MMS 173 End Blog: One Shot Summary

If there’s one word I could use to describe my experience throughout the MMS 173 course, it would be journey. This course was one heck of a ride. Not just a pursuit of academic and technical knowledge in photography (or sometimes, good grades, to be honest), but a real journey toward self-discovery.

Coming into this class, I was a bit apprehensive. Photography had always fascinated me, but I never had the experience of shooting professionally. My iPhone had always been my personal photography gear. It’s compact and convenient, but it has its limitations. Still, it was enough for me, since I only used it to post on my Instagram stories. But for this course, I knew I had to step it up—and my lack of experience made me feel a bit doubtful.

But then I remembered, this is exactly why I decided to pursue a second college degree. To be challenged and to learn.

If I could encapsulate my journey in one photo, it would be the last photo I submitted for class, my self-portrait.

Since it was the final photo requirement, it felt like the perfect representation of my growth in the course and how I rediscovered myself through the lens.

My journey started as a mobile photographer. The first photo I submitted was in the self-introduction forum, a shot I took a few years ago outside my condo window. At the time, I thought it was already a good photo, and I proudly posted it on Instagram. For the second assignment, where we were asked to post our best shots so far, I submitted photos also taken on my iPhone during some of my local and international travels. Again, I believed they were good enough to be shared on social media. I was proud of them.

But then came the peer critiques. That’s when I was blown away by the skill of some of my classmates.

Some had already photographed celebrities or worked on campaigns. Honestly, I felt a little insecure at first. My iPhone shots didn’t seem to stand a chance against those taken with bulky DSLRs and mirrorless cameras. But as I browsed more portfolios, I realized many of my classmates were just like me.

And then it hit me. Being inexperienced isn’t a bad thing. In fact, it’s a great thing, because it means there’s so much room to learn. That realization was humbling and inspiring. It pushed me to grow and take the craft more seriously.

That’s when I decided to purchase a camera. Nothing fancy. Just an entry-level DSLR, the Canon 1500D. It didn’t have any high-tech AI features or a vari-angle touch screen, but it was enough. Finally, I could work with a manual camera and apply what I was learning.

I was so excited to have a DSLR that I started taking lots of photos—mostly of my cats. Some shots were good, some not so much. But I learned. While iPhones take great photos, one of their limitations is that I couldn’t manually adjust exposure. With my DSLR, I could finally put the exposure triangle into practice. At first, I would just randomly adjust settings until the image looked okay. But over time, I started to understand how to be more intentional with my settings. I began to know which combinations to use based on the composition I had in mind.

Being intentional—that’s another big thing I learned in this course. Before, I would just take a bunch of shots on my phone and pick the one that looked best. But learning about design elements and photography techniques taught me how to compose more deliberately. Now, I make a conscious effort to frame the shot with my eyes first. To know what story I want to tell before raising my camera. From being a reckless mobile shooter who relied on burst shots, I slowly became more of a storyteller.

Then came our face-to-face class at the UPOU headquarters. I was so excited! In my three years at UPOU, I had never been on campus, so I was exhilarated to finally visit my university. And of course, to experience an actual classroom setting and interact with my classmates in real time. I had been longing for that physical connection, since virtual interactions, while convenient, can sometimes feel limiting. We all have different schedules, after all.

It was such a fun and enriching session. I finally met my classmates and put faces to the names I had only seen in the forums. I made friends and found inspiration. One classmate in particular really impressed me with their work. Someone who's works I had admired online and was now able to meet in person. I also learned more about lighting from Prof. Al, and exchanged insights with fellow students. It was a long trip from Manila to Los Baños, Laguna, but a meaningful one. I went home with more than just new knowledge.

I carried with me new friendships and fresh motivation.

All the knowledge and experiences I gained throughout the term prepared me for the final assignment, taking my personal portrait.

Taking photos of myself has always been uncomfortable for me. I’m not a very confident person. I love taking photos, but not of myself. So this self-portrait assignment was a real challenge. But I was up for it. And I realized this was the perfect opportunity to apply everything I’d learned.

For the shoot, I was a one-man team. I was my own creative director, photographer, and editor. I conceptualized the idea, arranged the setup, clicked the shutter, and handled the post-processing. It wasn’t easy, but it was incredibly fulfilling. In conceptualizing, I applied design and composition. In setting up my home studio, I used lighting techniques. In operating my camera, I practiced exposure control. In editing, I refined the photo using what I had learned.

I applied everything I’d learned from the course into one single frame.

But more than the technical skills, the most important thing I gained was a deeper appreciation for myself. I learned to be more confident, to not shy away from the camera. I began to rediscover who I am and how I want to express myself through photography. This wasn’t just a technical exercise. It was an introspective one. A realization of my identity, expressed through art. And that, to me, was the perfect culmination of my MMS 173 journey.

From being doubtful of my skills and uncomfortable in my own reflection, to embracing my creativity, owning my growth, and proudly holding the camera. I’ve come a long way.

The MMS 173 journey was short, but deeply meaningful. In just three months, I’ve learned so much. Not just about the art of photography, but also about myself. But this isn’t the end.

This self-portrait marks both an end and a beginning. An end to my MMS 173 course, but a beginning for how I’ll take these learnings even further. Taking that photo inspired me. I want it to be my baseline. I plan to keep shooting self-portraits. I plan to keep the makeshift studio I built in a small room at home, and continue practicing portrait photography.

In time, I hope to look back at this photo and see just how far I’ve come. And I’m excited to witness that growth.

Malayo na, pero malayo pa.

After this course, I’ve fallen even more deeply in love with photography—and I’ve learned to appreciate myself more.

Rhon Joshua Calupitan | 2022-30993