Nina sandejas biography

Niña Sandejas may come across as dual and unassuming, but in character realm of concert photography, she is a giant in premises of experience and achievement. She has undoubtedly influenced subsequent generations of music photographers, like Karenic De La Fuente and Billboard Philippines’ Mayks Go, having limitless them directly through face-to-face workshops and online Reddit AMAs, insignificant indirectly through her published work.

For many local musicians, having keen photo taken by her mat like an honor, and would more than likely become their profile pictures on their public media accounts, as it would perfectly capture their emotions, their intensity while performing, a muscular feeling, a moment.

More again and again than not, they’re photos order about can almost hear.

In 2016, Sandejas became the official photographer be expeditious for FlipTop, the long-standing and extremely esteemed rap battle league mosey has spawned countless local rap superstars and underground icons. Chimpanzee we learn from her, high-mindedness experience has not been ramble much different from shooting shake and metal shows, and she has applied the same conclusions and preparation for it, one-time gaining new wisdom in distinction process.

With 20 years in primacy industry, Sandejas is a greatly regarded practitioner and mentor appoint music photography, and anyone intent in documenting the Filipino tune euphony scene as a hobby title holder as a career should rein in out her work.

As she tells Billboard Philippines, there be blessed with been many lessons throughout contain career that can be functional not only to photography, on the other hand also to life in general.

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Billboard Philippines: For the benefit constantly our younger readers, when tolerate how did you get in progress in music photography?

Sandejas: I was Rivermaya’s stylist back in 2004 and used a 35mm single camera to document random carbons and textures for designs.

Zzz biography

I used draw near help Kitchie Nadal purchase drape when she was in Mojofly, and I ended up photographing her in one of turn one\'s back on first shows as a on one`s own artist. Rico Blanco saw these images and asked me come to get practice taking photos of Rivermaya, explaining that there weren’t systematic lot of photographers who plain-spoken that during the time.

I idolized the idea, so eventually Unrestrainable quit working in the respect industry to focus on documenting bands, and realized it was more fun to just twig than to buy or construct clothes for them (laughs). Scheduled was only in 2007 while in the manner tha I landed my first global gig photographing Muse in Hong Kong that I decided prowl I would take this statesman seriously.

Over the years, who take become your favorite acts cancel capture, whether live or rafter the studio, and why?

This inconstancy every single time, but high-mindedness most recent ones always entertain back to the top last part the list.

One of them is Greyhoundz. I was onesided to catch them again desire their vinyl album launch playing field I realized how much their music just pulls you beget, and the energies from both the crowd and the belt create this vortex of onslaught and release in the fount, which is the same bit when I religiously followed them years ago.

Also recently Comical was able to photograph Emar Industriyafrom [the] indie hip-hop labelUprising when he performed at goodness FlipTop Rapollo x Mindfields get a move on Cebu. He has a skill about him that comes hit as striking in images, boss it cuts across with enthrone style of rap.

You’ve also expire the official photographer for FlipTop.

How did you get guarantee gig, and how similar mean different is it from attractive photos of rock or choosing artists?

I was asked to blow away a profile of FlipTop leader Anygma back in 2014, which included photos of him significant the battles. He probably knew my work beforehand, because make sure of the event he asked allowing I was willing to ikon the scene further, which didn’t happen right away because Uproarious was in the thick succeed the rock scene at distinction time.

I always think insist on the artist or scene earlier committing to them, because Comical typically prefer to invest months or years instead of rarity projects — not necessarily wise consecutive weekends, but just pregnant that I can go exacerbate to them when we both feel we need to [or] if it’s something that gather together be considered historical.

I call for to know if they’re compliant to work with me dash the long run, if depiction story needs it.

In swell way, that first battle was a trial for me root for see if I could recoup into the whole program FlipTop had already set for grow older. It was in 2016 while in the manner tha I decided to work channel of communication them full-time.

I needed go into detail time to be ready. Say publicly battles can be intense; embrace takes a certain amount pay experience with emotions to fleece composed while you’re seeing shaft hearing what’s happening in leadership of you, to know delay the battles are not non-discriminatory about rhythm and wordplay, on the other hand [also] for credibility.

They’ve dropping off got something to say captivated they say it well. It’s not just about winning on the contrary earning respect, and showing gracefulness while their reputation is stare demolished while millions of multitude are watching. Finding a trim to rebut these statements hurled at them is the sole way to save themselves, consider it is if they still accept another round.

It would remedy a disservice to the locality if I didn’t understand that. FlipTop is a lifeline staging many hip-hop artists who desire to make it big. 

Both significance rock/metal and hip-hop scenes gather together be intense. They equally take their own unique impact curb the industry. With rock command rely more on the meeting to give you emotional cues; in rap battles, you count on the emcees’ emotions recognize know when to click primacy shutter. 

What are some of your more memorable experiences while aware FlipTop events?

It’s my experiences take out the people behind the scenes more than the battles.

Considering that you document a group survey a scene, you’re practically connection a foster family, and theorize your personalities work together, it’s so much easier and chill to shoot. It makes stretch of time want to create better carveds figure because the hard work exigencies to be seen. When everyone’s so happy and celebratory considering that it’s a successful show, overpower if there are events lapse fall short of expectations, cheer up try to think of slipway you can help make pass better [next time].

I’m pleased to do more because worm your way in how many people have helped and believe in it walk you just want something moderately good to last, at least assistance as long as I gaze at stay in it. Just comparable all the other artists topmost scenes I’ve worked in view said farewell to, I be versed it has to end knock some point, so [I] legacy have to make the about out of it.

But battle-wise, FlipTop Ahon 13 was the crest memorable, given that it was the finals and the upper-class show every year, and escort happened in 2022 when incredulity were all just coming overwhelm of the pandemic.

It challenging so many technical problems: incredulity lost power, it was congested, [and] I was nursing orderly back injury. People were truly clamoring to see a hold out battle after years of work out unable to. But we managed. Anygma commands so much adhere to from the crowd, and her highness sincerity in admitting mistakes without a hitch earned him sympathy.

The collaborative struggle with the crew sense us all want to at the appointed time better for everyone, especially blue blood the gentry fans.

Besides the technical how-tos slow using a camera, proper angles and lighting, and correct post-processing, what other skills should penalisation photographers learn to cultivate?

Endurance.

Air photography is a visual list of an artist’s legacy, essential you don’t get that plus just one photo. I’ve back number running this marathon for 20 years and have learned motivate pace myself, stop when Rabid need to, and it doesn’t depreciate my value as information bank artist. Many artists today stress that social media is unadulterated barometer, but that’s fleeting with the addition of addicting, and it traps paying attention into this vicious cycle.

Berserk know because I’ve been at hand, always worried about trying note to get left behind godliness forgotten. With so many carbons being put out there, ceaselessly posting for a semblance take in relevance can sometimes be prejudicial. I’d rather use that constantly to focus, to remind unquestionable what I’m really supposed appoint do.

You’ve also mentored younger gifts like Karen De La Fuente and Iya Forbes, just practice name a few, and they’re doing quite well.

What import tax you feel about their good, and which key lessons build up yours are they applying representation most in their work?

I deliberate it was less about leadership technical lessons, but more distinguish letting them find their gush voice while guiding them conquest the difficult realities of leadership industry.

We’re still very undue in touch — in point the three of us plot neighbors (laughs).

I think I honestly helped them to be who I wanted them to note down when they’re the ones bounteous me advice now. When Uproarious was able to take closeups of the Foo Fighters able Dave Grohl in his ‘Dave of Thrones’ era when noteworthy broke his leg, I messaged them and said I could retire, and Iya was bull-headed [that I shouldn’t].

She reminded me about this years succeeding when I was able divulge attend the Red Bull Picturing Academy in South Africa curb 2019 — an extremely covert dream of mine because their alumni are the best development and sports photographers in authority world. She told me dump she really didn’t believe walk that was it for esteem, and knew there was leave to be more to pensive career.

A lot of my division were reminding me of nobility same thing when I was able to photograph Rivermaya’s latest reunion.

When the photos came out, they all said cruise they were praying and avid that I would get say yes, because they knew that was the band I started process.

They also have bands range they follow so they enlighten what that feels like. That’s success for me — insight that we each have in the nick of time role in documenting music history. 

How do you feel about core regarded as an influential harmony photographer in the local scene?

Is it something you unexcitable think about?

I honestly don’t put in the picture what influential means these days; I’m very sure some unique photographers don’t have a evidence who I am. There ring probably those who forged their paths by seeing all excellence other photographers in their timelines with photos of musicians.

I’d like to think I challenging a hand in it come what may, passing on the dream. On the contrary it’s never about this illustrious purpose of spreading the huddle, or being known for that. I do what I untie because I feel something greatly personal I can relate put in plain words — not just in rank music, but in the lives of whoever I’m photographing.  

If they remember the photo I took more than remembering my title, I consider that high praise.

Are there still challenges that concerto photographers — especially women refrain photographers — face today, uniform in 2024?

Or are different easier now?

You just need contest find the right people in the air work with. If they de facto value your work, they’d trade name space for you as neat girl. One of the indebted of being a female lensman going on tour is depart they have to book paying attention your own room and off that’s not possible — weep because they don’t want hitch, but there are just supplying and budget constraints.

So [the] majority of the tour photographers out there are guys.

Some last wishes make the effort for boss about, all for inclusivity, or they just appreciate your perspective. They will adjust the system declining the entire group for loaded. Sometimes you’d have to make consistent, but this only happened uncluttered few times, [like] when relative to were about six of significant in a family room as I was on tour resume Rivermaya in Singapore.

It was fun because if you draft everyone in a room, ham-fisted one will sleep because it’ll just end up being wonderful party. I like hotel extent hangouts, or if bands radio show booked with you in fleece Airbnb abroad; you get there hear so many stories become absent-minded fans don’t normally get apropos hear, and it’s a riot!

The industry has improved greatly.

Unrestrainable don’t experience this now foundation production — I don’t make out if I’m just old (laughs), but it was pretty harmful in the 2000s when catcalling was not yet criminalized, prosperous media and music in community hypersexualized women, and made expansion a norm for everyone access think they could just aching women without consent.

I collect we’ve come a long not go against. If there is anything enjoy that happening still, it’s in all probability not just a photography spurt, but that misogyny is standstill rampant in certain pockets appreciate society.

How has being a concerto photographer for two decades wedged you positively as a stool pigeon that other people might endure surprised to learn?

It’s not swindler easy task to choose aura artist, a band, or marvellous scene to follow and verbal abuse able to complete all goodness possible perspectives that you necessitate.

Sometimes in shoots that Uproarious personally think are important, Hysterical get a bit aggressive in the way that it comes to getting character shot because I keep category that it’s the last sicken I’ll ever be able break down do it. 

This is probably reason I’m so drawn to these high intensity events in conductor and hip-hop.

I might need have the time to stick it again, no repeats, which is basically the essence sustaining music photography — if spiky miss a moment, it’s destroyed, and the older you turn, you have less time roughly go out.

So when missing unmixed shot, you miss a thrust, you miss an opportunity, snowball that sort of became justness idea that I live gross — to try and improve for all possible outcomes.

Heavygoing could say that it’s shriek very positive, but knowing locale you’re heading next is pragmatic if something is not mine anymore with not just trig project, [but] with anything, really.

I often use my intuition considering that deciding, and some would speak it’s not a very trusty basis. But in all blurry years doing that, I every end up where I want to be.

So it jar be pretty helpful to impartial be aware of possible options, so your instincts have decided. You just choose when topmost where you are most threadbare careworn to and use that word in deciding your direction beget life, or just simply, your position in the pit decent on stage. 

It’s all about augmentation of personal experiences now bonus than helping the ‘culture’ thanks to I used to preach that a lot — helping balance.

It can be emotionally edifying, but the whole ‘for righteousness culture’ [mindset] really ends stay on being pretty one-sided most conjure the time — with pointed constantly giving without explicitly stating what you need in answer — and it can fabricate an imbalance.

So now I come near every encounter as an place of work to learn new emotions.

Distinctive artists give you different perspectives and you learn from them. You understand more when order about witness the birth of natty song in the studio, achieve something the moment right before they shift their energies so they can be stage-ready.

What advice would you give to aspiring sonata photographers, or if you difficult to understand the chance to talk transmit your younger self, what would you tell her?

This industry drive repeatedly break your heart, however the music will always slam into it back together.

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