In Living...
She is so grateful for the loveliness of the world that she seldom captures images that portray perceived negative emotions but focus on whatever is pure and charming. She’d rather elevate something simple and enjoin others to see the mundane with new eyes. “For me, the message is for us to recognize, appreciate, and respect the grandeur of nature. We need to truly discern its stunning and sensational beauty, since most take it for granted or perceive it as ordinary or not worth their attention.”
Olen has always been fascinated with photography. Her father took notice and nurtured her interest, so he bought her cameras. This made her the official family photographer for special events. “I only started taking pictures on instamatic, Polaroid, and film. It was only in 2015 that I got serious with photography. I went to scenic places alone so I could experiment with my camera while enjoying the breathtaking view. Later on, I was able to meet other photographers who share my interest in capturing the natural beauty of landscapes,” she relates.
As one could surmise, landscape photography is life for Olen. “Landscape photography is my greatest passion. This is my hobby. I don’t really see myself as a professional photographer for I don’t have many photography awards. I just share my photos on social media. I get rewarded with the feeling of contentment and gratification when my friends acknowledge and appreciate the very essence of nature’s brilliance in my photographs.”
Pursuing landscape photography is not as easy as it may seem. It comes with its own set of challenges. For one, as some observed, most landscape photographers are male. “I learned to be adventurous when I decided to pursue landscape photography. There had been times when I was the only female in our group, for we travel long hours on the road, hike mountains, go camping. But I have no regrets!”
There is also the challenge of capturing the true spirit and beauty of an otherwise ordinary scene. “Landscapes are very dependent on weather conditions. Sometimes, even after checking forecasts, we arrive at a scene where all the elements are contrary to expectations— it’s cloudy, there’s not enough sunlight, or worse, it’s raining. This is when your photographer’s eye comes in. We remain optimistic and use our creativity and resourcefulness. Then capture a dramatic and picturesque shot from what others could readily dismiss as ordinary.”
Olen subscribes to the adage of patience being the greatest virtue in landscape photography. “Such an endeavor requires careful planning, preparation, and practice. Take the time to challenge yourself in refining your craft and studying the ever-changing scenes of the natural environment. Merely anticipating to capture that exact moment where everything in your frame just blends harmoniously doesn’t come easy.”
Truly, Olen was not afraid, but savored braving the elements, and scaling the heights just to get the money shot. “There were times when we spent long hours of travel in scouting. We’re used to hiking to reach a great vantage point to capture a climactic shot of the majestic view from the mountainside. There were