FAQs

Why “threecheersforfiveyears” ?

• I got the name threecheersforfiveyears from a similar Mayday Parade song, Three Cheers For Five Years. It was my favorite song of theirs back when I decided to create this tumblr account.

How is it to study in UPM?

• I am honestly having a difficult time studying in UPM. My grades are not incredibly high but thankfully I am able to pass my subjects. (The subjects I am taking are that hard and the exams are difficult too!) You have to take every subject seriously otherwise you’d end up failing and repeating it.

Can you tell us something about your love life?

• I am currently in a relationship with James Relativo and we’ve been together for more than a year now.
  
  I met him in UP Baguio. He was my classmate in Media Studies 11 and Psychology 10 when I was a college freshman. We were mere acquaintances back then and I only knew him because I used to date one of his band mates.
  
  Until one evening, I made my facebook account and decided to add him. He immediately added me back and he ended up posting a message on my wall thanking me for adding him. I replied and then he replied again and that night, we ended up turning that wall-post into a chat box of sorts.
  
  Before he logged out, he gave me his cellphone number and that’s where things pretty much began. I’ll probably stop here now.

What camera do you use?

•  I use my 5 year old Nikon F55 to take pictures unless otherwise indicated. And then, I use my cellphone’s camera to capture daily whatnots of my life. 

What is better? Nikon or Canon?

• I am honestly a Nikon biased since I’ve been a Nikon user for 5 years now. But then, Canon’s okay too. There are a handful of advantages when you use a Nikon camera and the same goes with Canon cameras. So if you’re looking for a specific feature, you might as well look at the camera that has those specific features regardless of the brand. 

Did you take formal photography lessons?

• No because I do not have time for such and I simply consider photography as a mere hobby of mine at the moment. Though I wouldn’t mind pursuing a related career in the future given the opportunity to do so.

How do you process your films? Do you have the film rolls developed, get them scanned and then upload them here? Isn’t it a tedious process?

• I’ve been using a film camera for almost 5 years now, my Nikon F55. Yes, I have them processed in this photo center near our place and I have the pictures placed in a CD afterwards. At times when it couldn’t be saved in a CD, I have the film rolls processed and printed then I scan them at home.
  
  Honestly, it really is tedious but because I enjoy what I do I do not mind at all.

Do you edit your photos? If so, how do you edit them?

• I edit the colors of the pictures most of the time but when it comes to nature related shots especially landscapes and photos of the sky, I try not to edit them that much. I post process photos through photoshop and I use various photoshop actions that I download on deviantart. I also play with the elements such as layers and colors in photoshop.

I use a point-and-shoot and I really want to start taking pictures using this before I get a better camera. Any tips?

• First, you have to be familiar with the features and function of your point-and-shoot camera and try to use all of it to your advantage. Aside from that, you also have to know your camera well and on what setting it is capable of producing good pictures. Lastly, try experimenting on a bunch of things as well.
  
  I started photography with just an old point-and-shoot film camera. A Kodak KB-10. And it’s features are almost close to being non-existent. I remember having the need to remove the batteries manually just to be able to disable the use of its built-in flash and then return it again when I feel the need to use the flash already.
  
  But despite that, I was still able to produce good pictures just like this one http://threecheersforfiveyears.tumblr.com/post/4631517154/where-you-dont-want-to-wake-up-taken-using-a. I took this one using my KB-10 camera years ago.
  
  I do not have a DSLR myself. I only have a film SLR that I’ve been using to take pictures for almost 5 years now. You need not have a DSLR to produce good pictures. All you need to have is a camera be it an SLR or a simple point-and-shoot and, imagination and an eye for photography.

Can you give some photoraphy tips for beginners?

• Know your camera first. You have to know almost if not all of the capabilities of your camera because it’ll come handy especially when you’re already taking pictures. That way, you’d know on what particular setting will your camera take good pictures on a certain location, time of the day etc.  
• Experiment. Experimenting on things wouldn’t hurt you. Of course not all experiments will turn out successful but still. You’ll be able to learn a lot of things by yourself through experimenting with your camera and subjects. 
• Flash. When shooting outdoors having ample amount of light, using your camera’s flash is not advisable. Always go for natural light unless a particular occasion arises where in you have to really use it.
• Know photography basics. Like framing, depth of field, the rule of thirds, different perspectives / eye views, aperture and shutter speed. They are very useful.

May you teach me some tips in photography more likely in film?

• Use an ISO 100 film when shooting outdoors and when you plan to take portraits and still subjects. Use an ISO 400 film when you’re shooting moving objects and when the location is kinda dark.  
• Use flash when it is necessary but try using natural light specially when shooting outdoors.
• Experiment on the settings of your camera though it’ll be much more expensive compared to digital photography since you are using film.
• Make the most out of your film rolls. Try shooting various subjects in a single roll of film.  
• Do not let a single frame be put to waste. It’ll save you money that way.
• Every press of the shutter counts. 

How did you edit those photos? Is there a specific action or effect/texture?

• I download photoshop actions on http://night-fate.deviantart.com/ and I input it to my Photoshop program. You might as well download the actions there if you are interested.

How do you create a mixtape?

• I think of a good concept for a mixtape first then I listen to a bunch of songs from my iTunes that’ll fit the concept I thought of. Afterwards, I compile the songs I chose in a single folder and then add the entire folder in a .rar file via winzip. I make the cover through photoshop and then upload the zip file on mediafire.

Did you make those tiny little icons on your sidebar (i.e.,facebook, twitter, flickr etc.) or did you just downloaded them?

• I downloaded those tiny little icons somewhere though I couldn’t remember where exactly. You can try searching for it on google, just type in ‘social media network buttons’.