MIPP May Newsletter

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The Official MIPP Newsletter

May 2014

FOCALPOINT

Issue No. 39

www.mipp-malta.com


EDITORIAL

One thing I can never under-

stand is how time passes by so quickly! There I was shooting my socks every morning, and before you know it I am not wearing socks anymore and the sun is shining and the weather is changing....and we have longer days with more light to shoot!

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!

May is an eventful month for MIPP with the International Online Competition judging, a Photowalk with Mike Sapiecha and also a good talk about Macro Photography by Ramon Curmi. However I urge you to attend the visit to the Richard Ellis Archives on 20th May. Richard Ellis was one of Malta’s Photographic Pioneers, so it will be an interesting visit indeed.

Newsletter Team

Meanwhile hope you enjoy this newsletter to the full and get some relaxing time in the sun! Assistant Editor Kerstin Arnemann

Enjoy! Therese & Kerstin!

Editor: Therese Debono Assistant Editor: Kerstin Arnemann Design: Therese Debono Articles: Various contributors Editorial Advice: Kevin Casha Contact: newsletter@mippmalta.com


CONTENTS

MAY 2014 pg 2 pg 4 pg 10 pg 16 pg 18 pg 21 pg 22 pg 24 pg 25

cover artist

president’s viewpoint mipp featured members mipp member’s article members photos seminar review upcoming talk notice calendar members’ gallery

Advances in Technology Robert Mifsud The Photo Producer Festa Frawli in Pictures March Sminar by Tom Lee Macro Photography by Ramon Curmi MIPP at Le Meridien Mark your diaries! Images from the last PTYA session

Tom Lee This image by Tom Lee has been submitted to the recent MIPP International Online Competition. As you can see Tom here made great use of window light and the model added extra interest to complete this image. I think the monochrome conversion helped in making this image more interesting, and get rid of any unwanted distractions in the background, so one can focus on the model, window and the lovely light coming through it.

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Viewpoint Advances in Technology I recently ventured out to Vittoriosa to try and capture the essence of the celebrations of the Risen Christ - in Maltese, called ‘l-Irxoxt.’ It came as a welcome break from my current studies and work related stress to simply go out with my camera and lens and wander about in an attempt to explore the different aspects of such religious events. Such occasions are so strongly ingrained in the Maltese Social culture that we sometimes take them for granted. This was a subject that, for some reason or other, I had never shot in my career, so in a way it was all the more intriguing and The tablet here to stay!

challenging. Naturally, I wanted to capture the general mood and the climax of the event – when the bearers triumphantly run with the statute - but I was fascinated with other facets of the morning’s events. One could not miss that the occasion was also used by most of the people to put on their best dress or something new they had just bought to proudly parade and show off around the packed streets. This tradition was amply demonstrated in Vittoriosa and I had a field day capturing images of the different attire – some really suited whilst other items not so suitable for their wearers! I did have fun and fully engrossed myself in the atmosphere by going inside the local band club to down a couple of beers before going back into the fray of the celebration! It was a welcome break from my work tasks and my computers and convinced me to again increase

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and multiply my forays into the local villages and streets. No more excuses that it was cold or raining or that I have to rise early! A thing I also noticed was the amount of mobiles and particularly tablets which were being used to document the event. I must say, the tablets are really annoying as they can easily block the view and are very difficult to clone out on such occasions. Yet, it is modern technology which is here to stay and the photographer, (as in many other professions), is being constantly challenged to update and make use of such new technological advances. Failure to do this is bound to reflect on the photographer’s capabilities to survive in a very competitive arena. Always keeping this in mind, Off they go!

the MIPP is soon launching a course - the first of its kind for the Institute - on how to learn better the video facility in our digital SLR’s. This challenge has already been taken up by many photographers on the continent who are using SLR video to supplement their incomes and widen the services they can offer to clients. DSLR video is still not a replacement for conventional video but it can be beneficially exploited by using its strong points. Happy Shooting! Kevin Casha MIPP President

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STRIVING TO BE A GOOD “JACK OF ALL TRADE For this issue we caught up with member Robert Mifsud who is last year’s winner of first prize in the SWPP competition during the October Convention and in January of this year he flew to the UK for the annual SWPP Convention in London. In this article accompanied by Robert’s images showing his diverse work, he will tell you all about how he got so far in photography to date!

“I

am very passionate about photography. There is no denying that. But when talking to fellow photographers, one question always seems to come up.... ‘What is your area of photography?’ Mind you, the question is legitimate since photography covers such a wide subject matter that most photographers seem to concentrate on one specific area..... especially as they get better at their trade and home in on their area of choice, be it driven by preference, opportunities or requirements. In my case, photography is my hobby; my passion as stated earlier. I actively try to keep it that way and shy away from ‘jobs’ that don’t tickle my fancy as I’m afraid I would lose the fun factor. This does not mean I don’t strive to improve my photography. I am on a continuous journey to learn and improve my images. I

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ES�

featured member

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love the technical side of photography and have to admit that I am bit of an ‘equipment junkie’. I find the equipment itself and its technical properties and mechanics as stimulating as the images that it helps me to produce. For me equipment is not just a means to an end; but an interest in itself. Coming back to the photography itself, I find myself practicing a wide range of subjects. Be it nature, macro, photographic experiments, travel, architecture, black and white, sports, fashion and portraiture, live events or landscapes, I find myself being attracted to all kinds of photography. I go through phases, concentrating on one area for some time then moving on to something else, maybe to go back to the same subject matter at a later phase. I might get called a ‘Jack of all trades and Master of none’ but at this stage of my photographic journey, I must admit that I am not too bothered by that; I just strive to improve my level in order to be a “good” Jack of all trades..... One important step in my photographic journey happened quite unexpectedly when I won the SWPP competition during the last convention in October 2013 and got to go to the SWPP Convention in London last January. This proved to be an unforgettable experience which exposed me to a different perspective on photography and also taught me some lessons. This convention is aimed squarely at professional photographers. This means that there were two sides of the coin being Below: The image which got Robert a free ticket to the SWPP’s Annual


addressed during this convention – the business aspect and the continuous quality improvement aspect. This is understandable as both are equally important and interdependent for the target audience of this convention. On one hand there was the trade show which displayed a multitude of tools and ideas for the business side of photography. Anything from insurance coverage to innovative marketing tools, albums, frames and other ‘tools of the trade’ were on display in a sizable show over multiple floors. On the other hand, there was an extensive number of Master and Super classes that addressed mostly the quality aspect. Techniques were discussed, and inspiration and motivation provided through quality talks and practical exercises carried out. It was definitely an event to remember and learn from. The evening dinners were also impressive – especially the Awards Gala dinner. On a side note, it was also exciting to see my own Gold Award images that I had been awarded during the last two months of participating in the monthly competitions displayed on the big screen to such an audience during the gala dinner. All in all, the convention was a very nice way for me to peep into the world of “Professional Photography”, especially with regards to the business side which I never really gave much thought to. In the meantime, maybe one day I will decide, or feel the urge, to concentrate on a particular subject matter for my photography…... Now were was that qualification application form?”

Left: A different view of the Azure Window, Dwejra, Gozo

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the EOS 5D Mark lll joins the rental family! ... now available for rent.

for full details and conditions visit www.avantech.com.mt or call on 2148 88 00 Avantech Building St Julian’s Road San Gwann SGN 2805

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THE PHOTO PRODUCER by Ivan M. Consiglio

Not many when still at school knew what

they would end up doing in their work life and, more often than not, several of us lacked a clear path mapped out in front of them. So usually, a first job is often the place where careers begin to take place. Some start as student interns or understudies, with the sauvé attire of army-style cargo pants and flip-flops, to my current world’s whip-cracking deal makers, negotiating photo shoots and making sure that illustration contracts are watertight.

The makings of a photographic art developer or a photo shoot producer are rarely shared insights. It basically entails connecting photographers (who are artists in their own right, to a fair degree) or their agents, to hammer out budgets to create artwork plus advertising-related use of their works. Illustration art doesn’t go much beyond that point either. However, there is more to just the ‘plain’ photography that goes on for a shoot, as many experienced readers here would know. There are the essential elements of studio, hair, makeup, wardrobe, props, sets, and talent, which go coupled with balance along with the any in situ creative directors, photographer and client/s. It all offers the opportunity to meet interesting and creative people, and working outdoors of a mundane office environment. Projects always vary widely, so the fun of a challenge is there each time. The satisfaction on seeing one’s hard work on a main road’s billboard is addictive as applause is for any stage-performer. The flipside of the coin is having to cope with attitudes and expectations, which flow from the craft’s creativity, and leading to careful people handling. Both clients and photographers are hard to please, when (as in Malta it often happens to be the case!), budgets are miserable or deadlines for your work turnaround are stressful.

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member’s article

Cultivating people skills is paramount to establish proper relationships with all the players being handled. Humour helps greatly, but being reliable and systematic facilitates completion of one’s never-ending checklist of things to be done. Basic appreciation of those fundamental photography concepts are deemed helpful (but not necessary) to better guide production projects. But with life itself being an ongoing never-ending learning process, it is always wise to keep eyes and ears open to absorb from others’ views or experiences, as there’s always something new to be absorbed. The powers of networking are priceless in this field of business, and fuel that with being driven by enthusiasm and by being smart, with proper communication most of one’s sales pitch is usually secured.

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Why every Photographer should work with a Producer Many photographers I know have started out small, lugging their own gear between shoots, home and their studio, if they had one at all. More often than not, they would rely on some immediate family member to pick up battery packs, heads, various light modifiers, boom stands, c-stands, sandbags, reflectors, flags, extension cords and lots more in the vein of going on beer runs and getting pastizzi or coffees on set. But coordinating that is part of any producer’s learning process. However, doing the micromanagement of things (great and small) soon doesn’t remain feasible. As people grow in the craft and their trade, sometimes the volume of received commissioned work requires a sheer amount of organization that would leave any photographer no room for the type of stress free, unbounded creative space they would need when they’re shooting. So as they say: when the student is ready, the teacher appears. They find themselves a producer. A producer, if they’re good, provides one overarching essential service: to provide you, the photographer, with the backup and un-diminished support you need to do what you do best: take beautiful pictures.

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In Malta, we often ignore the need for a location permit, for example. If somebody said anything, we would just pick up and move on somewhere else, easy. Nor do many worry too much about post-production schedules, because well, there aren’t any grand ones to mutter much about in this piece. Yet, when clients start to pay top cash for decent photos, there comes then a whole slew of responsibility; being unprepared is longer acceptable and a producer can take that burden off any photographer’s shoulders. A few things your producer will do for you while you’re shooting and focused on delivering your best work: - make sure all location permits are in order (where and where applicable, like hospitals or government premises); - deal with cranky models who don’t like the venue you’re at, or hotel you are booked in; - deal with modeling agencies or agents; - work a deal with the farmer who’s about to tow your car because you can’t read signs (like RTO) around his land;

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- make sure the advance cheque/deposit is received and cashed (you did make sure you got an advance, right?); - negotiate price and cost with the clients when they come up with impromptu requests; - book your venues, ferry tickets, accommodation or flights; - organize the power point presentation for your pre-production meeting with clients; - write the job cost estimates; - make sure you don’t go over your estimate; - phone for a new studio light because you’ve blown one; - feed you and your supporting crew (if any!); - chase down your balance cheque; - organize a wrap-up drinks booze-up or meal for you and the client after the shoot (models, staff/crew and client welfare and relations are crucial for reputation). And another million other things a producer does, but you get my point. Hiring a professional large production service company to do the above work costs a bomb, but it doesn’t mean somebody immediately around you can’t do it for you in a localized small way.

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It basically involves successfully developing one’s good delegation skills. You simply can’t do everything so you need to find backup, someone that covers for you...because at the end of the day, it’s your reputation and reliability as a photographer that is on the line. If your shoot messes up...it’s 100% you. What is shared above comes out of the hardships derived from the experiences of many I know. And they may have (in their own right) disappointed a few (not too many, thank goodness!) clients in their time, simply because they thought they could handle more than they were able to.

Your next question is probably: well, where do I find a producer? You’ll be surprised: usually the best producers don’t necessarily have photography knowledge per se as stated earlier in this article, but rather a great sense of order and good, effective communication skills (and that includes the Missus or your brother! . . . obviously for some avoiding the mother-in-law . . ) They are people that like to be in charge, are often creative thinkers and most importantly great problem solvers (John Wayne style trouble-shooters if you may!). A lot of producing after all is simply problem solving.

Ivan M. Consiglio is a Tv-News Senior Executive Field Producer, and Managing Director/CEO at MALTA24 Ltd., providers of live & recorded broadcast news content, live broadcast facilities, news video services & production support to international media companies.

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FESTA FRAWLI IN PICTURES Festa Frawli has become an annual event not to miss out on. Held in Mgarr on

a Sunday in mid-April, this event has gained popularity throughout the years as loads and loads of people drive up to Mgarr to enjoy the tasty goodies made with some of the island’s best strawberries. The luscious red strawberries are not only lovely to eat but they also offer a wonderful opportunity for photography. I caught up with members Suzanne Muscat and Tomoko Goto over Facebook and here are some of their work from the amazing Festa Frawli!

Enjoy! Showing off the best of the best by Suzanne Muscat

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A farmer’s hand by Tomoko Goto

A happy strawberry vendor by Tomoko Goto

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MARCH SEMINAR REVIEW

by Tom Lee

Chromakey Workshop - March 2014 It was with great pleasure that I was given the privilege of presenting a Chromakey workshop at the recent MIPP mini convention. Although not an integral part of the weekend’s normal activities, iLab kindly hosted the event at their laboratory in Qormi, and preceded the main speaker Kevin Mullins, sponsored by the Societies at the Le Meridien Hotel in St Julians the following day. Although a regular visitor to the island for many years, I am always given the greatest courtesy, and the tremendous hospitality I have been shown on each occasion is something I will always cherish. This visit was no exception and borne out by the group of enthusiastic attendees who came to learn a little about chromakey. Reflecmedia are my main sponsors and manufacture cutting edge chromakey equipment all over the word. Although well known throughout the movie industry, it is less familiar in the stills market. We are generally acquainted with traditional chromakey (or green screen as it is more commonly known) consisting of a coloured backcloth lit by flash or strobe units has been used for years by event Below: Tom Lee kickstarted the seminar on Saturday at iLab

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seminar review photographers, but does have some serious flaws when subjects present complications by choice of coloured clothing or there is not enough space allocated to the photographer. The aim of the workshop was to dispel some of the myths surrounding chromakey in general and demonstrate how the new 21st century methods can overcome these problems and be useful in event, commercial, wedding and studio environments. The morning session was given to explanation of the various chromakey systems and technical aspects of their use and other equipment necessary (such as lights and software) to undertake this specialist form photography. The afternoon session comprised of practical demonstrations where delegates could use the equipment and see for themselves the versatility of the Reflec chromakey system. The day was rounded off with print finishing and the labs general manager, Stefan Aquilina, kindly produced printed samples of work we had undertaken during the workshop. The sample images shown here are as taken during the workshop. You will note on some of the images we have a warm glow from the lighting used, which due to circumstances comprised of the modelling light from a flash head fitted with a softbox. Normally I would use daylight balanced continuous light units, but it just goes to show you can use almost anything! I think my favourite is our very own Martin (Mona Lisa) Agius…… I think that all the delegates enjoyed their day and experience with the new chromakey equipment judging by the immediate response during the clearaway process. I know I enjoyed the company of so many enthusiastic attendees, who gave plenty of searching questions and we all had some fun at the expense of at least one of the committee members! Generally a fine day all around which lead to the days real highlight….evening drinks. See you all in November!

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MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY TALK A

fter gaining his Associateship in Macro Photography last October, Ramon Curmi will be conducting this talk about live macro photography. He will delve into how to shoot macro nature at its best, that is in its natural habitat. He will demonstrate setup techniques for the best way to capture some active creepy crawly bug models! Join us on 27th May for this interesting talk by Ramon Curmi, at 7:30pm at Le Meridien!

See you there!

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Le Meridien Hotel is the official meeting venue of the Malta Institute of Professional Photography Le Meridien Hotel in St Julian’s was recently announced as the official venue for

the Malta Institute of Professional Photography (MIPP). During a recent official announcement, MIPP President Kevin Casha stated that this official presentation, commemorated by a plaque, was being done on the MIPP’s first anniversary of operating from the hotel. Mr Casha added that the collaboration between the Hotel and the MIPP during the first year was very intense and very successful and the MIPP was extremely satisfied with the service and help that the hotel and its staff has been given – thus the MIPP Executive Committee decided to make the Le Meridien the official venue for the various meetings, courses and international conventions that they organize throughout each year. The MIPP also announced that the Le Meridien would also soon be hosting a Malta Qualifications Council accredited course on Photography which will cater for those photographers wanting to learn photography at the highest level.

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MIPP President Mr Kevin Casha (left) passing on the MIPP official plaque to Le Meridien General Manager, Mr Franco Vella. Looking on are various management employees of the hotel.

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CALENDAR 13th May International Online Competition Judging

19:30hrs, Le Meridien

18th May Photowalk with Mike Sapiecha 08:30hrs, Cospicua

20th May Visit to Richard Ellis Archive 19:30hrs - 22:30hrs; Venue TBC

27th May Macro Photography - Ramon Curmi 19:30hrs, Le Meridien

2nd June Mobile Matters - Alan Carville 19:30hrs, Le Meridien

10th June PTYA Judging - Fashion 19:30hrs, Le Meridien

15th July International Online Competition Judging

19:30hrs, Le Meridien

12th August PTYA Judging - The Colour Blue 19:30hrs, Le Meridien

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PTYA Submissions

above photo by Kerstin Arnemann

MEMBERS’ GALLERY

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the page photo by Renata Apanaviciene


above photo by Simon Attard

below photo by Roman Wylie



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