Lyn Rillon, Photojournalist

A petite lady, one can only wonder how she braves her day to cover an assignment, and, working for a Philippine daily, these assignments range from bloody raids, fires, press conferences to presidential inaugurations.

Lyn Rillon has been around, starting as a photographer for the Philippine Collegian in her sophomore days in the University of the Philippines, she grabbed an opportunity to work for the pre-Erap Manila Times, which was then at the helm of Malou Mangahas and Glenda Gloria, among others.

“My first assignment was the May 1995 senatorial elections, and I was happy that my photo was printed on the front page,” Lyn said, reminiscing how she felt like a “legitimate” photographer upon seeing her name on the first page.

And from there, Lyn went on to work for numerous dailies and magazines, where her pictures continue to mirror the society she vowed to serve.

“I would like to practice my creativity with a twist for public service,” Lyn said.

And true enough, she gained the respect of her peers and her works have that “Rillon” mark. A work of art created through discipline, perseverance, and sincerity.

Sincerity to the work she does and the subjects she photographs. Lyn confessed that whenever she goes to an assignment, she does not take photos right away, but instead, she listens, and observes, and only after she understands the story and the subject that she takes on her camera and take the picture.

“You really can’t tell their story if you don’t know their story, isn’t it,” Lyn said.

She carries on that attitude even on news assignments, on events when a photographer needs to act fast, she still takes time to know what’s behind the scenes. As a result, her photographs are narrative rather than the usual one-two snaps a less-experienced photographer would bring home to his editor.

“The pictures I take can be used as visual evidence in the future,” she stresses, “ (the audience) must be able to see without me having to say anything.”

But just like any other person who witnesses a horrific event, Lyn shared that it is impossible not to feel.

“Not while you’re taking the pictures, but all your defenses fall apart when you are editing them, when you are seeing the photos you took just moments ago.”

In the end, she learned to charge everything to experience, and it’s up for us to learn from that experience.

“You can’t really blame anyone,” she ends.