Mortal scenes

Picture this: The digital camera, that pocketful of electronic wonder, making the film-based camera a thing of the past, and people printing their own pictures at home with their own Epson Stylus.

That’s not hard to imagine, what with digital photography, luring a legion of converts, both hobbyists and professionals, here and abroad.

With our digicams gingerly stashed in our pockets, we were lured even more, nay captivated, by this thing called digital imaging when we went to see "Best Shots - 2nd Edition" at epSITE, Epson Imaging Gallery at Wheelock Place on Orchard Road, Singapore recently.

The winning photos, truly hot shots, were culled from some 69,000 works of which 11,783 entries came from Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Spearheaded by Seiko Epson Corporation and the Epson Group Companies, a global leader in imaging products, the annual contest is designed to promote digital photography and give enthusiasts a venue for displaying their hidden creative talents to the max.

This year, contestants competed in three categories: Color Imaging Award, Family Snap Award, and Nature and Human Life Photo Award. Snagging a Family Snap Award is our own Edwin Bacasmas, a Fine Arts graduate of the Technological University of the Philippines and Inquirer photographer, with his entry titled "Working Hard for the Money."

Indeed, it was another hard day at work when Edwin spotted what was to be the subject of his award-winning photo. He relates, "One morning at 8, I was riding our service car along TM Kalaw when in front of us, I saw this family in a pedicab loaded with cartons plus three little kids. It was the mother on the pedals and her little daughter was asleep in a basket behind her . . . I had joined a local Epson contest and I learned there was an international contest but was told that the deadline was the next day. I went back to the office, went through my files, and found the photo of this family. I made it to the deadline!"

Winning was a snap for this photo journalist who wouldn’t mind going through hell (he was almost buried in mud covering the relief operations following the landslide in Southern Leyte) for a good photo.

For her part, shutterbug Michiko Nishimura reveals how she came up with her grand-prizewinning piece, rather collage: "Two cameras were used to create my piece – a Coolpix equipped with an LCD viewer and a single-lens reflex D70. There is a different feel between an LCD viewer and a conventional lens finder. A digital camera was my favorite toy when I was a junior high school student and I was accustomed to an LCD. At that time, I was good at human headshots, but such skills have been worn since the camera was switched to a SLR which made me feel more comfortable with non-human photography. An LCD viewer just creates an impression of indirect shooting and you may not be aware in reality if somebody should press a shutter beside you. My old LCD camera thus worked out to express natural snapshot feelings after all. I recently bought a new one to complement the SRL."

The photos, on exhibit at epSITE until April 30, are clearly excellent works of digital fine art that not only catch even the most jaded eye but also stir the apathetic soul. Among our favorite images: A symmetry of fruit stands in "Symphony" by the Philippines’ Joseph Wu; a cat playing Go, a Japanese board game, in "A Decisive Move" by Katsuko Fukuda; a geriatric couple, with the man lovingly feeding the woman in "All Happiness" by Nguyen Chi Duc; a family of eight children happily sharing a meal in their humble home in a photo by Yeo Yeow Kwang, who romped off with a Family Snap Award; a hand holding the tiny foot of a newborn baby in "Miracle" by Alex Soh; and a just-married couple sharing an umbrella as they walk barefoot in the rain in "Love in the Rain" by Pang Hway Sheng.

Says Shinichiro Fujita, chairman and CEO of Epson Singapore Pte Ltd, "I am delighted that this is the 12th year the contest is held and we are still receiving exceptional works of art . . . This competition is of great value to our society and for our art culture in encouraging digital imaging endeavors. In supporting photography and art enthusiasts at all levels, we have been able to present high-quality images together with our products that allow users to go beyond their expectations and to exceed their vision . . . "

"The shift from film-based to digital cameras has been much faster than we thought," happily notes Junkichi Yoshida, director, Imaging & Printing Products, Branded Product Division, Epson Singapore. "Most cameras you see on the market today are digicams. This is amazing for us because when we started our digicam project 10 years ago in the US, no camera manufacturer believed digital cameras would be so popular. The Philippines has a big market for digital photography, for professional and commercial uses. Of course, some of the camera manufacturers are still manufacturing film cameras. From snapshots to high-end photos, it just means people have more choices now as to which way to go. Whichever way they go, we’re changing the way people handle photos."

But of course, at Epson, the employees know where the company is going. "They clearly understand where we’re going to invest our resourcers," says Hiromi Taba, managing director, Epson Singapore. "At the same time, we’re trying to become an imaging company. We’re pushing digital imaging by holding contests and promoting our digital imaging gallery. And we’re running what is called the Print Academy."

Epson Singapore recently launched a 126-square-meter showroom at the ground floor of HarbourFront Tower One to showcase the latest from Epson’s wide range of products innovations.

And then there’s the Epson Mobile Youth Bus (epbus) that travels on the streets of Singapore to bring technology to young people. Hop aboard the epbus and get a hands-on experience with sophisticated IT equipment and design software, and have fun with photo printing under Epson-trained volunteers.

The epbus also serves as a youth business center to allow youth volunteers to acquire an entrepreneurial skill or two and give back to the community. Call it state-of-the-heart technology.

Speaking of heartware, there’s also the Heartware Network, a non-profit youth organization that serves the community with an "I can make a difference" attitude.

"The only bottleneck we have is that the epbus cannot travel on water," Hiromi Taba points out.

The Philippines is still waiting for an epbus to come to its shores.

Meanwhile, smile and savor life’s precious fleeting moments – and freeze them in the camera of your memory forever.