The Official MIPP Newsletter
December 2015
FOCALPOINT
Issue No. 58
www.mipp-malta.com
EDITORIAL Another year came to an end and I hope that this has been a satisfactory year for all of you. I always feel a bit nostalgic at the end of each year. It’s not that I would relive the year all over again mind you, however it is always a bit sad to see a year end. Thank God for memories and I hope a lot of you did shoot a lot of photos this year to keep 2015 alive! As we draw this year to an end, us at MIPP have already started planning your year ahead in terms of events, talks, courses and seminars so do keep in touch with our google calendar!
Top Image: Editor Therese Debono Above: Assistant Editor Kerstin Arnemann
If you want your photos featured on the newsletter’s front page just send the images to newsletter@mippmalta.com. Your contributions are always welcome!
Newsletter Team Editor: Therese Debono Assistant Editor: Kerstin Arnemann Design: Therese Debono Article Vetting: Vince DeBono Articles: Various contributors Editorial Advice: Kevin Casha
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Contact: newsletter@mippmalta.com
DECEMBER 2015 pg 2 pg 4 pg 8 pg 10 pg 14 pg 18 pg 20
cover artist
President’s Viewpoint Featured MIPP members Out & About Competion & Exhibition MIPP Notice MIPP Convention MIPP Calendar
CONTENTS December Viewpoint Hardik Montu part II December Events Out of the Blue Meet the Judges for 2016 Convention in Pictures Mark your diaries!
The Editor “Walking in Mdina one day, I came upon this simple nativity set up. The light falling on the three statues was lovely and so I chose this image to be the last front cover for the year 2015. May you all have a great Christmas!”
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The first MIPP STILL IMAGE IN PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE
A fascinating learning experience
This year saw the MIPP launching its first Photography course leading to a level 3
accredited qualification recognized by the Malta Qualifications Council. The MIPP STILL IMAGE IN PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE is now in its completion and, although demanding, has proved to be a veritable learning curve for the participants.
The course covers all aspects of photography, starting up with a sound foundation of techniques but branching out into conceptual practice and a host of practical, hands-on workshops at various locations and venues specifically prepared to challenge the Learners’ skills and stimulate creativity. Learners are also requested to keep Reflective journals which help to encourage research in areas which before could have been out of the Learners’ scope. The idea of presenting tasks which are outside each Learner’s comfort zone is an ideal way of improving the general perspective and knowledge of students in such courses. The feedback from the Learners has been very encouraging and positive. The course came to an end in November, where, again for the first time, the presentation of the Certificates will be awarded to the successful candidates during the Annual Awards Dinner during the MIPP November convention. The next Still Image Course will be held in 2016 and applications will be received as from this December 2015.
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viewpoint
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SHOOTING FLOWERS WITH HARDIK PANDYA
MIPP Member Hardik Pandya kindly shared a very interesting article about shooting flowers. I am sure this informative article which is divided into two parts will be useful to all of you who are nature friendly! Part II. LIGHT One of the most important factors in creating great flower images is the light. Without the proper lighting conditions, it will be very difficult to get impressive looking flower shots. Light has four main properties: • Quality • Color Quality: • Saturation Light can be either soft or hard. Soft light is a very diffused and flattering light. Soft light has low contrast. The bright areas and shadow areas tend to blend together easily. The transitions between sunlight and shadow tend to be gradual. Soft light usually has decent shadow detail. This is due to the fact that soft light has a smaller dynamic range than hard light. Under soft light conditions, a phoFig 4. Flowers shot in soft light
tographer has a good chance of capturing the entire dynamic range of the scene. In addition to the gentile blending of light and shadow and more manageable dynamic range, soft light usually produces more saturated colors than hard light. Soft light is created by a large or filtered light source. A hazy or cloudy sky will produce soft light. This is one of the reasons that cloudy or even rainy days are good for flower photography. Light reflected off of a surface (e.g., a white reflector) often becomes soft.
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Light that is filtered by a lot of atmosphere is soft. Figure 4 shows a flower that was photographed in soft light. It can be seen that the tonal transitions are gentle and pleasing. Hard light is a very direct, harsh, and often unflattering light. Hard light has a very high contrast, and the transitions between light and shadow are usually rather abrupt. Hard light often lacks shadow detail. This lack of shadow detail is related to the large dynamic range of hard light. In hard light conditions, either the highlights or shadows may lose detail when photographed.
Figure 5: Flower shot in hard light
Hard light generally creates a stark or severe feeling. This can work to the detriment of the flower photographer. A beautiful flower shot
in hard light conditions will, likely, not look very attractive. Part of this is due to the harsh contrast. Another factor is that hard light tends to desaturate colors. So, a flower shot in hard light will have washed out colors. This is demonstrated in Figure 5 that shows a flower shot in hard light. As can be seen, the shadows are harsh and the color desaturated. By now, it should be obvious that soft light is highly desirable for most flower photography.
Colour: Visible light is composed of a mixture of colors. Neutral light is composed of an equal amount of each of these colors. However, light is not always neutral. Often, the color balance of the light has been altered. Most frequently, this occurs because one or more of the colors have been, at least partially, filtered out of the light. When this happens, the color of the light changes. Because of this, the light is constantly changing color all day long, and this affects the color balance of images that are taken.
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This is an issue because colour affects the mood of an image. Consequently, the colour of the light that illuminates a scene will impact the mood of the image and its ability to impart what the photographer wanted to communicate to the viewer of the image. This works to great advantage for the knowledgeable photographer that uses knowledge of light colour to capture images where the color of the light is in harmony with the mood that the photographer wishes to create in the image. Conversely, the light often works to the detriment of the less knowledgeable photographer to contradict the mood that was intended. Luckily, the colour of light can be simplified down to three basic categories of colour: neutral light (no strong hue), warm light (tinted with yellow, orange, and red), and cool light (tinted with blue). We can simplify colour down to these three categories because each of these categories has a different effect on how people respond to an image. Neutral light, which has no strong hue, is best used when a photographer wants the natural colour of the objects to shine forth. Neutral light is found away from both ends of the day (neither in very early morning nor in late afternoon). Light from a direct, overhead sun on a clear day may have a fairly neutral colour.
Saturated colours
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Photographers that wish to use neutral light need to beware of certain conditions. Heavy cloud cover will likely shift the color of the light toward blue. Also, shadows generally have a bluish hue. Light that is filtered or reflected in any way may pick up a hue. For instance, a photographer standing in a forest will, likely, find that the light has picked up a green hue from the leaves overhead. A photographer in a canyon with light reflected off the canyon walls will likely find that the light has picked up a colour from the walls (probably a warm tone). Warm light is good for creating inviting, dreamy moods in an image. People tend to associate warm light with feelings of comfort, friendship, and romance. Warm light is best found just after sunrise or just before sunset. Cool light is good for creating feelings of calm or cold. People tend to think of deep, calm lakes as being blue. A calm sky is usually blue. On the other hand, people also associate blue with cold: ice may have a blue hue as does the light of an early, winter morning. Cool light can often be found in the time between the first light of day and sunrise as well as between sunset and darkness. These twilight times often cast a soft, dim, bluish light over the terrain. Blue light can also be found under cloudy skies and in shadows. For the photographer, the issue becomes one of matching the color of the light to the mood that the photographer wishes to create.
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OUT AND ABOUT
December Events
VISUAL IMPRESSIONS Date: Thursday, 14 January 2016at 20:00 Venue: Sistina Wine & Co 188, Triq ix-Xatt, GZR 1210 Il-Gzira, Malta Kerstin Arnemann is an International Award-Winning B&W Fine Art photographer having her work featured in the prestigious Black & White Magazine (USA), Photography Week (UK), Camerapixo and in the top local media.
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s part of its Domestic Violence Awareness Campaign, Rotaract Malta, in collaboration with the Malta Institute of Professional Photography, is pleased to launch a Photo Competition in aid of Dar Merhba Bik. || Prizes to be won! (More info from link at the end) || This fundraising competition seeks to: - Raise awareness about Domestic Violence in Malta. - Encourage the Empowerment of victims of Domestic Violence. - Move away from stereotypes associated with Domestic Violence. - Raise funds in aid of Dar Merhba Bik (Balzan) –a shelter run by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd and volunteers; whose aim is to offer shelter to female victims of Domestic Violence and their children. This photo competition will be part of a week long awareness campaign and the submitted photos will be exhibited at Palazzo Ferreria in Valletta. ** IMPORTANT ** DEADLINE FOR PHOTO SUBMISSIONS IS 7th JAN 2016 RESULTS TO BE ANNOUNCED ON THE 15th JAN 2016 For more information on Prizes and how to participate visit http://rotaractmlv.tumblr.com/DV_Competition Application Form: https://goo.gl/mluIve
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Out of the Blue International Photography Competition & Exhibition During the recent CHOGM events, the OUT OF THE BLUE PHOTOGRAPHY exhibition was inaugurated at the Martime Museum in Vittoriosa by HRH Prince Charles. The opening brought to fruition the work of many months which included the preparation of rules, launching and promotion, the judging, preparation of exhibition boards and the collating of a publication. All this was a great opportunity to showcase the value and importance of our blue planet and raise awareness around all Commonwealth countries on the value of our seas. A vast area of our global ocean lies within the jurisdiction of Commonwealth countries. More than half of Commonwealth countries are islands, to whom ocean matters are of vital importance.
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Through the work of Kevin Casha, MIPP President, Malta had a substantial entry and local photographers left an excellent impression with the international judges. Two MIPP members had their works amongst the finalists: Joe P. Smith and Nick D’Ancona’s images are also exhibited in the Maritime exhibition. Furthermore, other work, mainly coming from the photographic section of Atlam Subacqua Club, in Malta, was close to making it to the final selection. The competition’s overall winner was Ms Ashley Wee, from Canada with a photograph of a sea turtle taken in the Bahamas. Ms Wee attended the exhibition’s inauguration.
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The Out of the Blue competition, exhibition and book were made possible by the partnering organisations which were The Prince of Wales’s International Sustainability Unit, The Royal Commonwealth Society, National Geographic Pristine Seas, the CHOGM Taskforce and the Malta Institute of Professional Photography. Kevin Casha himself was instrumental for the success of this event as he was not only one of the Judges but also Picture Editor and Exhibition Coordinator. The exhibition is open to the general public from the 28th November to the 11th of December 2015.
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MEET THE JUDGES for 2016! Dave Wall I am a commercial photographer, a stock photographer, a photo journalist, equipment tester and a trainer. I have over my 25+ years within the industry been truly blessed with some amazing clients and also dream assignments that have taken me around the world and back. My business has changed over the years from 100% Commercial Photography but is now concentrated into two main areas. Book Cover Photography & Training. Book covers are a very niche market and I am lucky enough to be able travel the world feeding my artistic desires and my wife’s shopping habits (ooo… sorry did I say that out loud) ! My training also has me traveling across the globe helping to educate other professionals in many areas of this amazing business (mainly concentrating on Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop) …. After all I am an Adobe Influencer and also an Adobe Community Expert.
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Past and present clients include: Manchester United (come on the reds), Manchester City, Leeds United (sorry I would boo …. But they are both customers), JD Sports, Nisa, Tesco, Adidas, Swallow Hotels, FujiFilm, Sigma Imaging, Calumet, Jessops, Aspire Photo Training, Photography Training Overseas,all the major photographic societies, many major police forces, The Home Office, The Church of England --- and the list goes on. If name dropping is your thing then famous names who have sat in my many seminars: Annabel Williams, Gordan McGowan, Julie Oswin, Kevin Wilson, Bella West, Saraya Cortaville, John Parris, Charlie Waite, Sandi Friend, Kenneth Ling, Steve Howdle, Paul Callaghan, Klarke Caplin, Kelly Hearn, Morag MacDonald, …… …. And occasionally (very occasionally) …. I sleep Check out more on www.davewallphoto.co.uk
José Carlos Fernandes De Andrade José Carlos Fernandes De Andrade is Portughese and served United Nations for 33 years and was President of their Photo Club in Vienna during 14 years Member of various photo clubs/ associations in Austria, Austria Federation VÖAV, being responsible for Youth program 2 years long. Honorary member of ÖGPh, the Austrian Photographic Society, contributing regularly to their books. Member of G.P.U. Global Photographic Union.
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Individual and group exhibitions localy and International e.g. Germany, Slovakia, Italy, China, Portugal, etc. Served as a judge of several National and International photo competitions, e.g. Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy (Fiap Youth), Germany, etc. Member of Imageopolis.com with administrative powers and awarding prizes daily. Organizes and leads photo workshops at the largest Baroque Palace in Austria, www.schlosshof.at
Massimo Colato Born in Italy (Como - Milano) in 1970. After legal and economic studies he started his career as a business consultant. In parallel he cultivated his passion for travel, photography and the sea. Just the sea was the main theater of photographic experiences nautical and diving. Freelance journalist, graduated in economic sociology teacher of photography and underwater photography. He has worked with various magazines of transport and boating. Travel and photography are the favorite experiences. He photographed in Australia, Namibia, Kenya, west America’s parks , New York, Florida, Miami, New Orleans, Philippines, Maldives, Malaysia, Mexico, Cuba, Jamaica, India, Malta, France, Greece, Egypt, Marocco, PerÚ, Irleand, Scotland, Croazia and of course Italy.
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In January 2015 he has been in China, in Shanghai to help a big organization to come in Milano Italy for Expo. In May, In Guangdong he found the same great urban development (Guangzhou and Shenzhen) But above all he found very friendly people. pristine natural landscape and a big care for environment, a country where he could photograph the future. In August he was called from Inner Mongolia’s Governement as a guest photographer for the Bairin’s photograph season for a exihibition in Beijing scheduled in December 2015.
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MIPP NOVEMBER
Last month we saw successful conventi pictures to
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R CONVENTION
the end of another ion. Here are some o prove it!
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CALENDAR 12th January 2016
PTYA Award Launch, MIPP PROGRAMME REVIEW & MEMBERS’ DEBATE NIGHT
Overview of the new PTYA Award – Those taking part are urged to attend – Kevin Casha and Sergio Morana
19:30 Le Meridien
26th January 2016
KEITH ELLUL – SHOOTING SEASCAPES & SHORES 19:30 Le Meridien
2nd February 2016
MIPP STILL IMAGE COURSE PARTICIPANTS Interviews and Hand ins of Still Image Course Portfolio Le Meridien 18:30 - 19:30hrs
2nd February 2016
KERSTIN ARNEMANN - MY WORK AND PROCESS 19:30 Le Meridien
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