Hilary Spiteri featured on MALTALIVE.tv

Thanks to Maltalive.tv, this week, I (hilaryspiteri.com) was featured on their website as Artist and Photographer.  Both sections feature a detailed biographical note accompanied by a portfolio of works of art and photographic images.

Maltalive.tv was created in 2010, a newly formed enthusiastic company, together with some professional journalists, local artisan and international artists. Maltalive.tv, covers all subjects from News, Politics, Law, Arts, Fashion, Health & Beauty, Entertainment, Music, Sports, Alternative News and much much more, including upload of Videos, Photography, Music, Art, Modern Poetry and Articles on all subjects. MaltaLive.tv promotes local talent seen and unseen, whether one is a budding artist, fashion designer, visual artist, photographer or you have a passion for journalism, poetry or any other talent for that matter and wish to showcase their work. 

Links:

www.maltalive.tv

www.maltalive.tv/artists/hilaryspiteri

www.maltalive.tv/photographers/hilaryspiteri

www.hilaryspiteri.com

I am Ozzy

Recently, I got to read the autobiography of the legendary rock star Ozzy Osbourne entitled ‘I am Ozzy’.  To tell you the truth, this was a marvellous experience!  Yes, an experience.  Being myself a musician, I am really into musicians autobiographies but I must admit this one blew me out.  It is a very well written journal of Mr Osbourne’s life, his accounts and anecdotes and not to forget his sarcasm is hilarious. I got stuck to this 416 pager until I have read it through.  It is a very well structured book presenting the rock and roll star emerging from the post second world war social poverty in Birmingham to rise up as an overwhelming rock star selling millions of album copies worldwide.  Personally, I cannot say that Mr Osbourne is an idol for one main reason being the fact that I do not share his ideas about getting boozed up and blasted with narcotics but I can also understand what kind of pressure these people undergo in the showbiz.  As I hear them say: “There is always a price to pay!”

Nonetheless, I suggest this book to those who would like to relax and enjoy some good reading.  It is the story of a man who frankly recounts his life, his achievements and his failures.  I believe it deserves a place on one’s library shelves. I highly recommend it!

Amazon’s review:

Has there ever been a more extraordinary rock-star story than Ozzy Osbourne's? Born into a life so poor that the whole family slept in one room, Ozzy endured a tough upbringing. Music was his salvation and his band Black Sabbath went on to change the music scene forever. But along with the rock and roll came the inevitable sex and drugs and Ozzy fell into a long relationship with addictive substances. The stories of Ozzy's days on the road are legendary - biting the head off a live bat, losing his best friend and writing partner Randy Rhoades in a tragic plane crash - but few know of the real heartbreak he suffered during those days of excess. In the end it was love that saved him: the love of his wife Sharon and kids Kelly, Jack and Aimee. In his highly anticipated autobiography, Ozzy comes clean: in all senses.

Rotta tal-Arti 2011

Resting Boats
Watercolour
2009

This blog entry features two artistic works which, this year, I will exhibit in a collective exhibition entitled Rotta tal-Arti 2011, hosted by the Malta Nationalist Party at its mother house. 

This exhibition is on for quite some years now and I am proud to say that I have been taking part in such an event from its inception.  This event presents the opportunity to view paintings from Maltese Artists who have passed away during the years, established & young artists. Annually the event is inaugurated by Dr Lawrence Gonzi, Prime Minister of Malta.

This year’s Rotta tal-Arti 2011 will be on from the 9th of September to the 30th of September at Dar Partit Nazzjonalista, Triq Herbert Ganado, Pieta, Malta. Opening hours are normal business hours, that is, from 9:00 hrs to 17:00 hrs.

My two entries for this year are ‘Resting Boats’ and ‘The Fight’.  Both watercolour works represent a marine theme.  ‘Resting Boats’ represents the terrestrial element of boats ashore, resting and dismantled from all the paraphernalia such as sails, ropes and other necessities used at sea. The abstract geometrical composition set at the background contrasts the calm mood set in the middle ground.  Both elements are reflected in the delicate flowing watercolour water accentuated in the foreground. The work presents a typical Mediterranean palette having oranges, reds and blues highlighting the composition.

The Fight

Watercolour

2008

My second entry, ‘Fight’, is an imaginary struggle between an octopus and a jelly fish.  The octopus with its multitude of tentacles has its best while the jelly fish flees away.  The inspiration of this work lies in the intriguing marine environment to which I am very much attracted.  In fact, I present a contrast between the rugged nature of the octopus and the almost volatile nature of the jelly fish.  The composition offers movement enhanced by the intertwining-stretched tentacles of the octopus.  It also presents a section of marine life dominated by aquamarine colours and the beautiful reds and violets typical of marine life.

Finally, I invite you to attend this exhibition where one can appreciate and evaluate works of art from different artistic stages, from beginners to professionals. It is bound to be an event were one can enrich himself from Art in-general and its appreciation.

My Photography Gear 4 - NIKON AF Nikkor 28-80mm G lens

Another tool which I acquired recently, at a relatively very cheap price, is the Nikon 28-80mm G lens.  This lens is not available anymore as it was discontinued in 2006. It was a very popular lens of which Nikon set a large number of copies on the market that nowadays it can be easily acquired either new or second hand at a good price.

It was primarily introduced in 2001 as a kit lens with Nikon's cheapest film cameras.  The Nikkor 28-80mm G is one of Nikon's most popular lenses from Nikon’s vast range of optics. The lens is a plastic zoom with incredibly good performance. It works very well even on higher-end camera bodies such as the Nikon D3s.  It is unbelievable that Nikon at the time produced a very cheap lens with such a stunning performance.

Nikon has made many lenses with similar focal length ranges. The Nikon 28-80mm G singles out as it has an unusual maximum aperture of f/3.3 instead of the more common f/3.5.  This lens is a G lens meaning that it lacks an aperture ring.

The Nikon 28-80mm G works great on just about every AF and digital Nikon camera having a built-in lens motor to drive the AF of the lens.  As a matter of fact, these lenses will not autofocus on Nikon’s beginners’ camera bodies such as the D3000 and D3100. This is an AF screw type of lens.

To conclude, I must admit that this lens is a stunning piece of kit.  It is inexpensive, light weighted and one can easily adapt to its ergonomics.  It can be found either in a silver or black finish.  One has to pay particular attention to the way such lens is handled due to the fact that it is made out of plastic.  On the other hand, this lens stands out to be a winner in every occasion.  I highly recommend this lens!

Senglea Marittima - Re-enactment

1/1600 sec at f / 2.8, ISO 100
200 mm (70.0-200.0 mm f/2.8)

One of the most intriguing characteristics that I am so passionate about in the art of photography, since my early years of artistic training, was always the power of freezing the moment.  Also complimenting this concept is the ability to tell a story through an image. In fact, what I am proposing this week is an image, which I shot a couple of weeks ago during an event entitled Senglea Marittima, which fits the afore hinted genre, being, Environmental Portraiture.

Senglea Marittima 2011, organised by the Isla Local Council, was held at some of Isla’s characteristic locations. Yearly, the council organises the festival to safeguard the town’s socio-historical and cultural heritage while raises awareness of the potential of the locality. Thanks to its fortifications, historic buildings, living history and strong maritime links, there is so much that can be discovered in Senglea.

I was present to shoot several re-enactments which were organised to match the nature of such an event.  A particular image, which I really like, was taken at the end of the session when the re-enactors were about to leave the streets to take shade from the scorching Mediterranean sun.  A female actress, who was wearing a typical 17th century dress, caught my attention when she was rushing up one of Senglea’s characteristical flight of steps. In front of the actress were two other male actors in the vest of 17th century pages.

The black and white rendition suits very much to this image.  Compositionally, the flight of steps divides the image in three sections.  Furthermore, the viewer is directed towards the actress and the pages, the former occupying the bottom tier whereas the latter occupies the upper section, by an iron rail.  The dress of the actress contrasts the neutral surroundings offered by the Maltese streetscape.  The intricate embroidered floral designs set the focal point as the two pages lead outwards.