If a picture paints a thousand words, then better photo quality may paint a more enticing image of farming and agriculture. This was just one among the many learnings Agricultural Extension Workers took home with them after finishing the training titled “It’s All in the Click”: Training on Photography and Vlogging held at the Almont Inland Resort, Butuan City on March 7-10, 2023.

There were twenty-one (21) participants in the training composed mostly of AEWs from Agusan del Norte.  During the four-day training, they learned to operate cameras and photographic equipment; bring out different emotions through photographs; process images as part of documentation and in the development of information, education, and communication (IEC) materials; enhanced photography skills; and create vlogs to promote digital/online marketing and information dissemination.

Dr. Jessie V. Beldia, the OIC Center Director of ATI-RTC XIII, during his welcome address, stressed how privileged the participants were for their involvement in such kind of training.  He challenged the participants to remain steadfast and serious in the training and to apply their learnings in their respective Local Government Units. Meanwhile, Alvin Aclan, Provincial Agriculturist of Agusan del Norte, justified the importance of photography and vlogging in documenting agri-related activities and in helping farmers market their products online through vlogging.

The Resource Person for the training was Erwin Mascariñas who is a multi-awarded international journalist. Aside from photography and vlogging skills, he also taught the participants some basics in caption writing. After every workshop, each of the participant’s output was critiqued by the speaker and was required to be revised.

“At first, I was excited to join this training to gain new skills in photography and vlogging. But as the days went by, the workshops became harder and harder. But this is part of the training which we need to undergo to help improve ourselves, especially in the various techniques and rules in photography,” said Engr. Dann Gabriel Cadavos, Engineer II of the Provincial Agriculture Office of Agusan del Norte and, one of the training participants.

At the end of the training, all participants were able to submit photos applying rules and styles in photography, created their own YouTube channel and uploaded their short vlogs, uploaded their photos on social media, and agreed that their re-entry plans will be monitored after six months from the conduct of the training.