Over 40 Himamaylanons joined the first MRT Photography and Videography Workshops over the weekend at the Himaya Hall of the Himamaylan City Hall, a press release from Himamaylan PIO said.
Organized to hone the skills, discover talents, and reinforce the interest of locals to both art forms, the workshops tapped Negrense experts to impart their knowledge and tips of the trade.
“Himamaylan has a wealth of talent and interest in capturing important moments and creating visual inspiration. Through these workshops, we hope for them to be inspired to further hone their skills,” said Mayor Raymund Tongson.
The two-day workshops invited award-winning director Julius Dela Peña, celebrated photographers and image artist Aeson Baldevia, and development communications expert Keith Brandon Cari-an.
“We hope our participants become our close partners in telling the story of Himamaylan through their lenses,” Tongson said.
On the first day, Baldevia led the plenary discussion on the basics of photography. Afterwhich, he and Dela Peña discussed the nitty gritty of their own fields in the breakout sessions.
The participants learned photography and videography ethics from Cari-an in the afternoon.
The photographers and videographers applied what they learned in two exercises for the day one afternoon session and morning of day two themed “The Sea, The Streets, and The Sceneries of Maylan” and “A Morning of Gratitude.”
Baldevia encouraged them to feed their visual banks with inspiration from magazines, social media, and the internet.
“Always remember your ‘why’ when you started your photography or videography journey. It will keep you centered and guided towards your goals,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dela Peña reminded the Himamaylanons not to be intimidated by not having high end equipment.
“As long as you have the drive to create, no equipment can outweigh your perseverance in learning and sharpening your skills,” he added.
For participant Jhon Belle Eseller, the workshops were a great experience and a weekend full of learning.
“I was impressed by how the workshop is organized and excited to share this positive experience with our community,” Eseller said.*