#ignt_pictureinapicture Winner Jantzen Tan

Every Thursday we announce a certain topic via a hashtag, afterwards you’ll have 4 days to make a photo related to our topic and upload it to your Instagram using the hashtag. Who submitted the best image will be featured as our Insta Fav in the following week. This week’s topic is #ignt_upsidedown and here are a few rules and tips:

– Please only submit your own photographs to the project and keep them in a square format. Any image tagged until Sunday 0.00 am MESZ is eligible to be featured right here.
– If you want to submit your photo, use the hashtag #ignt_upsidedown and upload your photo until Sunday the 12.07. on your Instagram account. Have fun and good luck, we can’t wait to see your submissions.

Manila-based Jantzen Tan won this feature with his submission to our last week’s hashtag #ignt_pictureinapicture. Thank you for all your submissions.

Follow: @jaaantzen

When and where did you take the picture? Tell us a little about the idea behind it.

I took this picture last March 2015 at San Juan, La Union, Philippines where we celebrated Instagram’s 11th World Wide Instameet. This was also the time where World Water Day is being celebrated to let other people be aware that there are nearly 748 Million people who have no access to clean water. I was having a hard time thinking of a concept that will surely gather people’s attention through my picture. So I asked my very good friend John (@mvltiple) to hold this huge mirror so that the reflection of the beach and the waves would be included. It was the perfect shot, I guess.

Where are you from? How does that place influence the way you photograph?

I am from the Philippines. Currently, I live in Metro Manila, the capital of the Philippines. But I’m originally from Zamboanga, “Asia’s Latin City”. Well, it was really my first time to visit this beautiful place, La Union. The place is also known to be the Surfing Capital of the Northern Philippines. It was love at first sight because the place was so laid back with the beach, the people there were hospitable and lastly it’s far away from our bustling city. I always like to be in a different environment, be it at the beach, in the forest or in the metro. Something that will always catch my attention and keeps on intriguing me would be my influence in taking photography seriously.

Who and what are the things that inspire you?

I love sharing my sentiments and stories through my photos and it’s all about the perfect timing, the tiniest of details and the “capture that moment” that makes the photograph more precious and real. But what keeps me going in taking photographs is the Instagram community. Because of this app I’ve got to meet a lot of people who share the same interests as mine. They’re also very passionate when it comes to photography. I want to inspire others and be inspired as well.

Your favorite instagrammers?

What a tough question here! I have so many on the list, but here are the few instgrammers who will always be my favorites: @alexstrohl, @coreymatthewperkins, @shackette, @heraldherrera, @jelitodeleon, @kimijuan and @larkvain.

Which apps do you use to edit your pictures?

Another tough question here! I usually edit my photos through VSCO cam for the filters and sometimes I use the Instagram editing tools for the enhancements & adjustments.

Tell us a little about your everyday. (Family, friends, work, etc.)

I’m a registered nurse and a registered emergency medical technician as well. Isn’t it weird that you’re part of a medical field, yet you love photography so much? I’m the eldest one among four siblings. I don’t always stay at home because I easily get bored. I prefer to explore the outdoors alone and sometimes with the help of a friend. I always love to learn something new and explore new things, in that way I get to personally know more about myself.