Photographer of the Week: Arnold C. Jumpay
Yugel Losorata
While arguably considered as more valuable artists than their clicking counterparts, accomplished painters do pick up cameras and become photographers, promoting the causes of lensmen themselves.
As people behind the lens raise their arms trying to convince everyone that photography is worth the kind of honor their brothers in brushes receive, the latter themselves, seeing the truth in it carry the very same sentiment.
"I hope that I will experience in my lifetime the elevation of photography as a major Philippine Art and having a National Artist for Photography as well," expressed Arnold Jumpay, a painter/art director and educator who is likewise into photography.
His paintings and murals can be seen in various places such as the foodcourt of Shangrila Mall along Edsa, corporate lounge of Monde Nissin at 6750 Ayala in Makati, and private residences in and out of Manila.
But then photography was part of his destiny as an artist as it also entered the picture, giving him another medium to play with his creativity. It all started when he took his first photography class as his elective when he was still in high school. His first subjects were his artworks, family, and friends. After which, the political scene of the ‘80s – deaths of labor leader Rolando Olalia and student activist Lean Alejandro, the historical Edsa I Revolution of 1986, and the succeeding coup de etats against Cory’s administration – pushed him into becoming a street documentarist, with camera as his tool this time.
"My photography can be classified in two: capture and create. I capture for my reportage and documentary work and create for my commissioned/advertising work," he told the Manila Bulletin.
Describing publications as his canvases as photographer, Arnold, a graduate of bachelor of Fine Arts (major in painting) from UP Diliman, graced the pages of Philippine Collegian, major dailies, photo agencies, and several magazines. His influences include H. Cartier-Bresson, W. Eugene Smith, and Robert Frank, while his photos deliver the images that can make you stop, think, and feel.
Whether photojournalistic or commercial, Arnold’s work spills the artistry which pleases the eyes no end. His portfolio possesses, as similar as he describes a good shot, the presence of spontaneous union or interaction of the different principle of aesthetics such as lighting, composition, content, tone, angle, color, and the decisive moment.
For the past two decades, he’s been using the Nikon camera system and Leica M3 for 35mm format and RB67 pros for medium format. "I like versatility of the Nikon and the sharpness of Leica lenses."
Asked about the key points of becoming an effective shooter, he shared, "I would say that temper and passion (attitude and character) are great elements in being a good photographer.
Witnessing/documenting a major event unfolds in front of your camera is a great experience without thinking of the prevailing security risk surrounding you. The adrenaline rush blurs your mind: right time, right place and with lots of film as the motto of the day."
This brave artist still uses film for 95% of his workload, though he is bent on embracing the megapixels more due to the lack of real fast film stocks. He had a four-year break from photography before returning to the world of shutter and aperture a couple of years back. Thus, at present he feels he is just re-starting his continuing journey to explore photograpy, with personal projects to go with it. In June, he’ll be having a photo exhibition called "Batanes: Photographs from the Edge" at the newly opened AD Gallery in Quezon City.
A member of UP Artists’ Circle Fraternity and Art Association of the Philippines, Arnold has his share of photo contest winnings, including being named as Best Wedding Photojournalist by the Wedding and Portrait Photographers of the Philippines. Last year alone, he came up with the best entry award (Professional Division) at the First Philippine Airlines Photo Contest, won first place at the Avida Lands’ Best of Manila Photo Contest, and topped the Haribons’ Celebrating the Philippine’s Unique Wildlife.
"My little advice to upcoming photographers is to know the basics (shutter speed and aperture) first before anything else, and remember that photography is all about light," extended the multi-talented boy from Roxas City who is also a graphic and interior designer, environmentalist, and surfer.
With his heart for photography and the significant talent he has, who knows that when photographers start being named as National Artists, the name Arnold Jumpay will become a candidate.
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