The Official MIPP Newsletter
July 2015
FOCALPOINT
Issue No. 53
www.mipp-malta.com
EDITORIAL I would like to start by
apologising for the delay in the issue of this newsletter. Heat got the best of us! However here it is - the July Newsletter packed with interesting stuff to read.
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!
Now that summer is in full swing, there are plenty of events which you can go to and also practice your shooting in. Make time for your hobby, find your favourite genre and practice non stop. Get critique, find a mentor you are comfortable talking to and work hard in achieving great work. Top Image: Editor Therese Debono Above: Assistant Editor Kerstin Arnemann
Meanwhile next month we will be celebrating World Photography Day and more details will be announced during this month, so watch this space! Happy Summer!
Newsletter Team Editor: Therese Debono Assistant Editor: Kerstin Arnemann Design: Therese Debono Article Vetting: Vince DeBono Articles: Various contributors
Regards Therese & Kerstin! Find us on:
Editorial Advice: Kevin Casha Contact: newsletter@mippmalta.com
CONTENTS
JULY 2015 pg 2 pg 8 pg 16 pg 20 pg 22 pg 24 pg 22 pg 27
cover artist
President’s Viewpoint Featured MIPP members Out & About MIPP Monthly Event MIPP Notice Competition Results MIPP Calendar Member’s Gallery
Photographers & Weddings Results from Workshop July Events Theater Photography Judge chosen for judging Power Station Competition Results Mark your diaries! PTYA Standings
Duncan Cauchi Broken Glass This image won an Hononary Mention in the recent Power Station competition organised by MIPP. Duncan shot this image on Kodak Tri-x 400 with his first SLR camera Olympus OM-10 with a Zuiko 50mm f/1.8 lens. The choice of this film was due to its sharp and contrasting mid tones properties and also since this film is b&w, Duncan felt that it would give more character to the old industrial feel present at the Marsa Power Station. Duncan himself processed this image, however he increased the developing time since iso was pushed to 800 during shooting due to the low lit environment.
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PHOTOGRAPHERS & WEDDINGS by Kevin Casha “As many of you know, I have now stopped photographing weddings for quite some time. I spent quite a large chunk of my career covering what I consider a very demanding assignment. I was recently looking up some of my previous interviews and articles and my last interview for a newspaper in relation to wedding photography came to view. I was very surprised that reading it again it is still very apt till today. The main focus of this interview had been to raise awareness in the general public of who to entrust with their wedding pictures. I thought of publishing it again in the newsletter as I think it makes sense for both future couples as well as for photographers to gain a better insight into what wedding photography involves: Weddings. Quite a staple diet for successful photographers – and a dilemma for wedding couples. The crucial question is who does one entrust with taking his wedding photographs? With over thirty five years of experience in wedding photography, besides other areas of commercial work, professional photographer Kevin Casha is more than qualified to express his views on this subject. In practice, he outlines that a competent wedding photographer should be capable of reaching that happy medium whereas the bride and groom are guaranteed excellent service whilst at the same time having as little time taken up as is possible.
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Kevin stresses the importance of discussing beforehand all the details and facets of the couple’s wedding and subsequently fixing a shooting and time schedule according to the couple’s needs. Getting an experienced professional photographer specializing in wedding photography usually ensures reliability, quality and a smoother running event. In reality, a couple should keep in mind that a good “general practice” photographer might not be the most suitable person to shoot a wedding. In health matters, although we do go to our GP whenever we have minor ailments, we
viewpoint
eventually consult a specialist when more serious matters loom over the horizon. The same parallel can be easily applied when employing a photographer for a wedding. One should definitely source out someone who has experience and a proven track record of photographing weddings. A good portraitist or photojournalist might not be the right choice. Would you go to a Dermatologist if you have, say, a muscular problem? Of course not! The same goes for a photographer. There are very few really good “all rounders” (although one might think otherwise from the various adverts and hype in the media!!).
from their friends and the general public who might have already employed a photographer and where pleased with his work, attitude and service. It is important that initially, before the couple finalizes their booking, they discuss at length what type of images they want and how they visualize the evolvement of their wedding. A good, experienced professional photographer can make a wedding fun, just as much as an inexperienced and ill prepared photographer can turn it into a nightmare.
So a couple needs to be wise and ensure they book a photographer who is experienced in the genre of photography they require. Doing otherwise is inviting disaster. It is obvious that a wedding is a very special occasion and the more planning that goes into the preparations, the better. Each wedding has its own story and needs, and a good photographer should be able to gauge the needs of the couple and make their day a memorable one – naturally, for the right reasons!
Budgets, prices, editing and whether images are going to come in an album or just on DVD should be made clear prior to the booking. What is being paid, and for what it is being paid, should be clearer to all parties. One must also be prepared to allocate some time in which to take the posed set-up photographs and group shots. The photographer cannot guarantee quality if most times he is shooting in a candid, haphazard manner. A degree of control is needed in most photographs. Still, if everyone is organized and co-operative, this should not take an experienced photographer more than three quarters of an hour.
The couple should not be taken in by aggressive and repetitive advertising. How “professional” and great a photographer declares himself to be is no yardstick as to how good he really is. The couple should here listen to referrals
Kevin recommends that group photographs, which are usually quite troublesome, should be kept to a minimum and only feature the couple’s immediate family. The day for shooting all the guests at a reception has long been superseded,
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especially with video service being virtually an ever-present part of today’s weddings. Group images should be done as early as possible before the reception starts. This ensures the cooperation and the good state of all the featured guests. Punctuality is another important factor and the bride should ensure that her hairdresser and make-up artist stick to their time schedules. Unfortunately, the practice seems widespread where some supposedly “professionals” just don’t care when they finish their work and into whose time they are encroaching upon. A sure way of starting on the wrong foot is when the bride fails to be ready by the agreed time. A photographer, no matter how experienced, cannot do the same level of work in half the time he would usually allocate. One should also make sure that the dressmaker has already delivered everything on time. It is not unknown that a dress arrives on the wedding day sometimes with disastrous results! Lively children are another delicate matter. Kevin reckons they should not form part of the bridal retinue. These will invariably start playing up and cause nervousness all round. If the kids are relatively well behaved, then it is not a problem. If one is keen on getting exceptional wedding photographs, one should also consider carefully the venue and time of the wedding. A morning wedding can usually
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give more rewarding results than an evening one and a well-thought out wedding hall can further help the photographer to create memorable images. The fact is that it is not so easy to create certain images at night – for sure, the complications and time factor are bound to increase. Kevin thinks that today’s trend towards simpler, more comfortable dresses, textiles and natural looking hairstyles, help to make the bride more relaxed during her big day, thus contributing to better, more natural photographs. Everyone knows that a grumpy, irritated bride is not the ideal person to try to radiantly photograph! One thing, which irritates Kevin tremendously, is when clients employ the services of an experienced photographer and then proceed to ignore his advice, restrict him and not co-operate or stick to what has been agreed. It is a fact that to take good quality photographs at a wedding is no easy task and time and concentration is needed. If the couple do not even want to concede this, it is best not to employ a good photographer in the first place! Remember, a photographer has one sharp “guillotine” hovering above his head – he cannot go wrong. There are no second chances. The same applies to the bride and groom’s choice of photographer. The choice should be well thought out and studied”. Article & Images by Kevin Casha
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WORKSHOP REVIEW Walking in my Shoes
with Therese Debono
‘Walking in my Shoes’, was a photography workshop organised by MIPP and led by Therese Debono, which involved exercises in the genre of street photography. Assignments included shooting from a corner, capturing gestures and also an exercise in narration which involved focusing on a subject, following it and narrating a story through images. Here are some results from the participants of this workshop. ADRIAN CARUANA One of Adrian’s best images during the workshop was this one which was shot during the ‘Gestures’ exercise. The aim of this exercise was to get the students to observe. Adrian had to surely look around him, focus on a subject, observe and shoot. I think he shot at the right moment here, just as the man was showing the Lotto tickets to his friend. The pouting lip and the pointing finger suggest a missed winning number probably. The reaction of the other man shows that there is also interest to hear and/or see what the othe man is showing him. I feel that this has been a well excuted shot, and the b&w editing is also good. Adrian framed his subjects in a tight crop which eliminated a distracting background so his choice of crop was good too. Well done Adrian!
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ANGIE CONTI Another image which really showed promise in my opinion is Angie’s image above. More often than not, I always try to direct photographers to shoot in such a way that the subject is getting into a picture rather than leaving. This means that negative space is always in front of the subject. However in this image above, the negative space is behind the subject which is leaving the image. I find this intriguing and in my opinion it works. The subject here is clearly the old lady, the expression on her face and the way she is holding her hand against her chest is one of vulnerability. The negative space behind her suggests that she came a long way indeed. I find this image full of narrative and promising interpretation. I light the slight angle given to the shot too which gives it a slight dynanism but not too much which would have ruined the image. I would suggest to redit this image in better B&W treatment since it is a bit too warm. Well done Angie!
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IVAN CANCIO Ivan submitted this image for the exercise called ‘Colour’ which encourages photographers to once again zone out their surroundings and focus on the given exercise. In this case Ivan not only focused on the colour red, but he also incorporated the colour with the poster the girl is walking towards to. Whether done intentionally or not, fact remains that for the purpose of this exercise Ivan got a good shot! Well done Ivan!
MARIO CASHA Mario captured this image during the gestures exercise however it works also for the colour exercise, in this case the colour red. I find that he managed to isolate the old man from the background and focused solely on the man’s task. The green leaves in the foreground framed his shot and lead the eyes into getting curious as to what the man is doing. Keep at it Mario! Well done!
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SHIRLEY CALLEJA The image to the left was one of Shirley’s best shots during the workshop. She shot this under the exercise called ‘Corners’, where I told students to stand at a corner and let images come to them. I like how Shirley not only stood at a corner but made a corner her subject! I really approve of the low angle she chose to shoot this image because it really gives more punch to an otherwise mundane street photo. If only the front man were looking her way, this image would have worked better, however the genre of street photography is all about the element of chance! Well executed image for the purpose of this exercise and also good control over exposure considering we were shooting during bright daylight hours! Well done Shirley! CHERIE CUTAJAR DAVIS Cherie was a bit too nervous to approach people, however she came up with this image which really has some interesting shadow play which gives the photo a more interesting approach rather than if it were shot when no shadows were on the facade. Get over your shyness Cherie and practice! I appreciated her efforts during the workshop, so Well Done Cherie!
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ORIELLA CASHA Oriella nailed this ‘gestures’ exercise with this image presented above. The smiles of all the three men is infectuous and not only that, the man with his hand out is clearly indicating someone else who is not in the frame and gets the viewer intrigued as to who might have been the one to make these men smile! Composition works too leaving a bit of negative space behind them which gives them a context. Well done Oriella!
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TREVOR CALAFATO I really approved of Trevor’s efforts during his exercise. His b&w and colour photos were well executed, however I find that this image is the one that stood out the most from his whole bunch of images. It echoes the work of Walker Evans and his street photos and urban landscapes all around America in the early 20th Century. I find that the font of the signage and the hat of the passer by really reinforce this retro effect, however Trevor snapped this photo at the right time with the man placed just off the third. I would have edited this image a little less dark, however it is still a well exexcuted image! Well done Trevor!
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MICHAEL FALZON For the ‘Colour’ exercise, Michael was thoroughly original. He framed his subject with the colour thus executing his task for the purpose of this exercise. Even though there are some elements against him, like reflections from the street which obscured the man in the background, I find that the bold framing made his image stand out and read well. Michael was not shooting with an slr on the day of the workshop, which made me very happy. Reason being that for street photography one can shoot with any form of photographic equipment, and still get great shots! Well done Michael!
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RAPHAEL TRIGONA Raphael submitted a good narrative here for the final exercise of the workshop. He showed clearly that he was focused on his subjects. He shot one of the images whilst his subjects were in the shop. I suggest he is more careful next time since people might get annoyed, however I like how he managed to get the interest of the man while his wife was looking for something to purchase. The following photos then narrate perfectly the man coming out of the shop, he gets his map out to find his way and then walks on with his wife. I feel that this has been well executed photowork. Some careful editing would have given this narrative a better feel. I would have included the whole length of his legs in the second photo for e.g. Well Done Raphael!
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OUT AND ABOUT
July Events
JAZZ ON THE FRINGE 4th - 21st July Monday 6th July - The Ranch at Django Jazz Bar (Valletta) Tuesday 7th July - Adrian Irrussu Brincat Quartet at Palazzo Castelletti(Rabat) (w/ Tony Sammut, Oliver Degabriele and Joe Camilleri ‘Bibi’) Wednesday 8th July - Joe Debono / Carlo Muscat / Oliver Degabriele at Flora’s (Naxxar) Thursday 9th July - Paul Abela / Charles Gatt Trio at Qe II-winebar, Lower Barrakka (Valletta) Saturday 11th July - CUSP at Django Jazz Bar Sunday 12th July - The Lieder Project at Happy Hive Malta (feat. Joe Debono, Joseph Camilleri and Mariele Żammit) Monday 13th July - F-Trio at BONGO NYAH (Marsascala) Tuesday 14th July - Sandro Zerafa / Matyas Szandai / Fred Pasqua atPhoenicia Hotel Malta Wednesday 15th July - (17h00)Dominic Galea / Clark Tracey / Alan Portelli at Baystreet Shopping Complex Wednesday 15th July (21h00) - Joe Debono / Sandro Zerafa / Matyas Szandai / Fred Pasqua at Palazzo de Piro (Mdina) Tuesday 21st July - Alex Bezzina with the Marc Galea Trio at The Villa Maltaa Malta (St. Julian’s)
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MALTA JAZZ FESTIVAL 16th - 19th July Ta’ Liesse, Valletta The Malta Jazz Festival 2015 will celebrate its 25th year this summer with a varied programme of events that will keep the jazz aficionado and layman enthralled. For this special anniversary, the festival will take place on four days, from 16 till 19 July, instead of the usual three-day line-up.The extra day will be the Commonwealth Jazz Day supported by CHOGM and will bring two important artists to the island – saxophonist Soweto Kinch from the UK who intertwines jazz with rap and bassist Richard Bona from Cameroon, who is well established himself in Paris and New York.
Ignat g Konstantivov Oil p paintings g From 27 June 2015 - 30 September 2015 at SO Gallerie Iklin Triq Geronimo Abos, L-Iklin, Malta h t t p s : / / w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / events/1524576031135510/
SO Galerie will be exhibiting works by the Bulgarian artist Ignat Konstantinov. Knownfor his deep and often violent brushwork the works on show are a feast for the eye and an uplifting experience for the soul. Kostantinov was born in Sofia, Bulgaria in 1954 and studies Art at the Bulgarian Academy of Fine Arts in Sofia. He has worked as a graphic designer, art teacher, theatrical designer and advertising director.
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PATCHES SUMMER FAIR 2015 19th July Upper Barrakka Gardens Summer nights in Malta are truly special, but some are a little bit more special than the others…
If you want to experience the unique vibe that pours out from Malta’s most authentic craft community you should not miss Patches Fair – summer edition – on Sunday 19th July in the wonderful backdrop of the Upper Barrakka Gardens, Valletta from 4pm till late. Patches creates regular opportunities for Maltese-based makers to exhibit and promote their work, and for a diverse audience to appreciate, buy, discuss and learn more about contemporary craft. Patches is a platform that supports craft and design talents, promoting local economy and people that use their creativity and skills to produce beautiful and sustainable work. Patches is a great place to source independently crafted and uniquely designed gifts and goods. It is Malta’s first contemporary crafts fair founded in 2010. On July 19th, pop in to visit us at the Upper Barrakka Gardens, Valletta: live music, smiles, delicious food and naturally loads of beautiful handmade objects will make your summer evening just perfect! Anyone interested in getting involved as a maker or volunteer or simply keep up-to-date with all that is Patches can subscribe to our newsletter on - http://patchesmalta.com/Contact-Us
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TIKKA Mcast Art & Design
03 July to 09 July Mcast Institute of Art & Design https://www.facebook.com/events/1485676555025475/ The exhibition ‘tikka’ seeks to provide a unique and inspirational experience within a fun environment for both the artists and the general public. Guests may enjoy a wide range of art and design related exhibits including student portfolios, creative installations, and the much anticipated projection mapping showcase. With focus on the 5 human senses: predominantly sight and touch, ‘tikka’ will host exhibits enjoyable to both the sighted and the visually impaired. This year, the institute will be working collaboratively with HSBC in support of their their ongoing water programme, through which awareness on water management is globally promoted through intelligent and eye-catching design.
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Theater Photography
Patrick Genovese
Theatre photography, what is it all about ? The whys, hows dos and dont’s of shooting the performing arts. We will delve into the details of how to prepare for and execute a successful shoot of a theatrical performance.
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Maltese Photographer to Judge prestigious international Commonwealth Photography Competition Local Master Photographer and tutor Kevin Casha has been chosen for the eventual judging panel of the ‘OUT OF THE BLUE’ international photography competition. The competition, which is open to all citizens of the Commonwealth, aims to celebrate the importance and beauty of our blue planet. Casha will make part of a distinguished panel of judges which includes: On World Oceans Day, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales launched this new photography competition across the Commonwealth called ‘Out of the Blue’. Two-thirds of our planet are blue, blanketed by oceans and seas of water, that vital substance by which all life on earth is made possible. Our oceans are host to the vast majority of life on this planet and hold some of our most diverse ecosystems. Throughout history, they have moved and inspired us with their beauty and supported us with their bounty – after all, ocean life produces half of the world’s oxygen and enough fish to feed millions of people. But our oceans are under threat: climate change, over-fishing, habitat destruction on an epic scale and pollution of all kinds are jeopardizing the health of our oceans and their ability to provide for us. 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. Out of the Blue sets out to showcase the wonder and value of the Commonwealth’s ‘blue’ capital and the human life it supports. Good pictures can tell stories in ways that words sometimes cannot. ‘Out of the Blue’ hopes to inspire Commonwealth citizens to explore the marine environment around them and submit photographs that celebrate its beauty, highlight its importance and alert global leaders to its vulnerability. A great opportunity to showcase the value and importance of our Blue Planet is coming in November 2015. The Heads of Commonwealth Governments will meet together in Malta to discuss issues of critical global importance, including the future of the planet’s Blue Economy – that is, the economic activity that is dependent on oceans, seas and coasts. The Winning photographs of the competition will be exhibited in Malta in November 2015 so by submitting entries to this new competition, people of the Commonwealth can help to encourage global leaders to take positive action and adopt more of the solutions that we know are at hand to protect and use natural resources in a sustainable way. The competition is open to all Commonwealth citizens from the 8th of June until 6th September. All competition information can be obtained from www. outofthebluecompetition.com.
Power Station Competition Results The result of the MIPP Power Station Competition held in collaboration with Enemalta is as follows: OFFICIAL MIPP RESULTS ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1st JOHN AMBROGIO 2nd STEFAN CACHIA (Honorary Mention Certificate) Joint third – MARTIN AGIUS (with two images) and DUNCAN CAUCHI (Honorary Mention Certificate) Winners will be notified later for the date of the presentation of Awards. Images can be viewed on the FB page of the MIPP: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.10153002840059163&type=1 Congratulations not onlyy to the winners but to all who participated. g
Above: Photo by John Ambrogio
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Above: Photo by Stefan Cachia. Below: Photo by Martin Agius
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CALENDAR 7th July Theater Photography 19:30hrs, Le Meridien
14th July International Online Comp Judging 19:30hrs, Le Meridien
4th August Working with green Screen 19:00hrs, iLab Qormi
11th August PTYA Judging Session 4 19:30hrs, Le Meridien
19th August World Photography Day TBA
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MEMBERS’ GALLERY
PTYA 3rd Round
Above: Cold as Ice by Johann Debono Next Page: Feeling Cold by Renata Apanaviciene Opposite Page: Caught in a Storm by Johann Debono
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