Screenplay: the final lap

The last couple of weeks have been 'spent' on the remaining 10 or 12 pages of my Shadows re-write. I say 'spent' because only a very small percentage of time writing a screenplay is actually dedicated to writing (I speak from my own personal experience and this won't apply to everyone). The rest of the time is spent doing anything... absolutely anything... other than writing. I'll listen to music, do some photography, process pictures, reading blogs, looking at other photographer's work on the computer, spend money on eBay, see who's Twittering little gems of info, read a magazine or book... anything... but write that script.

Love on the Rocks photo shoot tear sheets (and unpublished)

Here are tear sheets from the fashion shoot 'Love on the Rocks' for Pjazza magazine, December 2010:

A couple of images that didn't make the mag:

Photography + Processing: Mark Warner
Models: Alan Montanaro + Chloe Spiteri

Make-up: Venita Borg

Hair stylist: Antonio Patane'

Location: SAS Radisson Blu & Spa Malta Golden Sands

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Film and photography: the converging lines... part II

I didn't mean my initial post on this subject to be a series, but I came across this video which makes for interesting viewing for anyone for, against, or unsure about the possibilities of shooting serious 'stuff' on a DSLR...



I guess I will be revisiting this subject in the future!

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Random pictures

On my way home yesterday afternoon, the valley where I live was looking pretty stormy. I was in a hurry to get back and take my son to his first Christmas school play, but I had my camera in the car and the view was too tempting not to capture. I wish I had time to set up the tripod and take a longer exposure with a smaller aperture, but I had to go handheld and shoot at f/11, 1/15 sec, ISO400 (28mm). Still, I thought the result was worth some processing and uploading.

When I got home I was sorting my camera out and my son wanted an impromptu photo shoot, so, with the light levels low and being in a massive hurry, I had to make do with the on camera flash (not ideal)... but at least I had a happy customer and got another couple of images of our boy as he grows up!

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Film and photography: the converging lines... part I

I think it is fair to say that filmmaking was born from photography but, like the proverbial prodigal son, it beat its own path, merging attributes of photography, theatre, music and paintings to create a commercialised mass spectacle (although purists may argue that movies are made up of 24 stills projected, one after another, every second).

A Canon 5D Mark II DSLR mounted on a rig by Redrock Micro

Pjazza December Issue On-Set

I just delivered the finished pictures for the December issue fashion shoot for Pjazza. Izzy (editor) was really pleased, which is a relief. I'm really lucky to have an editor who is:

a) Fun to work with

b) Understanding and trusting of what I am going for

c) Enthusiastic about the results

The mag is out on 4th December with the Times of Malta. In the meantime, here are some pics from the shoot:

View from the terrace of our location.

Hair stylist, Antonio Patane' hard at work.

Venita Borg (make-up) gets going on Chloe Spiteri.

My sexy new assistant!

Alan after a demanding 10 minute set-up. Lazy bastard.

Alan needed a quick wash.

These photos: Isabel Ripard

Models: Alan Montanaro + Chloe Spiteri

Make-up: Venita Borg

Hair stylist: Antonio Patane'

Location: SAS Radisson Blu & Spa Malta Golden Sands

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A Parting Shot

This Sunday (21st November) FIRST magazine, which comes out with The Malta Independent on Sunday, started a new feature called 'Parting Shots'. In this piece, a photographer will be featured, talking about 2 of his or her images. I was the lucky snapper this time around. To see the article as a PDF, just click here.


Thanks to the editor of FIRST magazine, Colin Fitz.


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LJ at Castille

Personal shoot for 'LJ' taken at Castille Hotel, Valletta (Malta):

Credits:
Photography / Post Processing: Me
Model: LJ
Make-up: Miriam Christine Warner
Location: Castille Hotel, Valletta


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Cinema Code of Conduct

BBC Radio 5 Live's Simon Mayo and Mark Kermode have hereby climbed Mount Sinai and returned with the coveted commandments otherwise known as the Code of Conduct for patrons of cinemas. Here it is in all it's glory.

The list touches upon my many pet hates and reasons why I approach each cinema visit with dread. As I enter the auditorium, I tend to scan the audience for potential offenders of such behavior... and I'm sure I'm not alone in this.

Feel free to pass it around. It can be downloaded from here.

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Pjazza magazine interview

The last edition of Pjazza magazine ran an interview with me. I didn't want to put it up online too soon after its publication... so click here to view it now.

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A busy end to the year

I have been itching to update the blog, but I have been so busy lately that there just hasn’t been the opportunity. The run-up to the end of the year is looking very hectic and I cannot wait for late December when I return home to the UK for Christmas and the New Year with my wife and son.

Here's a quick update on what's been going on to keep me away from blogging...

Black and white conversion

I swear by a black & white conversion that I first saw in the magazine Photography Monthly back in May this year and, after reading an article in Light Stalking about such processes, thought I'd post it up on here.

Credit for this process goes to photographer Greg Gorman. It is a lengthy process but I have it set it up as an action in Photoshop. One push of a button (F2 in my case) and the PS goes through all the steps in layers, leaving me in full control over contrast, levels toning etc.

Seeing as it was already publicised, I'm sure I can divulge the details seeing as the creator is credited above... so click 'read more' for the details.

Digital SLR Photography Reader's Showcase

Really chuffed to see one of my photos included in the Reader's Showcase pages of the November 2010 issue of UK magazine Digital SLR Photography... a publication I have enjoyed for some time now... and they gave my picture a full page.

Thanks to Samsung as well for the Premium Plus memory card I got for having the picture included.

The image they featured (below) was taken for a fashion shoot in the June edition of Pjazza, a Maltese lifestyle magazine.

Editor and stylist: Isabel Ripard

Make-up: Justin Brincat

Hair: Antonio Patane'

Models: Lara Pace Brincau and Lara Cutajar

Visit Digital SLR Photography here.

Rules of Engagement photo shoot tear sheets

Here are tear sheets from the fashion shoot 'Rules of Engagement' for Pjazza magazine, October 2010:

Read "Behind the scenes of Rules of Engagement" for more information.

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Behind the scenes of Rules of Engagement – Pjazza magazine October 2010 photo shoot

On September 12^th, we turned up at the plush surroundings of The Phoenicia Hotel, situated just outside Malta’s capital city of Valletta. Our bunch consisted of me, stylist and shoot co-ordinator Isabel Ripard, make-up artist Justin Brincat, hair stylist Antonio Patane’ and models Davide Tucci and Rodianne Grech.

The team behind the camera know and respect each other, so it is always a pleasure working with them all. I like working with familiar collaborators as it makes the whole process easier and we understand each other, know our characters and they know what I expect and what I want from a shoot or production. Antonio is Italian and doesn’t speak much English... and I speak less Italian, yet we seem to understand each other and manage to take the piss out of each other all the same. Isabel cracks up at this, able to understand both of us.

Ethiopian Cross

This is a photo I took of a friend's Ethiopian processional cross which he bought whilst filming a documentary there. I loved the distinctive African appearance through the intricate lattice work and the ageless qualities of the object. I intended to process this in a tinted, contrasty black and white right from the start.

I use rough sheets (rough for texture) of white card for the backdrop and used available light, angling the scene for the shadow of the cross.

Details: 50mm lens, 1.3 sec, f/5. ISO 100.

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