Hit The Lights
Sometimes, the littlest things send me into a slight panic. Like lizards, for example. Or maybe leaving the house at 11:02 and not at exactly 11:00. Recently (translation: for the past four years out of college), my solo picture has been one of my sources of slight panic. I guess once you enter the working world, the value of a good head shot increases. Unlike in DLSU, when a teacher requested we submit a 1x1 ID picture of us, his students, stapled to an index card with our bio, I could easily run to the while-u-wait photo booth a few meters away from the campus gate and submit one before the sound of the bell. I couldn't care less what I was wearing (a large t-shirt), how my hair was fixed (it was usually tied), or if I was smiling or not in the photograph--I knew it was going to end up in the trash when then term ended.When I graduated from college and started submitting my CGs to various companies, the actual need for a good photo of myself came up. This time, I wanted the photo to send a message: that I was mature, dependable, easy to work with, able reached deadlines and that I worked well under pressure. Unfortunately, I didn't feel the need was urgent enough, and I still turned to the while-u-waits that showed that I was a sleepy, pimply, tired, just-out-of-college nineteen year old. At that time, I didn't want to go through the hassle of asking the help of a professional--I couldn't afford it anyway--and I secretly wanted my prospective employers to hire me out of pity after seeing my headshot...then I could really afford a professional photo! (can you sense I'm a genius? No?)
Probably the worst picture I ever submitted with a job application was the full body one (oh god). I had none, or at least I thought I didn't have one. But after going through some old shoeboxes full of older pictures, I found two. I was relieved. One was a grad picture with my blockmates. We were at the ampitheater wearing togas. I actually thought, thank God I was in the front row and I can crop/photoshop everyone elso out! The other was me at the beach wearing shades, a pink tankini with a pink sarong and a huge pink straw hat I was holding against my head to prevent from being blown away by the wind. When I saw it I was even more relieved: I don't have to photoshop anything! So after a two minute internal deliberation (tankini or toga?) I made what I thought was the most practical choice for a photo that would get me hired. I submitted the tankini photo.
A couple of weeks ago, Gilson suggested I work on getting a good photograph. I work as a sportscaster, and now also as a columnist for a sports magazine, both requiring a headshot. He lent me some pro lights from his office that he uses for product shots and they've been in my possession for a week now. The first time I tried them, I quit a minute after the first pop. I had no idea how to work them, and I had every intention of returning it the next day.
The next day came, and Gilson refused to take them back with him saying I didn't even try. Yes, I did! I said. I tried it 4 times (meaning four shots, hehe). And so the lights stayed. Yesterday, I set them up again. That was yesterday noon, to be exact. I tried and tried and tried (it's funny how you can switch the places of the "r" and "i" in the word "tried" and you'll end up "tired" which is how I felt later on). I adjusted the camera's shutter speed, aperture, white balance, flash output, blah blah to match the lights, then uploaded the pictures onto the pc, then ended up disappointed, then called Gilson to complain. This cycle went on until four thirty pm. I was starting to consider taking my photo out at the garage and use natural lighting. Finally, I told him I was going to quit, figuring out how the lights worked was driving me nuts (at that point I identified them as "the enemy"), and I was tired from trying. He coerced me to try one last time. Which I did. I got it right. My last shot was right. And tomorrow, I'll have a professional-looking, well-lit photograph of my sleepy, pimply, tired, twenty-three year old face.
*NOTE: I will be hosting an event this Saturday. I sent my resume to the event coordinator with a photo of myself at a basketball game five years ago. They approved.
posted by George Rocha-Chu @ 9:12 PM
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