It was in March of 1978 when a group of photo enthusiasts first met and called themselves the Zone V Camera Club. This seemingly odd name may have brought about some confusion to those who first heard of it. It was actually inspired by Ansel Adams’ classic zoning exposure system, that formed the basis of exposure degrees or zones as used in classic photography. The club is not limited by any geogr
aphical region and has members coming from all parts of the country. (Since the Covid pandemic broke out, regular monthly club meetings and special events have continued online.) The club serves as a venue for the development of each member’s photography skills. This is achieved through monthly photo contests that aim to challenge the members to view the world with a fresh, new perspective. By looking for different interpretations on the monthly contest themes, the club members hone their skills and ability to conceptualize the images they present for judging. Using various types of media used in photography, such as colored prints, black and white prints, or projected images, the members develop their sense of what works best for each contest. For most of the members of the club, the most anticipated activity remains the on-the-spot contest or more familiarly, the OTS, which is held three or four times a year. Limited to club members, it is a chance for Zone Fivers to just go out and have fun as photographers in a different environment. Through the years the club has found itself in the various sites around the country. Venues as common as the Manila Zoo, Nayong Pilipino, or historical places like Corregidor, Intramuros, and many others have been subjected to the lenses of the ZVCC. So have Subic Bay, Baguio, Banawe, Bohol, Sagada, Bacolod, Mindoro, Mulanay, Real, Villa Escudero, Tagaytay, Taal, and the list goes on. Most recent locations include Coron and La union. The OTS offers the newer members a chance to observe the more experienced photographers in action. In 2007, Zone Five embarked on its first foreign OTS in Macau. It was followed by Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam and Bangkok, Thailand in 2008 and 2009, and most recently, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. Last year the club went to South Korea and is this year, it is headed to Beijing in October. Throughout all its activities - the photo shoots, the contests, and the traveling, what stands out most in Zone V is the camaraderie among its members. After forty two years, the same ideals for which the club was formed still exist: its quest for excellence in capturing an image; the innovation in utilizing photographic equipment and tools, and the spirit of competitiveness that drives each member. The interest and enthusiasm of today’s current members, towards excellence in their craft, become more intense as each year passes. In the pursuit of winning photographs, members resort to creative interpretation of the subjects and innovation in approaches, ultimately learning to be more discriminate in technical and artistic values. But Zone V goes beyond all this: Lifelong friendships and bonds have been formed through the years making it more than just a club, but has evolved into a family.
