Pinay Shutters is a diverse collective of Filipino women photographers, capturing moments and documenting events that awaken the sleeping conscious, and weaving together a strong social fiber. As stated in the florid description about the group, "With individual photographic eyes, we come together, with an unbridled passion, and use our cameras to interpret the human condition. We document the gamut of emotions— hope and helplessness, beauty and depravity, happiness and heartbreak, life and even its eventuality, death. We are Pinay Shutters----Sisters of Photography."

Featured Photographer for February 2009

Pinay Shutters: How long have you been involved in photography?

Katrina Pallon: I've been practicing photography for 4 years now. I learned Basic Photography back in 2nd year college (2004) as it was part of my course's curriculum, everything else afterwards was self-taught. After I graduated in April of 2007, I began building and expanding my photography portfolio - romanticizing concepts, immortalizing and fleshing out images that come to mind. And this I continue to do until this very day. 

PS: Equipment you use?

KP: I use a Canon 300D, a regular kit lens (18-55 mm), and all natural lighting. And of course I still keep my trusty, good old Nikon F-75 with which I first learned the art of capturing images. 

PS: Mac or PC? 

KP: Mac because it's more user-friendly. I use PC though. 

PS: What inspires you? 

KP: I take inspiration from a hodgepodge of almost everything that catches my fancy: Stories of women, historical and mythical figures, fairytales, paintings (Art Nouveau, Pre-Raphaelite, and Surrealist), circuses and carnivals, nature, Asian cultures, baroque and gothic cathedrals, antiques and anything else that exudes old world charm, both the exotic and mundane, lines and/or verses from select poems and songs, certain tableaus I recall from my dreams and nightmares, works by my favourite photographers: Ansel Adams, Rodney Smith, Annie Leibovitz, and Eugenio Recuenco. 

PS: Preferred subject matter? 

KP: Women; the feminine mystique. 

PS: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.

KP: The Carnivale di Venezia and the enchanting city of Venice. 

PS: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in? 

KP: I usually confide with my writer friend. We have this habit of meeting up regularly for coffee and conversations about everything under the sun and moon. We critique each other's works and talk about plans, ideas, and concepts we both wish to flesh out in our respective crafts. 

PS: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop 

KP: Being a graduate of the UP College of Fine Arts majoring in Visual Communication, I had formal training in photography and in the use of Photoshop. However, I follow a strict self-imposed rule not to post-process my photos much. Thus, Photoshop is only limited to cropping and minimal adjustment of the sharpness of the images I produce. 

PS: Plans for the future? 

KP: I plan to be a well-rounded visual artist; continue producing photographs, paintings, and masks profusely with the hopes of improving my craft, and shoot fashion editorials as well. 

PS: In one word, describe your photography. 

KP: Conceptual.

(Read the feature at http://pinayshutters.multiply.com/journal/item/91)