadows that define geometric patterns and forms.

Jijo provided useful tips and examples to ground us and made himself available for on-the-spot coaching. He also announced a special merchandise discount for the club members at the R.O.X. and Columbia shops and a photo contest, where he would pick the Top 3 winners to receive prizes from the sponsoring brands.

The members who showed up for the half day event dove into the “hunt” with gusto, notwithstanding the ever-present security personnel, that either kept reminding us to disperse or stop shooting.

While BGC, according to its website, is supposed to be “open space” for non-commercial photography, which was what we were doing, we did have some surprising encounters at several junctures of the walk route, when we were told that only mobile phones are allowed to be used or that there we needed to stop and get a permit.

The group managed to complete the suggested walk route before noon, with some opting to huddle for early lunch and more happy banter.

Z Place/BGC was organized by the newly formed Committee on OTS, Photowalks & External Contests, composed of Billy Palatino, Kevin Roi Lopez, and Arlene Donaire (Chair).

The Committee is grateful for the all-out support of the ZVCC Board and club members, both regulars and probees, and our walk leader, Jijo. We look forward to the next outing in March at Manila, for a day of street photography, in search of decisive moments and strange things.