THERE are a growing number of photo enthusiasts, hobbyists, and wannabes.

Thanks to the digital camera, it has become more affordable to indulge in photography.

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No more films and developing charges to spend on before seeing how well one does in capturing a picture.

These days, one can just point, focus on anything of interest, press on the shutter and Voila! One can review and evaluate the picture.

So if anyone can take pictures, what differentiates the good ones from the bad ones? How are images captured in a way that the attention of the viewer is kept, the curiosity peaked, the WOW! Effect achieved?

Sitting in for a few minutes at the SHOOT HAPPENS! Digital Photography Workshop made me realize there was more to “point and shoot” to get a good picture.

The lecture being facilitated then by Mr. Waffy Casem touched on various topics like Composition, Lighting, etc. Mr. Casem was also the facilitator of the Delphic Society’s photography workshop held recently.

The participants of the workshop were deep in concentration, intently listening to the lecture, possibly imagining how they could apply their learning.

They were shown a slide show of images taken by the facilitators to demonstrate the “theories.” It didn’t take long for them to try their hand out in photography, incorporating what they have learned in the lectures.

Each participant had a mentor, a personal trainer (if you may) as they shot around the Burnham Park Skating Rink on the first day. The participants found a lot of interesting things to shoot at the new Skating Rink and its immediate environs. Their mentors patiently assisted them and taught them how best to capture their intended subjects.

The second day started early. At 4:30 a.m., participants and mentors were at the Mines View Park to wait for and shoot the sunrise.

Afterwards, they walked towards Wright Park, shooting anything that caught their fancy or interest along the way. With cameras, tripods and mentors in tow, the participants had a grand time shooting at will and whim.

But the day didn’t stop there… They headed back to Beggang Grill where they took a break and compared pictures and notes. After a short lecture, they headed back out to shoot around Burnham Lake and the Melvin Jones Grandstand.

The strong rain didn’t stop them from shooting. Proof that photography is an art and a passion, they continued to shoot even in the crowded Melvin Jones where they took shelter from the pouring rain. After a long day of taking pictures, they got together at Shooters Bar along Legarda Road where the facilitators did the critique on the participants’ shots.

Their works will be put up for viewing at the new Shooters Bar along Abanao Road starting next week.

SHOOT HAPPENS! is a project of NoCredit Photographers and was facilitated by its members, Richard Balonglong, Joshua Dizon, Mark Dawin Caballar, Waffy Casem, Jeremias Telva, Everdene De Leon, Jesse James Gallardo, Eddie Tanguilig, and Carl Cariño Taawan.

Held at Burnham Park on June 13 and 14, 2009, this workshop is envisioned to be the first of a series. It is also in preparation for NoCredit Photographer’s first group exhibit at the Flying Gecko, Session Road in Baguio.

Entitled “Expressions,” the exhibit will open Saturday at 4 p.m. and run until July 24.

For those who have been bitten by the photography bug, these workshops are well worth the time and effort. Find out when the next schedule will be… Join the NoCredit Photographers as they unveil their work. Who knows? You may be the next one unveiling an exhibit soon…