Romie Angeles
Photo by Benji Balmoris

When and how did you start photography?

• Well, I started holding a camera when I was in high school. Taga-hawak lang po coz my father is also a part-time photographer doing gigs on wedding, birthdays, family reunion, etc.. But later on I got interested assisting my father for his event photography and learned from him about photography. Kaya, hands-on tips on every event and learning the proper manual setting of apertures, shutter speed (we’re using film then).

Tell us more about your photography history

• Maybe it’s in our genes (father-side) ‘coz my late grandfather was also an artist, musician, and photography buff just like my father. During the ’80s, I was a company official photographer, events photographer on wedding ng mga kaibigan, kumpare’t kumare at kamag-anakan (walang bayad, pakain lang). It was when I came here in Singapore in 1995 na nabigyan ng husto ang photography ko. I was always at Orchard Road then during weekends doing street photography. I’ve used manual film camera using negative films then when I’ve got so many photo albums (very bulky coz kahon-kahon ba naman ang storage eh), I’ve decided to switch to slide film (pero maliliit na kahon naman for storing my slides). I’m very hesistant before in using digital as my medium on photography ‘coz I know hindi mapapantayan ng digital and film eh.. pero bumigay din, it was 2005 when I’ve tried using digital camera as a back-up of my slide photography. My first digital camera was compact Canon A80. When I bought my first dSLR (2007), Canon EOS 400D, naging active uli ako sa portraits photography.

Basic body and lens setup (name just one body and one lens that you always use)

• Canon 40D and my 24-70mm f2.8 lens (interchanging now with Canon EOS 5D Mark II).

Would you consider turning pro?

• Why not? Pangarap ko ito noon pa. But being a professional photographer for me means that 90% of your income comes from photography. So, part-time muna and full-time hobbyist.

Favorite subjects to capture:

• Portraitures and landscapes with some nature, action, macro, events photography.

Favorite photo captured to date:

• I’ve got so many favorite photos that I’ve captured but these 2 photos are my top favorites:

  Looking Through The Eyes of Alyona
  
  (picked as Editor’s Pick and Finalist at www.betterphoto.com, and also as Editor’s Choice at www.photoanswers.co.uk)

  Singapore Flyer (non-winning photo)
  
  (One of my non-winning entries to the Singapore Flyer Photo Contest 2007. Although this photo does not won for Night Scene Category competition, it was used as one of the Singapore Flyer advertisement photo seen on the newspaper, TV, their website, and bochures.)

Name members whose photographs amaze you:

• Doc Benji on his portaitures, Ka Leo B on macros together with bARTman & Roy-bin and Erick on his textures/digital arts. John Panelo for his great shots and oh, pati na si Alvin P on his street photography…

Do you have a visual on a dream image you want to capture?

• Yeah, mga celebrities (Pinay and International models). Also, landscapes at Colorado, USA.

Name one non-electric camera gear that you cannot live without.

• My Lowepro bags.

Approximately, how many gb of photos do you have to date?

• I’ve got 7 portable HD (160~320, and 500GB capacity) and 4 of these are full na.

Ever experienced an embarrassing moment related to photography?

• Hehehe, I have one that I will not forget and want to share with you:
  It was 1986 when I was an official photographer of ex-Philseco in Subic, Zambales. I remember that time I’m in-charge of covering the big event or milestone of our company then, the delivery of the floating dock from our yard to US Naval Base in Olongapo City. This floating dock has been repaired/assembled in Philseco. I’m following the delivery of floating dock (towing with tugboats) to US Naval Base, nag-hire ako ng bangka na may iisang katig or outrigger just to take pictures of that event… when we are in the middle of the sea (sa laot), bigla na lang tumaob ang bangka! I think it was my fault coz I shifted my position sa walang katig na lugar. Luckily, the camera (Canon AV-1) I’m using was strapped to my neck at hindi ito nahulog sa dagat. Only it got wet coz kasama kong lumubog eh. I was rescued by the US Naval Base Coast Guard and was eventually taken onboard to our tugboats… Ang siste pa, ini-radio sa office ang paglubog ko at pag-rescue ng US Naval Base Coast Guard sa akin na buong opisina naririnig na “Si Romy Angeles ay na-rescue ng US CoastGguard sa tumaob na bangka”.

  Well, the camera was repaired and the negative film was not damaged (only the exposed ones), and my shots/pictures were okey.

  Moral of the story:

  1. Don’t ride on the small with only 1 outrigger (katig) boat unless you know how to balance yourself there.
  2. Always strap your camera to your neck.
  3. When your camera is dropped in the sea water (lubog talaga), just wash it first with fresh water to remove the salt water content to avoid fast corrosion of internal parts and send it to Service Center at baka ma-repair pa.
  4. Learn how to swim or wear lifejacket when covering event photography at sea (ako hindi na lumangoy eh, kumapit na lang sa tumaob na bangka. Do you know na natihaya namin ng bangkero ang bangka before the coast guard arrived?)

Where can we see your portfolio?

• My Multiply site and my Flickr site and at www.betterphoto.com (just search my real name there).

How did you found out PinoyCSers?

• When I met Rey Aguila during our photoshoot at PAS (Photo-Art Association of Singapore), he asked me to join ClubSnap (CS) coz many Pinoys are members of CS. During the shoot of Nanda organized by Charby of CS, I met Doc Benji… through him I’ve learned na may nabubuong group ang mga Pinoy sa CS at ayun nabuo ang PinoyCSers na kasama ako.

Give readers one tip to capture great photos.

• Learn to focus on the eyes for portraits, the composition, exposure, and creativity for photography. If you’ll study the works of others, just learn their work flow, their techniques but create your own style or signatures.