Malta Institute of Professional Photography Newsletter June 2016

The Official MIPP Newsletter

June 2016

FOCALPOINT

Issue No. 66

www.mipp-malta.com

EDITORIAL Here we are again! The start

of another season is soon with us, summer, heat and long evenings relaxing by the sea, or so one hopes!

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!

I guess most of you have a couple of trips planned and if not, then I hope that most of you manage to take a break from routine to unwind.

With so many events happening around the island during summer, one is spoilt for choice in terms of photographic opportunities. So I urge you to carry your camera with you on most of your outings.

From the local village festas to concerts and festivals happening every other weekend, you really have no excuses to snap some great shots!

Meanwhile I will leave you to enjoy June’s newsletter and look forward to see the MIPP Facebook Page fill up with great images!

Find us on:

Newsletter Team Editor: Therese Debono Design: Therese Debono Article Vetting: Vince DeBono Articles: Various contributors

Happy Summer!

Editorial Advice: Kevin Casha

Therese

Contact: newsletter@mippmalta.com

CONTENTS

JUNE 2016 pg 2 pg 10 pg 14 pg 16 pg 21 pg 22 pg 24

cover artist

MIPP Members MIPP Exhibitions Exhibition Review Out & About MIPP Talks MIPP Calendar Members’ Gallery

Planning a Successful Shoot by Amanda Hsu Id-Dawl ta l-Istazzjon Fusion June Events!

Digital Safeguards by Duncan Cauchi Calendar of Events PTYA Round 3

Amanda Hsu Read Amanda Hsu’s article about planning a successful photoshoot and getting stunning results just like the adjacent image.

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Planning a Successful Photoshoot Amanda Hsu For the month of June, we brought you MIPP Member Amanda Hsu, and her article is about the planning involved for a successful photoshoot!

Read on to find out what it takes!

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’ve been a photographer for over 10 years. I’ve photographed many different subjects such as landscapes, boats, products, food, events and weddings, until I found the only subject that I really love – portrait. I love photographing people from 0 to 100 years old. There is so much diversity in people and so many different elements to play with. I love working with people. It can be challenging, but also rewarding.

During the journey learning and working on photography, I met more and more photographers along the way, both amateurs and professionals. I got asked questions about photography more and more often. Sometimes it wasn’t easy to explain, as many things I know in my head I have taken them for granted. I just do it without thinking.

I was invited to a workshop in Ragusa and did a presentation about my work there.

I really enjoyed the experience. After I came back to Malta, I started to think that if I were going to teach, what would I want to teach, what is the most important thing that everyone who has a camera should learn. I want to use my knowledge to benefit others, help people to take better photographs and learn how to use their camera well.

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I love working with people and create awesome results. I often organise photo shoots to generate new work and add to my portfolio. I would like to take this opportunity to share the tips of planning a successful photo shoot. It doesn’t matter if it’s a client shoot or a portfolio update collaboration shoot, I believe the more you prepare, the better the result. As we all need to update our portfolio often and I like to keep myself motivated and working, here I will mainly describe about a portfolio update collaboration shoot, as a client shoot needs a different approach and is a different subject.

1) Concept and Idea Every creation comes from an idea and every shoot needs a direction to follow. I believe when working with people, the more information you can give them the more they are engaged and involved. It’s important to do research and to find out what the concept and idea you have in mind for the shoot is. You can start to build your photo shoot concept from the following list: • Indoors or outdoors?

• What lighting setting will be needed for the look?

• What the look of the makeup and hair should be?

• What model should you look for? The hair colour, tanned or pale skin? Whether or not the height is important to the shoot?

Firstly you need to have the idea about what you want to shoot, then you start to work around the idea. Being flexible and creative is very important when planning and managing a photo shoot.

Tip to achieve good results: I would highly recommend you write down your concepts and ideas. Without writing them down they are merely wishes, after you write them down, you can work around the ideas and make it reality.

I use Pintrest a lot to search for the concepts and ideas for a photo shoot and I can share the board with my team such as makeup artist, hairstylist etc, for them to get a better idea of what we want to achieve.

2) Equipment, location and time Decide on your equipment and make a list of it before the shoot, it will save you time on the shooting day. Some photographers use available light, some use a flashgun or a strobe, I’m a bit of both. But when the quality of natural light is good, I would much prefer to use natural light. A nice big reflector and a flashgun would be on my list for a location shoot.

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Once you have decided the concept of the photo shoot, do research about the locations. Studying how the light will affect your subject and background by taking some test shots is always very helpful. You will need to know the direction of the light at different times of the day so you can decide the time for shooting. There are mobile apps like Sun Survey which can tell you the direction of the sun at each hour.

If you decide to shoot in a studio, if you want to try a new lighting method, taking some time to do some test shots before the shoot will ensure the shoot goes smoother.

3) Finding your team and working with creatives You can find models through model agencies, it’s easier and quicker. Or there are groups on Facebook like “Models Malta” where you can place an ad and state what kind of models you are looking for, the more detail you provide the better chance you will find the model you want. Providing a link to your photography portfolio or website would help them to get to know your work. Also telling them how the photos will be used is important too. For example, uploading to your own website, sharing on Facebook or Flickr etc. The same goes for finding other creatives like makeup artists, hair stylists and wardrobe stylists. If you are just starting to build a portfolio, asking a friend or a family member to be your model would be a good idea. Once you have a portfolio it would be easier to find other models and talents.

For getting great results, you need a good team to work together. From my experience, I love working with creative people, and the feeling of creating something together is fantastic.

I share the concept with images and descriptions with the whole team, the more they are involved the better chance you have of a successful photo shoot. They will ask questions and we will discuss and find the best solution. Every creative has their style, you might find the concept of the shoot and their style might not go along well together, so discussing the concept details with the team to make sure they like the idea and they want to do it rather than finding out on the day of the shooting that they don’t want to do it, which would result in wasted time and energy which you’ve spent on planning the shoot.

Communication is the key to success.

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4) When shooting Be sociable and flexible. During the day of shooting, many different unpredictable situations could happen, it’s important to keep calm and find solutions to problems.

5) Delivering the photographs I enjoy shooting and working with people but it’s probably the shortest part of the whole photo shoot project production. After the photo shoot is finished, everyone can go home and put their legs up in front of the TV or go to the beach to relax. But for photographer the major work has just started – photo retouching. Whether you like retouching or not, we all have to do it. Photograph delivery is a crucial part of your work and reputation. If you can manage to deliver the work in a few weeks, it’s “recent work” when you post the photos on the internet. But if you deliver the photos after a few months, it’s a “memory”. I usually set a deadline for myself for each shoot when I should deliver the photos. This will also give your team confidence when you want to work with them again next time.

Amanda Hsu is an international portrait photographer, a recipient of many prizes such as the Renaissance Photography Prize (UK), UK Artist Portfolio Magazine and International Fine Art Competition, Paris. Amanda has been living in Malta for some years. She has also contributed to many local publications such as the Pink Magazine, Sunday Circle and Times of Malta.

Her portrait exhibition in 2015 “Women in Malta” received much good feedback and favourable comments. She is currently working on her on going series “Her” for her next exhibition.

Amanda is currently giving workshops with small groups of people. If you’re interested in her workshop, please send an email to workshop@amandahsu.com for more information.

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Id-Dawl tal-Istazzjon

Power Station Photography Competition - The Judging

The idea of giving access to the general public to the old Marsa Power Station

before it began its phasing out process was admirable. The plant is part of the history of the Maltese islands and the opportunity for photographers to record it for posterity will keep its memory alive. At least, this part of ‘Vanishing Malta’ has now been well recorded and documented for the benefit of future generations.

The Malta Institute of Professional Photography (MIPP) is always eager to collaborate on such projects and it was not easy for the handsome entry of works from this competition to be assessed and the winners selected. As is the norm, entries varied both in quality as well as in subject matter. It was interesting to see how entrants viewed and interpreted the same subject. The extensive area and wealth of material at the Power Station contributed to the variety of the images entered for the competition. A wide berth to creativity was given to the entrants as they were allowed to post process their work in whatever way they wished.

The selection panel consisted of myself, professional photographer Dominic Aquilina and Enemalta representative Albert de Marco. Initially, points were given for each work entered and finally, the top photographs were freely discussed as to their merits by the selection panel. I feel that the whole exercise was a great success due to its educational and artistic aspect and also the opportunity for this subsequent exhibition which is being held at the Parliament of Malta.

I congratulate those who fared well in the competition as well as all those who entered their works and in some way contributed to this worthy project.

Kevin Casha President MIPP and Chairman of the selection panel.

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FIRST PRIZE - Laid to Rest - John Ambrogio

SECOND PRIZE - Powerhouse - Stefan Cachia

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THIRD PRIZE - Christ Always With Us - Martin Agius

THIRD PRIZE - Broken window - Duncan Cauchi

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FUSION - a collaboration through photography “And my aim in my life is to make pictures and drawings, as many and as well as I can; then, at the end of my life, I hope to pass away, looking back with love and tender regret, and thinking, ‘Oh, the pictures I might have made!’”

Vincent van Gogh Photography is an international language which empowers people hailing from diverse societal and cultural backgrounds to communicate through imagery. This exhibition, a collaboration between renowned Chinese photographer Zeng Yi and Malta’s Joseph P. Smith, demonstrates the close relationships which can be forged through persons who share the same artistic passions and interests. Great images need neither captions nor descriptions when, through their content, they can communicate a message, a mood or a feeling. No matter how differently human beings relate to photographs, images can bring distant cultures together. This is what makes photography so powerful and what today’s image makers should never lose sight of. Producing “pretty pictures” is fine but how much more valid are photographs that can influence and impact viewers?

The work of Zeng Yi and Joseph P. Smith clearly illustrate the power that this photography has: of enabling us to gain an insight into the lives of the ‘protagonists’ captured in their photographs - people who are different and remote from us but who we can magically relate through carefully and cleverly executed imagery. Although the work of these two photographers differs in subject yet the human content and sensitivity of their photographs is more than evident and cements their imagery together. The quality and variety of the works in this exhibition propels viewers towards an interesting experience of aesthetic as well as informative journey.

‘Fusion’ brings together a fine selection of photographs mainly from China and Malta. The project extends the valid interaction between Chinese and Maltese photographers spurred on by the China Culture Centre in Malta and aided through the collaboration of the Malta Institute of Professional Photography and the Spazju Kreattiv at St. James Cavalier.

Kevin Casha 2016 Exhibition Curator.

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Left to Right: Zeng Yi. Kevin Casha and Joseph P. Smith

Guests on the opening night

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OUT AND ABOUT

June Events

Aquatic Affinity Underwater Photographic Exhibition “Aquatic Affinity” by Veronica Busuttil at Sistina 188, The Strand, Gzira Public viewing from 19th May 2016 to 30th June 2016. Curator Kevin Casha

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AQUA Art in Architecture presents A Q U A an exhibition project of art installations produced by final year students of the B.Sc in Built Environment Studies responding to Creative Interfaces in Collage.

A Q U A will be launched on Friday 3rd June 2016 as part of the Arts and Music Festival in Balzan square and recreational garden from 20.30 onwards.

This event has been realised in collaboration with the Balzan Local Council and the generous support of Perit Daniel Muscat, Council Member responsible for Culture, and Dr Ian Spiteri, Mayor of Balzan, as well as the Malta Tourism Authority and the Valletta 2018 Foundation.

Art in Architecture is a project developed and led by Ruth Bianco, artist and senior lecturer, to explore the creative interface and interactions between contemporary processes in fine art and architecture through artistic research, outcomes and exhibition.

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Vertical Waves Project 8th July National Library of Malta Born in 2010 out of a collaboration between Aldo Aliprandi and Marianna Andrigo, the Vertical Waves Project is an artistic process that mixes together research on body movement with sound and video in the spatial context of where the performance is taking place. Be it a building, a tower, a square‌ the space affects the development of the creation and determines the uniqueness of the action in relation to it. Using ropes and harnesses the performers work safely to present a vertical dance quality that plays with a perceived lack of gravity. The performance mixes feminine delicacy with the strength of rhythm and acrobatics, exploring themes of relationships, loneliness, togetherness and waiting. Performers alternate and relate, constructing a series of tableaux defined by video projections.

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CANON LENS RENTAL SERVICE

Lenses and camera bodies 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

For full details and conditions visit www.avantech.com.mt or call on 2148 8800

Ask about our ‘Try before you buy’ scheme!

Digital Safeguards

MIPP Monthly Talk

An in depth lecture on how photographers should back up images safely. We’ll go

through all the technicalities of how storage and backup systems work in order to achieve peace of mind. Protect yourself from Hard disk failure and other hazards to ensure your images will never be lost.

Date: 14th June 2016 Time: 19:30hrs Venue: Le Meridien, St Julians

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CALENDAR Tuesday 14th June

Digital Safeguards by Duncan Cauchi 19:30 Le Meridien

Tuesday 5th July

Data Protection & Copyright Matters by Geraldine Spiteri 19:30 Le Meridien

Friday 22nd July

Waterpolo Workshop (booking by email - courses@mipp-malta.com) 19:00 National Pool, Tal-Qroqq

Tuesday 2nd August

Bird Photography by Natalino Fenech 19:30 Le Meridien

Thursday 18th August

World Photography Day Events (tbc) 10:00 Hilltop Village, Naxxar

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mipp notices

MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS

We would like to remind you that we are now accepting payments for 2016 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: · Get reduced rates to our courses and workshops · Become a qualified photographer with our three levels of qualification: Licentiate, Associate and Fellowship · Reciprocal photographic qualification with the best UK Institution · Informative monthly lectures and newsletters · Exclusive photographic competitions ONLY for MIPP members. .....and much more 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” OR 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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MEMBERS’ GALLERY

Above: Give Peace a Chance by Stefano Vella

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Above: Lady Boys’ New Year’s Breakfast by Sean Azzopardi

PTYA 3rd Session

Above: Untitled by Keith Ellul

Above: Sleeping in the Street by George Abdilla

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