Asean Photography: Picture Perfect – Artistic Outlet
Ruined By Time (Silay City, Negros Occidental) (Ruben Ranin)
.
He wanted to take up a fine arts course in college but ended up with a business degree. A trip with mountaineering group Kamandag Barikus sparked Ruben Castor Ranin’s interest in photography and saw it as an outlet for his artistic bent.
“I saw them rushing to capture the Mt. Pulag sunrise and joined in. I compared my photos with theirs and wondered how they were able to capture the moment differently even though we had the same DSLR cameras. They advised me to learn the basics at the Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation (FPPF). I took the course and learned a lot with it. I realized that I went back on my interest and passion in arts. Photography then became my medium in expressing art,” he recalls.
His work as general manager of North Star Meat Merchants Inc., which supplies meat items in all SM Markets and affiliates, gives him opportunities to travel and so he specialized in landscape and travel photography. “They say that when you are close to nature, you are close to God. Landscape photography gives me so much appreciation, realizations, and happiness. It’s an outlet for me to pause on my regular day time work.”
.
-
.
When the Day is Over (Penafrancia River, Cagayan Valley) Were in the City of Smile (Ruben Ranin)
.
The 38-year-old also likes to snap interesting vignettes on culture and diversity, highlighting them in his works that cover festivals. “Children and elders also capture my attention,” he adds. “I love to showcase my travel as full of life and colors, but when I feel ‘deep,’ I go for black and white. I can say that I have a deep connection with water.”
Ruben is affiliated with FPPF as he took basic photography with that institution. He is likewise active in the PhotoWorld Cup Committee. “I like working with mixed photographers because I learned and I am inspired with their works. I have been leading the I Focus Camera Club as president for four years. I’m happy leading and inspiring members with our free workshops and trainings with our monthly activities and photography competitions to be able to improve their skills and be competitive. We are active in giving outreach programs for deserving beneficiaries, too.”
He has won awards for his work, most notably the grand prize of the United Nations-World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) with the theme “Tourism and Energy” in 2012, just after graduating from FPPF. He was also given the “Hall of Fame Award” at his camera club for being the “Photographer of the Year” for 2013, 2015, 2016, and now 2017. Ruben’s talent is constantly proven as he won a number of contests in the PhotoWorld Cup including one of the PWC Top Photographers of 2015. He was adjudged the grand champion of the 2017 Canon Photomarathon and is preparing for the Asian championship next year in Japan.
“An effective photograph for me is when I was able to capture attention and inspire others. There are no words in photography, so the image alone should speak its own language to express its meaning. At the end, it is about inspirations—to inspire and make someone happy,” he muses. He gets his own inspiration from the photographers he admires: Jijo De Guzman, Edwin Martinez, and Jallorina. He says he is also constantly inspired by the members of his club.
Ruben looks at photography as an expression of self and invites others to develop the values of patience and appreciation in order to take expressive photos.
“These also bring me to understand what real art is. It teaches me to understand others’ perspectives. The best thing about being a photographer is that you are able to encourage others without you knowing it. With the help of our gear, our eyes, mind, and heart, we can create art and stories that inspire.”
Courtesy: The Manila Standard | By Maan D’Asis Pamaran | Published
.
<>
NOTE : All photographs, news, editorials, opinions, information, data, others have been taken from the Internet ..aseanews.net | [email protected] |
For comments, Email to :
Goldenhands Arts Club | [email protected]| Contributor
