Finding Who You Are
Albert Pedrosa
LAST weekend during the Macys Camera Anniversary event, I found myself with the greats. I had the chance to get up close and personal with Canon’s Light Crusader Edwin Martinez and strobist Ricky Ladia. Seeing them talk about their work and the different techniques they use when shooting only proves how much expertise they have gained mastering their craft.
In one occasion I had Edwin Martinez all to myself, so I couldn’t help but ask about the very interesting photos he normally posts on Facebook. It is impossible to ignore Edwin’s photos, they look amazing and you’d wish you can take similar shots as well. I wanted to know his thought process.
He explained it to me as much as he can, and I realized that his limitless desire to get more out of every scenery coupled with landscape shooting techniques is what makes his shots magnificent. His compositional skills are exceptional and his great knowledge of what he is doing is what makes him one of the greats.
During my talk that day, I decided to focus more not on the technical part of fashion photography but the passion behind it. I explained that every time you shoot, you’ll always encounter obstacles and difficulties, but you should not allow it to affect your objective. Settling for anything less than what you expected is unacceptable.
One attendee asked how do I come up with ideas and concepts. My answer is to surround yourself with the work of photographers that you look up to. In my case, I normally subscribe to magazines both online and printed. I follow a lot of fashion photographers, models and fashion bloggers in social media. This way I’m always inspired and imagining new concepts.
To start with photography is to start with yourself. There must be that enormous urge to become somebody you envisioned yourself to be. The drive will come from your bottomless passion of the art. Frustrations and closed doors will break you but only for a while, then your persistence will bring you back on track.
Regardless if you’re born to have an eye for photography or you’ve learned it over a long series of practice, it will always come back to how much you want it. How much are you willing to expose yourself to possible heartache and depression? Of course there are eureka moments, but it will not last long.
Finding who you are and what you really want to do about photography and what genre warms your heart are just some of the questions you need to answer. The more you shoot, the more you’ll know what works for you. Keep on shooting, everyone!
photomania.sunstar@gmail.com
www.albertpedrosa.com
