Photography is a subject poetically tackled in various songs to good effect. Jim Croce’s folksy “Photographs and Memories” is a classic that even became the title of his posthumous compilation, while Irish boy band Boyzone’s pop joy “Picture of You” gave its frontman Ronan Keating an Ivor Novello award.
On the local music scene, Ariel Rivera has kept us calmly “Back to another place and time” with his hit “Photograph” while rock balladeer Jerome Abalos ensured us with a classic hugot line singing “Bumabalik ang ligayang lipas/Salamat sa larawang kupas.”
I recently worked with The Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation (FPPF) for a coffee table book about Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). As head writer and editor, I helped conceptualized its content flow, wrote features, and came up with the title Inspire/Empower: Images and Stories of Persons with Disabilities in the Philippines.
One of its features showcased the talent of a siblings ensemble calling themselves Splendio Tritus. The band was formed “to support the music therapy needs” of bass-playing Josh and “improve his social skills.”
“Through carefully selected photographs and heartwarming features, we created a picture of realism and positivity fit for today’s era of openness and much-needed change,” stated FPPF President Pablo “Lito” Beltran in the book’s introduction.
Inspire/Empower’s editorial team also included photographer-art director Joy Ganaden, who also works as a mainstream record label guy, and lenswoman Cris Cleofas, wife of photographer Chito Cleofas who reportedly is a cousin of alternative rock stalwart Raimund Marasigan. (Copies of the book are available at the FPPF office in Room 302A, FEMII Building, A. Soriano Avenue. Intramural, Manila. For inquiries, call 0956-2692610 or 0995-0132515 or email myfppf@yahoo.com.).
A non-profit organization of photographers dedicated to the promotion of photography in the Philippines, FPPF is spearheading its recurring Photo World Asia set from Jan. 30 to Feb. 4 in Glorietta, Makati, with workshops and seminars scheduled at the nearby Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Conference Center. The anticipated open for public and free trade show will put on display the latest trends and products in the industry, with major camera manufacturers and photography suppliers participating.
Theme for Photo World Asia 2020 is Travel and Lifestyle, with renowned photographers scheduled to speak, including the seasoned Edwin Tuyay who will discuss “My Life After Journalism.” Tuyay, who took President Rody Duterte’s portrait featured on Time magazine, is the father of Kamikazee guitarist Led Zeppelin who he named after the legendary rock band fronted by Robert Plant and Jimmy Page.
Industry experts Pepe Diokno, Alex Ruelo, Rey Sta. Ana, as well as lady photographers Sara Black and Beth Lalana are among those in the speakers pool. (For more details, visit the FPPF official website: http://www.photoworldmanila.com/2019/12/23/registration-now-open-photo-world-asia-2020/)
Photography and music are intertwined and there are globally known acts who toil with cameras off stage like Bryan Adams, Julian Lennon, and Michael Stipe of R.E.M fame. Even Filipino songwriting icon Jim Paredes is into photography. Freeze frame!
