Hamrun round Noon

October 27, 2017

Today I had an errand in Hamrun, that pleased me immensely because I had to walk the main road of foot. I have been trying to plan and walk this road up and down for a while. The shops always fascinated me. The old doors are lost due to the bombastically clad aluminium shop facades, however people still use the doorsteps to take a rest, wait for the bus or generally hand out.

I even managed to get a shot of the shop front below that has been closed since I could remember. The "British Army & Navy Bar". I am surprised it is still untouched considering everyone is trying to 'develop' all places into tasteless and soulless concrete buildings.

Then I looked up and this lady met my lens....obviously I snapped, how could I resist.

Further along the street I heard some commotion and wondered who was quarreling. Turns out it was this lady in light blue (below) speaking to someone on the phone. I wondered what was the problem but probably it is just us Maltese making a mountain out of a molehile. I was also intrigued by this lady waiting at this narrow street...who was she waiting for. What was her final destination?

I walked on and realised the woman on the doorsteps was still there waiting, or looking at passers by. She surely looked at me as you can see below.

A short 20 min walk and all these snaps in my bag...

The character of a place

October 22, 2017

Today we went exploring. I used to sit at this chapel's doorway (pictured above) chatting away with my friend Karen joined sometimes by Celine, nearly every Sunday morning.

Then I looked out to the right, and I saw my hometown's rural charm still relatively intact from any destructive interventions.

As we walked away, a light breeze picked up, and suddenly I looked at the street and felt the spirit of the place welcoming me. My current research is about the documentation of the spirit of a place through the photographic medium....can it be done I ask.

Photos shot in Haz-Zebbug, Malta.

Featured Project on First Magazine

October 22, 2017

I would like to thank Joanna Demarco from First Magazine (Malta Independent) for featuring my project titled 'Maltese Interiors'. The great Ann Dingli described my work perfectly!

Read full article here:

http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2017-10-19/local-news/FIRST-Inside-the-unfiltered-Maltese-home-6736180061

Shooting a photographer's family

October 6, 2017

Ian and myself have been toying with the idea of having a family shoot of his own family from the beginning of summer, but you know life happens with numerous weddings to shoot together and independently, and we never found the time.

However last weekend Ian asked me to find a date that following week, so we meet and we finally do these images. We met and as soon as I said hello, all his four kids ran around me and then away from me spreading in all directions. Josann, Ian's wife, gave me a warm smile as always, and Ian is Ian, we are colleagues, we say hi without uttering the word really.

Off we went for 'a walk' with the kids. A walk with kids is never a leisurely walk. We were altering between, walking, running, jumping and well trying to keep everyone in sight and out of danger. Suddenly everything is a hazard...and I might be a bit too relaxed with kids since I don't have any of my own, so I am not exactly alert of any dangers. We reached a nice plateau where there was some shade, and off the kids went...and myself as the photographer was left behind. My only alternative was to run, engage with them and also take shots!

They ran, screamed, fell, got up, continued running...and somehow I got the shots. We even managed some family shots....and the beauty of kids offers a vibrant set of various photos were the kids are being kids and the adults well...are being parents, trying to look good whilst scolding their kids. It was exquisite to shoot such a lovely family. All individual kids had their unique character and expressions.

Paolo the eldest and only male amongst his siblings, was the shy but not so quite one. He collected sticks whilst we were doing this shoot, however he also wanted a photo for school so at one point he did look at the camera.

Francesca the first eldest girl, was so sweet and loving, and she showered me with hugs and kisses, such a warm loving child. Then in came Laura, who is different from all her siblings, a mind of her own, who willingly gave me wide smiles in between falling and running to her mum to put her shoe back on.

And last but not least there was tiny Federica who ran so fast that the only way to get her close to us was by telling her that soon we were gonna get ice cream. We even managed some photos of the lovely mum, Josann and also a few of Ian.

I admit that I was a bit overwhelmed by the kids, and nervous because I was not shooting just any family, but I was shooting a photographer's family! So all sort of thoughts were coming up in my head such as was the exposure right, did I frame this correctly...however as one point, the kids won me over, that I forgot about all the doubts and just was myself; a photographer taking photos of a loving family who's father just happens to be an awesome photographer.

My friend Sunny

October 5, 2017

Those of you who have been following me for a while would remember Sunny. See some of the series here: Sunny & The Fair Lady

Between one thing and another, I haven't taken photos of Sunny in a while, but this week I went out on purpose just to take photos of him, and also to try shooting this regular scene with a 24mm lens.

Sunny as usual was happy to see me, and still greeted me nicely even though I interrupted his chat with this gentleman. Not one to ignore, a lady passing by did taunt him and she is pictured below looking at me. She was clearly intrigued as to why I was taking his photo. Sunny laughed away as usual :)

On the other side of the lens

October 2, 2017

As photographers, we take numerous amounts of photos.....but always of other people. We safely stay behind the camera and shoot away. We love making others feel good about themselves, and this in return makes us feel good.

However, going on the other side is a totally different experience. We tend to shy away from the camera when we are in front of it. And I am no exception. I am good with taking self portraits, because I can maybe select the ones that I like myself the most. However how does it feel when you trust another photographer to not only shoot portraits of you but to also trust him in the choice.

Last Friday I went through such an experience and trusted friend and photographer Ian Abdilla to take a few portraits of me. The exercise was mutual, since I did the same in return, but the results will be in another blog post.

I believe this exercise would benefit other photographers. Suddenly, when I was on the other side I obviously felt self conscious, but it was also an eye opener into how my clients feel when they are in front of my lens. I suppose knowing the person shooting you is a plus, so how can we make others feel comfortable with us if they would have just met us? As photographers, our job is not only that of pressing the shutter. Psychology comes in and getting to genuinely know our clients, will help us not only connect, but will make them feel comfortable enough to trust us into taking portraits of them. The results then will speak for themselves!

Another thing is that I had no idea how I looked from other angles other than those reflected back at me in the mirror. How do I look when I am not looking at the camera? How do others see you? One of the things that struck me from these photos was my height and my long arms!

So get in front of that camera, let another photographer shoot you...and have fun!

Steffi

October 2, 2017

Steffi is the youngest of the Falzon sisters. I mention the sisters Liz and Claire fondly because I know them very well not only socially but from the numerous occasions I have shot their family. When Steffi contacted me to shoot her special day I was more than honoured. And here she is pictured for my 'Brides on Beds' Project. Steffi was looking stunning in her dress but I wanted that last picture before she crosses the border from single hood to married woman.

Wishing you years of happiness and love and to growing old together with Steve!

See the whole series here: Brides on Beds

A Bientot!

September 27, 2017

Sometimes I do something different, especially when friends from abroad come for a visit. I have know Lauren for about 7 years now and I photograph her every time she comes to Malta or when I go up to Bordeaux in France. I have seen her with dark hair and also with blond hair like this time round. We had no time to shoot in the evening, however we made the best we could of the noon sun.

Pictured here at San Anton Gardens, Attard Malta. Shot on Canon Mk3 with Sigma art 85mm f/1.4 lens.

Merci Lolo pour votre patience! Bisous!

Krysta here just before putting on her dress

Brides on Beds

September 12, 2017

The transition from single to married

Sacristy Interior

September 11, 2017

This weekend I had a wedding to shoot, and mass was at St Agatha Church in Rabat. The sacristy at this church is very well kept, as you can see in the image above.

Once again religious icons rule, but then again this is a sacristy after all.

How I shot it: Smiles in the street

September 2, 2017

So I was walking along the street in Burmarrad, Malta, when from the other side of the street, I noticed these kids at the door of this house. I knew they would give me a good photo however I only had the wide angle 24mm lens on my camera body. In order not to disturb them I did not want to cross the street, or else they would have been too conscious. So I shot wide.

The cropping tool in Lightroom and Photoshop is a powerful tool. You can create a new and better composition out of the original photo. So I cropped the photo by putting the kids in the right third of the image by following the rule of thirds

Below is the original shot. Above is the crop. One of them still caught me shooting them. And the girl looks kinda self conscious whereas the other kid had no clue...I love these spontaneous shots!

How I got my white hair

August 31, 2017

Read on to find out how I got my white hair...

Portraits with a difference

August 29, 2017

Want to learn how I handle highlights in portraiture? Read on...

How I shot it?

August 29, 2017

Want to know how I shot this? Read on...

Interiors from this weekend

August 28, 2017

I had a wedding in M'Scala this weekend, and the bride's parents had this interesting painting in their living room. The bride's brother Stef (who is also a great friend of mine) exclaimed...."Oh just a casual beheading painting in the living room!'. This painting however is important to the Maltese. It is a remake of the beheading of Saint John by Caravaggio, which he painted whilst he was imprisoned by the Pope.

So typically Maltese! Add religion to interiors just as much Indians add curry to anything...

Meanwhile below you can find the decorations in the groom's mother's bedroom. Typically religious like most Maltese bedrooms.

Walking on clouds...

August 2, 2017

When I contacted Shushana, we clicked immediately. Iraqi lady living in Detroit, with fond memories of Malta during her years on the island as a refugee, she was excited to get married with Joel in Malta....21 years after leaving the island.

Their wedding was a dream, and today's shoot was like walking on clouds. Talking to these two was so easy, and they way they flowed with the poses was effortless. All I had to do was snap, because these two were really in the moment. Add in the magic of Mdina early in the morning (to beat the crowds and heat), we ended up not only enjoying the shoot, but connecting even more.

Love is magic.

Over Development

June 19, 2017

A new development in Gzira is way higher than the surrounding urban area and in my opinion it is quite an eyesore. Our landscapes are being manipulated drastically without much thought for the loss which we will be suffering from a cultural heritage point of view. It might just be a vista, but that vista has been changing throughout the years, and now this drastic change will have its repercussions.

The following image was an entry submitted for FAA's (Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar) recent photography competition titled 'Scenes of a City', where the focus was on sustainable development. The photo made it amongst the top 20.

Details: Multiple Exposure in camera shot on Canon 5D MkIII with a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens

Shop Sign, Valletta

June 16, 2017

Apart from it being one of the oldest remaining shop signs in Valletta, I am always puzzled what the whole name should be! Any guesses?

Shot on Kodak Portra 160 with a Canon F1.

Valletta on Film

June 16, 2017

This part of Valletta is known as the Ta'Giesu area, due to a church dedicated to Ta'Giesu in the vicinity. Some others find it as the Bridge Bar area because there is a bar on the bridge which is called Bridge Bar. Whatever the area, it is one of the most beautiful areas in the city, due to its old buildings, and the light in the late afternoon is just stunning. These images have been shot in the morning at 9am thus the strong shadows, which I find still create interest in the buildings. This place can't be just anywhere. This place is Valetta. Images shot on Kodak Portra 160 with a Canon F1.