If I have him

   He is rare. He is one of a kind. He is one in a million. It seems that his kind is becoming extinct. His philosophy is worth practicing. His eyes have a similar vision of the Creator. His photos are timeless. He is George Tapan.

   I did not hesitate to attend his mini seminar last September 11, 2014 at Sydney Hotel, GenSan. I want to hear his thoughts about photography and the art behind it. Although I did not attend his three day photography workshop (organized by Louie Pacardo), I am still thankful to attend his first activity. 

   In his seminar, he talked about the brief history of photography. How camera invented and how photographs changed the history of humanity. He shared about his winning photograph in the National Geographic photo contest. He also discussed the elements of a good photograph. The (mini) seminar also has an open forum where the participants asked freely their questions regarding photography.

One of his travel photography books

   “Let’s capture the Philippines in a beautiful way, “as he said, pointing out the importance of photography in capturing the beauty of the Philippines. And because he is a travel photographer, he believes in the power of photography in promoting the Philippines as a paradise to the foreign and local tourists. His collaboration with the Department of Tourism (DOT), the Philippine Airlines and his five travel photography books prove his dedication in helping the Philippines to be the top tourist destination in the world. 

   “A great photographer has a passion, dedication as well as patience in capturing a moment,” he said. “It is not like a fast food (restaurant) where you can order your food in a minute. Photography is patience. Wait for the right moment to capture a great photo. Don’t stop if you don’t get the right angle.”

Mr. Tapan's first camera

   His father is also a photographer. He got his first camera in 1965 while he took his first photo in 1969. He is self-taught photographer. He learned photography from reading/scanning his collection of National Geographic Magazines. He also learned thru research, travel and experimentation. “You have to research if you want a great photo,” as he explained. “You have to travel to have an inspiration. Learn the culture of the place you visited. Plan your shots and be creative”. 

Mr. Tapan's first photograph 

   I really admire his photographs. If you look at it, it seems so alive. It’s like I’m in the photo with him when he took it. His photos stimulate your mind. It’s magic. “All photos must have soul. Try to capture the soul of the picture. Photography has a purpose, it should be shared.”

   This man is not a brand conscious. If he likes to use a Nikon or any camera just to have his desired photo, he will use it. “Try to experiment with your equipment,” as he suggested. “Thru experimentation you will learn a lot from it.” 

Mr. Tapan discussed about different camera lenses.

   He is not fond of using flash and (adobe) photoshop. He is more into natural looking photographs. If it is dark, he uses flash light instead of camera flash. Moreover, he thinks and analyzes his subject before he photographed it. “You should consider whether your subject is appropriate in a situation or moment you want to shoot,” he said. “For example, if you want to capture a woman who wears a bikini in the beautiful waterfalls, you should think whether the woman in bikini could be a distraction to the beautiful waterfalls. In short, think the right concept for your photo.” 

   “Dream big,” as he advised. “Your photographs are not intended for Facebook only.” Mr. Tapan pointed out that photographers should not depend on uploading their works on Facebook. “Photography is not all about yes and likes on Facebook. If you dream that your works will be published on the National Geographic magazine or in the Mabuhay Miles magazine, then you should work on it. Dream big.” He also said that mistake is normal for a photographer. “By taking photos, you will learn from it. You will learn from your mistakes.”

   Mr. Tapan also emphasized the importance of etiquette in taking photos. A photographer should ask permission and research about the place he/she visited. A photographer should be respectful and culture-sensitive. A photographer must conceptualize before he/she take photos. 

   When one of the participants asked Mr. Tapan on what’s his secret to have great eyes in taking photos, he said, “I always pray to God to have good eyes in taking photos. I also pray for a good weather.” 

   His body of works speaks a lot about him as an artist. Despite his success and recognition, he remains humble and open for learning. It is sad to observe that most of the photographers today have this “huge ego”. It keeps them blinded on the reality of life. It weakens their artistic expression and creative mind. They are more into flaunting their gadgets and equipment not to capture the beauty of life but to intimidate others. They are busy profiting their so called “masterpiece” that they tend to forget their responsibilities as photographers. 

   How I wish I have George Tapan-type of Cinematographer in my film production team. I don’t mean to be a delusional dork here but his eyes as a photographer are truly amazing. Well, I look forward to meet that kind of teammate in the near future. As of this writing, I am still intoxicated with his works. I’m on this wishful thinking-mindset that if I have him on my team, our art work would be as great as other great art works in the world……if I have him.