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| Mario Cardenas |
Award-winning photographer Mario talks about
his obsession for digital painting on frame, his longing for brand new toys and
his excitement when capturing moments at the right places on perfect time.
Competitions
strengthen one’s photography muscles and just by joining, Mario Cardenas
learned a great deal about photography. He bagged numerous awards now exceeding
70. The number is increasing. He is truly grateful for the abundance of
blessings he received.
This
2013, he won grand prize at Fujairah Photography Awards. He was a first place
winner at Mansoor Photography Awards-portrait category. He bagged two major awards, second
place for Tourism Fundamental theme and third place for Marine Environment theme
at the Shots from Al Gharbia Photography Competition.
He took first place at Art4Sight Photography competition by Noor Dubai
Foundation, double first place awards at ADGAS-Earth Hour Photography
Competition, first place at Al Dhafrah Camel Festival, and second place and two honorable mentions at (IPA)
International Photography Awards in New York.
In
the international scene, he won two Photo Documentary Awards and Performance
Award at UNESCO and CFPA-Humanity Photo Awards 2013 in China, grand prize and
four silver awards at Photograph of the Year 2013 in Australia, five bronze
awards at EPSON Pano Awards 2013 in South Australia, and gold medal award at
Egypt International Photo Contest-Architecture category. He was first place
winner for Sheikh Zayed Humanitarian Photography Competition, second place
winner at ADIHEX 2013-Equestrian category, and first place winner at Al Ain
Mall Photography competition 2013 in UAE, and two gold medal awards at
Trierenberg Super Circuit in Austria.
A Visual Twist
He was a self-taught painter artist during
his younger days. “It was through art that I could truly express myself and
totally honest in what I thought and felt. I had always intended to go
back to painting, but perhaps I had been busy with my career and family.”
In 2009, he got his first DSLR camera, an
EOS Canon 50D with kit lens 18-200mm and something flashed on his mind. “I
realized I could bring my ideas to life through another excellent medium that
gave faster and superb results.”
Mario attended a formal training on
photography. “When I successfully graduated, learning did not stop there. I
became hugely interested and motivated to widen my knowledge and hone my skills
in photography. I had invested a lot of time, effort and money to improve and
learn more about the craft.”
As a person who loves art on canvass, he
considers photography as a digital painting on frame.
“Photography has a big factor in
developing my personality, I used to consider myself as a quiet artist with
lots of creative ideas in mind. I spent most of my spare time painting within
the confines of my room, visualizing, internalizing and expressing all my
emotions and ideas on canvass.”
“This has somehow pushed me to come out of
my shell as interaction with people and environment are necessary if I want my
ideas to be captured on a photo. My life has become richer and more colorful as
I meet different kinds of amazing people, reach remote places and immerse in
wonderful experiences in new and unfamiliar environments. Photography is a
great adventure and a lot of fun!”
Artist on Canvass
Mario was born in a very modest family, raised in what we call home along-da-riles in Bayanan,
Muntinlupa. “My family couldn’t afford the fancy toys I longed to have when I
was a young boy, so I created my “brand new toys” out of scraps, even had
sculptures made of putik or mud. The seemingly bountiful materials
available everywhere were ready for the taking to my heart’s content.”
“The kind of childhood I had encouraged me to be resourceful, creative
and imaginative. I used to supine and visualize various images while looking to
the sky. I’d let my imagination roam freely in the clouds.”
He studied BS
Architecture in the University of Santo Thomas. He is now an architect by
profession working in KEO International Consultants since October of 2008.
Enriching Experiences
For him, photography is not just about
capturing a certain moment or subject, but also a good understanding would
greatly help in giving justice to the photo and the kind of perspective the
photographer is aiming for. “I am always ecstatic whenever I feel that I was
able to capture what I’ve conceptualized at the right place, at perfect time.”
Mario confessed he actually hasn’t gone
far from the UAE but was able to reach remote locations where, he believes,
very few people have reached. “Here, the best about photography is not only the
wonderful images it could capture but the enriching experiences involved in it.
I appreciate the people of this
wonderful country for giving expatriates like myself amazing opportunities and
recognitions.”
Despite his success, he still considers
himself a photography enthusiast. “I
won’t rest on my laurels as I continue to harness the craft that I love and
little by little, I try to extend my reach to bigger and farther audience.”
He wishes to be remembered simply as
“Mario Cardenas from the Philippines” and
intends to join photography competitions even more for as long and wide
as he could.
“I’d like my fellow countrymen to know
that win or lose, I try to give my very best, and hopefully can contribute even
a little to the glory and pride of our country.”
