May is a festive month in the Philippines, bursting with vibrant celebrations. The Santacruzan sees beautiful women, known as “sagalas,” parading beneath colorful arches. The Pahiyas Festival in Quezon honors the patron saint and celebrates a bountiful harvest with elaborate decorations. In Manila, the three-day Aliwan Festival on Roxas Boulevard showcases cultural performances from all over the country. Reflecting the lively spirit of these events, the Zone Five Camera Club’s monthly contest theme was “Color Explosion.” The entries did not disappoint, delivering a stunning array of vivid, colorful images that perfectly captured the essence of May.
The entries were judged by 3 esteemed personalities:
Ricky Ladia
Ricky is a skilled photographer with a diverse portfolio. He began with a two-year role in the Middle East, specializing in detailed photos of artifacts and reproductions of paintings and old photographs.
Ladia then transitioned to freelance work, collaborating with prominent publications like Eastgate Publishing’s Mabuhay Magazine, ABS-CBN, Summit Media, and Hinge-Inquirer Publications. He also worked with top fashion and lifestyle magazines such as Woman Today Weekly and Celebrity Recipes.
His impressive client list includes Heritage and Shangri-La Hotels, Ayala Land, Inc., and Robinsons Land Corporation. Ladia excels in food photography, contributing to food magazines and working with various restaurants and culinary schools. He also shines in fashion photography, producing covers for leading style publications. Ladia considers himself a generalist photographer, embracing a wide range of creative opportunities.
Eric Paras
Dr. Eric Paras, recognized in the 2018 Town & Country Design 50 as one of Manila’s top architects and interior designers, has made significant contributions to the field with his distinctive projects. Notable highlights of his work include The Henry Hotel Manila, the Spanish restaurant Deo Gracias, Blackbird restaurant, the renovation of the UP Gonzalez Hall Library, and Corregidor Inn.
Paras’s success stems from his dedication, commitment, and passion for design and the creative arts. He is an active member of the UP Interior Design Alumni Association, continuously contributing to the professional community and setting high standards in his field.
Maryanne Mendoza
Maryanne Mendoza, a landscape and travel photographer from the Philippines, has visited over 35 countries across 5 continents. Her Postcard Travel Series captures these journeys. Her vibrant, candid photos showcase locales in their natural state, whether refined or chaotic.
Her work was featured in the 2023 “Anyo” exhibit at the Philippine Center in New York City, the 2021 Art in the Park, and Galerie Stephanie’s “Inherited Landscapes” in 2015. In 2014, she co-exhibited “Spaces,” a series of portraits of her post-graduate peers in The Hague, Netherlands. Currently, select pieces from her Quezon Coastal Series are displayed in every room at Discovery Samal on Samal Island.
Here are the top 5 winning entries and read the stories behind these images.
#5 “The Vibrance of Chaos” by Ruben Castor Ranin
ISO 200; f/8, 1/250 sec.
There is always beauty in chaos. And this is one of an image of stilt houses and slam community in Malabon, during one afternoon of summer as we waited and captured the alignment of sunset in Mt. Samat. I just could not help myself not to take the opportunity to take photo of this community. A representation of comfort for that community.
The scene and colors is a story of their lives. Nestled in that community is a hardworking people and the joy of kids on that surrounding.
#4 “Translacion” by Mac Omega
ISO 100; f/22, 1/4 sec.
Nikon D850 + 70-200 f/2.8
I took this photo during the Traslacion 2024 in Manila. One of my favorite things to do when I get an opportunity is using slow shutter speed in photography. Before going to the event, I already knew that I can make a creative blur out of the sea of devotees and with a bird’s eye view vantage point. I used 1/4s just enough to create blur in the image and at the same time retain some details of the subjects.
#3 “Untitled” by Kevin Roi Lopez
ISO 12800; f/4, 1/125 sec.
I took this photo on September 30, 2023, during our Coffee Fest event. We invited local artists and performers from Muntinlupa to showcase their talents, including Althea Mavis, a chalk artist. While documenting the event, I captured Althea and her team working on their art.
I took several shots from different angles, but I particularly like this one because it captures their hands coloring from above. Initially, I planned to submit this photo for a contest with the theme “working hands” in the Zone V Camera Club last year, but I misunderstood the theme—it was actually just “hands” Fortunately, I was still able to use it here.
The only challenge I faced was the low light in the area, but I managed to get a good shot by slightly increasing the ISO.
#2 “Reflection of a Fisherman” by Mac Omega
ISO 250; f/9, 1/200 sec.
Location: Navotas
Nikon D500 + 16-85f/2.8-4
I took this photo together with zone v camera club members in navotas during our sunset over Mount Samat photoshoot. While waiting for the sunset, I took time to shoot the beautiful reflection of the boats and colorful houses. Instead of showing the subject and its reflection, I intentionally just showed only the reflection and invert the photo during post process. Presenting the image this way, I wanted to create a mystery as to the character of the main subject.
#1 “Untitled” by Jeff Dytuco
Location: Malang, Indonesia
We recently had a photo trip in Indonesia, and our first stop was in Malang. The image was taken in a small community called Jodipan. What’s unique about this community is that the houses are painted with different bright colors. We walked around the community for a couple hours and we were able to bring home a lot of shots because there were a lot of interesting human activities and people were very friendly. I submitted this shot since I think it fits the theme quite well and it had a strong human element with the kids riding their bicycles. I just took the shot at a low angle to show a different perspective. Lucky the judges liked the image too.
Congratulations to all the winners for the month of May!
