Students Capture Pictures of God in Nature

OSA conducts Nature Photography Workshop as ACP

February 23 – with the onset of photography as an emerging hobby among Ateneans, the Office of Student Affairs sponsored a nature photography workshop entitled Captured! Picturing God as part of the Alternative Class Program (ACP) sponsored by the Ateneo de Naga University-Supreme Student Government (AdNU-SSG). Armed with their digital cameras, DSLRs and SLRs, twenty-seven students explored the picturesque views of rice fields, beach and cliffs in Sagñay, Camarines Sur.

The group left the Ateneo campus at 7:45am and arrived at the Barangay Hall of Mabca, Sagñay at around 9:15am. To formally start the workshop, Deputy Director Rodolfo “Sonny” SB. Virtus Jr. lead the Opening Prayer while Program Officer Trish Penelope B. Araña gave a brief re-orientation regarding the activity. To instruct the students on the essential skills of photography, the workshop was given by Fr. Ritche B. Elot, S.J. , an avid photographer and mountaineer who currently heads the Office of Student Affairs and the University Chaplaincy. Presenting some of his best works as well as the technology behind the lenses of the camera, Fr. Ritche emphasized having the passion to capture the best shot and being able to find the beauty in ordinary things, which is more important than having just a good camera. He cited instances such as waiting for the right moment for the sun to set, walking the extra mile just to get the best point of view, or having a camera at hand to capture moments as indicators that mark one’s passion for photography. Though he does not consider himself an expert, he encouraged the students to explore all possible combination the eye, the view and the camera can offer to produce a great photo.

To put their skills to test, the students walked among the kids coming out from school and crossed the green rice fields, taking pictures of people, plants, farm animals along their way. Shortly after, the group drove to the parish of St. Andrew at the centro of Sagñay where they were able to take pictures of the interior and exterior sights in the Church, pray and have lunch afterwards. 

The next stop took them to the port and beach of Nato just a few miles away. Sights present were the ship Jasper Peter loading some abaca from a truck, children in their bikes and in the shore, fishermen with their net and bait as well as a lone, unmanned boat in the sea from afar.

The next site the group visited brought them to higher grounds as they drove up in the hills to a spot along the highway called Odiongan. Here, the young photographers saw an outlook of Atulayan Island from a panoramic view. 

Going back to the Parish of St. Andrew, Fr. Ritche asked the students to present their pictures to the group. Shots including were stones in the beach, a boy in a bike, a close up view of a spider, a statue of Christ with arms raised up under the sun and even manure. After each presentation, good points about the pictures were given as well as recommendations to enhance the quality of their photo works. Before the activity came to a close, Fr. Ritche added some more points on acquiring pictures that are striking - it should tell a story and stir emotions, thus bringing life to the photo and not just an image.

*****

There you have it! My write up for our second visit in Sagñay, this time with photo enthusiasts! I think I need to edit it when I submit it though, since it almost borders on feature article rather than news or report. Csikszentmihalyi’s flow theory – validated! (students noticeably “flowed” and lost track of the time). I guess there goes my depth of learning and imagination in crafting an activity! Whew! Now I want to draw…hehehe.

No go find Him! =D