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Light for Life: A photographer’s offering so that others may live

Multi-awarded photographer and graphic artist Edwin Loyola still feels enthralled every time he recalls his recent trip to Sta. Fe, New Mexico last July 2005. The trip (National Geographic On Assignment Photography Workshop with Joe McNally) was part of the prize he received as one of the winners in the National Geographic Channel and Sony photo contest. He was among the photographers whose entry was accepted (2,000 photos were accepted) from countries in Asia Pacific.

Did he feel homesick during his two-week stay in Sta. Fe? “Sta. Fe is a hilly region. It’s very rustic, very rural. I missed my son Dale. But the trip was worth it. It’s my camera which kept me company.”

His trip to New Mexico gave him new insights into landscape photography. Santa Fe provides the inspirational backdrop for the weeklong photographic exploration. Nestled in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Santa Fe’s adobe architecture, spectacular setting, and clear and radiant light have long made it a mecca for artists.

The rolling hills and rugged terrain of Sta. Fe provided simple yet nostalgic countryside images, which will be featured in a new exhibit this December.

Beginnings
Looking back, Edwin is thankful for all the events that guided his flourishing career. “It all started in 1993 when I won in an amateur photography contest. Then I won again in the National Photography Contest. I’ve been joining photo contests since then. I’m happy because my entries always bag an award, no matter now minor.”

Most of his works have won in photography contests nationwide. One of his major achievements is bagging the PhotoCup2004 - Photographer of the Year, the Gift Gate’s Grand Prize Award as well as the People’s Choice Award for his photo entry “Baby Lark.” Prizes amount to over P200,000. It is the second biggest award next to the National Geographic Channel and Sony photo award he won last December 2004.

Childhood
A native of Pangasinan, he vividly remembers growing up with a camera in hand, taking photographs of his friends during out of town trips.

He describes his interest in photography as basically instinctive. “I really like taking pictures. I’ve tried painting using oil and watercolor but I kept on going back to photography.”

He now manages his own design studio called Images located in Sta.Ana, Manila.

Styles and techniques
He finds joy shooting an object from various angles and using available lighting. He prefers to shoot ordinary things like shells, stones, leaves, cola bottles, and even cotton buds. “Things that are too common to be noticed,” he explains. One object can be made to look different from five angles. But thanks to digital photography, costs have been minimal.

Asked about his style, he is mostly experimental and shoots spontaneously. There is no pre-planning. The concepts form inside his head during the actual photo shoot.

Unlike other photographers, he distances himself from photography books to avoid duplicating styles from others. But he feels elated whenever other people compare his works to the masters. “I tried using infra-red film in one of my photographs. It was a countryside scene. Some said my work looks like a Manansala. Then I took a photograph of pear fruits, which some say looked like a Rembrandt. I made I feel elated because people are able to relate to my works.”

Most memorable photograph
As to his most memorable photograph, it was a close-up shot of his son Dale, 41 hours after birth. It won a prize in the Cotton USA Photography Contest.

Anything new is always a welcome treat. He loves to stroll around and collect any item that catches his fancy. He believes that any object could make an interesting subject for his camera in the future.

Upcoming exhibit
This December, he will launch his fifth major solo exhibit titled, “Light for Life.” The exhibit will feature around fifty photographs of his National Geographic exploration in Sta. Fe, New Mexico. His past exhibits included Edwin Loyola Photographs (2000 DLSU Gallery), Edwin Loyola Images (2000 Philamlife), Loyola@10 (2003 Philamlife), The Last Leaf (2005 MDH Hall & Philamlife).

“Light for Life” is a fund-raising exhibit intended to help the sick, the indigent, and the abandoned. Edwin confessed that he has a soft spot for the needy and intends to help them in any way he can.

Among the exhibit beneficiaries are the cancer-stricken children of PALCARE (Palliative Care Group). Edwin feels strongly for sick children especially those who are too young and too helpless to escape their situation. Thus, part of the proceeds of the exhibit will go to finance the treatment of these children.

Indigent children who might not be able to continue their education because of poverty and hostilities in their areas are also among the beneficiaries. Through the Aid for Basilan Children (ABC) Fund of Philam Foundation, Edwin hopes to contribute to the educational assistance of these children in Lamitan, Basilan.

The third beneficiary of “Light for Life” is the Hospice of St. Philomena in Antipolo City. The said hospice provides sanctuary to abandoned elderly and unwed mothers, most of who were frowned at or ostracized by society.

“Light for Life” highlights the use of light as a photographer’s medium in his art and how one’s art can become instrumental in helping the less fortunate. Through the exhibit, Edwin hopes to give his beneficiaries a new ray of hope and be able to make a difference in their lives.

“Many blessings have come my way since I became a freelance photographer in 2000. Now I wanted to share those blessings with those who need it most.”

The public is invited to view the exhibit beginning December 9 at the lobby of Philamlife building on UN Avenue, Ermita, Manila. (Iris Sheila G. Crisostomo)

NOTE: IF YOU WANT TO DONATE TO MY BENEFICIARIES , JUST LET ME KNOW...THANK YOU AND ALL THE BEST...

__________________
Edwin S. Loyola
[e]-images design studio
manila
632-5323121
eslwinshot@yahoo.com
eslwinshot@gmail.com

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