Eight: a number that a lot of people think is lucky.
Lucky: an emotion felt by people who have had the pleasure of meeting Eight.

His name alone would interest a lot of people already. Well, why Eight in the first place? He has
a brother named Seven, so there, your guess is as good as mine. It doesn’t stop there, Eight maybe his name but not certainly his rank among the top photographers in town. When asked to describe himself as a photographer, Eight only waived the question off. He said he would rather be judged by his photos as he believes that photos should speak for themselves. Well, he has got the credentials and photos to back that statement up.

His heart only embraces one passion: photography. He started seriously honing his craft at the age of 21. His father introduced him to photography at an early age using an SLR film camera, and his photography started to seriously pick up when his close friends, who are also hobbyists and professional photographers, inspired him to delve deeper into his revived pursuit. To better his skills, he attended different seminars and programs that taught him the art of light and the use of editing programs like Adobe Photoshop. He also attended classes in wedding photography, fashion photography, and product photography. He didn’t stop there. Like passion trapped in cages of the mundane, he went on to unfold a newly discovered talent. He went to different countries and attended several conventions. One such prestigious convention is the Wedding & Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) held at Las Vegas.

Eight is an artist who uses light as his brush and the world his canvass. This is his edge – his eye for light. “One must become an artist, not a technician” as he puts it, and this is what separates him from the pack. “Photography has become my light,” Eight said, which is an apt analogy as photography is really about the play of light. What’s Great about Eight, other than it rhymes, is his desire to improve his craft more, push any known and unknown boundaries in this field, and selflessly share his talents to the world.

Eight Off-Cam

His reputation precedes him, that is for sure, but there is more to him than just the great photographer. Eight goes outdoors to play airsoft, go mountain climbing, swimming, biking, and involves himself with filmmaking (“the Price of Fame” was one of the entries for the Mindanao Film Festival). Eight loves eating, partying, and just chilling and hanging out with friends and new acquaintances - yes, he is well grounded and approachable.

Photo by: Edu Alawi