A ‘shooter’ could mean many things. It could be a member of a military unit—most likely a sniper. Or it could also mean a photographer; taking shots of their subjects with meticulousness to light, aperture and the likes. But a shooter in whatever form you use it simply means mastery in precision. On the other hand, a ‘barkada’ is a Filipino word referring to a group of people sharing a commonality; be it friendship, a hobby or an interest. All-boxed up—this is a notion non-existent to the members of a photographers’ society in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. A group formed by a Registered Nurse and a Physiotherapist, you wouldn’t really expect first hand that they still have the time to turn their hobby into good cause. But they did…
It all started when Rodan De La Rosa, a registered nurse, and Allan Avila, a physiotherapist, came up with an idea during a family event. The two met in February 2009. Both had a vision of shepherding Filipino photographers in Abu Dhabi as most enthusiast groups belong to the nearby emirate. From then on, they were able to enlist an ever growing number of hobbyists in the area. On the same month from inception, photowalks and other related activities were participated by its new members. Given the rich cultural, natural and architectural landscape Abu Dhabi has to offer, these projects were both a venue for fellowship as well as appreciation.
On May 2009, the initial ten people were able to spread their networks to friends and acquaintances who share the same passion—if only for their available hours off from their respective jobs. A lot of people took interest in growing the budding organization. Thus, the Shootercada Photographers’ Circle was born. “From there, additions in the group were by invitation only to photowalks. Until came the time when a sizable number was achieved to form an organization,” shares SPC president Michael Zuniga. “With the growing number of people attending our photo activities, it was but natural to formally organize the teachings so as to move ahead in our knowledge.” They were duly accredited by the Philippine Embassy just in time for the Independence Celebration in 2009.
The leaders of the group are composed of Certified Public Accountant, Registered Nurses, Office Professionals and Engineers. Quite tough duties to accomplish, yet they are able to sustain the momentum the group had when it began. In fact, they have accelerated their efforts with such enthusiasm the even Filipinos in Al Ain, Dubai and Sharjah began joining the ‘AUH’-based team. They ought to create a club that readily embraces members no matter what their aptitude in photography is. “We predominantly cater to ‘newbies’ in DSLR photography. (We are) hoping that each batch will gain knowledge enough to teach the incoming batches in the future.” They hope that this will be a venue to turn their hobbies into passion and, eventually, into business opportunities as another form of income. “We aim to enrich the passion, develop confidence and skills of its members in the arts and techniques of all branches of photography. We would like to carry this out while contributing to the cultural development of the community in any way possible,” he adds.
In a short span of ten months, SPC was able to launch basic photography lessons, photowalks, themed photo shoots, as well as participate in event coverage and monthly meetings. They have likewise begun venturing to organizing projects for a cause: “We have organized civic activities like photowalks for the victims of Typhoon Ondoy. We also joined Medicine Sanz Francais (MSF) in their fund raising activity to help distressed areas around the world, including the Philippines.”
The SPC desires to be of help to their fellow comrades in the field of photography. They likewise would like to serve as a shelter to aspiring photographers in the UAE. Barely a year old, their name in itself is destined for success. As they master precision, as well as promote solidarity, the Shootercada Photographers’ Circle is a promising ray of hope in every sense.
How many members have you had since inception?
41 members, 30 of them are active.
How often do you meet?
We meet every first Friday of the month.
Do you have a joining fee?
We have a renewable annual fee of AED 100.
What equipments do you require your members to have?
We require our members to carry Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLP) cameras with them.
Do they need to have the basic skills already?
No. We warmly welcome ‘newbies’ to the group.
Is there an age limit?
Yes. 12 years old and above.
Is it open to any nationality?
No. We only open our membership to Filipinos or those of Filipino descent.
Where do you usually hold your gatherings?
During summer, we would meet at the Philippine National School. For winter, any park in Abu Dhabi would be just as perfect.
by Dominique Pechuela-Famador