A professional photographer, who travelled the country from the northernmost province near Taiwan and the southernmost part near the Malaysian border to take photos, is this year’s best photographer of birds.

A professional photographer who travelled the country from the northernmost province near Taiwan and the southernmost part near the Malaysian photographer is this year’s best photographer of birds.

Arnulfo Gabilo or Noli to media people topped the Titit photo contest organized by the City Environment and Parks Management Office as part of its 4-month long Saleng Festival.

Gabilo, who dabbled as a photo correspondent to local newspapers including the defunct Cordillera Today, won with his entry of a long tailed shrike he photographed during a coverage at the Baguio Country Club last July 1.

He said that it was the celebration of elected officials of Baguio and Benguet when he saw the bird perching on a branch of a pine tree.

“The fogs even helped,” he said of his photo he snapped as light and darkness were struggling at the end of day at 6PM.

“Ang gamit kong lente dyan ay yung bagong (I used a new lens) Tamron 18-300mm all-around travel zoom for Fujifilm Xmount,” said Gabilo adding that he had a wide opening at F6.3, 1/160th second and ISO or speed of 640.

Gabilo was the chief photographer of the Memoirs of Baguio, one of the two books commissioned by the city in celebration of the Baguio centennial in September 1, 2009.

Gabilo bested 20 photo enthusiasts including Brian Carlo Layugan and Steven Bruce Layugan, who placed second and third, respectively.

The photos are now on display at the Baguio City Hall lobby.

Already on its second year, the Saleng Festival is dedicated to trees where various activities are geared into the protection of trees and the environment. Pigeon Lobien