Valletta Malta street tourists
May, 2020Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken in one of the side roads adjacent to the Grand Harbour in Valletta. The fortified city of Valletta was built on a hill and this shot faces the entrance to the Upper Barakka Gardens (at the top)Time
I often carry my FZ300 with me and this composition inspired me one day after leaving a work meeting I had in Valletta. It was shot in the late afternoon.Lighting
There is strong light being reflected from the clouds, while the actual street is in shade. I did not use any bracketing for this shot as I wanted to expose for the streets and needed no detail in what little sky is showing. I still included some of the sky for size/perspective.Equipment
As mentioned, I mainly use a Panasonic FZ300 as it is so flexible and portable. I am aware it has all the drawbacks of a small sensor camera, but Malta is sunny most days and the FZ300 has a constant F2.8 aperture which helps.Inspiration
I was inspired by the different layers created by the side roads crossing this main uphill road. All the activity taking place, all the way up the stairs and the differently sized people gave that city vibe but without the noise caused by having people overlapping as in a crowd shot. For example I timed it so that people did not overlap, but each is involved with their own thing, whether it is the lady searching for a specific door/address, tourists taking photos or shoppers carrying groceries. The Maltese flag, balconies, clothes and decorative plant pots also contributed to the characteristic Maltese look.Editing
Not much post-processing. Added some colour saturation and contrast adjustments but no toning or other enhancements.In my camera bag
On a daily basis, just a small pouch with the FZ300. On days I am actually planning to go out take photos I will carry the FZ300 or Panasonic S5 plus travel tripod. The S5 set up is simple with only the kit lens but it makes for great photos with excellent dynamic range and low light performance. In the case of the FZ300 I regard it is an experimental set up, so over the years I added a number of wide or macro lenses and filters which allow me to make more artistic and creative photos.Feedback
I think the biggest tip is to always carry a camera. I know that phone cameras are very powerful but in my opinion although they will outperform the image quality of the FZ300, they still cannot compete with the zoom and functionality of a bridge camera. The second tip is to shoot whatever meets your fancy even if it looks too mundane at first. Third look for and develop your own original way of envisioning subjects and perspectives. That is part of what makes your photography stand out.
