Malta institute of professional photography newsletter nov dec 2017

ISSUE

73

The official MIPP Newsletter

Photography by JOSEPH LUNGARO

www.mipp-malta.com

2017

NOV | DEC

Photograph by George Abdilla

Editorial

President’s Viewpoint Properly Assessing Photographs The value of assessing photographs is vital for a practitioner to learn. Most photographers love to critique the work of others but can we ourselves take critique or comments on our own work? Definitely not everyone and, when one cannot accept constructive critique, then it is better to stay away from online sites that revolve around image assessment or the sharing of ideas and views. It’s easy to become annoyed by the relatively harsh online critique community – the relative anonymity seems to be the great enabler of arrogance and vitriol.

However, if you can see past the noise, there are a lot of dedicated and knowledgeable photographers who will kindly help you progress through their unselfish expertise. Now let me point out the correct ethics and various tips that one needs to keep in mind whenever assessing photographs: 1. Firstly, do not postulate and pontificate or, worse still, boast about your own work. Let others do that as pompous big-heads are usually dismissed by all and sundry and your credibility is lost.

2. Be aware that Art is all subjective. So keep in mind that although there is nothing bad about expressing personal preferences, make sure that you are not categorical or stating fact. It’s just your personal opinion.

3. Critique should focus on facts and what has been selected and presented by the author of the image.

4. Although technical ability is important, the creative vision, aesthetic aspects and the input of the photographer must also be taken into account. Even if technique is at its optimum, this does not guarantee a great image in itself. The mood, the message, the storyline or concept is extremely important.

5. Avoid at all costs ‘blanket’ criticism without justification or suggestions for improvement. It’s easy to state what is wrong but meaningless if you do not point out ways of improving an image.

6. Critique and assessment is not at all about you. Avoid being a show-off or a know it all. Persons reading your critiques are not really interested in how much you know but in what they can learn and pick up.

2 | The official MIPP Newsletter

Photograph by by Johan Siggesson

7. Do not be categorical: use vocabulary that leaves your assessment a bit open. E.g. do not say “This image must be darkened” but “this image may improve if darkened.”

8. Make sure your critique and suggestions are not too complicated or too technical for the layman and the beginner to understand. Most of your audiences are beginners so it’s rather useless to lecture them on Lab Colour or the Inverse Square Law. Keep it simple.

9. Always be polite and do not get drawn into arguments which are more gravitating towards rudeness and un-ethical comments. Go out gracefully, even if it means not having the last word. Show you are mature through example.

10. Analyze the work properly before you plunge in with your reaction. Understand fully what is in front of you.

Haste does not make good assessment.

11. A critic should have an above average sense of how images are created. He should understand a wide range of techniques that are used in various genres of photography. Do not be afraid to state your ignorance of a technique which is new to you. Appreciate also the effort and difficulties that some images have, yet praise that is showered too freely is useless.

12. Do not ignore context and message in an image. Some of the most iconic images in, say, photojournalism, are technically flawed but then their content is so powerful that it overpowers the technical problems. Taking time to understand a photograph from all angles: aesthetic, technical, artistic, contextual, etc. can facilitate a worthwhile and deep critique, one that truly addresses an image in a way that is beneficial to the learner.

When given properly, good critique and assessment can facilitate both technical and artistic growth, but when done hastily and without in depth thinking, it can curtail development and stunt the growth of an individual. So yes, be hard, but fair and ethical.

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

3 | The official MIPP Newsletter

Contents MIPP World Photography Day

pg 05

MIPP Members gain qualifications

pg 06

Sandra Hotrum by Daniel Vassallo

pg 12

MIPP Activities : Members meeting by Guido Bonett

pg 19

MIPP Activities : Rabat Walk with Rene Attard

pg 20

MIPP Foundations in Image Editing 2017 by Martin Agius

pg 21

Light Hearted Moments by Mario Casha

pg 22

MIPP Calendar | Jot down dates

pg 23

MIPP Calendar | Jot down dates

pg 24

MIPP Award in Still Photography

pg 25

MIPP Commerical Photography Award

pg 26

Membership renewal and newcomers

pg 26

MIPP benefits of being a member

pg 28

8

22 12

23 6

4 | The official MIPP Newsletter

23

MIPP World Photography Day

by Geraldine Spiteri On the 19th August 2017, the MIPP celebrated World Photography Day by holding a seminar titled “So You Want to be a Judge?” This was delivered by the president, Kevin Casha and followed by a buffet lunch, both held at one of its regular venues in Naxxar – the

ue of participation - which creates a challenge and

fantastic Hilltop Gardens. The interactive talk was

thereby increases the learning curve - were also high-

streamed online by Avantech, one of the MIPP’s reg-

lighted.

ular sponsors and supporters. This was the first time that an MIPP event was live streamed.

A number of works were presented for comment by participants at the seminar, and it was clear that im-

MIPP celebrates World Photography Day on the offi-

ages can create a different reaction, which can indeed

cial international date set for such a celebration even

be affected by personal bias and expertise. Aware-

if this coincides with a time during the year where

ness of the context of the photograph being reviewed

many may be away on holiday.

is also relevant. Clearly, an image can create a variety

The seminar focused on the process of judging, select-

of reactions depending on a number of factors.

ing, assessing and evaluating images and the thought process that leads to an image ultimately being part of the winning few.

A number of elements were highlighted, such as the necessity of distancing oneself from personal bias towards a theme and the importance of judging the work in context particularly when the competition has a particular set subject. The importance and val-

The meeting closed with a presentation of a number of certificates for courses and awards completed recently by a number of members: these were the MIPP Still Image Award Certificates and the Certificates for those who were successful in this year’s MIPP Qualifications.

Geraldine Spiteri

5 | The official MIPP Newsletter

MIPP MEMBERS GAIN QUALIFICATIONS: Recently, another four MIPP members joined the ranks of our Qualified photographers.

They are namely,

Keith Ellul (Fellowship) and Sergio Morana, Marconia Schembri and Ondre Camilleri Gaglione (Licentiateship).

The Qualifications were judged at Le Meridien Hotel by a judging team made up of Ramon Sammut, Kevin Casha, John Ambrogio, Sergio Muscat and Martin Agius. Keith’s colour submission was on Landscape whilst Sergio had Nature in Macro, Marconia tackled children whilst Ondre submitted a group of images taken on his travels to India.

Here we are representing some of the images which were in the successful Qualification panels

6 | The official MIPP Newsletter

7 | The official MIPP Newsletter

PHOTOGRAPHY BY Keith

Ellul

(Fellowship)

8 | The official MIPP Newsletter

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SERGIO

MORANA (Licentiateship)

9 | The official MIPP Newsletter

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ONDRE

CAMILLERI GAGLIONE

(Licentiateship)

10 | The official MIPP Newsletter

PHOTOGRAPHY BY Marconia

Schembri (Licentiateship)

11 | The official MIPP Newsletter

SANDRA HOTRUM Interview by Daniel Vassallo Sandra Hotrum is Maltese and married to a Canadian national. She moved to Canada in the year 2000. A member of the Malta Institute of Professional Photography and the Toronto Camera Club, she is keen on being involved in photographic opportunities of any genre.

Sandra and her husband travel very often together and, whether one wants it or not, photography is always connected. That is how her passion for photography started. Her first digital camera, bought in 2002, was a Canon Rebel T1. She used this camera mainly during her trips abroad to record memories of her experiences in different countries.

After each and every journey she compiles the best images into a photo book.

In 2010, a Maltese friend, Josianne Facchetti,

12 | The official MIPP Newsletter

encouraged Sandra to start working using manual exposure. She was given Kevin Casha’s name and she joined the MIPP. A few years ago she presented a panel of 20 images about travel and tourism for the LMIPP for which Kevin was her mentor. Sandra appreciates how direct Kevin is in his criticism and she feels this helped her drastically improve her photography.

Even though travelling is her passion, travel photography is not the only genre Sandra loves practicing: she also likes street photography, wild life and more. There are however two genres that do not attract her, studio and fashion photography.

Her current kit consists of the Canon 6D, the 50mm f/1.2, 24-105mm and, for long range photography, the 70-300mm Tamron because of its light weight and she can have it around her neck all day. The telephoto

and glaciers of Greenland for next year.

When abroad and exploring new locations, Sandra hires a photographerguide who helps her with the local language and to find the right locations.

During her stay in Bali she came across another photographer guide who he took her to the special ceremonies in the temples and all the festivities around in the Balinese New year. She recalls a day when herself and her husband did not have a guide and they were in a taxi. She was just gathering some information about how distant the White Dunes were and the taxi driver misunderstood and took her there. Finding a photographer guide is also a very ideal lens for the way Sandra does

is not easy and they are costly. Sandra

street photography. She also has the 17-40mm

hires a guide just for a few days and only when

wide angle. In her trip to Vietnam earlier this year

necessary.

she took almost all her equipment with her. This includes her laptop so as to be able to work on her

Sandra travels two to three times a year and when

photos during the night. Storage space is an issue

she travels she always spends quite a considerable

and she goes through a strict, disciplined process during which she deletes photos that she does not like to save space.

Sandra travels to explore new places, discover new cultures and to meet new people. During the day she visits different locations, takes photos and at night she edits the images and backs them up. She uses camera raw and Photoshop to improve her photos. She likes to convert photos to black and white whenever suitable.

In 2016, she visited Iceland for one week and all she has done was taking long exposures. It was a group of 8 photographers from Canada and US. Mark Koegel was the organiser and he is a photographer committed to black and white long exposures.

Sandra enjoyed the barren landscapes in Iceland and recommends this wonderful experience to her fellow photographers. Now that she is so fascinated by these barren landscapes, she is eyeing the fjords

13 | The official MIPP Newsletter

amount of time abroad, around one month. Her

journey. They stay in her living room and as memories

next trip is planned for November when she will

fade with time, the photographs help her to renew

go to Japan. It will be her second visit in Japan and

them and to relive certain experiences.

she intends to visit rural and rustic places such as Kanazawa, Takayama and Koyasan. Before travelling

When travelling and meeting new people, it can be

she researches about the places she will visit. She

tricky to deal with different cultures and customs,

buys a hard copy of the Lonely Planet so that she can

and Sandra describes how difficult it was for her to

scribble notes on it and highlight interesting areas.

take photos of people in Morocco. Most of the time,

Lonely Planet is her ‘Bible’.

people would cover the face or complain to her. In

Sandra publishes photos on Facebook and Instagram,

Vietnam, she did not have these problems and people

she posts a new photo every day and prints books

would freely let her take photos. Sandra prefers to go

with captions under the photos after each and every

and ask the person for permission unless she is able to

14 | The official MIPP Newsletter

the same time. That is the perfect place to capture some of the customs of the place as people are distracted and do not notice her.

Going through some of her photographs, one can get an idea of the story behind them. Her photos take an image without them noticing her. On a few

are very expressive and unlock deep meanings. For

occasions, she admits paying people to convince

Sandra, that is the definition of photography, looking

them to let her take a photo of them.

at her surroundings with a photographic eye, capturing expressions and emotions so as to pass on to the

In other occasions she goes to places, observes how

viewers.

people live - even for six days in a row - and then she

One of Sandra’s future goals is to organise her first

waits for a certain occurrence to happen to capture

exhibition and she is already planning to do something

it with her camera. For example she mentions

about it in the near future.

how she observed the locals in Hoi An working on lanterns, painting and hanging them and she waited for days until she was able to capture the right

To see more of her images, check out her website:

www.sandrahotrum.com

moment: ”Part of the fun is waiting for the right moment”. Sandra loves to go to the fish markets

Interview by

where there is movement and activities going on at

Daniel Vassallo.

15 | The official MIPP Newsletter

2016

Continental Cars Ltd.

16 | The official MIPP Newsletter

17 | The official MIPP Newsletter

PHOTOGRAPH BY JEAN PAUL PSAILA

PHOTOGRAPH BY ADRIAN CARUANA | KARTING

PHOTOGRAPH BY OSEPH LUNGARO

18 | The official MIPP Newsletter

MIPP MEMBERS MEETING

GUIDO BONETT Talking about a recent trip to Uganda, in which Guido managed to photograph Gorillas.

19 | The official MIPP Newsletter

MIPP ACTIVITIES

Group photo of an MIPP Photowalk in Rabat with Rene Attard

GET QUALIFIED BY MIPP

APPLY FOR YOUR DIGITAL LICENTIATESHIP:

http://mipp-malta.com/qualifications/

20 | The official MIPP Newsletter

MIPP Courses

by Martin Agius

POST-PROCESSING COURSES: In 2017 as well as the coming year, the MIPP has stepped up its tuition sessions on digital

post-processing

in

order to meet the increasing importance of these skills. In 2018, a comprehensive ten session advanced course by Ramon Sammut is being held together with the popular foundation courses by Martin Agius.

21 | The official MIPP Newsletter

LIGHT HEARTED MOMENTS

The sports Photographer

by Mario Casha

BENEFIT FULLY FROM

YOUR MIPP MEMBERSHIP

DOWNLOAD THE HANDBOOK http://mipp-malta.com/wp-content/uploads/mipphandbook2016.pdf

22 | The official MIPP Newsletter

November /2017

CALENDAR

OPEN DAY AT NEW MIPP PREMISES

November December

Drop in and see our new premises!

The general public is welcome November /2017

MIPP Qualifications

Sunday 26th November | 10am to 4pm.

Venue: MIPP, Britannia Street, Paola

OPEN TO ALL Wednesday 22nd November 2017 Venue: 19:30 MIPP, Britannia Street, Paola

November /2017

ONE DAY WORKSHOP MASTER USEFUL PRACTICAL PHOTOGRAPHIC TECHNIQUES:

December /2017

with CHARLES CALLEJA & TONIO POLIDANO

AWARD DINNER/

For details and booking courses@mipp-malta.com

XMAS GET-TOGETHER

Saturday 18th November

Details to be announced

Hilltop Gardens Naxxar

November /2017

MIPP Members’ meeting

For detail & booking on : courses@mipp-malta.com.

Tuesday 12th December | 19:30 Le Meridien Check MIPP Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/groups/mippwall/

PTYA PUBLIC JUDGING – FOOD PANEL Monday 20th November | 19.30 Venue: 19:30 MIPP, Britannia Street, Paola

23 | The official MIPP Newsletter

or visit our website http://mipp-malta.com/conventions/events/mipp-events/

For more updates and schedules.

January/2018

CALENDAR 2018

/2018 January

/2018 February

16 30

MIPP Members’ meeting KEVIN CASHA

6

THE INDIA EXPERIENCE

tes n the da Jot dow

Tuesday 16th January 2018| 19.30 Venue: MIPP, Britannia Street, Paola

January/2018

February/2018

MIPP Members’ meeting

MIPP Members’ meeting

JASON FLORIO

ALEX ATTARD

PHOTOGRAPHIC ODYSSEYS IN WEST AFRICA

A WANDERING EYE Attempts outside one’s comfort zone

Long form story telling

Briefing of PTYA ENTRANTS 2018 Tuesday 30th January 2018| 19.30

Tuesday 6th February 2018| 19.30

Venue: Hilltop Gardens, Naxxar

Venue: MIPP, Britannia Street, Paola

24 | The official MIPP Newsletter

25 | The official MIPP Newsletter

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”)

26 | The official MIPP Newsletter

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.

27 | The official MIPP Newsletter

www.mipp-malta.com 28 | The official MIPP Newsletter

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 is 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.

The main sponsors of MIPP are AVANTECH (CANON); ILAB and INTERVISIONS (PHOTO INK).

Our sponsors show faith in the MIPP so it is only fair that our members should reciprocate. Give your custom to the companies and entities who help us.

29 | The official MIPP Newsletter

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 NOV/ DEC