2023 - World Photography Day
Did you know that World Photography Day started on August 19th, 1839?
The way it started was that the French Government of that time bought a patent for the Daguerreotype process, and then he gave it as a gift to the world. But it was in 2010 that 270 photographers shared their photos in an online gallery. The online gallery attracted people from over 100 countries. With this event, World Photography Day was officially marked.
Since a young age, I have always had a camera and taken photos of my friends and what caught my eye. At that time, it was still the film era, where we used to have a roll of film with just 36 photos to take, and then we had to take the roll of film to the lab for development and had to wait around a week to get our photos.
My journey in photography seriously started 15 years ago when I took my first course in photography. I came in first in the final assignment, and this encouraged me to continue my journey by taking all the courses that I could find on the island and even some abroad. I enrolled in a photography club, started attending talks, and workshops, and started competing.
My knowledge grew and grew and I also started going with professional photographers to help them with weddings, baptisms, conventions, etc. I did this for free in the beginning, and when I earned their trust, they started passing me little jobs to do on my own. My confidence grew, and I also started getting my own paid jobs. At the time, I was still in the Armed Forces of Malta, but I was nearing my retirement date, which led me to decide to work as a freelance photographer after I retired from the Army. One fine day, without knowing it, I got transferred to the Army media office and took the position of Official Photographer of the Armed Forces of Malta.
At first, it was a shock, as I didn’t think I was good enough for the job. I am the type of person who doesn’t give up easily, and I told myself that I surely could do it, which would also serve as training for my freelance career after I retire from the Army. This was in 2019, a few months after I retired.
Jobs started coming in, and since this type of photography was new to me, I felt I was born for it. I immediately fell in love with journalism. My retirement date arrived, and I became a civilian on July 24, 2010, thus the date that I started as a freelance photographer.
Not even a week out of the Army, I received a call on my mobile from one of the leading local newspapers in Malta, and they asked me if I wanted to join them on a part-time basis to replace their photographer when he was off work. I was caught off guard, as I never expected this, and in the confusion, I said yes. After I hung up, I said, ‘What did I just do?’. Since I am a person who doesn't break his word, I went to the meeting and started the job on August 1st, 2010.
I went twice with the newspaper photographer to teach me and show me how things are done, and he told me that I could start on my own since I was already experienced in this type of work.
After 3 years with the newspaper on a part-time basis and at the same time as a freelance photographer, I was called by the HR office, and they offered me a full-time job as a photojournalist as the photographer decided to retire. I immediately said yes, as I really love photojournalism, even though I was doing pretty well as a freelance photographer. I still hold this position to date.
Since then, I have taken part in many collective exhibitions locally and abroad and have done four solo exhibitions. I won many competitions locally and abroad and won the prestigious Press and News Photographer of the Year in 2011 with the SWPP in the UK, which I treasure with all my heart. I achieved an Associateship in Fashion and Glamour with the MIPP in Malta and subsequently with the SWPP in the UK. I also got a Distinction Award in Still Photography (MQF Level 3) with the MIPP.
I also started teaching Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom, photography beginner courses, and Street Photography.
My work is being published locally and abroad, and occasionally I also get invited to judge photography competitions and qualifications, give talks, and do workshops locally and even abroad.
I have written this article not to show off, but to hopefully be an inspiration for others. All I can say is that where there is a way, there is a will. If you don’t have time, make time. Another important tip is to invest in yourself first and then in the equipment.
Doing and achieving all this was not easy, but in the end, hard work pays off. Also, having my wife support and encourage me all the time helped a lot.
Anyone who would like to ask me any questions is welcome to do so. I love helping others, as others have done with me.
Now I would like to share some of my favorite photos that I took during this wonderful journey of photography.
