PIO photography workshop sheds light to areas for improvement, lauds top 3 stills

By ARDEL S. MALANOG
June 28, 2016

CALBAYGOG CITY – With the aim of improving the quality of works produced by the Public Information Office of each district, delegates from different District Engineering Offices (DEO) in Region 8 assembled at Marju Krisel Hotel and Restaurant, Calbayog City, Samar last June 9-10, 2016, for the first PIO Conference cum Workshop of Fiscal Year 2016.

Mr. Nheru Veraflor, former editor at Sun Star Cebu, discussed Beyond Basic Photography and Newsletter Production. Focusing on photograph compositions, a topic which the resource speaker considers to be a basic requisite in photography, Mr. Veraflor discussed how to catch the audience attention by photographing subjects at view points distinctive to what is commonly seen in the morning of June 9.

In the afternoon, the delegates were sent out to the field to cover four of Samar First DEO’s Infrastructure Projects. Among the projects covered are the ongoing Replacement of Sta. Margarita Bridge along Brgy. Monbon, Sta. Margarita, completed portion of Calbayog Diversion Road leading to Rawis Fair Market, Calbayog City, completed Flood Control Project at Brgy. Oquendo, Calbayog City and ongoing Construction of a Two Storey School Building at Trinidad National High School, Brgy. Trinidad, Calbayog City.

Morning of June 10, 2016, the delegates reconvened for the critiquing of their photos. Each photographer was asked to present his best photo among the pictures he took during the photography workshop. While critiquing, various concerns about the use of photos crop out. Most prominent of which is the concern about using project documentation pictures in press releases. It was agreed that pictures used in PRs must first and foremost be able to catch the readers’ interest. Mr. Veraflor also cited tips on how to improve the photos which were presented.