WHILE photography as an industry is not yet considered mature in the Philippines, an expert lensman said more and more Filipinos are getting interested in it as a fine art that they could engage in due to the emergence of digital technology.
“I think we are still immature as a market,” professional photographer Patrick Uy told reporters at the opening reception of Winter Wonderland: Joy of Winter photography exhibit at the Solaire Resort & Casino in Pasay City.
He said the demand for photographs remains low in the country, since most of the supporters for these art pieces are the friends and families of the artists themselves.
They acquire these photographs merely as “a collection or at least for decoration that they enjoy looking at on their walls,” he said. Uy noted, though, that the proliferation of advanced digital technologies not only encourages more hobbyists, but also experienced practitioners who lack credentials.
“For the professionals, I’m sorry to say, it equalized the job for everyone because the tools are there—the camera, phone, photoshop, light room and all those softwares enhancing pictures like you’re an expert in the dark room in a short time. So it really democratized [the photography profession and industry]. Experience is just our edge as professionals,” he said.
To help entice more of the public to become appreciative of captured images through photography, Uy and some of his colleagues in the Camera Club of the Philippines mounted the exhibit to showcase their collection of 45 photographs of winter landscapes from different countries from Bhutan, Japan, China, Norway, Greenland, Iceland and Russia.
Some of the featured images showed the rare red-crowned, black-neck cranes in a love dance from Hokkaido, Japan; Snow Monkeys bathing in an onsen from Nagano, Japan; Icefjords of Greenland; the mountain landscapes of the Swiss mountains of Interlaken; and the Himalayan range-Mount Everest base camp 1.
These art pieces, presented using one of the new technology-printing method on aluminum plates using chromaluxe, are on display and for sale until January 2.
Proceeds from the exhibition is earmarked for the Chosen Children Village and Project Seven Summits. “So when you come to Solaire Hotel, you will feel that it’s also winter here,” he said of their photo exhibit open for public viewing.