Top 5 at Zone V: February 2024 - Zone V Camera Club

ZVCC February Top 5

Zone V Camera Club embraced the challenge presented by this month’s theme, “Fine Art in Still Life.” The submitted entries, predominantly in black and white, pushed photographers to showcase their prowess in both lighting technique and composition. The diversity of submissions was striking, spanning from minimalistic interpretations to more eclectic and elaborate compositions.

The Club welcomed three distinguished judges who meticulously evaluated the 72 entries submitted for consideration.

Carlos Esguerra

Renowned as a non-professional landscape and architecture photographer, Carlos Esguerra boasts an impressive portfolio adorned with national and international awards. His photographic prowess has been showcased in juried exhibitions across numerous states in the U.S. and various countries.

Martin Lopez

As the youngest member of the Board of Trustees at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Martin Lopez’s notable roles include serving as the Former Governor and Secretary General of the Federation of Asian Cultural Promotion and directing the Center for Arts at FEU. Mr. Lopez is actively involved in cultural programming and the artistic development of the university. His influence extends to various boards, including the Association for Cultural Offices in Philippine Educational Institutions, the Friends for Cultural Concerns of the Philippines, and the Vallehermoso Helping Hands Foundation.

Mark Floro

A distinguished graduate from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, Mark Floro boasts over 40 years of expertise in commercial and advertising photography. Specializing in food photography, he is widely recognized for his innovative lighting techniques. Mark also contributes to the field as an educator at the Philippine Center for Creative Imaging (PCCI), sharing his knowledge and passion with aspiring photographers. His ability to capture a diverse range of subjects speaks to his versatility and enduring commitment to the craft.

Together, these esteemed judges brought a wealth of experience and expertise to the evaluation process, ensuring a fair and insightful assessment of the submitted entries.

Here are the top 5 winning entries and the stories behind the images.

#5 “Still Life Portrait – Photographer 1” by Ian Santos

ISO 200; f/16, 1/125 sec.

Still life is a very challenging theme. And as such, I wanted to veer away from the usual take of still life and present my entry a different way. Inspired by Philip Kalberg’s series of Still- Life Faces, I set out on finding objects that are relevant to a person’s occupation and putting them together in a flat lay on a plain background resembling an artistic face and injecting a little humor into it. I also made sure that the lighting would accentuate the graphic nature of the image.

#4 “Untitled” by Angela Panlilio

Still life is a genre that I struggle with. How to make it “still,” yet alive was my biggest hurdle. Breathing emotion into it yet staying true to the definition was indeed a challenge.

I was inspired to do this setup when, during the research phase, I saw an image of a billowing curtain, and for some reason, I couldn’t get that image out of my mind. The billowing curtain became my hook. I then looked for elements that I could build a story around it with. I found my glass table candle, my mom’s antique side table – and that’s it, an old-world feel. Perhaps something out of Wuthering Heights, of Heathcliff waiting for Catherine. A yearning, a love story.

With an electric fan blowing at the highest speed, my billowing curtains came to be. For added softness, I shot this at a slow shutter so the sheer of the curtains would be softer, more mysterious.

This was shot with a lighting setup, at ISO 1600, 57mm, f/14, 1/6 sec. Converted to black and white using Photoshop.

#3 “HOPE” by Armi Yam

ISO 400; f/4, 1/125 sec.

This piece of sculpture sitting in a corner captivated me not only by the way it looks, being disjointed and hollow, but more so by how it was lit from the inside. The light, to me, signifies the piece of God we have in all of us; if only we allow Him to light us up and give hope in times of worry and despair. Capturing it was a matter of which angle best shows everything as the work is impeccable.

Armi’s combined entries for this month accumulated the highest score which won her Photographer of the Month (POTM) honors.

#2 “ESSENCE OF STILL LIFE” by Billy Palatino

ISO 8000; f/11, 1/125 sec.

Capturing the essence of still life in fine art which is not my forte, my winning photo speaks volumes about the beauty found in simplicity. With just moments to spare before the submission deadline, I carefully arranged a scene that exudes warmth and comfort. Against the backdrop of a softly lit window image, a delicate glass of wine stands alongside an assortment of nuts and chips, all resting upon a rustic wooden table. By filling the frame with an array of textures and shapes, I aimed to create a sense of richness and depth. Winning this competition fills me with joy, knowing that my vision resonated with others.

#1 “FRAGILE” by Bern Wong

For the second month in a row, Bern bags the 1^st place in the monthly contest. Bern has this to say about this month’s winning image.

On good days, everything seems balanced and quiet. On bad days, she is on edge, anxious, tense, yet fragile. This is a visual interpretation of my mom as she struggles with dementia, growing old and memory loss. I chose a minimalistic approach as I want the viewer to “feel” rather than to “see”. The softness of the egg vs. the hard edges of the pedestal creates a beautiful contrast of shape and form. All elements are placed on 2/3 of the frame to create tension. Two lights were used for this setup – one to light the top of the egg and the other to light the background to create more depth and drama to the scene.”

Bern’s winning image also secured her this month’s Member’s cup honors.