This is the first article in this column and maybe it’s a good time to explain why it’s called The Break of Dawn. What does it have to do with photography anyway?

Some people seem to forget that photography was born accidentally when a man inside a tent noticed an image of his camel standing outside was being projected inside. There was a small hole on one side of the tent and the image was upside-down. People eventually figured out that using a lens allows the image to be sharper and in focus.

That’s the basic thought here, light piercing through the darkness to reveal otherwise hidden realities and also light as one that gives hope to those mired in depression and despair.

That’s what photography can be. It’s not only a means of livelihood for some but it is also a sacred duty to share with other people the beauty of the world that we have been blessed to see. Each and every one has seen the world differently and it is something like photography that allows us to share these with those who mean most to us. It is also a means by which we preserve our memories. That’s how it started for some.

Choosing your subject

Very often, people rush to buy a camera and begin doing so by pestering their photo enthusiast friends with questions like, "What’s the best camera?" or "Is it okay if I don’t get a DSLR?"

Frankly, the first real question is: "What do I want to shoot anyway?" Answering this question first will actually save a lot of money since it may just prevent a lot of unnecessary expenses. Warning: photography can be a real bottomless pit with regard to purchases if you don’t know what you’re doing. If you have money oozing out of your pockets, then by all means spend away but if you’re like 90% of the population, best to be smarter.

People will always have their biases and this is also true with what a person photographs. Try to see what your interests are and use that as a starting point.

The usual major subject matters people shoot are: people (especially their partners and/or kids), places, sports or flowers (and some other small stuff). It’s a bit funny for photographers when they see non-photographers with stuff better than theirs who nonetheless have nary a clue about what they will shoot.

A decision about this will dictate exactly what you will buy. Suggestion? If you can borrow from someone, do it.

Manny Pacquiao

The eye

A lot of people talk about the "eye," saying that a person is a good photographer because of this. The fact of the matter is that anyone’s eye can be trained and though real photographers will continue to display really unique talent, any person with a camera can, indeed, turn up a decent photo.

Start buying magazines, especially magazines on subject matter you like. Spend a few hours in National Bookstore, Booksale, Fully Booked, Mag:net, etc. Set a budget and get a few varied magazines. If you’re thinking about shooting people, there are a lot of styles to choose from and you can see this immediately with the magazines on sale.

Rolling Stones does this differently from Maxim and Cosmopolitan shoots differently from Metro Working Mom. Pick your poison. Maybe your thing is National Geographic or Life. People don’t seem to realize it but getting inspiration (and tips) from your betters is a good way of becoming a better photographer.

For places, check out NatGeo again or Life but if you’re more into travel stuff, there’s Mabuhay, Cebu Smile, Travel and Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler. When we talk about places, there’s even a distinction between spots almost untouched by humans and those that obviously show human influence or habitation. Some people would like to shoot the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur but others would much rather shoot the Grand Canyon.

Sports? There’s always Sports Illustrated (for the guys, this is a good excuse to buy the rag) or Manila Bulletin’s own Sports Digest. You may also want to focus on a particular sport and there are magazines that do that.

For small stuff, and this is a REALLY broad subject matter, make sure you can latch onto one subject first: flowers, food, toys, knick-knacks, etc. There are garden magazines and some on toys. You can even check out gadget magazines like T3, Gadgets, etc.

One subject that most people find out they enjoy shooting is food. Everybody likes food and since the look is always part of the eating, food is often something very enjoyable to shoot on at least two counts. Check out even food blogs like "Desert Comes First" or rags like Martha Stewart Living, Yummy, Food, Cook, etc. It can be amusing to hear people say, "Wow. I didn’t know shooting food can be so complicated," when I shoot the yum-yums.

One major pitfall for some is that when they notice how complicated photography can be, they cop out and just "leave it to the pros." Don’t. Each and every human being sees the world differently and in the same way that people can benefit from what you say, they can also benefit from seeing what you see.

The bottom line here is this: You’ve been blessed to see things, meet people, and visit places to have your horizons widened. Often times, it was after having been enthralled by a magazine article, a TV program or just seeing someone else’s photos that opened your eyes to these realities that were just almost next door. The first time you go to a place, you immediately compare what you’re seeing with what you saw on that article, on TV or what your friends told you. You can then swap stories with friends who’ve been to the same place or seen the same thing and both of you are the better for it.

Do a Michael Jordan and just do it. Get a camera, maybe borrow one and start shooting. When you get tired, hunker down in front of a magazine and see how some of the best in the business earn their keep by giving the world the best photos possible.

Getting deeper into the pit.

The spirit behind it: The break of dawn is a column about photography and more than that. Instead of getting mired in technicalities, it also deals with the Why of the endeavor. People seem to be so caught up in the how but never bother to ask why they shoot. If a person’s personality and beliefs don’t end up getting into a photograph, that picture ends up lacking power, lacking purpose.

Does the column avoid technical stuff? No. I believe that a painter must learn how to handle a brush so that that person can more properly and more creatively paint. Thus, this column not only talks about the why but a bit about the how and the tools of the trade. It will speak as much as possible to the tyro, the person who knows he/she wants to shoot but doesn’t know how.

Consequently, there will also be short "reviews" about stuff that may have, directly or indirectly, some bearing on the creative process. These can be new cameras, lenses, computers, flash units, household lights, reflectors, even MP3 players and downloading equipment – anything that can help a person focus on saving memories.

It will also sometimes feature good places to shoot as well as ways to make the most out of what you have.