Photographer of the Week

Japoi Cequiña - Fascinated by Photography’s Dynamic Range-

by Yugel Losorata–

Some photography enthusiasts claim that it is in the power of freezing scenes which makes them truly attracted to the craft. Others pick the visual splendor made possible by photography.

For Negros Occidental’s pride Wilfred John Royce “Japoi” Cequiña, it is everything about the craft that pushes him in. Singling out something simply does not make the medium complete. He tells Picture Perfect, “I cannot exactly pinpoint a singular detail that attracts me most to photography. It’s the totality that draws me to it – from conceptualization of an artistic idea to the rendering. Everything is just magical.”

The wonderful results of his shots significantly send the message that the man behind the camera enjoys everything about the art of photography. It is more than just a form of self-expression for him. In his own words, it’s the whole shebang of it that helps him grow as a person.

Through photography, he makes ordinary things extraordinary. He gets aware of the world’s beauty in spite of its misgivings. It allows him to see deep within himself the value of pursuing passion and getting paid to do what he loves to.

“Even the simple sound of the shutter is music to my ears,” he says with a smile.

Born in Manapla, Negros Occidental, this 25-year-old visual artist has already produced a portfolio that keeps the amazing possibilities of photography intact and glowing right before the eyes. It is a big plus that his late father Wilfredo was a photography aficionado – enabling him to tinker with camera equipment as early as when he was just nine years old. Emotionally he finds his affair with photography as a powerful way of bringing back the beautiful past he had with his dad.

Japoi loves people as subjects, from the very young to the really old ones. He shares, “I love shooting old people; I love the lines in their faces that tell a great story of their lives. I am also interested in photographing children because I can see myself in them when I was a child– full of enthusiasm and joie de vivre (joy of life).”

Winner of this year’s Dinagyang Festival photo contest, our featured photographer is into wedding photography where people led by the bride and the groom are vital to the picture. He finds it as a perfect field because it touches several aspects of photography: portraits, photojournalism, fashion, and landscape (during outdoor shoots). His family and closest members of the clan served then as his clients. Through word of mouth, his clientele extended to beautiful strangers – people with stories and who want their pledge of love documented.

Citing Manny Librodo (Filipino), Art Wolfe, Annie Leibovitz, and Jerry Ghionis as his biggest influences, Japoi is an achiever when joining in photo competitions – which by his definition is one way of knowing that he is more than how he thinks of himself. His natural, colorful, and emotional photos oftentimes earned the jurors’ approval.

Despite the recognition, he remains humble and would rather hear from other people how good he is. “My photography has exposed me to the good and the bad and has made me wiser in my opinions and decision-making. All these have taught me to embrace simplicity and put my feet always firmly planted on the ground.”

Describing himself as laid-back and simple, this lensman believes that learning the basic techniques of photography is a must while attending workshops and conferences is a big contribution to acquiring more knowledge about photography. “The more technically equipped you are, the more potentially creative you can be,” he points out.

Asked about his motto as a photographer, he states, “The only principle I have is: be passionate in what you have come to embrace. The way to become one is summed up in three simple words: practice, practice, practice.”