The artistic voices of young artists soar in Shell Pilipinas’ 56th National Students Arts Competition (NSAC) with the theme, “GalÍng Pinoy, Galing Pinoy.”

Shell Pilipinas Corporation puts the spotlight anew on the artistic passions of the youth in the 56th year of its National Students Art Competition (NSAC) with the theme – “Galíng Pinoy, Galing Pinoy”. For this year, Shell NSAC adds photography as a new category, recognizing the importance of seeing today’s society through the eyes of the youth and emphasizing their vision which showcases the distinct cultures and traditions of various Philippine regions.

Serge Bernal, Shell Pilipinas Vice President for Corporate Relations, commended the enthusiasm of the students and their interest in art, saying that it is “heartening to see today’s youth – our torchbearers of change and champions of tomorrow – are similarly impassioned by the traditions and practices that have shaped our nation. But our culture has also always been one of innovation and imagination, embracing change and technology so we may always push forward, and it’s that sort of tenacity and brilliance we hope will inspire your art this 2023.”

He stated that “for 109 years, Shell has witnessed the remarkable growth and evolution of this country. Through all the ups and downs, the nation has adapted, thrived, and transformed, showcasing the resilience and spirit that define the Filipino people. We are proud to have been a part of this journey, using our platform to help power the progress of the country.”

“Shell NSAC is a springboard opening more opportunities in the local art scenes and serving as a torch in the dark. The Filipino people share a country of culture and innovation—we at the CCP believe this to be more than an idea,” said Dennis Marasigan, the current Vice President and Artistic Director of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).

A storied history
Since 1951, Shell NSAC has been serving as a platform to celebrate the accomplishments and talents of young Filipino artists by developing, testing, and spotlighting their skills. Around 600-800 students join each year and, since its inception, Shell NSAC has produced 1,175 winners. The competition has also opened multiple opportunities for young Filipino artists in the local and international art scene.
This year’s launch event did bring a surprise to many competitors. Beyond the usual categories of Sculpture, Watercolor, Oil and Acrylic, and Digital Arts, a new one was introduced: Photography. Bernal explained the reason: “In this digital age, where visual storytelling has become a powerful medium, we want to provide young photographers with an opportunity to showcase their talents and capture the essence of Filipino ingenuity through their lenses. We are excited to see how this addition will further enrich the diverse tapestry of Shell NSAC submissions.”

Transforming culture
“The process of artmaking is based on our cultural practices,” said Ronald Ventura, who placed 1st during the 1990 Shell NSAC. “Sometimes those cultural activities transform the ways of our perception, of course we can use our platforms to inspire most of our community.”

Aladin Antiqueno, who landed 1st place during the 1992 Shell NSAC, defined the “GalÍng Pinoy, Galing Pinoy” theme as “the cultural representation showcasing the values of the Filipino. Yung ang galing ng Filipino.”

“There are many ways art can contribute to nation-building—we can see it in many ways,” affirmed Jan Leeroy New, who was awarded 2nd place for the 2004 & 2006 Shell NSAC. “With the proper support by the government and organizations, it can become a proper way of providing livelihood. Develop the ideologies for the people and create progressive ways of moving forward for the county, for the better.”

Student artists are invited to join and showcase their ingenuity, innovation, and art throughout every corner of the country in the fields of Watercolor, Oil and Acrylic, Sculpture, Digital Arts, and now, Photography. Participants are also encouraged to join in numerous engagement activities throughout the year including face-to-face Art Interact workshops led by master artists and mural painting done in collaboration with other student artists.

The 56th Shell NSAC is co-sponsored by Boysen Philippines, and was held in partnership with the CCP, Ayala Museum, Galerie Joaquin, and the Orange Project.

Instagram’s (or more accurately Meta’s) latest app is here – Threads, an Instagram app.

On first inspection, it looks like a cleaned-up version of Twitter, but is this the new haven for photographers and creatives to share their content, or just another Twitter clone soon to be filled with the usual vitriolic trolling that makes Twitter such an unpleasant place to be for creatives trying to share personal work?

We have all sat and watched the slow demise of Twitter since Elon Musk’s turbulent takeover. However, the app has been so embroiled in the culture wars that many users fled long before Elon rode into town, and have been looking for a new internet hangout.

Meta’s Facebook also doesn’t have a sterling reputation for wholesome public discourse, and it has also rapidly been abandoned or snubbed by most younger people. However, Meta’s other app Instagram has somehow managed to remain popular by ripping off features from more attractive rivals like Snapchat (stories) and TikTok (reels) and remains the dominant place for creatives to share on.

Now sensing that Twitter’s star is fading, Meta has decided to step in and usurp its place. However, it will face some tough competition with apps like Mastodon and Bluesky already growing their userbases over the last several months. But competition regulators be damned, what Threads does have is the ability to leverage its 2.35 billion existing Instagram users who will find the move to Threads almost seamless.

How to join Threads

Threads is now available on the as well as the Google Play Store for Android devices and is free to download. A surprise and somewhat messy launch with a web version of the app going live first at threads.net, while the launch of the app for devices was hurried forwards by several hours, but alas it seems to be finally here for everyone.

Setting up your account on Threads if you are an existing Instagram user and are happy to keep your Instagram handle could not be simpler. So long as you are logged into Instagram on the device you are setting up your Threads account on, it is a simple one-touch login. The app will then direct you to import your Instagram username, bio, link, and profile picture with a tap (although you can edit all these except for your username before confirming). 

The final step is just following people, and Threads gives you a list of all the people you already follow on Instagram, you can manually select people, or just follow all (even if they aren’t on Threads yet). And it is that simple, you are set up and ready to Thread.

Is Threads any good for photos and video?

In comparison to an app like Instagram, then what Threads offers doesn’t really compete, as like Twitter, it is much more focused on generating conversations on current topics than a place to admire artistic work. 

However, when you look at Threads next to Twitter, it is clear that Threads has raised the bar with higher limits on sharing content. Threads are limited to 500 characters instead of Twitter’s 280-character limit, so you can add a decent-length description to your content. Videos shared on Threads can be up to five minutes long and don’t seem to be limited to specific ratios like they are on Instagram. Threads also shares the same limit of ten images per post as Instagram, although this trumps Twitter’s paltry four images per post.

There are currently very limited search features on Threads, and you can’t follow hashtags or topics, which severely limits artists’ reach. In its current state, Threads does not feel like a place where, as a photographer or creator without a significant following already you would get your work seen amongst all the noise of more lucrative Threaders. This is an issue that Instagram users have complained about for years as the feed became more algorithmic in what it showed users.

With many photographers currently running two Instagram accounts, one for personal and one showing their work, Threads does now offer a way to transition that personal account onto Threads, letting you augment your work with your personality and endearing people to your personal brand. Providing you can be found.

Threads: Other day one thoughts

Threads feels like an unfinished app, and with the speed that Meta seemed to rush this out, it might well be. The interface works faultlessly, it has a clean and simple design that regular Instagram users will feel at home with right away. 

The main feed though is where it already gets classically Meta, and might be the app’s undoing. Despite following a number of people who have made several Threads or “re-Threaded” (or whatever we are calling a repost), my main feed is just jam-packed with brands and influencers, despite me not following any of them, although apparently, this is “on the list” to be rectified. 

The brands and influencers are also so far off my interests (which Meta should have well mapped out from my years of Instagram use) that I wonder how Threads is even deciding what is shown. This might change dramatically as more people join the platform, but in its current state, it is not clear why I would subject myself to a feed of corporate messaging. 

There is also no direct messaging in the app, which also feels like an oversight. As a photographer, if someone liked my work and wanted to work with me, there is no easy and private way to directly get in touch. Instagram has a great messaging system, so I am surprised it was not integrated directly into the Threads app. 

Threads is off to a good start, but there is clearly a lot of work to do to make it a home for photographers and creatives to share their work in a meaningful and impactful way.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) announces the commencement of its 2024 calendar photography competition, a yearly highlight event that features captivating images capturing the beauty, power, and significance of weather, climate, and water. This year, the competition’s theme aligns with World Meteorological Day 2024’s focus, “At the frontline of climate action”.

The WMO is seeking high-quality, poignant photographs that depict individuals and communities taking climate action and underscore the necessity of WMO’s work in protecting people from natural forces. Additionally, images portraying the urgency to shield our planet from the impacts of human activities are also welcomed.

Winning entries will be featured in the WMO 2024 Calendar, on the WMO website and social media platforms, and notably, during World Meteorological Day 2024 celebrations. They will also be promoted among other UN agencies. There will be lots of recognition but no financial reward!

Following an initial selection process based on technical and artistic merit, shortlisted photographs will be published on Facebook and Instagram, where followers can vote for their favourites. The competition will also be publicized via Twitter, LinkedIn, and other UN social media accounts.

The WMO panel, consisting of experts in meteorology, hydrology, and professional photographers, will shortlist entries based on technical quality, clarity, composition, visual impact, novelty, and the image’s ability to demonstrate the importance of climate action for people. About 50 photographs will be shortlisted, followed by a public vote on social media. The final 13 photographs to be included in the calendar will be decided by the WMO jury (one for the cover and one for each month), with consideration given to social media votes and geographical balance.

Photographers are invited to submit multiple entries via an online entry form on the WMO website, but only one photograph can be included in the final calendar. Don’t forget to use the #WMOphoto hashtag if you share your photos on your social media profiles!

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