THE MALTA INTERNATIONAL FIREWORKS COMPETITION

THE MALTA INTERNATIONAL FIREWORKS FESTIVAL TAKES PLACE BETWEEN MONDAY 24TH AND SUNDAY 30TH APRIL 2023. AWARDS ARE WON BY THE MOST IMPRESSIVE PYROMUSICAL DISPLAYS AND THERE IS ALSO A COMPETITION FOR THOSE PATIENT ENOUGH TO CAPTURE THE SPECTACLE ON CAMERA.

Clyde Grech picked up his first camera as a teen, bought his first DSLR at 21 and at 26, won The 2022 Malta International Fireworks Photography Competition.

Air Malta cabin crew member Clyde, unsurprisingly, lists aviation and travel as one of his passions; indeed it was when travelling as a teenager with his family, that he started to take photographs. “I love the outdoors, being in nature and also adrenaline sports, all of which are great subjects for photography. Each requires different techniques and that’s one of the great things about it; you are always learning, experimenting and refining your skills. I get asked to take engagement and event photos too which again, is completely different; capturing the special moments, the unposed moments, is really satisfying. I use a Go-Pro too for action shots for when I’m free diving, surfing or skiing!

While I can see the attraction of taking pictures on your phone, its not quite the same, even though you can get great results. I like the art of photography, to take my time and not just point and shoot. I like the ability to really hone in on details and tweak settings.

This is where the love of taking photos of fireworks was born. Not many people have the patience to get that shot – it’s time consuming but for me the effort is worth it.

1. Find the best location – know where the best vantage point is for the show and consider the wind direction too. You want to capture the fireworks and not the smoke and haze.

2. Set up somewhere without excessive artificial light if possible.

3. Set up early enough to arrange your settings and be there before the crowds arrive.

4. Use a sturdy tripod.

5. Focus your lens on an item far away from you and then turn off Autofocus.

6. ISO controls the sensitivity of the camera sensor– set this to low to reduce the ‘noise’ of the image.

7. Aperture has to be set carefully to prevent overexposure while at the same time making sure the light trails from the fireworks are the correct thickness.

8. Shutter speed - the shutter must remain open for a long time so set shutter speed on low to enable a long exposure.

9. Never use live view as this kills battery – and there can be a lot of waiting around!

10. Time your shots well!

There will be some editing to do afterwards to finetune, enhance colours and clean any ‘noise’. I take around 250 shots to get the perfect one. This narrows down to a shortlist of around 20. I personally don’t like to photoshop things out; if there is a church roof or a tree, it should form part of the final image.

Having won the competition last year, I’m really delighted to be the official photographer of the Malta International Fireworks Festival this year.”

You can see more of Clyde’s work on Instagram @clyde_grech

To find out more about locations and competitors, visit: www.maltafireworksfestival.com

With the help of her mum, who manages her social media pages, Zaara Lina shares her passion for cooking with the aim of inspiring young children to get involved in the cooking process, be more adventurous when it comes to eating and developing a healthy relationship with food.

Being a half-Maltese, half-Moroccan girl who lives in Belgium, you can expect to see Zaara prepare delicious recipes from all around the globe. Nothing is cuter than a young foodie enjoying a fresh ftira biż-żejt, a scrumptious lamb tajine or homemade sushi sandwiches.

Apart from her fun cooking videos, Zaara also shares her love for travelling, sports, crafts and much more. Check out her social media pages below.

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