As is the norm, at the end of the year, the Times Picture Annual 2015 appears on bookshelves. This 10th edition gathers together some of the most outstanding images captured by the Times of Malta photographers during the past year. It is not only a record of iconic images but also a pictorial gallery of the main events and topics which formed part of the local news scene.
Furthermore, like previous editions, the book also provides an incisive look at our society. It is a publication which makes a welcome addition to the bookshelves of Melitensia collectors and, as time relentlessly goes by, is bound to provide a lasting memory of each eventful year on our little island.
A collection of images which primarily depict the power of the photograph
The quality of the pictures contained in this book is proof of the high level that local press photographers have attained. Equipment and technology have further equipped photographers to immortalise the exact split second where the peak of the action occurs; empowering them to capture images in light which would have previously not sufficed to even make an exposure.
I look forward to the issue of any publication that has to do with local photo-graphy. This genre of art has many times proved the island has an ever-evolving crop of promising photographers who are capable of regularly providing work that is on a par with the best of foreign photography. If only the authorities would recognise this fact and help the local photographic community.
The establishment of a centre for photography, a museum and a dedicated gallery for photography are badly needed initiatives which would further bolster the photographic scene in Malta.
Like previous editions, The Times Picture Annual is a collection of images which primarily depict the power of the photograph. While one leafs through this book, most of these perceptions are borne out. One of the first images which made me reflect was the one on pages 60/61 by Matthew Mirabelli. Here we have proof of the photographer’s clever intervention in capturing not just a document but a striking and intriguing image. It shows one of the bodies of 24 immigrants who perished during their desperate search for a better life. The way the photograph has been composed just gives enough information to spur on the viewer.
This is just one of a number of powerful images that, understandably, depict the immigration issue – an issue which causes strong debate and even a dangerous division in Maltese society.
There are other images, particularly by Darrin Zammit Lupi, on this same dramatic subject which makes one reflect. We have seen so many such images that we now tend to dismiss them and remain insensitive to what they portray. It is not an easy job for a photojournalist to keep garnering the fickle attention of an audience which often seems to become ever more immune even to the most powerful imagery.
The quality of the pictures contained in this book is proof of the high level that local press photographers have attained
Among others, two more images by Mirabelli impressed me – one is the image on page 98 of a police parade, while the other is on pages 30/31... this time of a boy celebrating a narrow victory for the hunting lobby during a referendum. Both images demonstrate the keen skill of the photojournalist to produce imagery through what is a quick, instinctive multi selection process. Practice, experience, awareness, technique and culture are all necessary values for a successful photojournalist.
Another relatively young photographer who captivates is Mark Zammit Cordina. Many times his images offer a different angle. They illustrate a sense of valid aesthetics and composition. One can easily gauge this through his images on pages 78, 91, 95 and 130. There is also evidence of a keen perception of light and its employment in photography.
Zammit Lupi is a master of light. His work never fails to impress and is imbued with an obvious lifetime of dedication to photojournalism.
Naturally, in this short review I cannot speak about so many other great images contained in this publication. Chris Sant Fournier’s creative viewpoints enhance a good number of his images – his picture of the cat on page 129 is an example – while the work of Steve Zammit Lupi brings out his eagerness to try out new things.