Subject of Photography

Behind the lens lies a heart of a teacher. He photographs to teach. This is the calling of it all. “My way of learning photography was to teach. Teaching is the most noble profession. I have a calling to teach.”

These are the words of awardee and sought-after Cebuano photographer Ted Madamba, on his renowned vocation. If one asks around, his name is not new especially in the fields of advertising, media, and even in private and government organizations. He is the man one can depend on when getting those catchy and momentous shots for his clients.

Just days before he was off to Iran for a shoot, this Cebuano pride graciously sat and chatted with us to get a glimpse of him and his camera career. Sir Ted, as he is fondly called, began his love for the camera in an amusing way. He happened to be in an informal fire shooting sport for a while back then when he arrived at a point pondering what output the sport has to deliver. “Kung mag fire shooting ka, unsa may imong ipakita nga result? Kanang taw-taw nga karton nga imo na target? Imo ipakita ug dad-on?” he recalled. This led him to find another hobby that could replace it but retains the action in it. Thus, he fell in love with a different weapon—the camera. “It is more fun and enjoyable in photo shooting. There are what I call home-run shots in photography. There is much fulfillment in photography than fire shooting and it’s something that my family can participate,” he explained.

Madamba took up Bachelor of Science in Accountacy at the University of San Carlos before he launched as a photographer. He became a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and took a doctoral degree in management for employment for a certain period of time. His work included giving marketing inputs to clients and making marketing plans for them. Eventually, he decided to leave the corporate world in search for a happier and fulfilling career. He pursued photography and discovered the joy in doing it in making a living for himself and for his family.

Image credit: www.tedmadamba.com

It was interesting how he became a successful professional photographer. He was inspired of his deficiencies as a person that pushed him to pursue the field. “I can’t do sports so I found a field which I could level-off and do with my physical self. The things I can’t do, I found things that I can do,” he shared.

When asked what his first shot was as an amateur photographer, he musingly answers that he totally forgot because the negative got exposed. “I don’t know, I forgot because it never got developed! It was just a negative!” he enthuses. When asked what his favorite photo and what a good photo for him is, he answered that it is the capture of culture that catches him most and the photo that doesn’t need any explanation impresses him. As it’s always been said, a picture is worth a thousand words.
In search for new and more captivating images, Madamba has flown to different places and countries to capture great snapshots one can ever imagine. From the rich hidden cultures of Asia to the breath-taking sceneries in the West, his camera was certainly his bestfriend! He went to countries like Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Mongolia, Singapore, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam. He also traveled to view the world’s wonders in the Grand Canyon of the Colordao River, the colorful geologic formations of the Bryce and Moab canyons of Utah, the iconic Monument Valley of Arizona and the fascinating geothermal features of Yellowstone National Park among many others.

According to him, the perks of traveling itself contents him considering the less profitability of the field. “I may not be materially compensated well but the returns of going to these places pays knowing that it is not that profitable if you’re a photographer in this island, and that’s the only job you have,” he said. On his out-of-the-country trips, he differentiates tourists from photographers. “Tourists sieze the place while photographers explore the place. Toursists see and enjoy the place, photographers love to document, experiment and share the place,” he mentioned.

To name a few citations of his achievements, Madamba got the privilege to shoot and document for the Angelina Jolie Foundation. He is a Nikon Ambassador and won the Standard Chartered Bank’s nationwide photo contest on “Timeless” photos. He is also an endorser of several local and international photography gadget brands and is the only Filipino mentor in one of the top film schools, the International Academy of Film and Television (IAFT) of Bigfoot. He also conducts regular photography workshops at the Nikon showroom at the second floor of Banilad Town Centre (BTC). In 2006, the Canadian government sponsored a photo exhibit for him at the Shangri-La Mactan Resort showcasing the majestic mountain scenery of Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada, and in July 2012 a southwest American exhibit under Colours Digital Foto. All these and more capsulate the excellent craft of this passionate individual.

Image credit: www.tedmadamba.com

On teaching, he always says that there’s no reason for photography if one is not going to share it. “It’s mentoring in photography that is best. I always tell my students to share photos,” he said. Sir Ted is definitely equally passionate when he’s out to capture photos and when he’s inside the lecture room. He shared that when he teaches, he explains to his students that being a hobbyist is to know its basic and normal traditions of it first before one can break the rules and create their own style. To kick off their stint, he adds that one has to understand photography.

He says that the word photography comes from the words “drawing with light” with the word “fos” which means light and “graphi” meaning drawing. Madamba emphasized that in photography, one has to understand the fall of light and put it in their composition. He also stressed that photography is a combination of art and science, and can’t be either of one only. “You have to know the basics of both. Art can’t stand alone, science can’t stand alone. You have to marry them both,” he said. “You shoot with your heart, adjust with your mind. Art comes from your heart, science comes from your brain. It has to be balanced. In my class, I tell my students to memorize when I teach science and to feel when I teach art. Art can be learned, it can be developed,” Madamba elaborated.

Madamba is also one of the pioneers of digital photography in Cebu and claims that the time now is highly visual where everyone takes pictures. When teaching, he completes it by not failing to include the digital realm in his lectures.

When asked for the legacy he wants to leave, he humbly answered that it would be captures of timeless photos. Undeniably, what else can we take pride in this persona than a humility that extends amid all accomplishments.

With his numerous achievements and length of exposure in the field, there is only one thing that a Ted Madamba can say at the end of the day when there’s so much passion for it: “Photography is a lifestyle. Nowhere I will retire already. “

Source: www.y101fm.com, www.tedmadamba.com