Pedrosa: Sinulog, Photographer’s Haven

Albert Pedrosa
Photo mania

I WAKE up at five in the morning and drive to my studio in Mabolo to park my car. This is how I start my day for the Sinulog. I normally go with my wife and kid, as this is our family tradition every year. I spend my whole morning shooting and we spend the rest of the day in the grandstand to get a better view of the performances.

This year was different. We stayed for a couple of hours, had a delicious meal in the streets and went home just before noontime. Not that the festival has lost its festive energy, but I think this time my energy wasn’t just there. Maybe because I was mostly down with a flu the entire week before the Sinulog or was too tired attending to my guest who visited Cebu.

Either way, I think the Sinulog has never lost its touch in spite of all the negative
feedbacks to the organizers. Although I think there’s still a lot of areas to improve, especially on the difficulty spectators face in viewing the street dancing. Take the case of a recent article I read regarding a “rude photographer” who allegedly almost injured a child trying to get the shot.

I remember during the mid 90s when only a few photographers walked in the middle of the streets. Today, I see people wearing a photographer’s IDs and equipped with point-and-shoot cameras. They sure did find a way to beat the crowd on the sides.

This year’s issue on photographer’s ethics is no different, and the unfortunate incident involving the rude photographer will go down the history books. I think that even if photography clubs create their own code of ethics for photographers, which is actually a good move, some will still break that oath just to get the shot.

With just a few hours of shooting last Sunday, I encountered a few rude photographers who wouldn’t even care if he suddenly blocked your view. There are those who just follow you around and take a shot of almost every angle you just took. In one incident, I even moved out of the way seeing one photographer shooting wide in my direction.

I believe that the Sinulog is still the best festival in the eyes of a photographer.

The experience of non-stop action and the showcase of brilliant choreography, coupled with creative costumes and props makes the Sinulog truly a photographer’s haven.

As usual, if you see tall aluminum ladder, you’d know that Alex Badayos is there.

Sinulog is also a good day to meet photographers you’ve known only on Facebook. For some, it’s an opportunity to flaunt their expensive, mouth-watering equipment. Some are so dead serious they can’t even return a smile while putting all that effort to bag the grand prize.

Good luck to all photographers joining the Sinulog Photo Contest. For those who will not win, don’t despair. The Sun.Star Photo Contest happening in the late second quarter will give you another opportunity to take part in another grand photo contest. Keep on shooting everyone!

(photography@grp.ph / www.grp.ph)