Shoot Me!

MANILA, Philippines - Young Star brings together top photographer Doc Marlon Pecjo and hotshot blogger-photographer Tricia Gosingtian in a mind-blowing one-on-one.

Don’t we just love collaborations? Now, imagine throwing two larger-than-life photographers in the studio. The task was not easy for these lensmen: to become both the artist and the subject. Doc Marlon Pecjo, the man who captures the most beautiful angles (even on bad hair days), and Tricia Gosingtian, who spends her every day taking snapshots for her blogs, together are a beautiful study in contrast.

DOC MARLON PECJO: How much of your time per day is dedicated to photography?

TRICIA GOSINGTIAN: Depends on what I have to do for the day. Like for example, there are some days when I have to be not a photographer, but a model. Or there are some days when I have to photograph for my blog. That’s kind of hitting two birds with one stone. My blog requires photography and modeling. In terms of hours, I don’t know how long it takes. But normally, I just bring out my camera and my tripod and just shoot away with the remote. The good thing about the remote is I don’t have to wait for 10 seconds, I suppose. I think I’m a fast photographer. So, if I shoot, it doesn’t take me the whole day. I guess that’s also a reflection that I don’t have much photography, well, compared to Doc Marlon who shoots every day, every single hour of the day! But yeah, depends on my role for the day.

In terms of being a photographer, the longest I have done is 12 hours, which I don’t think is pretty long but it’s pretty long enough for me — because I don’t have muscles to carry all my equipment. Every time I shoot, all the makeup artists and hair stylists are like, “Kaya mo ba yan? Kailangan mo ba ng tulong?” (Laughs) I like taking behind-the-scene pictures. I guess even if I’m not required yet, I go to the place early to shoot — kahit ’di naman ipa-publish. So, that’s more photography hours that I spend.

PECJO: I probably spend my entire day being a photographer. When I’m sleeping, I usually dream of what I’m supposed to do for the next shoot. When I’m taking a shower, I think about the concept for the shoot I’m going to do and the poses I’m supposed to have my models do. When I’m driving on my way to the shoot, I’m thinking about what I’m going to do. When I go out with friends from the industry, we usually just talk about it. When people ask my name, I usually just say “Doc,” which is my photography name, which is different from my real name as a doctor. So, I guess I spend a lot of time doing it.

GOSINGTIAN: That’s my dream!

PECJO: Plus, of course, aside from the fact that I have to shoot for work. So, I guess I’m a photographer almost...

GOSINGTIAN: 24/7!

YOUNG STAR: Now, Tricia, you’re handling a very active blog. Taking photos for a blog is totally different.

GOSINGTIAN: It’s nice that my photography isn’t just published in newspapers and magazines. It’s on the Internet. In a way, more people are able to see my work. So, that’s one of the differences between me and Doc Marlon.

What’s your photography like?

PECJO: Well, I’d like to think that I don’t have a particular style ‘cause I’d rather not have one. But of course, working as a photographer, you do it almost everyday and you tend to do things your way and you kind of do it with a certain style. As much as I wouldn’t want to not to have a (specific) style, I kind of not have a choice because people book me for jobs (because of a certain style).

What do they say?

Shot on location at BULB STUDIOS, 2231 Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati City

PECJO: Well, they say I do fashion, a lot of fashion, and movements in terms of fashion photography. So, hopefully, I don’t want to be known as a photographer with a particular style. I’d rather have my photographs speak for me. I just hope when I see my photographs, they get surprised. I love doing shoots that people don’t expect me to do.

Like this one.

PECJO: So, mas gusto ko ‘yung gano’n. Unexpected. When you look at my work in terms of job requirement, you would see a certain style. Not just because of me, but because of the people I work with, because they really depend on that particular style.

GOSINGTIAN: I think I haven’t had that much experience yet. But so far, I heard from people that my photographs are kind of clean and that my studio ones are very minimalist and my outdoor ones are very warm. That’s probably my style. But I’d like to think that I’m not just defined by that style and I can also shoot different things. You just have to give me the opportunity, so hire me! (Laughs)

PECJO: Question... Ang dami kong tanong, ‘no? What inspires you?

GOSINGTIAN: The cheesy answer to that is the people around me. But actually, in terms of photography, I really love Japanese aesthetics like clean, very minimalist styles. Not very fancy, but light set-ups. I’m also inspired by nature. I really like shooting outdoors. The sun is my favorite source of light. I’m really inspired by how light hits people differently. For example, under the shade, through the leaves, stuff like that.

And you?

PECJO: I guess everything around me. Basically, the love of photography and the art. Everything starts from the smallest to the grandest things. Next question: What do you see when you look at a photo?

GOSINGTIAN: May sagot ka ba dito? Ang hirap. What kind of photo?

PECJO: Any photo that you see.

GOSINGTIAN: I think editorials are made for a reason —that they have to tell a story. That’s why I like browsing through magazines. In a series, I like to see how a photograph connects to the (next one). How does it speak to me? It’s kind of hard to explain.

PECJO: When I look at a photo, I see a moment — the moment it was captured. I see how much creativity and how much effort was put into producing a certain photograph whether it’s a fashion photograph, products, or people’s interest. So, I usually see the people behind the photograph: the photographer, the creative team, the subject. I guess it’s really the moment when they captured the photography.

GOSINGTIAN: The whole collaboration. If I’m looking through a magazine or an editorial, I always (find out) who shot it, who did the makeup and who did the hair. In my case, I know I can’t produce a certain photo without a team. So, I’m really grateful for everyone who helps in the shoot. It’s not just the photographer’s work, but everyone’s work. Doc, how long do you think will you be able to take pictures?

PECJO: Well, being a photographer, I always say forever, for as long as I have my eyes and one finger. But working as a photographer, I never planned to be a photographer. So until now, I don’t have dreams of getting old and retiring as a photographer. I’d rather retire as someone else, like probably as a doctor — and go back to my old profession. But, yeah, I would be shooting for the rest of my life, I guess. But it really depends on the people who want to get me for jobs. I always say even if they don’t get me, I can always shoot for myself.

This feels like coming full circle. While you’re planning to do that in the far future, Tricia actually started out by shooting for herself.

GOSINGTIAN: So if you weren’t a photographer and you weren’t a doctor, what would you be doing?

PECJO: Umm... Actually, I don’t know because my old life was planned on becoming a doctor. It’s very ironic when we say to the young people, “Oh, you should plan your life.” That’s what I did. The moment I went to school, I knew I was going to be a doctor. I finished everything and then realized, “Okay, may be I want to do something else.” It just started as a hobby.

GOSINGTIAN: Yeah, like for me, I just started taking pictures of my friends and posting them on the Internet. Then suddenly, I got offers from different magazines to shoot for them. That’s through Deviant Art. And then, magic just happened.

PECJO: I started shooting landscapes. Eventually, I started doing people. And then, one person led me to another person who ended up becoming a model. And then they would print them out to be put in their books. The first shoot I ever did — actual commissioned work — was actually for The Philippine STAR in 2005. Three days after, I was booked by another publication. There’s always room for the younger generation. I always think that it’s actually nice to give opportunity to the young ones — not by age but by fresh talent. I think that’s how we develop and we all get better. Somehow, it’s giving back what was give to me: the opportunity to shoot. I think it’s really important that we’re open to that. Somehow, we should realize that before us, there were other people. The reason why we’re here is that we were given the opportunity. Now, it’s our job to give opportunities to the new generation and to make it a long-lasting industry. Otherwise, the industry dies with us.

GOSINGTIAN: That’s what I’m always grateful for every time I get a project. I’m surrounded by all these talents and I’m just this fresh graduate from Ateneo who just became known through the Internet. I think there are even some people who believe in me more than I believe in myself.