World Photogrophy Day tribute
MANILA-Philippines—For bringing more life and meaning to his photos through a touch of art and not simply the best angle in both the most beautiful and hideous scenes and spots, more than three-decade photojournalist Erasmo “Sonny” Munsayac Espiritu is himself the spotlight behind his lens.
Today’s World Photography Day, “Sonny Espiritu” is one of the country’s epitomes of contemporary news photography, being the face and the voice of the voiceless, the powerless and the injustices in our society which had earned him numerous local and international recognitions.
Yet, he remains humble and had not climbed the ladder of success by hurting and using others, his fellows and anyone else within the circle of his profession.
Espiritu started his path and career in photojournalism during his college days as news photographer of “The Lance,” the school organ of Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Manila where he studied A.B. Communication Arts. “It’s what opened the doors to me,” he said.
His talent and skills though, to become the star and the spotlight of his own lens are both innate and a product of his self-initiated hard works, perseverance, dedication and a strong passion for the craft.
Espiritu is the eldest child of power couple— the late Reynaldo Espiritu from Bocaue, Bulacan and Rosalina Munsayac, from Cabiao, Nueva Ecija who both actively worked in the communication and information agencies of the national government in the 1970’s—the National Media Production Center (NMPC) and PTV 4 government television, the Maharlika Broadcasting System.
Staying at the studio and photo laboratory section of his parent’s office just before going home during his grade school were his first early exposures to photography and which ignited his interest. His father then, who was also a top brass in photography in the NMPC as the head of Still Photo and Laboratory which used a manual setting process.became the biggest influence to him.
“Through the years, my biggest influence was my father. I grew up in photography. The office of my parents was just a walking distance to my school. I grew up in the photo section, in the laboratory, the way the photos were developed into life-sized or blow ups”.
Most in everything were expertise he mastered outside the university based on the guidance of his father. He explored his father’s books-Encyclopedia of Photography, Documentary Photography and Photojournalism. “Hindi ko natutunan iyon sa school. Kay Papa lahat iyan. He told me to read and ask him when there’s something I could not understand,” Espiritu recalled.
The hardest of all, he said was the everyday learning, the challenges, in the jungle of the media profession since during his first strokes in the fields and in the entire more than 30 years of his career as a news photographer in different broadsheets—Today Newspaper, Evening Paper and for 22 years as Senior Photographer in Manila Standard from 1997-2019, recently in Daily Tribune to his present status as a Freelance Photojournalist and also once in a government’s media and information office, that made him climb the ladder where he is at now.
The challenges, the victories
For Espiritu, everything in his career were hard works to prove the worthiness of his every shots, his every craft—from the assignment to the actual clicks and bursts where the actions are and in the printing and submission.
“Everything is a difficult task. The most challenging are the photos for the newspaper because of the 3:00 p.m. deadline. Everything should be fast, we lined up in the photo laboratory. We also needed to have a good working relationship not only with everyone in and out of the desk but also with the person in charge in the photo laboratory area for our photos to be prioritized”.
“Nag-start ako as correspondent, kaya talagang pahiirapan, police beat, military operation, demolition, street photography shots, agriculture, environment, human interest, sports, mga simpleng awarding ceremonies. Basta ang nagtulak sa akin para magsumikap ng husto sa photography ay mga challenges, lalo na sa diyaryo”. (I started as a correspondent and it was all struggle, the police beat, military operation, demolition, street photography shots, agriculture, environment, human interests, sports, even the simplest awarding ceremonies. What drove me to really push myself to the limit were the challenges, especially in the newspaper), he told NEWSCORE Bulacan.
Almost everyday stand-alone photos
All the photos of Espiritu from different coverages and assignments would land as banner photos and most of them stand alone ones like a masterpiece of an artwork. Yet, Espiritu is not the type who will muscle himself in with the rest of his fellow lens men to get the best shot. More often, the moment he sat foot in a place for work, he will pause for a short internalization to best execute his job. One of the most vital steps was to place himself on the best location from the subject to get the most astonishing shot using his best lens, his quick eyes, steady hands and sharp senses.
“During my time, I had become the best competitor and target of my colleagues in the field. They will have me watched of the angle I took. It was really somehow frustrating that they ingest my idea and because their newspapers have more circulations, others would think that it was their original concept and initiatives,” he said.
“Halos kainin na ng stand alone photo ang buong pahina (front page) dahil sa stand alone banner photo. Naka tele photo lense ako. In just split seconds kasi need ng makunan. Magagalit na naman sa akin ang ibang photographer, sinasabi nila madalas, na-scoopan tayo noon sa anggulo ah. Saan naka pwesto iyon, di naman nakikipagsiksikan sa atin iyon, hindi naman nakkipagbalyahan”.
Photojournalism, a sacred job
According to Espiritu, for one to be called a photojournalist should have gone through different major beats—from police beat, Malacanang, Senate, sports, business, lifestyle, entertainment to still a huge number of bold and daring assignments and not just simple ribbon cutting, awarding, or groundbreaking photos.
“It is sacred to be called a photojournalist. I would not want to call myself as such. I would not want to claim it. Let authorities and the people call me as a photojournalist and call my works as photojournalism,” he said.
More so, according to the photojournalist, staying in the profession is having to brave all the challenges and difficulties both in the field and inside the newsroom. But one thing makes him stand out among the rest, he put art in his every shot. “There should be an art in news photography. It is not only and purely beauty and sceneries.”
“Climb your way up to the top with honesty, good work and with high level of professionalism without having to use anyone and most importantly, master your craft. Let yourself to be the spotlight of your own cameras and lens,” he ended.
Lastly, what made Espiritu earned numerous prestigious awards were each of his masterpieces heart for community service and social relevance.
Awards
Espiritu is a recipient of 2022 Grandes Figuras Awardee of Colegio de San Juan de Letran 400 Outstanding Men and Women; 2nd Place Winner –“Perfect Form 2014 Philippine SuperLiga (PSL) -All Filipino Conference Photo Contest; 2014 First Prize Winner – “Eyes on the Prize,” 25th Mitsubishi International Tennis Junior Championship; 2011 Philippine Legislator’s Committee on Population and Development Foundation, Inc. (PLCPD) – 7th PopDev Media Awards Best Single Photo Title: “Wasteland”; 2nd Prize Winner in the 4th Photojournalism Award Through the Lens – Ricky Reyes Foundation with the Theme – Women of the Earth in 2008; First Prize Winner, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Isang Pitik Charity Photo Competition-Professional Category—Title: “Soldiers of Mercy in 2008”; First Prize Winner Best Single Photo-Photojournalism Category, Title: “Spawn” in 2008; Best Agriculture Photo, Philip Morris Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism Award (1st recipient)—Title: “Palawan Greens” in 2007; 1st Prize Winner – Fire Rescue, Association of Philippine Fire Brigades, Inc.—Title: “Whew, Sooooh Hot” in 2006.
Also, he won 1st Prize Winner in Nestea Beach Volleyball Championships—Title: “Take That’ in 2005; 1st Prize Winner in the Invitational Photojournalism Competition—Through the Lens – Ricky Reyes Foundation, (A Day in the Life of Calatagan, Batangas)—Title: “Meeting Place” in 2005; Epson Photo Contest 2004 – Japan—Nature and Human Life Photo Award, Title: Both Busy which was Judged in Japan; Photo of the Year – 2004–Manila Standard Annual Photo Contest—Title: Devastation; Photo of the Year in 2004 Manila Standard Annual Photo Contest; Konrad Adenauer Foundation Center for Journalism, Ateneo de Manila and University – Philippine Press Institute (KAF-PPI) Annual Community Press Awards in 2003; Special Plaque of Citation for winning the 3rd place in the prestigious One Asia Assembly Photo Contest and Exhibit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Awarded at Century in 2003; Sports Press Photographers Association of the Philippines Awardee—5th Place—Title: “Cool Ride” in 2003.
Also, he won 3rd Place in Press Foundation of Asia Awardee, Malaysian Chapter—Title: “Go Ahead Punk, Make My Day” in 2002; Catholic Mass Media (CMMA) Awardee – 2002 with Special Citation—Title: “Madonna in Flesh;” Philippine Press Institute (PPI) – One Asia Assembly 2002–Photojournalism Awardee; Second Place Environment Message Category—Title: “Both Sides, What a Mess!” in 2001; Third Place News and Speed Category—Title: “Go Ahead Punk, Make My Day” in 2001; Special Recognition—Title: “Social Outcast” in 2001; Special Recognition—Title: “Role Model” in 2001; Consolation Prize—Title: “Courtroom Drama” in 2001; Photo of the Year – 2001–Manila Standard Annual Photo Contest—Title: “Aint New York, Just Ortigas Skyline;” Catholic Mass Media Awardee in 2003; —Best News Photograph for Year 2001–Title: “Saving Life and Rice;” Henry Lee Irwin Theater, Ateneo de Manila University—Photo of the Year (1999)—Manila Standard Annual Photo Contest—Title: “Loyal Servant;” Press Photographers of the Philippines Foundation, Inc. in 1997; 1997 Photojournalism Awards 5th Y K L Cup —1st Prize winner—Government Official-in Mood or Action Category – Unpublished Division—Title: “Tired of Politics” in 1997;
He also bagged the 3rd prize for the Press Photographers of the Philippines Foundation, Inc. 1994 Photojournalism Awards 3rd Y K L Cup for Human Interest Category – Published Division—Title: “Salo Salo Together” in 1994.
Guest Speaker and competition judge
He was also invited as speaker and judge in the Supreme Court of the Philippines – Carnival Costume Contest on December 5, 2024; Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation (FPPF) Photoworld Cup Monthly Competition for the month of May with the theme “ Festivals” on July 9, 2022; Prize Photo Club, Inc in 2017.; in Camera Club of the Philippines in 2017; #mypapapvisitstory Photo Contest in 2015; Zone V Camera Club in 2016; Resource Speaker in Campus Journalism, St. James Academy, Basic Education Department in 2011; Communication 140 (Introduction to Photojournalism), The Communication Department of Ateneo de Manila University in 2007; The World Through the Viewfinder, National Museum, Manila and organized by: Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation, Inc., Instituto Cervantes, and National Museum in 2005 and in the First Photo Contest of Zoom Photographers 2002.
Training and seminars
He was a Delegate to the World Press Freedom Day Summit in 2004, Surviving Pandemics and Other Provocations by Challenging Current Paradigms on May 1, 2024; Photojournalism, Media Ethics and International News Gathering; National Geographic Magazine Staff Photographer, Thomas Jefferson Information Center, US Embassy in 2002; Advance Training Course for Photojournalist, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines and the International Institute of Journalism Berlin Brandenburg E.V. held at Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) in 1996 which focused on the following theoretical and practical subjects: The Photographer as a Communicator, The Photographer as a Reflection of Reality, The creative Process in Photography, Ethics and Aesthetics in Press Photography, The Application of Genres in Print Media, The Relation between Photo and Text, The Assessment of Press Photos and Creative Cropping, Introduction to the Basics of Page Design and Layout; Kodak Photo Seminar Introduction in Color Photography in 1993–Capturing the Looks in Light: to make colors, add or subtract for slides, reversal images for prints, negative color, matching film to the light source, filters to balance color and a film for every taste; Extra Dimensions of Color— romantic color, sensous color, proud color, restless color and The Colors of Time and Place—early, late gold, cold spring, rich sunset.
He also covered PhotoWorld Manila – International Photo Event in PICC in 1995- Portrait Photography: Film Standardization of Final Product; Studio Technique; Food, Sizzling Photography: Different Strokes; Blending Technique and Art in Advertising; Wedding: Once in a Lifetime Photos; An Island in the Sea: Developing the Inner Eye; Large Format Digital and Traditional Photography; Underwater: Treasures of the Philippine Sea; Light Technique Painting with Light; Digital Manipulating the Electronic Image; Alternative Process Rediscovering Palladium and Platinum Alternative Printing process; Portrait Visualization Technique in Portraiture; Photographing People for Advertising; Travel First Steps in Travel Photography; Nature: Visual Wonders of the Unseen Philippines; Wet Process: Creativity Color Photography in the Darkroom; Colorization: Color in a Black and White World; Personal Philosophy: A Philosophy of Photography; Photojournalism: A Survivors Guide to Photojournalism.
Other skills and knowledge
Espiritu also excels in Digital Photography, Photo Enhancement using Adobe Photoshop, Film Photography and Film Photo Laboratory Works.
