Top 5 at Zone V: May 2023 - Zone V Camera Club

Top 5 at Zone V

May 2023

The winning photographers for the month of May’s photo contest with theme ‘Black and White in Color’ shared the stories behind their prized images. Read on below to learn more. Here are the Top 5 images:

#5 ‘Untitled’ by Angelo Amistoso

Cherries were my first choice as subject, but were not available , so I settled for strawberries. The B&W shades were brought about from cut outs from a piece of illustration board supported on both ends, about 18″ from the floor where the strawberries were placed and lights above the set-up. Following the good old 1/3 rule (in this case 1/4 subject placement, compose, focus, and shoot. I was not particularly satisfied with the separation of the B&W lines.

Three decades earlier I used the same technique in our monthly contest on “Eggs”, using sun light as my light source , it worked then, why shouldn’t it work now. Am truly grateful to my son Andre for lending me his gears.

I need to thank Oscar Soriano for practically twisting my arms for me to get back to photography, can’t forget his words … “Gie alam ko andyan pa ang talent mo, at natutulog lang, sama ka na at gigisingin natin”.

#4 ‘The Street Artist’ by Arlene Donaire

Fuji Xt2 and Fujinon XF 35mm lens

ISO 1000 | f/8.0 | 1/60s

I shot this photo during my 1st ever visit to Hanoi City in 2018. Found this artist’s charming roadside workshop along a line of souvenir shops in the Old Quarter district. From across the street, my roving eye halted when I saw the scene: stark contrast of the dark studio and black & white sketches, with the old man’s white hair and pallid complexion. I crossed over, waved hello and smiled. He obliged me with a pose.

#3 “First To Go” by Willie De Vera

ISO 200; f/22; 0.40sec

For a black & white scene, shot in color, the egg entered my mind. It’s just the concept now on how to present it. I used a black plexiglass to have a reflection and just the black side of an illustration board as background. I positioned the eggs carefully, like the spacing, to have a good composition. I used a blue tack to make the broken egg balanced.

Two Godox LED lights were used so I can easily see where the shadows would fall. I have to introduce a small amount of color as not to make it monotonous.

#2 “Festive Smile” by Arlene Donaire

Fuji Xt2 and Fujinon XF 18-135mm lens

ISO 200 | f/5.0 | 1/250s

I shot this photo of a dancer during the last Caracol Festival of Makati, in pre-covid times. Caracol Festival is the official festival of the City of Makati.

It is held annually on the last week of February to raise public awareness on environmental issues and promote cultural heritage.

#1 ‘Untitled’ by Jeff Dytuco

The shot was taken late last year during a trip with my daughter to watch a KPop concert. I took the shot in the Dongdaemun Plaza where there are a lot of unique and interesting lines and shapes. I found this walkway going up to the 2nd level with a wall or a barrier forming like an S shape.