Photographer's Profile:

Mr. Nestor J. Santiago has been a serious photo enthusiast since 1987. He is member of a 25-yr-old camera club called Zone V. Photography which has brought him to a lot of scenic and interesting places in the country from Vigan to Davao to Calauit and Boracay. It has also given him honors and rewards.

How did you get interested in photography? Did you have any formal education in photography?

Looking back, I think the nagging interest inside me in the direction of art like drawing, sketching and appreciating paintings and other creative works led me to this interesting endeavor. Using the camera gave me instant gratification as I see the photographs and hear the positive feedbacks of some shots I took. I didn't have any formal education in photography. Reading (about) the photographs that have won the nod of the jurors published in book and photo magazines may have pushed further my attention in it.

When did you first pick up a camera and start exploring the medium? Please describe some of your earliest photographs?

In the mid 70's my eldest sister bought a camera for the family and my initial liking for it was developed. I took pictures of leaves, attractive flowers, and fruits as the light from the side and back of these subjects made me see them in a different way as if saying "Take me, take me." Other subjects were not interesting though but unconsciously I was applying some basic art principles of balance, composition, and the play of light. Black and white was more popular then.

What type of camera do you use to take most of your pictures? How important is the role of the equipment used in capturing a beautiful image?

I use 135 film format to take my pictures. It was only in 1983 when I got my own SLR that made my interest in photography art serious. I like the digital type of camera but I thought digitizing my pictures using a film scanner may be more workable considering that I have taken a lot of photos from the time I joined a camera club in 1987. The equipment is important but far more important is what you perceive as worth taking and worth keeping. You see the camera to capture that decisive moment you see in the viewfinder. Like writing a composition, your ideas make a coherent work attractive. The typewriter is only a tool to help you complete your presentation.

What is it in nature photography that interests you? What other genres of photography are you interested in?

Aside from seizing the moment in nature photography, there are other things and elements in nature that attract me such as the varying colors and conditions of flowers and the patterns present in them, in insects and flowers. Human-interest shots also attract me as well as portraiture.

How do you capture a moment without altering it with your presence?

Be patient. Observe. Move as quietly as you can. Anticipate what can happen. Avoid startling your subject. Be ready to click your shutter before the whole thing becomes worthless.

What lengths do you go to for a great shot?

"I'd walk a mile for a shot" Yes, I don't mind walking or hiking just to see that shot that will make the difference. I'll even climb trees and towers to find other vantage points or crawl and see the worm's eye view of what interest me. I might be missing something by just being in the usual comfortable position.

What defines a good photograph?

A good photograph gets your attention at once. The visual composition shows the right elements of light and dark tones, the lines lead you, there is balance and interplay of colors. Texture and patterns play an important role, too. Less is more. If you have a subject, always remember the following: know your subject, focus on your subject, simplify.

What advice do you have for people who don't have an eye for photography?

Bombard yourself with good photographs. Collect the ones that attract you and have them ready in an index card for easy reference. You can aim for imitating them and gradually modifying for your own design and creation. Take a lot of pictures to practice. Mask and crop to get the part of the picture you like.

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