Photographer of the Week

Francis Nollan Damaso - Capturing Everything in a Click
by Yugel Losorata–

Time is of the essence as some artists find it amazing when they’re able to produce something creative in the blink of an eye.

Forty-two-year-old hobbyist Francis Nollan Damaso gets the fulfillment each time he’d put in a single frame all the right emotions and visual splendor. The feeling for him is likened to a basketball player having scored a winning shot that changed the outcome of the game at the very last second.

“What attracts me to photography is its ability to capture moments, emotions, and the beauty of God’s creation without spending so much time,” expressed the family man employed as HR (human resource) supervisor in a manufacting firm.

With his craft’s nature as a source of eye refreshment, photography has become his sense of relaxation ever since he started shooting in 2005. He was fortunate that one of his company’s officers taught him the basics of freezing images through a photographer’s eye. It was indeed a triumph for him to discover that he has it.

Last year, this section recognized three of his pictures – each of them was chosen as “Photo of the Week.”

“An effective photograph for me is something that can tell stories out of images, well composed and lighted. It is one that can make viewers go back and take another look. It is something that you would like to preserve and treasure,” Damaso considered.

The featured photographer has sharp eyes in shooting portraits particularly kids in their cute, unposed moments. He is fond of doing street photography since he doesn’t have much time to go out of town. The result is more often presenting ordinary things in special ways. Only good lensmen can provide that to the eyes – allowing the restrained air of reality to freely breathe through silently moving photographs.

What he admires most in portraits is the appreciation he gets from his subjects, which actually happens only to artists who really produce the goods. If God can talk like people do, for sure he would hear some words for his pretty nature shots.

Damaso did some paintings and sketching back when he was in school. That alone explains why his road stretched to photography. He said, “Photography gives me a chance to show my artistic inclination after I’m done with painting and sketching.”

While he is into digital photography because of its being less-expensive than its counterpart, Damaso still has high respect for film-based photographers, noting that the dark room process is useful depending on images. It is also in the same way that black-and-white photography pushes aside colors because such rendition fits well the image.

“I still consider myself a newbie – still learning,” explained the man from Parañaque. “My ultimate goal is simply to continue shooting and enjoy it as a hobby. I love to capture good images even for a limited time and place to go to. It is just like any sports where you can play and enjoy even not to the point of turning pro. I do believe that with continuous practice, anyone’s skills will improve further.”

Because of his busy day-job schedule, Damaso has found himself deprived of time to join in photo contests. But big thanks to online competitions which allow him to submit entries. His goal in the coming days is to take part in various photography competitions. And according to him, winning in contests is really a goal, though fulfillment really boils down to the mere joy of shooting and bringing home a good photo.

“Gaining friends through online photography forum is also some sort of an accomplishment,” he added. “It provides learning, sharing and a chance to interact with fellow photographers without really seeing them on a daily basis.”