NZPhotographer Issue 20, June 2019

GETTING TO KNOW JAYDEN TUMBAGA
HI JAYDEN, PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF!
I am a native Hawaiian and Filipino originally from
Hawaii living in Denver, Colorado in the US.
I graduated this year from Regis University School of
Pharmacy with a Doctorate of Pharmacy Degree.
I spent the last year performing eight different
pharmacy rotations at multiple sites for my pharmacy
program which gave me the opportunity to visit
New Zealand for a six-week research rotation at the
University of Otago Wellington.
WHEN DID YOUR JOURNEY WITH
PHOTOGRAPHY START?
I am an amateur photographer just beginning on my
photography journey as a passion and hobby.
I picked up my first DSLR camera (a Nikon D340)
recently in August 2018 knowing that I would be
travelling to New Zealand six months after. I had
always wanted one since becoming a fan of
astrophotography photos (the work of Mark Gee
has played a big role in inspiring me to take up
photography) and eventually developed a passion
strong enough to research and buy a camera that
I could afford while still being able to shoot the stars.
Once I got my camera, I began shooting as much
as I could in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado to
practice both nature shots and astrophotography
in order to obtain as much experience as possible
before heading to New Zealand, where I knew the
stars would be waiting.
Taking up a hobby as complicated as photography
proved difficult, especially while in pharmacy school,
but was very rewarding as there is so much to learn
after every single shot.
I am still on my first camera and exploring as many
styles of photography as I can in order to see what
I like the most. So far I am determined to try my hand
at astrophotography and landscape photography
since I love to see mountains across a sky but am
excited to discover more as I continue shooting.
TELL US ABOUT THE DAY YOU TOOK THE
PEOPLE’S CHOICE WINNING SHOT…
I had been waiting for a day with decent weather
to visit the Wellington Botanical Gardens. I knew it
would be a great opportunity to get some shots in for
practice with my camera but it had been raining the
days before so the visit was postponed multiple times.
My three classmates and I spent a somewhat-sunny
evening at the gardens… I had been walking ahead
of the group in order to get nature-only shots. I recall
taking this shot and immediately calling my friends
over to look at my photo and being particularly proud
at how attractive it was to me, with all the vibrant
colours that were captured, the soft glow of the sun
on its petals, the rugged contrast of the ground and
rocks, and the overall plant array.
Although I took this shot during the beginning of our
visit, I somehow knew that this would be the photo
that I would be submitting to the competition.
HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT THE
COMPETITION AND WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO
ENTER?
I stumbled upon the competition on the WellingtonNZ
website while researching things to do and found the
Wellington Botanical Gardens. After discovering it
would be free to enter the competition and open to
anyone I was excited to be able to submit something
to my first amateur contest and see how I might
do. Since it was my first, I had no idea at what level
I would be at but was simply happy to be able to
showcase a photo of mine.
HAS WINNING THE COMPETITION INSPIRED
YOU TO TAKE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY FURTHER?
Winning has definitely given me the confidence to go
out and shoot more. I feel like I can trust my eye for
shots a lot more and would love any opportunity to
enter into more competitions.
I have been wanting to take a workshop as there is so
much more to learn still but I am constantly debating
purchases between workshops, more lenses, and a
better post-editing setup!
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO
OTHERS WHO ARE JUST STARTING OUT WITH
PHOTOGRAPHY?
So far, the advice that has helped me the most at
these beginner stages is simply to go out and shoot as
much as you can!
The more time you spend with your camera the more
familiar it will be and shooting will come easier.
Don’t spend too much time judging each photo after
you’ve taken it but when you have a photo that you
took and that you really like, try to figure out what it is
exactly that you like about it.
14 NZPhotographer