Worth a thousand words

The third publication of The Times Picture Annual covering events that took place in 2008 was in bookshops punctually around Christmas and the new year. Once again we are regaled with a visual documentation which took place on our islands in the past 12 months.

Four leading photographers who work for Allied Newspapers Ltd, have once again pooled their photography to present the public with a visual history of events. I refer, of course, to Jason Borg, Chris Sant Fournier, Matthew Mirabelli and Darrin Zammit Lupi.

The annual has retained the format of its previous two editions and is divided into six main categories namely: News, Politics, People in the News, Daily Life, Arts and Entertainment and Sport. A section on Foreign News rounds up the issue.

The 2008 edition is edited by Mirabelli - one of the photographers featured in it - and has a foreword by Victor Aquilina, a former editor of The Times and also consulting editor. Printed and bound at Progress Press, one is assured of high quality photography beautifully finished on 150gsm silk matte paper. It carries a striking cover of a contre jour scene of Republic Street, Valletta.

In his foreword, Aquilina pays tribute to those unsung heroes who gave up their lives to bring us the latest news and images of the ravages of war and other types of violence. He makes reference to the crystal glass sculpture unveiled last June atop the new wing of the BBC headquarters in London in memory of the journalists killed in their line of duty. More than 86 journalists and 20 media assistants lost their lives in 2008 alone. The monument is lit daily for 30 minutes at the start of the 10 p.m. BBC news.

With the advent of digital photography, reportage for the photographer has undoubtedly become faster. Gone are the days when a press photographer has to rush from one assignment to the other and be back at the picture editor's desk with his results in sufficient good time to beat the deadline of the printing machines to start rolling. Nowadays, the photographer sends his images by e-mail from the same venue he had just obtained them a few minutes before. This applies to both foreign and local news coverage.

Leafing through the pages of the first News category of photos, one is immediately struck by the double-page spread of an Ethopian girl in an ambulance, with a teardrop running down her cheek after being rescued by the AFM Maritime Squadron. Zammit Lupi has successfully brought out the traumatic expression of despair in the eyes of this young survivor. It is unfortunate that photographs of these tragic moments make the most impact on the viewer.

Another powerful shot is also a double page spread by Mirabelli depicting a careworker and two immigrants sifting the charred remains of a fire which destroyed five of the tents in the Open Centre at Hal Far after an explosion of a gas cylinder.

Politics is the next category. Our politicians cannot fail to provide our press photographers with the best situations for good photos. Here, practically all photographs depict the facial expressions of various politicians during their activities, particularly since 2008 was election year.

However, my choice falls on the majestic photo by Borg showing Louis Galea leaving the House after being sworn in as Speaker, flanked by the beautiful walls and frescoes of the Palace corridors and the AFM buglers.

People in the News, the third category in the book, provides the viewer with no less than 22 images in which Zammit Lupi excels. Once again, facial expressions steal the show but I would certainly go for the original and well seen shot by Zammit Lupi, showing Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg as he prepares to photograph his daughter during her graduation at the Jesuits' Church, Valletta. It is a superb example of a parent's satisfaction and pride at his daughter's success. A close second can be found in Mirabelli's picture showing Archbishop Paul Cremona and Imam Mohamed El Sadi facing Mecca and praying together at the Mosque in Kordin.

Sant Fournier steals the show in the category dedicated to Daily Life. His shot shows US Ambassador Molly Bordanaro hosting Somalis and Eritreans before leaving Malta for the US on a refugee resettlement programme.

In a split second reflexion, Sant Fournier captured a young boy creeping from underneath the table which carried the drinks. A realistic subtle touch of humour.

Another shot requiring sharp reflexes is the photograph captured by Borg, showing an Eritrean bride, stepping barefooted over a mass of shoes after her wedding ceremony at St James Church, Valletta.

Arts and Entertainment is a category dominated by Zammit Lupi whom we know specialises in stage photography. His close-up of the feet of the dancers in Verve 08 is my first choice in the whole series of the book. The lighting, composition and the blending of the colours is simply superb.

This shot brings to the fore Zammit Lupi's clinical eye for detail. It was taken during the production at St Agatha's Auditorium in Rabat.

Sport brings to an end the six local categories in which Zammit Lupi and Mirabelli show their skills and sharp reflexes that are so essential for sports photography.

Two particular shots get my vote. The one by Zammit Lupi showing the BOV Premier League Trophy being carried triumphantly by the newly crowned champions Valletta and that by Mirabelli of a French wake boarder demonstrating his skills at Mellieha Bay.

A suitable epilogue to this first class publication is the Foreign News category: A pot-pourri of various situations from tragedies to happy events, from failure to success, joys and sorrows, sport and politics.

The Times Picture Annual 2008 should find itself on all bookshelves in our public libraries and homes. It is a visual history of Malta.

Mr Psaila is the immediate past President of the Malta Photographic Society.