James Bianchi

As part of a two-way project between Banif Bank (Malta) plc and the Mcast Institute of Art and Design, students studying location photography were commissioned by the bank to present a set of digital photos for each location that the bank is present in.

Banif has been collaborating with Mcast on what are called live cases, which are modules that give students the opportunity to work with ‘clients’ on projects that are similations of real work situations, with a real brief outlining requirements, specifications, brand guidelines and so on. The work produced becomes the property of the bank, for use in the organisation’s collateral. The project aims to bridge the gap between education and industry, while helping students with opportunities for exposure.

Kimberly Cassar Magri. Right: Mark Pace.

A cohort of eight students, under the guidance of their tutor Joe Attard, undertook their fieldwork in Attard, Naxxar, San Ġwann, St Julian’s, Siggiewi, Rabat, St Paul’s Bay, Fgura and Qormi. As for shooting in Gozo, the students took the opportunity to do group fieldwork. In this assignment, students were requested to consider a variety of subjects including nature, people, village activity, urban structures and landmarks, in an attempt to capture the spirit of the locality. Some students also went out at different times of the day to experiment with natural available light.

“It is vital that our students are given opportunities to test their skills and platforms to expose their work to an audience,” said Joe Attard, photography lecturer at Mcast Institute of Art and Design.

Sacha Attard Yeon

“These live cases give them a chance to produce work that has to follow a client brief while taking into consideration the company’s exigencies. The exercise is a taster of what they will experience in the future.”