Raul Montifar Stresses His Point
Did Manny Pacquiao do a convincing win on his third meeting with Marquez? That is the million dollar question as of 13 November 2011, 1330 hrs, +GMT, in the Philippines. So as to prevent doubts to the 2011 Master Photographer, Raul Montifar simply did the opposite. He gave his one-inch Sunday punch with his Single Shot Color Print Picture of the Year win. This extra point stresses and assures a Master Cup win, probability wise.
- 1st Place, Single Shot Color Print – Raul Montifar
The value of one point in the finals is equivalent to practically a year’s work of becoming a Master Photographer. This point becomes most relevant at the last turn of the chase. Practically turning on the nitro on a supercharged, super-tuned high rpm engine.
It is unusual that members start strong and hard in the first quarter, only to lose precious energy at the last leg of the race. While others just stay in the background and give it their all at the last few meters of the distance run.
Two-time master, Raul Montifar knows the tricks of the trade. He almost did the same in 2003 but unfortunately was not enough for the win. This year, with his main competitor Rey Ortiz ironically holding the lights, shot his winning exposure for the last OTS competition, consequently taking the lead. Rey, of course at the time, had no idea that Raul could get a number of succeeding wins enough to put the last nail in the coffin.
2nd Place Single Shot Color Print - Philip Yu
3rd Place Single Shot Color Print - Raoul Littaua
The second and third places for SSCP went to Philip Yu and Raoul Littaua. Philip, despite not being able to attend regularly this year, still manage to grab a nice plum for 2011. Raoul Littaua with the extra 0.30 points skips over good buddy Leo Riingen to sixth place.
Raffy Santos Does a Reprise
Raffy Santos for the first time gets the Black and White Photo of the Year. This is not without the help of the Montifar father and son team in the studio of the same name. His low-key Human Form shot, which, in fact, did not win the monthly competition, ended up being the photo of the year. His annual win becomes a reprise to the flipside of his Human Form monthly win. Though the precious one point was not enough to hit the magic three, he does get within striking distance being at number four. Raffy catching up to Vidal Lim is just as difficult as Rey taking over Raul. Possible but not exactly probable.
1st Place Black and White - Raffy Santos
Just behind Raffy for the BW pictures of the year are new member William Chua and Tito Santos. William got his first taste of a finals win with his shot of the Northern Lights. Tito on the other hand had an excellent dusk shot of Santorini, in the Greek island.
2nd Place Black and White - William Chua
3rd Place Black and White - Tito Santos
This article is written by Pilosopong Paeng for the Viewfinder Vol. XXXVI No. 11 published on November 2011.