Photographer of the Week

Clee Villasor - An Interplay of Light and Dark -
by Yugel Losorata –

There are photographers who prefer producing images in dark tones. Some may find joy in putting out pictures in light colors. Then, there are those who choose to be in the middle ground whose photographs depict an artistic bond between light and dark. Clee A. Villasor is one of them, a self-professed lover of that mix – a passionate sensualist for that matter.

His photographs project that special relationship between what’s dark and what’s light. With this, the eyes can see that the real power resides not in being bright or dark, but in both aspects. “I’m a lover of the interplay of light and dark. It is here where my love for photography finds its special meaning and purpose,” he shares in serious tone.

Clee has more than a decade of experience in freelance photography, web designing, and graphic artistry. One cannot point what photography type he really specializes in, for he settles not just for one field. It’s his kind of shot that makes him defined.

Besides, he labels himself best. According to him, he is not a documentarian or a photojournalist. He is more of a painter using camera as brush. In less poetic and more technical terms, he has developed a very good grasp of what is required in the industry and enjoys ways to adopt new challenges of the digital technology.

This goes to show how he hates being predictable. He admits, “I have an eclectic photographic taste. I don’t want to label myself. It only limits one’s vision. I love to photograph anything!”

A product of the prestigious Silliman University in Dumaguete City, Clee practically grew up with photography. At five, he was already documenting his pastor-father’s out-of-town ministries with a Kodak instamatic. A more formal introduction came when he enrolled in a photography class in 1998.

In 2007, he bought a Nikon D40x. With his relocations to Cebu and Metro Manila widening his horizons, his journey into the realm of photography became more impassioned and colorful. It helped that he was mentored by craft masters Edwin Lozada and Carlito So.

Since 2005, he has staged photo exhibits, with his work published in Netherlands’ biggest innovative lifestyle magazine called Bright. His high-profile projects include deals with Bigfoot Global Solutions, Inc., Jollibee, and the International Academy for Film and Television.

Asked about his idea of a good picture, he explains, “It is good if it’s something otherworldly and bathed in sheer light, captured in an instance; a recorded portrait that communicates beyond the ordinary. Images that approximate all these inspire aspiring photographers. They are the result of a creative vision, which is seen even before the camera’s shutter opens. An effective photograph transcends the generic, the cute, or the commonplace amazing, because it has to.”

Just last October, he participated in a contest sponsored by Filipinas Heritage Library (under the Ayala Foundation). The theme was “Celebrating Life at the Ayala Malls” as he successfully represented Dumaguete. He was chosen as one of the 13 selected lensmen now included in the ongoing nationwide traveling Ayala Malls exhibits, which will end on January 5, 2010.

For Clee, the best thing about being a photographer is the fame and prestige that come with it. But, these can’t be achieved overnight. The endless hours he spent on post-processing year after year developed that ‘painterly effect’ in his photos. He is now a one-man team who also excels as a team player. Thus, he is good in collaborating, having created stuff with the likes of artist Phil Adnil Calumpang and multi-awarded Palanca writer Ian Rosales Casocot.

Always clear about what he wants to see, Clee points out, “Gears are nothing if you depend on them solely. A camera without the photographer’s vision is useless.”