More Pinoys in UAE taking up photography as a hobby

Al Ain, United Arab Emirates— As photography is becoming a favorite hobby of many Filipinos in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), some Filipino camera clubs here are growing in numbers.  

 

“We were formed by five founders and have grown to a closed knit group of 25 members. We are not only photography buddies for we have become real friends who support each other on our photographic endeavors,” Adelle Delos Santos Lumalang, president of Shootercada Photographers' Circle, told GMA News Online in an email.

 

SPC is the first accredited Filipino camera club in Abu Dhabi.

 

“Many of us have grown immensely. Our group has been consistent in helping out the community, especially at the independence day activities, charity drives, fund raising and the likes,” Lumalang added.

 

There are three accredited photography organizations in Abu Dhabi:

Light Source Filipino Photographers, Shootercada Photographers' Circle, and Overseas Pinoy Professionals Photographers Society.

 

Like a violin

 

"Isa sa fave ko, kasi nahuli ko yung right time, right lighting, at yung expression ng smile

ng mga anak ko (Luke, 11, and Adam, 5). Ramdam na ramdam ko rin dito yung love nila

sa isat-isa," said Christian Alonzo, 45. A former clerk at the Medical Records Department of Tawam Hospital, Alonzo bought his

first digital camera in 2004 — a Canon Ixus 4MP.

 

“Okay naman siya kaya lang limited ang kaya niyang gawin kaya limited din ang mga shots ko. Last August pa lang ako nakabili ng DSLR kaya pinag-aaralan ko pa lang kung paano gamitin,” Alonzo shared in an email.

 

“Ang photography ay tulad din ng isang violin na di porket bumili ka ng mamahaling camera eh photographer ka kaagad. Ang unang best photo nga raw ay makikita kapag naka-10,000 shots na!”

 

Capturing life in UAE

 

"Nag-attend ako nito sa Amorsoloesque, isang workshop on photo shoots and post processing," said Salvador Guevarra Jr., 40.

 

Aside from working as a medical technologist at the Tawam Hospital, Guevarra, captures

his moments with his family who are living with him here.

 

“I was influenced by colleagues and friends who are also into this hobby,” Guevarra, Jr., shared in an email.

 

“It gives me sheer joy whenever I capture important details of our family life in this country, especially now that my three daughters are growing up and a baby boy is coming.”

 

“I am also able to share my photographs to our community as well as to our parish as a gesture of gratitude to Almighty God for his blessings.” - VVP, GMA News