A couple of months back, through Facebook, I came across the group of young Maltese kids (I say that not in a pejorative way, please note) who are behind the online publication Platinum Love magazine (www.platinumlovemagazine.com). Always a sucker for young locals with a bit of style and energy, I got in touch, and we became friends. They had a trip to London planned, and the escalating excitement of their status updates reminded me of the days back when I lived on the island and trips to the city with my friends were strategically planned to the minutest details weeks in advance.
When during one of our exchanges one of the group expressed interest in taking some photographs here, I volunteered to help, and called a friend of mine who owns a model agency to see if she could help by supplying “test” models, who are at the beginning of their career, and in need of pictures for their books. We looked at a few options, made our choice, and in no time we had a male model (easier when you have no hair and make-up) a theme (underwear, which means less clothes to carry around – and cheaper), and a location: my flat (not too big, quite messy, but perfectly lit – with windows all around letting in perfect daylight, when it’s available).
And so, last Saturday morning, our humble little home was transformed into the location for a fashion shoot. There was a moment of panic when it almost didn’t happen.
Half an hour before everyone was due to arrive the model called to say he wasn’t feeling well and couldn’t make it, but – thanks to Significant Other’s insistence on not letting the “kids” (as they become affectionately known) down – I eventually guilted him into coming. I shudder to think of what the poor, obviously hungover, little lamb (he looked exactly like a little lamb) must have thought upon entering the flat to find a selection of quite colourful Maltese characters, at this point all quite excited and ready to get shooting. SO later said we sounded like we wanted to kill each other when all we were doing was talking about the state of the local art scene. Worrying when it comes from a Spaniard.
Given the fragile state of the model and the fact that some of the boys had to go watch a musical (why is it that every Maltese person who comes to town has to go see a musical?) it was all done and dusted in a couple of hours, with what looks like excellent results, so by the end of it, everybody was happy.
It was invigorating and exciting to be around young Maltese people who rather than sit and moan about there not being anything interesting to do, just get up and do something. These kids know what they want, and are going for it with confidence, and doing very well, especially when one considers that they work with zero budgets and are fuelled only by creative energy.

Source: Weekender, March 28, 2009