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.