Video Interview with Filipino Street Photographers (FSP)

by Eric Kim on May 2, 2012

This video was recorded a while back by the Filipino Street Photographers group. Thanks again to Rinzi Ruiz and Jeff Mercader for interviewing me and all the love for my Filipino brothers and sisters back in the Philippines! Watch the video large here.

I will also be hosting a street photography workshop in Manila, Jan 11-13th (Introductory workshop) and Jan 18-20th (Intermediate/Advanced) in 2013. If you would like more information or register, please email Jeff Mercader at jeffren@titaniumsportz.com

Tagged as: eric kim, filipino street photographers, street photography video

  • sandrixx

    Mabuhay ang Pinoy!!!

  • http://twitter.com/calerouxz Carlos

    I agree with a lot of what you say in this video. I do believe however that there’s a place for un-processed photographs. In the last 4-5 months i’ve been shooting only JPEG, to avoid the temptation of sitting on my computer and saying like “well… I could help the composition by cropping, I could help my exposure by adding some contrast or vibrance, etc…”, it has helped me look at my photos for what they are and not for what they could be. I’m not sure if you would call stitching a panorama in photoshop cheating though :P. JPEG has so much less data in it, that probably the most minimal exposure adjustment would result in such a great loss in quality that I’ve just stopped post-processing.

    Onto another topic… I’m currently shooting on a Canon EOS 30D (APS-C size sensor), its kind of old, and I’m thinking on jumping onto a full frame when I can have a job and earn some money (I’m 17), my dad gave me his 30D, and I’ve stuck with it and some lenses he’s had around. However, after seeing a lot of the Leica M9, I’ve really thought… Why not go for the rolex of cameras?… I know its 7,000 dollars, not including lenses (that would be another 3,000-3,500, not including tax), and I’ve started to save up some money to buy one in the long run. I’m mostly a landscape shooter, and I’ve been wondering if from personal experience… Does the lack of AA really provide an increase in sharpness compared to other cameras (for ex: Canon 5D mk II/III). I also wonder: If I do get the Leica M9 some day, what lens would you recommend I go for first?(Rather have it 40mm or less, I need it to be able to be wide enough), I’ve been looking at the 35mm f/2 summicron Aspherical, as well as the Zeiss Ikon 18mm f/4 T* Distagon (Zeiss is cheaper though). I know that I don’t NEED it to do my landscapes, but I think the investment in it is worth it, and I’d be very pleased to not be carrying 35lbs of weight on my back when I’m in an airport (yes, did happen). I’ve been doing a lot of panoramas lately, and quite large as well. I’ve already used a full-frame format before. For some reason I’m also drawn to the M9 for some reason I can’t really explain, its not like a digital watch that has loads of functions, its more like a Rolex, which is better build, more reliable, and for some psychological reason, more satisfying to have.

    • http://devinmjones.wordpress.com/ Devin Jones

      If you’re primarily a landscape photographer, save yourself some time and money and get a medium format camera. They’re better suited for landscapes and, depending on the model, actually quite light. You’ll learn a lot more about photography in general if you go with MF. Keep your Canon for metering/previewing your shots. After a year or two, when you’ve learned to take photos without the onboard computer and instant review options, buy yourself a full-frame digital.

      No one debates that Leicas are nice, but they’re outrageously priced. A good deal of function, with a great deal of fashion to go with. Awesome. Or you could opt to pay for college or a new car instead.

      Just my two cents.

      • unidigital

        (btw, the post above is mine, though it says “guest”). I’ve been shooting my camera 100% manual, 100% of the time. No Aperture priority, no program, no macro mode, no sports or whatever mode. In reality I don’t want to step into a Medium format camera, they are generally good (from what I hear) to only landscapes and photoshoots, but there they just blow my mind away with IQ. While I primarily do landscapes, I don’t think I would take a full-size medium format camera to the streets. However, if I were to buy a Medium-Format camera, it would probably be a Hasselblad 503CW (film), and save up for a digital back. I take small amount of exposures, unless I’m in a sports event (probably wouldn’t take the Leica here either though…), I’ve been comfortable shooting without having to look into my screen every shot. I have around 3 years shooting with the Canon 30D, and although that is not much time(can’t wait till I have 20 years of experience :P), I think I have advanced a lot through those 3 years. It’d be awesome if I got into medium format one day, but for now I’m thinking staying DSLR or going into the Leica, maybe film (if I can fix my grandfather’s 1955 Edixa reflex, and internally clean the Steinheil Munchen 40mm f/3.5-that is). I’ve already shot Full-Frame, my dad owns a 5D mk II he doesn’t mind lending me once in a while, along with a good couple of L-series glass.

        You do have a point in that medium formats are king in landscapes, but its just one of the things that I do, and that M9 just feels more practical than a medium format. I also don’t like RAW (odd, I kow, just don’t like post-processing), I just take my card, open up aperture, import my images, search for the panoramas (and stitch them) and then I review-review-review for a good 3 days and then I decide if I’m happy with my shots. As far as I know hasselblads only output to their RAW format or TIFF (I still have nightmares about an uncompressed panoramic wighting just at 1GB exported to TIFF out of Photoshop, est. file sizes for 8-bit Hasselblad Tiff is 80-90MB).

        Thanks for your 2 cents though, its always nice to see what people think, especially if its about such big quantities of money. I’m not looking into the cheapest of cameras though, I’m not taking the camera over college, I’m thinking about a camera to get in the next couple of years, for now I’m fine learning to shoot with my 30D, it’s a great camera (but old). I’m taking a long-term commitment on purchasing a good camera.

        • http://devinmjones.wordpress.com/ Devin Jones

          Cool. Sounds like you really know what you want. Digital is so convenient, and can arguably produce results as good as film in some situations. Lots of upsides and downsides to everything I guess.

          Good luck getting your Leica! I wouldn’t mind having an M9 either. Here’s to hoping you and I win the lottery! I’ll keep my fingers crossed.

          • unidigital

            jaja I’ve got a small can where I put everything I have extra, I’m hoping some day that’l become a Leica :)… The lottery is an option too :P

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