Photographs ably offer a clear representation and interpretation of what the retina of the human eye sees but do not always perceive like the elemental components and minuscule details which are integral pieces that add texture and depth to the whole picture.
Regarded as a man-made eye which was initially designed by Johann Zahn in 1685 but successfully brought into use by Joseph Nicephore Niepce in 1814, the camera had given the world one of the supreme modernizations ever that effectively facilitated the preservation of human and universal records. But it wasn’t until May 8, 1840 when the first sophisticated camera designed and invented by Alexander Wolcott was officially patented followed by the opening of the Daguerran Parlor (coined after Louis Jacque Daguerre, a French artist and photographer), recorded as the earliest photography shop in New York.
Later in 1851, William Henry Fox Talbot of England introduced the first true stop-action photographs with the use of negative-positive system… and since this marvelous tool has startlingly evolved through numerous generations of photographic technology from mere camera obscura to dry plates, films, polaroids, digital types, and the DSLR variety (Digital Single Lens Reflex) which was launched by Kodak in 1991. The Kodak camera that was developed by American innovator George Eastman in 1888 pioneered in the use of photographic films in rolls and cartridges.
After further improvements and high technological advancements, the camera, currently manufactured and distributed in a wide variety of brands and complicated operations, is now considered a must-have and a handy gadget one cannot live without… to the extent that it was already built-in to cellphones, cars, and households.
An old model Sony digital cam-recorder camera fell into the hands of Dominic Senador when his distant grandfather assigned him to record a family occasion…the baptism of one of his youngest cousins. Armed with that excruciating burden of challenge and fear, his driven capability to daringly face every trial proved successfully effectual. He received commendable reactions after still shots were printed.
After the event the camera was stocked with him. His keen inquisitiveness and deliberate curiosity about operating the “wonder tool” grew intense that ignited the long dormant ember of his interest in photography.
“I intriguingly scrutinized every single part of the camera…trying to learn how it operates,” recalled Dominic as he released an innocent grin. “I went to New York City to shoot buildings, people, and even insignificant objects that caught my eye. I felt a sense of gratification from every single image I shot. Every day was always an exciting prospect for me to capture new subjects…and that had been a constant daily routine until I felt empty handed when the camera was taken back.”
“As a Specimen Handler in Bioreference Laboratory, I couldn’t function well…it was life without the camera that kept me feeling down and low. I felt like a huge part of me was gone. There was nothing that could mollify my fretfulness but to have my own camera,” he related with candidness.
And with the help of a co-worker who generously loaned him $1,800 (through the former’s credit card) Dominic felt relieved and invigorated upon holding a Nikon D90 (a 12.3-megapixel dslr) close to his chest. “It was strange but I instantly felt suspended above the ground upon realizing that I had a camera I could call my own,” he admitted.
While zealously being driven to his passion, he was simultaneously aiming for perfection. There wasn’t a day, and sometimes even evenings, when he won’t get hold of his camera assiduously shooting here and there. Later in 2012, the time to implement everything he had limitedly mastered was put into practical application when he was commissioned to shoot a sweet sixteen event for a measly $250-service fee.
“It wasn’t about the fee…it was all about the experience and end result of what I could deliver…and luckily I met their expectations,” qDominic’s face demonstrated an animated sigh of relief. “But honestly, looking at those photos now, I knew I could have done much better had that occasion been shot later. But no regrets, at least I knew I have improved!”
Small-time projects followed: shooting empty apartments in NYC for advertisements, covering parties and personal celebrations of friends and relatives, and low-budgeted commissioned projects. But in between shoots there lies a fervent aspiration to make Photography his lifetime profession.
With that wild photographic ambition crowding his mind, the would-be ace lensman enrolled at the New York Film Academy in September 2012 for a year course in Photography with financial assistance from an aunt who saw his innate potential in the field.
“Believe it or not, for the first time in my life, school became a haven to me. I had never liked attending classes that’s why it took me 7 years to finish Z ex high school. I was a regular school drop-out,” he admitted with sincerity. “But in my Photography class, I neither failed to attend nor skip…even during snowy weather. Maybe because I was inspired that I finally got into where I was destined to be…aside from the fact that I don’t want to fail my aunt.”
From being a documentary photographer, Dominic shifted to fashion. He finds doing fashion shoots more exciting and far from being lackluster aside from its glamour and vibrant working atmosphere.
If there was but one unambiguous goal that Dominic has that would be to see his name printed and credited for his works in the glossy pages of fashion magazines.
Then came his first ever professional fashion assignment: as a designated official photographer for Furne Amato, a Dubai-based fashion designer from Cebu, who was featured during the closing ceremony of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.
“That rare opportunity gave me the precise confidence I needed and offered me the probability to work side by side with world renowned runway photographers. The experience inevitably nurtured my dwindling self-esteem,” he said.
In the realm of the fashion world, Dominic aims to build a name at par with Ellen Von Unwerth of Germany, Russel James of Australia, Todd Anthony Tyler of Canada, Annie Leibovitz of the USA, Mario Testino of Peru, and many others but he believes there are still a lot more better ones out there but just weren’t lucky to be given their much-needed break.
Since then Dominic’s adrenaline towards work took a rapid blast…raring to go on location and photoshoots. Every project is always another challenge to face. Inspired and briskly full of life, his grasp and knowlegeability about photographing models incessantly developed and broadened.
Just lately, his dream of seeing his name featured and credited in publications was finally realized. He was duly recognized for his highly laudable works in: Modo Magazine Online, BG Magazine (Ecuador), Bazaar Magazine (UK), Pretty Pixels Magazine (NYC), and Fashion Faces Magazine.
His runway and on-location assignments have brought him places: New York Fashion Week 2014; Los Angeles Fashion Week 2015 in LA, California; Miami Swim Week for Le Fair Magazine 2016 in Miami, Florida; and soon New York Fashion Week in Lincoln Center and the 8th People’s Ball of the 18th Fiesta in America.
For dreams are free and so Dominic loftily envisions for assignments that will bring him to the fashion capitals of Europe: London and Paris.
But amid the beaming glimpse of Lady Luck Dominic could only reminisce his tumultuous past and his painstaking struggle for endurance.
The young boy from Laguna who was abandoned at two under his grandmother’s care has undoubtedly gone a long way…from his humble formative years selling ice cream and ice buko at age 10, a computer shop operator at 15, and to being a car wash boy at 16, Dominic led a miserable life trying to have both ends meet. He hated school. All he wanted was to earn money to keep his body and soul intact.
“My mom went to the US when I was two but when she and my dad eventually separated I was left to live with my grandmother from my father’s side. I envy my friends with parents attending school programs, family day, and graduation,” Dominic said, appearing misty-eyed as he spoke in monotone. “My only consolation was my Lola…I felt safe and comfortable with her. I was already full grown but I still couldn’t sleep when she’s not by my side.”
“During Christmases and birthdays I pity myself for having no toys, no food or cake on the table, receiving no gifts because even my Lola couldn’t afford to buy me any. I fully understood our situation but sometimes I couldn’t help but just cry in silence or sleep with empty stomach just so to escape reality,” he said.
A reversal of his disheartening set-up occurred when his mom came home with the usual stuff for him from the US: chocolate, shoes, and clothes…but even those failed to cheer him up.
“I could not feel the fundamental nature of excitement when I came face to face with my mom… I knew for a fact that she’s my real mom but the long years of absence has turned me stone-hearted. The only redeeming factor of her coming home was her intention of petitioning me…and that happened after 3 years,” Dominic lengthily related poker-faced. “I stayed with my mom and her new family in Staten Island from 2007 to 2009…then went on my own doing odd jobs…until I ended up with what truly inspires and keeps me driven – photography.”
After Dominic has lived a topsy-turvy existence, a ray of golden light appears in the offing to guide him towards the right track. A new life bursts forth as a reward for all his sacrifices and a silver lining creeps after he had weathered the stormy sea of life.
If only a camera was set to entirely record his worth-telling journey…the images won’t lie…the full story is indubitably one for an award-winning tear-jerker or television drama series.
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