The Miss Cagayan de Oro pageant for 2018 just held its talent competition in SM Uptown Cagayan de Oro last July 14 (Saturday). With the event filled with a jam packed audience and supporters, pageant fever is now on in the city of golden friendship.
Cagayan de Oro city’s most prestigious pageant is well under way as the 12 hopeful candidates showcased their flair in various aptitudes in the first pre-pageant event that would make an impact to the people of the city. From dancing, singing, a mix of both with painting on the side and a declamation, the candidates highlighted their knack of performing in front of a star studded panel of judges.
It has been 5 years that I have photographed and documented the pageant and by far, each year has its own tale of improvement and impact to me as a photographer. For the first time however, I will be writing about the pageant, the candidates, the mentors, the people about the event and the experience all together.
It gives me much pride to be included in the list of photographers who will be creating portraits for these individuals as they journey for the crown. I am thankful for this year to Ma’am Mags Cue, Sir Mark Pagaspas, Ma’am Gilda Go, the pageant committee and the people behind the parade of beauties and brains in the city.
On the technical aspect, I was carrying an old camera for this event. Circa 2012, but it does the job pretty well. Carrying a wide aperture lens and focusing more on the decisive moment rather than shooting with not a care in a world can up your chances to get that shot. With a 35mm lens and a f1.4 aperture, the subjects will be isolated and with blurred backgrounds (this way, the main focus would be them and not any other nuisance in the background).
Focusing should be considered however when photographing very fast or movements that could have an abrupt stop or go, a fast lens, semi-pro body or the proper discipline should be practiced when shooting talent competitions in my opinion.
The next few weeks will be an interesting one as the candidates will be competing in various pre pageant activities, one of which I have been tasked to photograph. Shooting this pageant is my own simple way of giving back to the city where I was born and raised; it will be a testament that the city holds a certain brilliance in the people that live in it that shines like gold.
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