History is effectively recorded in pictures.And as pictures are said to `say a thousand words’, a good photograph could very well turn into a treasure that chronicles the olden(or golden)times.

“It is about finding the right angle and recording that right moment at the right time… and making use of the natural environment,” explains seasoned Filipino photojournalist Joseph Capellan.

Photojournalism, Capellan says is about “light and composition”and should be “eye catching”.

“No Photoshop. It is about lighting technique, how you set up the light or make use of the available light… There should be no manipulation or retouching as this is against the rule of photojournalism,”he stresses.

Capellan also underscores the importance of proper caption. “Good caption enhances the photo’s appeal.It should tell a story and answers all the five W’s (who, what, where, when, why) and H (how),” Capellan elucidates.

A veteran of 25 years, Capellan is the president of the Press Photographer of the Philippines (PPP) ­ UAE Chapter. Establishedin1951,PPP is a nation-wide group of  Filipino photojournalists working at various media outfits locally and abroad.

The UAE branch was officially established in April last year after the officials were sworn-in by the then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during her visit in Dubai. The group has 12 members, all accomplished in their fields, and who are working with various Arabic and English publications in the country.

A member of PPP since 1990, Capellan has extensive portfolio of still images dating back to as far as the`people power revolution ‘in 1987 and the`coupd’etat’ in Manila in December 1989 while working with the Associated Press(AP).The 1989 photo was voted the 1990 Photo of the Year by the Times Magazine.

Currently the chief photographer for the Dubai Media Incorporated (DMI) -the publisher o fEmarat Al Youmand Emirates Business24/7–Capellan has also worked previously with ITP Business and The Nationalas chief photographer as well as Gulf News and the Manila Times.

One of the PPP’s agenda is to reachout to Filipino photographers’ clubs in the UAE and hold lectures and workshops where they can share their knowledge and experience. PPP will offer honorary membership to presidents of each clubs and associate memberships to a select few.

“Our legacy should not be bound to those we’ve shot behind our lenses but in sharing our expertise to many amateur photographers and aspiring individuals who want to embark in photojournalism,” says Capellan.

“We will share techniques and this will be based on actual experience and not bythe book. A few sessions with us will teach you good quality, composition and good photography,”he adds.

The workshops planned by the PPP-UAE Chapter will include studio shooting, advertising, portrait photography and photojournalism, among others.

One of the clubs that has expressed interest in getting affiliated with PPP is the Lightform International Photographers Guild(LIPG). Established in 1997 in Dubai, LIPG is the oldest and largest group of Filipino photographers in the UAE. It now has 650 members from Dubai and Abu Dhabi, all of who mare graduates of LIPG photography courses-basic, advanced and workshop.

“Our members will not stay long as amateurs. What started as a hobby turned into a career for some who went on to become professionals,” states Myrna Rebulanan Anderson, LIPG president.

Anderson says the Filipinos’ interest in upgrading their photography skills is not solely due to personal interest but also geared towards career progression or potential career shift. She notes that although majority of the students are in to photography primarily for its “glamour and fashion”, she says photo journalism would also serve them well in future.

“Some of our members will eventually go back home to the Philippines, and with their acquired skills, they can start their own photography business there,”she opines.

LIPG has hosted several photo competitions, including the Environmental Awareness Photo Competition-a culmination of the group’s annual clean-up drive in cooperation with the Dubai Municipality.

Two groups in Abu Dhabi are also keen to benefit from PPP’s expertise.

Lightsource Filipino Photographers (LFP) and Shootercada Photographers’ Circle (SPC) were founded a year apart.

LFP was established in June 2008, becoming the first Filipino photographers’ group in the capital. SPC followed in February 2009.

LFP has nearly 40 active members and 90registeredmembersatitsportal’sforum whileSPChasaround40membersinAbu Dhabi and AlAin.

As both organizations are registered at the Philippine Embassy, both groups have worked alongside each other, held exhibitions and conducted photography work shops at many embassy events including theIndependenceDaycelebrationsin2009 and2010.

Allan Polina,the acting president of LFP says the club members are regularly up grading their skills, bringing in professionals to speak to the group.

“Last year, we invited Jay Alonso a famous fashion photographer in the Philip pines ­ to conduct workshop about lighting,”states Polina.

“We are very keen to learn from professionals. Having them on board will definitely enhance the skills of our members. In addition, we would also like to embrace other field in photography such as photojournalism,”he notes.

olivia@khaleejtimes.com