ISSUE
70
The official MIPP Newsletter
Photography Keith Ellul
www.mipp-malta.com
2017
March | april
Photography Kevin Casha
Editorial
President’s Viewpoint Dear Members, We are already busily into 2017 and hopefully augur that it is to be a good year for all of you. During the past year, the Executive Committee’s main targets were to strengthen and streamline the MIPP infrastructure and organization as well as make our 20th anniversary year a memorable one. It was also the first year we were working with a five person committee and I believe we managed to achieve our aims. Likewise for this year we have set other targets and challenges which should be beneficial to MIPP members. No organization can keep flourishing without change and experimentation and we are no exception. One of the principal changes of this year will be that the November convention will not be held but a series of one-day seminars will take its place. We are attempting this change after listening to member feedback as well as from our experience during past seminars. We felt it is time for a fresh look and we hope that these one-day seminars will enable a more numerous attendance in contrast to a two or three day event. We aim to stage these events at different venues, so that we do not fall into a routine. Various themes and subjects will be tackled with the emphasis on hands-on and practical workshops. There are various other important developments in hand that we should soon have the pleasure to announce. I also hope that we see a good number of members at our forthcoming Annual General Meeting. Besides administration, the meeting will give the chance for all members to voice opinions, ideas and suggestions. Kevin Casha President.
Editor: Kevin Casha
Design: Articles: Sita Azzopardi & Malcolm Sammut Various contributors
Proof Reading: Louisa Tonna
Members Profiles: Daniel Vassallo
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
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Contents Delegation from China Photographers Association hosted in Malta by MIPP
pg 04
Is Society being conditioned by images & their manipulation? by Kevin Casha
pg 06
Malcolm Sammut by Daniel Vassallo
pg 14
Obituary: Lino Arrigo Azzopardi
pg 19
Annual General Meeting | Agenda for the AGM
pg 25
Important Notice
pg 25
MIPP Calendar | Jot down dates
pg 26
Light Hearted Moments by Mario Casha
pg 27
The Collector by Kevin Casha
pg 28
Membership Renewal and newcomers
pg 29
MIPP Benefits of Being a Member
pg 30
14
4
28
19 22
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20
Delegation from China Photographers Association hosted in Malta by MIPP by Kevin Casha
more than 20,000 individual members. It is the most influential and authoritative photographic organization in China. The CPA delegation had a working conference hosted
Recently, a delegation from the China Photographers
by the China Culture Centre (CCC) in Valletta. Ways
Association (CPA) was hosted by the Malta Institute
of enlarging and increasing cooperation through joint
of Professional Photographers (MIPP) in Malta. The
projects and exchanges were discussed. Mr Wang
delegation’s main aim was to further familiarize itself
Yanjun, CCC director attended and contributed to the
with the island, view several possible exhibition
meeting together with Ms Chen Jing, director of the
venues as well as discuss several ways to further
CPA International department and MIPP President
cooperation between the MIPP and the CPA.
Kevin Casha.
The China Photographers Association, established
Afterwards, the delegation toured several local
in December 1956, is the first national photographic
exhibition venues and places of interest such as the
organization in the history of the People’s Republic of
newly launched Malta Postal Museum. The group
China. It is a highly professional association composed
also visited Swieqi Local Council in order to assess the
of photographers of various ethnic groups nationwide,
gallery space available at the venue.
a group member of
the
China
Federation
of
Literary and Art Circles
(CFLAC),
and a major force of promoting Chinese photography. At present, CPA has 50 group members (photographers associations) based in different provinces, and
cities
autonomous
regions,
and
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cameras could be heard clicking away whilst recording details and views of Valletta, Mdina and Dingli. Kevin Casha, MIPP President, who has been cooperating with the CPA for over five years, stated that:
During available time, the delegation visited several touristic places of interest together with MIPP members and officials. Although the weather was not so favourable, the wind and wet conditions did not dampen the spirit of the Chinese delegation and “The size and infrastructure of the CPA and the MIPP organizations are hugely different but the aims are the same – to further the cultural development of society through photography.” The CPA delegation arrived in Malta after inaugurating a Chinese photographic exhibition in Austria.
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Academic Essay
Images are used for a multitude of reasons. They are employed and utilized to pass a message, to record, to retain a memory, to entertain, to provoke, to stimulate,
by Kevin Casha
IS SOCIETY BEING CONDITIONED BY IMAGES & THEIR MANIPULATION? Is “What we see what we get?” Birth of the Project The creation of images has been with us since time immemorial. The recent discovery of six paintings found in the Nerja caves, in Spain, is reputed by scientists to be the world’s oldest works of art. These are believed to have been created by Neanderthal man at least 42,000 years ago.
to shock, to influence, to prove. Images are employed in science, in research, in security, in advertising, in politics, in art, in pornography, in medicine, in propaganda, in forensics, in photojournalism, in internet social media. Their functionality and application is seemingly unlimited – this is ever more pertinent with the recent fast evolvement and proliferation of media technology.
Historical Context When I first started considering this subject, it was essential to ponder on some historical milestones. I firmly believe that the invention of photography in the early 1800’s, followed by the appearance of film (in 1888 by George Eastman and Kodak), right through to today’s fast progression of digital photographic technology, has not only radically revolutionized our life but has also raised various controversial issues and provocations on how contemporary imagery and processes are possibly effecting and conditioning us. I was very intrigued and interested about this issue, not only because it is directly related to my work in photography, but because most of my previous commercial work has incorporated image manipulation, both in the form of conventional mechanical editing as well as of the current digital kind. My main idea was to initially conduct research on the early history of image manipulation and analyze how various examples impacted society. I had already encountered several famous, (or infamous), instances where the manipulation of an image has totally changed its meaning and, perhaps, given a fraudulent and distorted message instead of the one which had been originally intended. I wanted to also explore the evolution of image manipulation and move on to reflect on the effects it has on today’s modern
The Nerja Cave Paintings
civilization - particularly with the advent of modern technology.
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Another aspect was that I wanted to assess the way
achieved by expert retouching of both negative
I had worked before and also reflect on what the
and/or print with paint or inks. Collage and double-
effects of manipulating my images has had. The
exposure was also employed for this same end, and
project’s final aim was of not only researching and
darkroom techniques were also possible as a means
exploring how images are perhaps changing our
of manipulation. Most of these techniques were
lifestyle, but also of raising awareness in my viewers
initially aimed at, and associated with, enhancing and
to look deeper into images and not take them lightly
improving the aesthetic content of the photograph.
or at face value.
In fact, most manipulation and retouching skills were considered as an art form in themselves and a
Finally, to further convince viewers, I wanted
retouching artist was essential in early photography
to produce images which, because of the use of
studios. These painstaking skills where not easily
manipulation techniques, would demonstrate that
mastered and were mostly the prerogative of
the message or story could change dramatically.
highly skilled artists and technically orientated
Particularly from my research, I wanted to get a
photographers. Manipulation was usually restricted
deeper insight on the power of images and how it
to the specialists.
could help to give further context to my future work. If photographs do condition society, I wanted to know
Whilst researching on early manipulated imagery, I
how, why and to what extent. This knowledge could
came across a stunning photograph by early Swedish
make me understand better my own work and its
Photographer Oscar Gustave Rejlander, (1813 –
relevance.
1875) and I could not help to marvel and admire the
Early Image Manipulation At the outset, the photographic process was hailed as an invention which could finally, and with little effort, provide realism. In fact, its early influence on art created the need for traditional painters and artists to move away from realism and explore other alternative art techniques and movements. With photography, the world seemingly had gained a tool which could depict the truth! Alas, I think this eventually turned out to be quite a mistaken illusion as the “truth” of an image remains elusive to this day.
expertise and skill that this Master of photographic manipulation possessed. The photograph in question, which was produced way back in 1857, is a masterly allegorical photomontage entitled “The Two Ways of Life” and was constructed out of no less than thirty two different negatives! The history of photographic and image manipulation has been tackled by various theorists. In Chapter Nine of William J. Mitchell’s The Reconfigured Eye: Visual Truth in the Post-Photographic Era”, Mitchell goes into critically analyzing the issue. “The photographic falsifier holds up not a mirror to the
The manipulation of photographic images is as old as
world but a looking glass through which the observing
the invention itself . This sort of “forgery or falseness”
subject is slyly invited to step, like Alice, into a place where
has been regularly used to improve the story-telling
things are different--where facts seem indistinguishable
or pictorial capabilities of a picture or to fraudulently
from falsehoods and fictions and where immanent
deceive or condition viewers. In actual fact, the first
paradox continually threatens to undermine established
cases of image manipulation surfaced long before the
certainties.”
appearance of digital media, which is considered by many to be the utmost culprit of image manipulation. From an early stage, the borderline between truth and fiction was quite unclear with a lot of grey areas. In early days, photographic manipulation was
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Early Photographic history became quickly littered with many cases of hoaxes and dubious manipulations concerning images. Some famous (or infamous) examples of well known photographic manipulations
are American President Abraham Lincoln’s portrait
photographic exhibition on Lenin.
(1860’s) and the dubious removal of Leon Trotsky
These are just a few of the many instances when
from Soviet propaganda images (1967). I felt it was
photographs were altered in order to change the
helpful for my project to at least choose a couple of
message and meaning for some particular reason
these instances in order to gauge resultant effects.
or other. Yet, in the early days of photography, the
In the Lincoln manipulation by Thomas Hicks, a figure
technology for manipulating images was not so
study of politician John C. Calhoun was used as
advanced and not so easily accessible and mechanical
Lincoln’s body with the latter’s head, (taken from an
photographic manipulation was not only harder to
earlier Matthew Brady portrait), being quite skillfully
create but also much more liable to be noticed. I can
superimposed. This had been necessary due to the
remember myself struggling in the dim red darkroom
President’s tragic assassination and due to the fact
light to correct or manipulate my images. Most early
that previous images of Lincoln in a suitably heroic
montage and retouching techniques needed great
looking stance where not available. Thus, to satisfy
skill and substantial amounts of time to accomplish
public demand for the President’s memento, the
but all this changed dramatically with the introduction
montage was created. Hicks made only one little
of digital processes.
mistake which caught him out and this was that when he superimposed Lincoln’s head on to Calhoun’s body
Digital technology started appearing in the early
- he reversed it – thus depicting Lincoln’s famous
1950’s and in 1981 Sony produced the first consumer camera that did not require film. It was a major breakthrough. With the advent of digital manipulation and editing software, with early programmes such as Paintbox and later the wide proliferation and advanced technology of Photoshop, the realism of the photograph began to slowly turn into somewhat of a myth. Today, the previous skills necessary to edit and change the whole message and meaning of a photograph are available to all and sundry. There is now no limit to what one can do with images through available and readily accessible post processing
mole on the wrong side of the face!
software.
In another more sinister example, a picture of Soviet leaders celebrating the October revolution
I
anniversary, in 1919, was altered by the photo
powerful with the limit being only my level of
mechanical removal of Trotsky (the bespectacled
knowledge and skill. This makes me reflect on the
figure saluting to the left of Lenin - left photo). Two
many times I have had to digitally substitute people’s
other eventual opponents of Stalin, Kamenev, and
heads, particularly in group photographs, because
Khalatov met the same fate when they were also
their eyes closed during the taking of the picture.
removed from the same photograph in 1967. That
Although I sometimes used to do this same thing in
way the manipulated image could be utilized in a
the darkroom, using painstaking mechanical means,
find
post-processing
programmes
incredibly
today I can do the same thing in a better manner within a fraction of the time. For me, this is a real advantage over the days of darkroom manipulation. Many of the young photographers I meet
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today talk about the darkroom in a nostalgic and
clients have noticed and were not particularly pleased
wishful manner. This is because they did not spend
with the results. Although people want to be made
days on end printing, washing and drying commercial
to look better, they do not want it to be obvious to
images in claustrophobic conditions. Furthermore,
themselves or others. I suspect that in that way, they
with digital manipulation, if you make a mistake, you
can feel less guilty of narcissism.
just start again incurring no expense whatsoever. In the darkroom, a slight mistake would cost money in
Is there any harm in this most common desire to appear
expensive photographic paper and chemicals.
better in imagery? In most cases, I think not, but if taken too seriously and to extremes, it can at times be
Image Conditioning
detrimental. Although beauty exists, in reality it is not so common and attainable. Today, it is commonplace
Although I do not always agree with her views, I am still an avid reader of writer Susan Sontag. I did purposely trace back some of her observations which had struck me. For example, in her essay “On Photography,” in 1973, Sontag already comments on the effect that modern photography has on our education. Here she claims that photographs “now provide most of the knowledge people have about the look of the past
to meet instances of youngsters trying to imitate and emulate the somewhat “fictitious perfection” of their idols with consequences such as bulimia and depression rearing up their ugly heads. Is it the result of altered imagery which is perhaps making them believe that they need to attain aesthetical perfection to succeed in life?
and the reach of the present”
Media Conditioning
Sontag also claimed that at times “images are indeed
Ever increasingly, modern Society is seemingly
able to usurp reality because first of all a photograph is
becoming the product of media conditioning. When
not only an image, an interpretation of the real; it is also
one takes into account the amount of conditioning
a trace, something directly stenciled off the real”
and influence that, for example, advertising imagery is subjecting us to, it is quite obvious that this can
I tend to subscribe to her line of thinking. Particularly
be affecting our daily life. In many instances today,
in the glitzy world of glamour photography, this genre
the majority of people are being cleverly coaxed
has been “guilty” of heavy use of photo manipulation.
into buying this or that product in order to “better
The constant drive to show celebrities and models
their lifestyle” but, more probably, to enhance the
as perfect beings has naturally influenced society.
financial profits of the company which is producing
Everyone is now aware that virtually anything can
the product!
be done through post processing. Thus, society is progressively becoming much more concerned with
Referring on the power of imagery, Andy Warhol
trying to emulate their “heroes.”
Even the most
quoted: ‘‘it’s the movies that have really been running
beautiful model has her or his phobias. If there is a
things in America ever since they were invented. They
little bend on the nose, why not arrange it? Today, I
show you what to do, how to do it, when to do it, how to
feel that digital manipulation can be loosely compared
feel about it, and how to look and how you feel about it.’’
to easy and painless plastic surgery. For instance, if one just thinks about the subtle way Taking this into account, I have still always maintained
we are influenced by food photography on restaurant
that manipulation on photographs for aesthetic
menus, the issue starts to become more evident. How
purposes should always be kept to a minimum. From
many times have we been impressed by a well lit and
over thirty years of contact with my clients, the few
composed menu picture into ordering that particular
times I have gone a bit over the top with editing,
choice of food? Then, when the actual plate arrives, it
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does not look anywhere near as inviting as the menu
abate. In their statement of principle, the influential
image had hinted at. Still, one needs to also take into
National Press Photographers Association (NPPA of
account that, at times, menu images are used for the
America) https://www.nppa.org/code_of_ethics states:
direct benefit of the customer. How would we be able to order food from a menu which is in a language that
“As journalists, we believe the guiding principle of our
we cannot decipher? At least, here the image can
profession is accuracy; therefore, we believe it is wrong
guide us.
to alter the content of a photograph in any way that deceives the public. As photojournalists, we have the
Another very obvious, yet somewhat dangerous
responsibility to document society and to preserve
example of the conditioning that we are subjected to
its images as a matter of historical record. It is clear
is tobacco advertising. In the past, many adolescents
that the emerging electronic technologies provide new
have been influenced in taking up smoking by the
challenges to the integrity of photographic images ...
glamorous portrayal of this acknowledged health
in light of this, we the National Press Photographers
hazard. If one looks at the portrayal of film stars in
Association, reaffirm the basis of our ethics: Accurate
Hollywood movies, this becomes evident.
During
representation is the benchmark of our profession. We
recent years, most governments have been trying
believe photojournalistic guidelines for fair and accurate
to redress this problem by issuing health warnings,
reporting should be the criteria for judging what may be
running anti-smoking campaigns, banning advertising
done electronically to a photograph. Altering the editorial
on cigarette packets and in many other lucrative
content ... is a breach of the ethical standards recognized
areas of tobacco advertising. It is a belated but very
by the NPPA”
welcome move against the powerful commercial lobby of the tobacco manufacturers.
Contrary to
In fact, in 2011, the much respected AP (Associated http://www.ap.org/)
removed
a
freelance
previous years, the power of imagery is being now
Press
more directed towards influencing people to quit
photographer from its books because he cloned
smoking. So here, the effects of image conditioning
out his shadow in one of his pictures . AP Director
are again being used for a worthy cause.
of Photography, Santiago Lyon, called it “deliberate and misleading photo manipulation. Only minor adjustments in Photoshop are acceptable.” Still, I believe that the main problem does not lie with the internationally recognized Press and Media, who are normally very vigilant on this matter, but with some freelance photographers who for personal gain bend and manipulate images and change reality. The general public is many times not aware of this, and when the truth perhaps eventually filters out,
Anti Smoking image campaigns
(usually after long winded law suits and raging
But to my mind, one of
debates), the damage would have been done. The
the most dangerous forms
dreaded Paparazzi are a major exponent of this
of
image
dubious breed of Photojournalist. (Paparazzi
is
associated
manipulation
are
a
freelance photographers who specialize in following
wrong kind of altered
and photographing celebrities particularly to obtain
Photojournalism.
candid photographs in private situations).
The debate on ethics in
At other times, the stakes can be much higher and
this sphere will never
more dangerous. For example, in 2008, a photograph
with
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of an Iranian Missile launch, (syndicated by France
implicated in the hoax, said the pictures put soldiers’
Press), was widely published on the front covers of
lives in danger and acted as a powerful “recruiting
the international press before it was discovered that
poster” for al-Qaeda.
it had been doctored. A fourth missile had been added on top of what was apparently a failed missile. This added to the argument that undemocratic countries like Iran regularly use post processing digital manipulating techniques to alter propaganda images for obvious political gain.
The Daily Mirror hoax images
Original Iranian Missile image
This was the newspaper’s public apology: “The Daily Mirror... apologizes unreservedly for publishing the pictures and deeply regrets the reputational damage done to the QLR and the Army in Iraq.”
“Doctored” Iranian Missile image
Alas,
such
now
occurring
instances with
are
alarming
A more recent shocking hoax which brings home the
frequency and perhaps leading
detrimental effects of “doctored” images were the
to a collective disbelief in society
photographs purportedly showing Iraqi prisoners
of the veracity of the truth of the
being tortured by British soldiers in 2004. The
image. It is now also becoming
photographs emblazoned all over the front and inside
curious to note that people are
pages of the Daily Mirror, were eventually proven to
much less shocked and credulous of the horrifying
be fakes.
imagery coming from all corners of the globe. Is this because there is just too much of it that it has managed
The images had far reaching consequences. Not
to render society oblivious to it? Is this relatively new
only did the newspaper publicly apologize as well as
‘literature’ of images dangerously making us immune
sack the editor, (Piers Morgan), but the issue further
to violence and suffering? Do we perhaps think of the
fueled fundamentalist hatred against foreign soldiers
World War Two Nazi holocaust imagery as more real
in Iraq. Colonel Black, a former regiment commander
and as more authentic because it has been produced
of the Queens’ Lancashire Regiment, (QLR), who was
before the digital age, thus difficult to falsify?
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Images and Social Media
immediately to mind because an altered image,
This set me thinking on perhaps a lighter, but not less
fool not only under age children, but even adults.
relevant train of thought. One cannot ignore the phenomenal use of images on Social Media. Facebook,
together with convincing chat manners, can easily
Trying it out
Linked In, Pinterest, Tumblr and other such sites have impacted everyday life to such an extent that most
Today, due to the fast lifestyle and the race against
of us cannot imagine life without them. Just as an
time that most societies in developed countries
example, today 350 million new images are posted
follow, people are much less likely to analyze the
each day on Facebook only! On any given day, teens
photographs they are viewing and most of the time
in the United States spend about nine hours using
they are only seeing images fleetingly. The mind can
media for their enjoyment, according to the report by
hardly grasp the amount of conditioning that this
Common Sense Media, an NGO focused on helping
imagery can be having on society – but governments,
children, parents and educators navigate the world of
commercial
media and technology. And some 13-year-olds check
consultants, publishers and others have long known
social media 100 times a day!
the power and benefits, (particularly to themselves),
companies,
politicians,
marketing
that images can achieve. At this stage I was feeling that my thinking process on this project was widening. I found myself
People like Stalin, Mao Tse Tung and Hitler, to just
exploring areas of images and their effects which I
name a notorious few, recognized the strength
hardly thought existed. I do not know how reliable
that the image had, not only for indoctrinating the
and truthful they are, but I even found opinionists
unsuspecting masses, but also in veiling ideologies
arguing that Disney Cartoon characters and movies
which would have otherwise not been so readily
carry subliminal sexual messages! In fact, I felt my
accepted. Add to this the frequent use of subliminal
concerns gradually increasing about the huge amount
messages
in
imagery,
(considered
of factual twisting that can be conducted through image manipulation. As part of further research, I actually visited a number of my friends’ profile pages and wondered how many of them had altered their profile picture. In fact, I could hardly recognize some of them! Nevertheless, I admit that I did edit my own profile picture in order to reduce some ageing facial lines and grey hair! Many friends I spoke to further declared that, for example, they do not trust a Facebook profile which does not carry a portrait of the person. That is understandable because one starts getting second thoughts about networking with a person who has no profile image - it does seem fishy. But now I became more aware that by putting up a profile picture which has been manipulated for more dubious ends than aesthetics, a miscreant can easily fool others. The danger of child abuse on the internet comes
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Subliminal Advertising
somewhat
deceptive), and the “picture” becomes broader and more inclined towards conditioning of a seemingly unsuspecting Society.
Conclusion: The more one thinks about the immense power of the image in our everyday lifestyle and the way it can be easily altered and manipulated, the more one starts to realize the perils it can bring about as well as the benefits it can wield. Like a lot of other things in life, an Image can be a knife that cuts both ways. Images can stimulate people to end wars but they can blind others to start a war. In his book, “How to do things with pictures ” William J. Mitchell states that: “The growing circulation of the new graphic currency that digital imaging technology mints is relentlessly
article-2097869/The-oldest-work-art-42-000-year-oldpaintings-seals-Spanish-cave.html#ixzz2DrveRU2C last accessed on 15 Dec; 2016 FOUR AND SIX – Photo Tampering Through History, http://www.fourandsix.com/photo-tampering-history/ last accessed on 15 Dec; 2016 WILLIAM J. MITCHELL -The Reconfigured Eye: Visual Truth in the Post-Photographic Era (Cambridge: MIT Press, 1994): 190-223. How to Do Things with Pictures. SUSAN SONTAG – ON PHOTOGRAPHY Picador; 1st edition (August 25, 2001) BRAINY QUOTE - Andy Warhol. http://www. brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/andywarhol109668. html - last accessed on 10 June, 2016 NPPA WEBSITE – Statement of principle https://www. nppa.org/node/5167 - last accessed on 2 Feb; 2016 AP DROPS FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER - http:// www.poynter.org/latest-news/mediawire/138728/apdrops-freelance-photographer-who-photoshopped-hisshadow-out-of-image/ - last accessed on 5 Jan; 2016 THE NEW YORK TIMES - http://thelede.blogs.nytimes. com/2008/07/10/in-an-iranian-image-a-missile-toomany/ - last accessed on 12 Dec; 2015
destabilizing the old photographic orthodoxy, denaturing
Further Reading:
the established rules of graphic communication, and
http://www.zombietime.com/reuters_photo_fraud/ last accessed on 5 Jan; 2016
disrupting the familiar practices of image production and exchange. This condition demands, with increasing urgency, a fundamental critical reappraisal of the uses to which we put graphic artifacts, the values we therefore assign to them, and the ethical principles that guide our transactions with them.” I think Society should do well to heed his advice © Kevin Casha
MAIL ONLINE - Nerja paintings:– Tom Warden, 7 Feb 2012, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/
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http://www.thejc.com/news/israel-news/32726/ reuters-crop-photos-bloodied-israeli-soldiers accessed on 7 Jan; 2016
-
last
http://www.tc.umn.edu/~hick0088/classes/csci_2101/ false.html - last accessed on 18 Nov; 2016 http://www.cleancutmedia.com/advertising/famousmanipulated-photos-pre-photoshop- last accessed on 15 Dec; 2015 http://ethicsinediting.wordpress.com/2009/04/01/ photo-manipulation-through-history-a-timeline/ - last accessed on 10 May; 2015
Photography by malcolm sammut
Malcolm Sammut Malcolm Sammut was born and raised in Mosta and
courses in Malta and there he found the MIPP which
currently lives in Buġibba with his wife and son. For
he joined immediately and he took the Fast Track to
the past 15 years he has been working with Jesmond
Photography course run by Kevin Casha.
Mizzi Financial Advisor as an accountant and for the last 5 years he started working as a project manager.
During this course, Malcolm learnt to criticise his
Malcolm’s passion for photography began when
work and as he became aware of certain mistakes,
he was in secondary school and there was the
he started learning from them. For the assignment of
opportunity to take a course in photography as an
this course, he had bought the 50mm f/1.8 which he
extra curricular subject. At the time, Malcolm used
is very fond of because it’s very light, small and has
his father’s Minolta compact film camera to tackle
fantastic quality. He now advises newbies to learn the
the project and he used to enjoy experimenting with
technique before investing in expensive equipment
it and remembers how sometimes he would develop
and he is currently considering undertaking the MIPP
the negatives to find out that most of his shots
Award in Still Photography to further his knowledge.
were completely white or black. This was part of his learning process.
In 2008 he was in the UK for a holiday and there he saw the newly released full frame D700 and decided
Following that extracurricular course at school,
to upgrade. Since then he has been using it for all his
Malcolm abandoned photography and only 10 years
work although he kept the D40x as a back up body.
ago, in 2006 he decided to give it another try. He
He lauds the incredible low light capabilities of the
purchased a Nikon D40x, an entry level DSLR that
D700 compared to the first DSLR.
came with a kit lens, the 18-55mm and soon after he also purchased the 55-200mm to cover a wider
Initially, Malcolm used to treat his DSLR with extreme
range. This time he decided to take photography
caution and care until one day he went shooting a
more seriously and seeked to actively further his
women’s football match and when it started drizzling,
knowledge, therefore he looked for photography
he noticed how other photographers didn’t seem
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to care about the bad weather conditions and kept using their cameras without covering them and that’s where one of the seasoned photographers explained that you pay for gear which is ‘rain proof’ to use it and urged him to keep on shooting, confident that the camera won’t stop working. Soon after, he purchased the 24-70mm f/2.8, the 80200mm f/2.8 and ultimately the 14-24mm f/2.8. Very recently he placed an order for the newer and much improved D810 which has not yet been delivered to him. Malcolm loves to travel and on average he does it 3 times a year. Among other countries, he visited
Photography by malcolm sammut
Cuba, Myanmar, Costa Rica, Mexico, Malaysia, New York and since he became a father he started travelling to nearer destinations in Europe and he tries to travel on dates when specific events occur in the particular town or region that he visits. He mentioned his experience at the Palio di Siena when 4 horses fell during the race and he managed to capture the moment, it was dusk and he had to raise the ISO levels to freeze the action. Malcolm is very outgoing and he loves meeting new people who he calls “living monuments of a country”, therefore he enjoys street photography. He loves to shoot people in their every day life. He often approaches them to have a chat and show them the pictures in which they appear and many end up asking him to send them the photograph. He is very particular and selective in the way he shoots, he tries to capture Photography by malcolm sammut
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unique shots and subjects and this
is the main reason why travel agencies around the
a journalist, he grabbed Malcolm’s camera from his
world have bought his photos to promote particular
hands and then he realised that Malcolm was shooting
destinations to their clients, because instead of
something else.
shooting landmarks, Malcolm captures life happening in those areas and this gives a different perspective.
On another occasion, Malcolm was in New York shooting long exposures in the underground metro
He mentioned his trip to Milan when one day he
station when a homeless person heard him clicking.
noticed how the majority of the people were walking
He started shouting at Malcolm to delete the pictures
whilst texting on their phone and he decided to sit
and even though the person was in the picture, he
down and shoot passers-by in the streets of Milan on
was out of focus and not recognisable as the subject
that particular topic.
was another wealthy lady wearing pink.
Malcolm likes to take pictures with a particular
Malcolm showed him the picture in question and the
message behind them, his pictures often lead the
homeless person calmed down and apologised. In
viewer to reflect about social issues. He shoots in
Myanmar, Pakokku, Malcolm was on a factory tour to
RAW and he tries to limit the post processing work
see how flip flops are made. After a while, he left the
to leave the photograph as close to reality as possible.
main production area and went inside a room where
Incidents with people in street photography can be a
he shockingly found children making the flip flops.
common annoyance and Malcom has had a few whilst doing street photography; in Valletta, at the street
He found himself in an ethical dilemma on whether he
market, he got attacked by one of the vendors (selling
should take pictures of the children or not. Ultimately
pirated CD’s and DVD’s) who mistook Malcolm for
he decided to take them and to send the pictures to
Photography by malcolm sammut
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Photography by malcolm sammut
cost him 800 Sterling. Since that incident he started asking to be paid except for personal projects like village feasts and other stuff which he loves to cover and for charity events. One of his first paid jobs was at a FIBA Europe basketball tournament in Malta. He covered the games for one week and got the opportunity to work and be part of a team of professional people which was a great experience. He also does a couple of weddings a year, always sticking to his philosophy and style of photography where he likes to blend in the background and capture people whilst they act naturally. Malcolm lauds the immense support he gets from his wife Lowella. She runs a hair salon which is sometimes transformed into a studio to shoot the attractive hairstyles that his wife creates and as their cooperation grows stronger, Malcolm is starting to develop some ideas about interesting projects for the future. Until then we will have to wait and see! Photography bymalcolm sammut
Interview by Daniel Vassallo. BBC but unfortunately they were not featured anywhere since they had run a similar feature about the country (Myanmar) a while before. Malcolm believes that photographers should be paid for their jobs and does not think that compensation through exposure is good enough for a photographer – Facebook likes don’t pay bills. He realised how expensive photography is when he had to send his gear to be repaired and cleaned after suffering a broken barrel ring and fungus inside the lenses which
Photography by malcolm sammut
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2016
Continental Cars Ltd.
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Obituary:
photographer under presidents Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, Guido de Marco and Eddie Fenech Adami. Lino was
Lino Arrigo Azzopardi
seriously injured in 2001 when a truck crashed into
The end of 2016 brought its sad news as well.
then president was on a state visit to Sofia. He later
Unfortunately, well-known press photographer Lino
served as the Malta-based stringer for the Associated
Arrigo Azzopardi passed away at the age of seventy
Press and the European Pressphoto Agency, and he
seven.
was active with his most recent assignment at the
Guido de Marco’s official car at high speed while the
CHOGM summit that took place in Malta last year. Lino had a long and successful career with the Department of Information between 1958 and 1983.
The Institute of Maltese Journalists described him
During a lifetime career, he had covered Malta’s
as an example of professionalism and as a man who
Independence celebrations back in 1964 as well
was and will remain an inspiration to all journalists.
as the island’s accession to the European Union in
Many of his colleagues remember him as a jovial but
2004. His camera captured and recorded Malta’s
dedicated and professional photographer. May he
most historic moments. He also served as the official
rest in peace.
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Photography by PODGE KELLY
Photography by JOHAN SIGGESSON
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Photography by john denton
Photography by JOHAN SIGGESSON
Photography by PODGE KELLY
Photography by tom lee
Photography by JOHN DENTON
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Photography by kevin casha
Photography by tom lee
Photography by veronica busuttil
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Annual General Meeting As you have already been informed, the MIPP’s Annual General Meeting will be held on TUESDAY 7th MARCH at Le Meridien Hotel in St Julians at 7.30 pm. Only fully paid up members will be eligible to vote.
Agenda for the AGM 1
Approval of minutes of AGM 2016
2
Hon. Secretary General’s Annual Report – Sergio Morana
3
Hon. Treasurer’s Statement of Accounts – Martin Agius
4
MIPP’s Vision for 2017 by MIPP’s Hon. President – Kevin Casha
5
Amendments to the statute
6
Nomination of two tellers
7
Presentation of members standing for election
8
Election of the new committee
9
Other Matters
Notice: MEMBERS’ EMAIL UPDATES: Should you not be receiving regular email updates and communications from the MIPP, kindly check and inform us asap if you have changed your email.
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CALENDAR March
April March /2017
MIPP Members’ meeting Rabat Heritage Walk with
March /2017
MIPP Members’ meeting Annual General Meeting
RENE ATTARD
(including a visit to the vintage pharmacy at the National Archives)
By BOOKING on courses@mipp-malta.com. Join us for a cultural morning around Rabat and at the same time sharpen your skills at Street Photography. 9am Meeting near Casino Notabile, Saqqajja Hill. All members are invited. (A fee of €3 is to be paid which will go to National Archives). Sunday 12th March | 9.00AM
Tuesday 7th March | 19:30
Casino Notabile
Le Meridien
March /2017
MIPP Members’ meeting ONDRE CAMILLERI GAGLIONE
LAND OF SNOWS
Tuesday 14h March | 19:30 Le Meridien
March /2017
RON KERR
PHONOGRAPHY WORKSHOP Meeting place: in front of Parliament Valletta for all MIPP members Sunday 26th March | 9.00AM Le Meridien
April /2017
IN GUARDIA RE-ENACTMENT
MIPP Members’ meeting
Fort St. Elmo, Valletta (courtesy of MTA)
MARTIN AGIUS
Meeting outside Fort St. Elmo Entrance
WORKING AS A FULL-TIME PHOTOJOURNALIST
Sunday 19th March | 10.30am
Tuesday 4th April | 19:30
by BOOKING on courses@mipp-malta.com – first 20
Le Meridien
March /2017
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LIGHT HEARTED MOMENTS
SMILE PLEASE by Mario Casha
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The Collector by Kevin Casha What a fantastic surprise I had recently. I finally met Paul Vella the camera collector based in Zejtun. Referring to Paul just as the camera collector is an understatement as cameras are his lifelong passion - just as mine is photography. Paul has patiently
and ingenious person has veritably saved a treasure
collected and ‘nursed’ over 1500 cameras back into
trove for posterity and our island a treasure and the
full health and got them all to work! His collection is
authorities should really try and nurture and help to
fantastic and ranges from old plate cameras, film and
better house this collection.
digital plus lots of accessories thrown in! This affable Due to the limited space in which the collection is housed, those interested to see it can contact Paul https://www.facebook.com/paul.vella.102
directly
and arrange a visit. Again I would like to thank Paul for what he has managed to achieve and for hosting me at his ‘aladdin’s cave!’ PS: watch out for a full feature and interview on this personality in the MIPP newsletter. Kevin Casha
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Membership Renewal = =
We would like to remind you that we are now accepting payments for 2017 membership renewals. By renewing the €40 fee (from 2016 it is €40 even for those that have been members for 5 or more years), you will have a chance to
Become a qualified photographer with our three levels of qualification: Licentiate, Associate and Fellowship
Reciprocal photographic qualification with the best UK Institution
Get reduced rates to our courses and workshops
Informative monthly lectures and newsletters
Exclusive photographic competitions ONLY for MIPP members and much more
OR
One may pay by either sending in a cheque to: “27, Moonlight, Giovanni Papaffy Street, Ta’ Paris, Birkirkara, BKR 4021, Malta”, together with the relative membership fee.
(Cheques are to be made payable to “The Treasurer, MIPP”)
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Pay directly from the BOV website: www.bov.com and log in to BOV internet banking with your Securekey.
OR When attending an MIPP Event.
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CANON RENTAL SERVICE Photography equipment available for hire • • • • • • • •
EF 100-400mm f/4-5.6 L IS USM EF 70-200mm 1:2,8 L IS II USM EF 24-105mm 1:4,0 L IS USM EF 24-70mm 1:2.8L USM EF 8-15mm f/4 L USM fisheye EOS 5D III body EOS 6D body Speedlite 600 EX RT
For full details and conditions visit www.avantech.com.mt or call on 2148 8800 Ask about our ‘Try before you buy’ scheme!
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THE MIPP SPONSORS Non-Profit organizations like the Malta Institute of Professional Photography are constantly in need of funds in order to be able to function in a modern and professional environment. That is why it was important to have various sponsors interested in networking with the MIPP and at the same time involving them in important issues concerning the photographic trade. The MIPP feels it is vital to stimulate joint events and initiatives together with our sponsors. This policy helps our members to be constantly aware of products and services that our sponsors market thus not only encouraging an increase in business but also benefitting our members through special occasional offers and deals. This co-operation and belief by our sponsors, most of who have been with us since the MIPP’s inception, has helped in no small way in making the Institute what it is today. It is one of the MIPP’s main objectives to help keep this co-operation improving. We urge our members to truly support our sponsors by making use of their services and products whenever possible. Our sponsors show faith in the MIPP so it is only fair that our members should reciprocate. Give your custom to those companies and entities that help us.
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contacts
Web: www.mipp-malta.com Email: president@mipp-malta.com Address: 27, Moonlight, Giovanni Papaffy Street, Ta’ Paris, Birkirkara, BKR 4021, Malta Tel No: 21486097
2017 MAR / APR