Reflections

Artigli Sliema Opening

2011-10-30T20:03:00.000+01:00

Recently I was invited to cover the opening of a new Artigli outlet, this time in Sliema. The event was well attended, in fact the shop was overrun with shoppers. Also had to shoot a small fashion show with great models and some fantastic clothing.

Below you can see Claire (centre) who runs the Artigli shops with models Christabelle, Maria, Jennifer and Katrina whose makeup was by Inglot Malta.

Royal Surroundings

2011-09-23T20:02:00.004+02:00

Our third and last shoot for the Prickly Pear Designs collection took place in a bar in central Victoria. "Boring!" I hear you say, well, that can't be further from the truth. The classical decor at Palazzo Antonin in Independence Square reminds you of...a palazzo! I must admit I had never set foot in this place but when Rachel and Xavier took me there the first time to scout and have a drink, I fell in love with the place. I had a blast and this was definitely my favourite location of the three.

A great big thanks goes to Anthony who runs the place, we started shooting at 9pm and must have been there until midnight. A very patient man, so thanks again.

Here are my favourite images from the shoot. The models, this time, Amanda, Marcelle and Silvianne were fantastic as usual. The intricate jewellery is out of this world, Rachel must have some steady hands.

Wonderfully Weird

2011-09-20T17:59:00.003+02:00

A continuation from my last post, this time we headed to the Citadel which is an amazing location and somewhere I tend to visit when I run out of ideas...and locations - you always discover a corner, doorway, steps, previously unnoticed.

Part of the Prickly Pear Designs collections, the jewellery was different this time, let's say, more out there. Very inspiring Rachel! The models were Michelle, Rosemary and Deborah, fantastic all three and very good sports - smiling was forbidden. And like the forbidden fruit, giggles were falling freely from the Tree of Laughter.

Beauties in Victoria

2011-09-15T07:48:00.000+02:00

The centre of Victoria is well known for it narrow winding streets. I thought I knew these streets like the back of my hand, which I do but like with many things close to home sometimes we overlook what's around us in search for greener pastures.

As you can see from the photos even the most mundane locations have something to offer - or maybe what's mundane to me is exciting to others. This shoot took place no more than five minutes away from where I grew up. Thanks to Xavier who proposed the location and Rachel from Prickly Pear Designs who organised the whole shoot and who, by the way, can design some amazing jewellery.

Obviously the models, Therese, Leanne and Christabelle did a fantastic job and made my life a little bit easier behind the camera.

Xlendi Water-sports 2011

2011-09-10T07:10:00.001+02:00

Having spent many summers in the seaside village of Xlendi, I look out in advance for the yearly feast of this small bay in Gozo. Being a big fan of the sea - I cannot get enough of it - I make sure my schedule is empty during those few Sunday afternoon hours when the traditional water-sports are held.

A thick rope is strung across the bay with participants trying to grab one of the flags tied to the rope at various stages. The highlight is however, the greasy-pole (Gostra in Maltese) where a wooden pole is stuck at an angle in the rocks and then lubricated with a healthy dollop of grease. Those who dare walk up this pole must try to grab the flag at the end. Good entertainment but somewhat dangerous.

This year I covered the event from a rickety old boat, very close to where the unfortunate participants were landing. Local boys spent half the time jumping in and out of the boat while I'm hanging there for dear life making sure my Nikons' worst enemy - sea water - didn't get anywhere near them.

Chris Farrugia, this year's winner, did it in great style, see the photo below for the determined look in his eyes. It was a great spectacle. You can view more photos of the event on my Google Plus page here. Facebook is great but for displaying photos, G+ is the best. Anyone looking for an invite to G+ just holler.

Whilst I always enjoy this event, it also means that summer is drawing to a close and I must find time to enjoy the last few days.

More Lights in the Sky

2011-08-18T06:17:00.005+02:00

Summer in Gozo means cloudless skies (can't get enough), boat trips (need more of these), stifling heat (bring it on), busy days at the office (useful) and the small matter of a different village 'festa' every weekend.

Those of you who know me know which feast I subscribe to, so no need to get into that. On Monday night after a nice dinner I decided to do some fireworks photography. The feast of Santa Marija in Victoria was in full swing but I avoided the crowds and went up to a high vantage point in Xaghra. The last time I shot fireworks was at last year's Ghajnsielem Feast and the view was great there but the vista from where I was standing is incomparable.

I do not need to elaborate on the fireworks display because the photos can do that much better. Summer rolls on, I can only wish for more of the Mediterranean searing heat.

Riflessi Sajfin - Oasi Foundation

2011-08-14T20:35:00.001+02:00

Last week I had the pleasure and honour to cover 'Riflessi Sajfin', a three hour event comprising some of the best local talent. This yearly event is organised by the Oasi Foundation, a group whose main aim is to prevent and treat the abuse of alcohol and drugs. The Foundation's tireless work must not be overlooked. Here are some photos from the show.

Smiles all around

2011-03-08T19:53:00.007+01:00

Carnival is one of the busiest times of the year for me and this year was no different so photography kind of took a back seat. I stress the phrase ‘kind of’ because I certainly couldn’t let all those colours go by without putting my eye to the camera, right?

I managed to find time for a Valletta visit with “Ghaqda Dilettanti tal-Karnival”, a local Carnival group, on Monday and basically spent the whole day with this crazy bunch. Weather was perfect, the sun was out and the group sure rocked Malta’s capital. But more on that another time.

On the way back to Gozo we took a detour to Luqa, more specifically to ‘San Vincez de Paul’ Residence, an old people’s home. This vast place houses well over a thousand residents which meant we had to split in two groups. We visited every single ward and it was great seeing all those smiles.

With such an exhausting morning in Valletta the effort put in by the group, interacting, entertaining…lit the whole place up. Meeting all these people reminded me of my late grandfather, Nannu Guzeppi and how lucky I am to have such great memories of him.

Kudos to the group, in Valletta they were showered with all kinds of compliments about their dance, costumes, make-up, etc. but surely the smiles and cheers they got in return in Luqa where the most satisfying of all.

Hopefully the photos do more justice to the experience than my words.

Truly Unforgettable

2010-11-19T17:02:00.003+01:00

When I was young(er), (many) years ago I grew up on a staple diet of dancing. Not because I used to dance myself - the closest I've ever been to dancing myself is on the disco floor and that's not dancing according to my mother - but because I used to be dragged to places far and wide by my parents to watch them take ballroom dancing classes. At that time it was enjoyable as putting needles in my eyes but I had to go and that was the end of it.

Well my two daughters have now taken after their grandmother - who is still dancing by the way - and it is now them who are dragging me all over the place to watch them dancing. Except this time I wouldn't call it 'dragging'. It is a real joy watching them, especially with that permanent smile etched on their faces.

Their latest outing was at the Truly Unforgettable dance show at Astra Theatre and my what a show. I took photos of the whole thing which was astounding and a great success. One photo that stood out was of the company director Natalie Sciortino and her dance partner Andrew Buhagiar. I am no expert, really, but they nailed it. The routine, the steps, the music and whatever else. Bang on! Even from the photo below you can see they know and love what they're doing.

If I hadn't been holding my anvil of a camera it would have certainly been a more enjoyable evening for me but I got some good shots of my girls and that makes the pain go away very quickly.

Note: There will be a repeat performance of Truly Unforgettable at the Astra Theater on 30 December 2010. For tickets please call 79200488. You will not be disappointed!

Where have the colours gone?

2010-10-24T08:10:00.004+02:00

I'm not the biggest fan of Black and White photography but maybe that's because it takes some effort to convert a drab, uninspiring colour photo to a striking B&W. There are sliders to adjust, brushes to apply and a million other things to do. Although I have no problems editing a photo till kingdom come I try not to spend too much time fiddling around - it can drive you nuts, and I'm already far up the scale in that regard, but I digress.

After a very dry summer Gozo has been well and truly flushed with water. I remembered a waterfall I once saw in Lunzjata Valley during a shoot and decided to head there and see what the state of it was. By no means it is not Niagra or Angel Falls but hey this is Gozo and we have to be happy with Nature's gifts.

I hope you like my efforts but hopefully this start will allow me to delve deeper into the intriguing world of Black and White Photography.

Xlendi Feast Water-sports

2010-09-04T11:35:00.003+02:00

Many of us are familiar with the water-sports held every year during the Xlendi Feast. The main event in the Gostra (greasy pole) where a flag is nailed to the end of a greased pole placed over the water with competitors attempting to walk across it and unhook the flag. It is not easy and definitely not for the faint hearted!

Other games include 'The Rope', canoe races, swimming and paddle boat races. The organisers also go round the bay in a boat throwing bottles of wine in the sea with many diving down to get their free bottle. I assure you (before anyone chips in with an expected comment) that all bottles are accounted for at the end of the day. The seabed is not littered in any way.

These yearly traditional games have been going on for a long time, anyone who hasn't visited or taken part should do so this Sunday 5 September from 3pm onwards.

Wine...

2010-09-02T21:24:00.015+02:00

I was recently commissioned to photograph the Marsovin Wine Festival held at the Citadel in Victoria. The colours dusk presented were fantastic and a joy to photograph. The problem was that wine and photography do not really go together but I had to soldier on.

Lights in the Sky

2010-08-30T22:51:00.002+02:00

As you will have noticed this blog usually goes quiet during summer (and for most of the year)! My photography goes on the back burner while I concentrate on more important things like lazying (it's very hot), boating and some work thrown in there. It's the middle bit that's been giving me some grief lately. Most boat owners are now required to have a Boat Handling licence, so I spent the last few days sweating in a classroom learning flags, signals, first aid, regulations and even some engineering. Highly interesting stuff but with my attention span being that of a five year old....

Anyway I forced myself down to Ghajnsielem yesterday and scouted a good location to take some fireworks shots. You can view more shots here. Hope to get blogging regularly soon. In the meantime let's enjoy what's left of summer.

St. George's Feast 2010 - Wednesday 14 July

2010-07-15T12:32:00.005+02:00

Some photos and a video clip from yesterday's band march. You can see the rest here.

St. George's Feast 2010 - Tuesday 13 July

2010-07-14T15:37:00.000+02:00

The week long festivities in Victoria started yesterday with the parading of the beautiful statue around the church. Below are some photos, the whole album can be viewed here.

Festa San Gorg 2010

2010-07-13T08:09:00.002+02:00

It's back! Our yearly appointment with St. George couldn't come soon enough. The World Cup is over, summer is well under way. Time for the feast to start.

I will be uploading photos daily so watch this space. In the meantime I will leave you with a small preview from Sunday's ninth and final Novena Mass. The whole album can be viewed here. Enjoy!

Feline Beauty

2010-04-14T21:05:00.003+02:00

Most of us know that Il-Mall (Villa Rundle Garden) has its own resident cat colony. So I thought it would be appropriate to do a shoot with their distant cousins at this very place. The (real) cats stayed well clear of this group of fine feathered friends. Straight out of the Bugeja Carnival Company we had a great couple of hours together.

[Click on photos to enlarge]

Special thanks to the great Fabian who organised and assisted me throughout the shoot. Here he is demonstrating what a leap should really be like!

"Twelve Steps" at the Gozo Citadel

2010-04-10T11:17:00.007+02:00

You may or may not have heard about the game show "Twelve Steps" taking place at the Citadel this evening (10 April 2010) at 20.30. Set in the unique and historic surroundings of the Citadel this is an innovative spectacle that lets spectators take an active part in the show. You will be sent to different parts of the castle meeting a captivating mermaid, tortured slaves, a mad pirate with an even madder talking parrot, the mystic knight and even Death herself! Prepare yourself for a new experience, take the "Twelve Steps", you will be captivated by wonderful sights and sounds and at the same time experience the macabre!

I spent the last couple of evenings trekking around the citadel following the same map you will be given by the abused and beaten prisoner, going into dark recesses I never even knew existed. It is a voyage of discovery and enlightenment. You will have a blast, a lucky one will win the prize and maybe, just maybe, save the prisoner from a gruesome death. Do not miss it.

With all the blabbering above you may think I am under some sort of spell (could be!) or maybe it's the result of hitting my head on some low ceiling deep inside the castle. Below are some photos to give you a tiny glimpse of what this game is all about. You really should experience the real thing though.

[Click on photos to enlarge]

Flowers in the Spring

2010-03-31T18:41:00.001+02:00

Colours, colours and even more colours. I spent most of Carnival 2010 chasing this bunch. The group shot above features a small part of a carnival group who call themselves Bugeja Carnival Company. Year after year they manage to steal the show with their unique and imaginative costumes. I had a great time photographing them but conditions during carnival weren’t ideal, it was mostly running and gunning. Complimented by bad and/or inadequate lighting I knew I had to get these beautiful girls in front of my lens under my own conditions.

Shooting under the midday sun is not recommended and possibly frowned upon in photography circles, and it’s not because of health reasons. A sort of unspoken rule. But hey, rules are there to be broken. So we ended up in a field in Gharb. Photographing groups can get seasoned professionals shaking at the knees, let alone me, a microscopic spec in the photography world.

I must say the girls were a huge sport and we waded though tall grass to get the best position possible. Everything went smoothly until we saw a farmer marching purposefully towards us. We were told to keep ourselves to the passages and lanes so no damage is done, fair enough, I was grateful we were allowed to stay there.

Anyway I had a great time and hopefully the models did too. You will be seeing more of this group in the coming weeks.

Amazing Sunset

2010-03-30T05:57:00.005+02:00

As most (hopefully all!) of us know, we reverted to Daylight Saving Time last Sunday. Apart from the fact I was still working at 2am I found the occasion of switching back to summer time a refreshing one. I know officially Spring started on March 21 but for me personally this is when winter is really over. The day just got longer and for the most time when I return home from work there is still an hour or two of sunshine left.

I made the photo above last Saturday, what for me was the last day of Winter. It was a gorgeous sunset and the range of colours in the sky were amazing. It was a fitting start to Spring. Very little processing was done on this photo, just gave a little boosting to the colours and that's it. Roll on Summer!

Carnival Memories

2010-03-25T20:54:00.004+01:00

My plate's full with plenty of stuff lately. I have been really busy at work so photography isn't at the top of my list. In mid-February, Carnival arrived and all the colours and general merriment certainly provided me with some inspiration. This time of the year is usually one of the busiest for my business as plenty of Maltese travel to Gozo which means we must find accommodation for them. So with work commitments and photography to juggle I couldn't wait for Carnival.

As much as I wanted to visit Nadur Carnival I decided to stay in Victoria and cover some of the events there. I must say I wasn't disappointed. I truly had a great time. There was plenty to shoot but for some reason I kept going back to Bugeja Carnival Company's group. Simply amazing costumes. You can see photos of this group in action and obviously the rest of my Victoria Carnival 2010 shots here.

As a side note I am happy to say that the photo below placed first in the "Carnival in the City" photography competition organised by the Victoria Local Council. I named it, or rather my wife did, "Green Envy". She also came up with the name "Purple Paradise" for the other photo below which got an honourable mention in the same competition. I love the two shots especially as they are quite different. One taken during the ecstasy that Carnival sometimes offers while the other shot during a rather pensive moment. Obviously a huge thanks and congratulations to both Leanne and Fabian!

Lightning from my window

2009-11-24T21:16:00.005+01:00

Apart from some photography related to my real estate work I haven’t touched my camera for weeks now. Didn’t really have time but if I’m honest I wasn’t ‘in the mood’ lately. This happens occasionally, I guess. I’m starting to get back however and hope to get some wintry shots soon.

We haven’t had much of a winter here in Gozo, believe me I’m not complaining. I’ve been trying to get some lightning shots but the weather hasn’t been cooperating. Going through last year’s photos I managed to unearth this lightning strike taken from the safety of my living room. It won’t win any awards but it’s a start.

I’ve just given my photography website a new feel with a clean white background. Check it out here. Till next time.

Gozo Fashion People

2009-10-06T07:07:00.004+02:00

While I do not consider myself a fashion person I do appreciate nice clothes when I see them. Ten years ago what and how I dress was very important to me, maybe because I was still on the market, I don’t know! Priorities change, I still keep an eye out for nice clothing but I have far more important stuff in my life. My shopping trips are taking less and less time nowadays. I get too edgy and really, really hate trying on new clothes at malls/shops.

Despite this I decided to join GOZO Fashion People, a Facebook group created by the energetic Claire Formosa for anyone with an interest in fashion. Whether you are a photographer, designer, model, makeup artist etc, you should join and be part of the fun.

With many of the members of the group going back to school, Claire came up with the idea of doing a photoshoot with a Back to School theme. I wish I was going back to school, then again, maybe I don’t!

Very honoured to be part of this first shoot. Hopefully the models had a great time. I certainly did, as you can see from the photos. Below you can see who the contributing sponsors are as without these, we’d have no clothes (hmmm), makeup and a location. So a great big thanks. Also a big congratulations to Doreen, I was not even aware I was shooting Miss Gozo 2009. Again, I'm honoured!

Models: Doreen Tabone, Rodienne Xerri, Joseph Tabone, Jennifer Busuttil, Andre' Apap.

Hair stylist: Michelle at Cut Above, Ghajnsielem.
Make up artist: Bellezza Beauty, Victoria.
Photographer: Tonio Schembri

Clothing: Emporio, Palm Street, Victoria & Artigli Gozo (The Duke Shopping Mall).
Specs: Vision Opticians, Victoria, Gozo.

Shot on location at Swan Card Gallery, Palm Street, Victoria.

You can view more photos of the shoot here.

Lighting the Lighthouse

2009-09-06T11:14:00.002+02:00

This was the first time I tried shooting Ta’ Gordan Lighthouse at dusk so did not know what to expect. The evening did not start well. As soon as my wife and I got to the lighthouse I realised we had left the most important piece of equipment behind. My trusty tripod was still in the car parked halfway down the hill. So back down I went. TIP: do not wear flip flops when shooting landscapes in a desolate location, should have known better.

Lighthouses. Do we really need them anymore? I mean with all the modern equipment ships have nowadays, GPS, radar etc, do these structures serve a purpose? Even my phone, at the click of button can pinpoint within a few feet my location on a map. Amazing! However this structure now serves another purpose. Equipped with instruments that measure the amount of carbon monoxide in the atmosphere the lighthouse forms part of an international study on atmospheric pollution and the effect of carbon monoxide on the ozone layer.

Built in the 1850’s and now shining its beacon into the 21st Century the lighthouse will continue to stand the test of time. Silhouetted against a beautiful sunset Ta’ Gordan Lighthouse sits proudly, on its own, in windy conditions, watching over our island.

Flying Over the Window

2009-08-07T21:45:00.004+02:00

Well this summer has turned out to be a very busy one for me but I’ve been enjoying it nonetheless. I made this photo a few days ago in Dwejra just by the Azure Window. This is one of my favourite locations in Gozo. It truly provides some stunning sunsets and is worth a visit once in a while especially after a long hard day.

As you can see I’ve improved (hopefully) my blog layout and design. It is still a work in progress which I will gradually build on. That’s all from me today but I really wanted to share this photo with you as I will be making more of these in the future, so any of you interested in feature in any of my location photography just drop me a line.

San Gorg Patrun ta' l-Ghawdxin

2009-07-17T17:10:00.012+02:00

Was very busy on Wednesday so did not really have a chance to update the blog. Had a great time at the feast which culminated with the demonstration of the equestrian statue of St. George in St. George's Square.

On Thursday we had further celebrations this time reaching their climax in Sabina Square where we were treated to a documentary on St. George and his massive following around the world. Personally I really liked this innovative idea and from the massive applause it received I'm sure everyone is of the same opinion. The statue was eventually elevated on its pedestal to rapturous singing and applause.

This evening we get to do it all over again this time in Independence Square. More photos of the past few days can be viewed online here.

St. George's Feast Tuesday Celebrations

2009-07-15T13:30:00.009+02:00

Finally the moment I had been waiting for nearly a whole year has arrived. Yesterday evening St. George's basilica was heaving as our saint's magnificent statue was led out of its niche, carried around the church and displayed briefly in the doorway of the basilica. It now has its usual place of prominence in our church so it can be admired for the rest of the week.

I just hope this week does not go by too quickly. Below is a small selection of photos but you can see more on my website www.tonioschembri.com or by clicking here.

Tonight San Gorg taz-Ziemel. It's already Wednesday.

Talk soon.

Our Feast is round the corner...

2009-07-11T23:23:00.009+02:00

I haven’t updated my blog for a few weeks now. My day job has kept me very busy and stressed out, but maybe that’s a good thing nowadays. One day I will go into more detail on our company, Gozo Homes Real Estate.

Well it’s festa time in Victoria and those who are familiar with our island know which feast is up next. For those not in the know on Sunday 19th July we celebrate the feast of St. George. I will be busy all week covering the various festivities and hopefully updating my site with photos daily.

I’ve just finished uploading photos from Friday’s Festa Dinner where we were entertained by various local and foreign artists.

More photos of this traditional yearly dinner can be found here.

Around the streets of Victoria...

2009-05-28T06:32:00.012+02:00

I'm still recovering from yesterday's Champions League final match. MAN UTD were never at the races and definitely the better team won. Still winning three trophies (and the Community Shield) is not bad for one season. There are clubs who can't do that in ten years. Well that's off my chest now!

Had a great time at last weekends Notte Gozitana. Couldn't visit everything as there was a lot to see, so I decided to stay in Victoria. Saturday morning I accompanied Astra Folk Group around Victoria. I've talked about the Group extensively before so I am not going to repeat myself but will just say that the Group added some life to the streets of Victoria.

I started Saturday evening in one of Victoria's back streets close to St. George's Church. This quaint setting provided an excellent backdrop for some soothing entertainment provided by Sunny Side Folk Ensemble. The group is made up of Loretu, Joe, Joanne and Peter, as they appear in the photo above. Their talent on various instruments is obvious and their repertoire of folk music is excellent. I have to say I wasn't really into the traditional folk music before but after listening to Astra Folk Group and now the Sunny Side Ensemble this kind of music is starting to grow on me. I think it's something we locals do not appreciate enough.

The quaint narrow streets in Tal-Mandragg were nicely lit with candles which contributed to the warm athmosphere.

St. George's Church was magnificently lit and hosted the resident Laudati Pueri Choir. Although I missed the performance I was there in time for the standing ovation given by the audience. Judging by the long applause I have no doubt on the quality of the performance.

Saturday's events closed with a late night fireworks display in St. Agostine's square. I love photographing Cicifogu as the colours are amazing. I just have to learn not to get too close!

In Sunday morning's searing heat I managed to photograph Ghaqda Dilettanti tal-Karnival's outstanding show which started from Sabina Square right through Republic Street. The colourful costumes on display where inspiring and truly a photographer's dream. I shot a series of evening photos of this group back in February during Carnival but the powerful Gozitan sun really brought out the colours this time. Can't wait to see what costumes this group will come up with next year, it will be hard to trump these.

That's all from me for now, you can see more photos of various events at Notte Gozitana by visiting my website on www.tonioschembri.com or by clicking here.

The Mandolin

2009-05-19T09:54:00.008+02:00

A member of the Astra Folk Group recently asked me to take a few photos of him with his treasured mandolin. One of the unsung heros of the Group, Joe is an amazing musician and although I am no expert his opening bit with the harmonica in beautiful Csepel Munkasotthon Theater in Budapest gave me goosebumps. His love of music is obvious and together with the rest of the Group musicians and his mandolin he kept us entertained during our Hungarian trip. So hat off to you Joe, you never fail to impress me.

I have finally managed to upload most of the Hungary photos to my website so feel free to pay a visit by clicking here.

Can't wait for the coming weekend, where Victoria and most of Gozo will welcome another edition of Lejlet Lapsi "Notte Gozitana". It promises to be another eventful weekend and I will be going around to many of the attractions, hopefully in the process bag some nice shots to share with you. Talk soon.

Astra Folk Group – Back in Gozo

2009-05-14T21:11:00.006+02:00

Well, all good things come to an end. I can honestly say this was one of the best holidays I had. It probably involved more work than all my other holidays combined but was still an enjoyable experience.

Our last few days took us to Budapest where we toured this wonderful city, the so called “City of Senses”. Without a doubt the most impressive building in the city is the Parliament with its glorious architecture and rich decorations, it truly is an astonishing piece of art.

On Friday 9th May we said goodbye to the Magistern Hotel staff in Siofok and transferred to a hotel in Budapest. Our last show also went by successfully and as this was held in an amusement park we where then treated to one of the rides in this park. Dinner followed quickly and right after we were off to one of the highlights of our Hungarian stay, an evening cruise on the river Danube.

Budapest by day is an impressive sight but by nightfall it appears magical. From the merriment evident on board the boat I have no doubt in saying that the whole group had a blast. Once the cruise ended we visited Liberty statue which overlooks the whole of Budapest. This reminded me of the time I was on the Empire State building in Manhattan.

The next day we set off early to Austria and spent a couple of hours in Vienna. I definitely want to come back to this city as the little taste we got was definitely worth it. By 10pm we were back in Gozo left with wonderful memories of excellent hospitality, great food and endless laughter.

Special thanks go out to Mr. Joseph Borda and his colleagues but also to the Astra Folk Group director Anton Zammit who managed to organize perfectly what could have been a very complicated trip. Also a great big Thank You to my friends and colleagues in the Group who welcomed me and made this trip one to remember.

I hope that by the end of the week I will be able to upload more photos, so you can get a better feeling of our experience.

Talk soon.

Astra Folk Group – Hungary, Day SIX

2009-05-06T17:31:00.005+02:00

We did not have any shows during day FOUR and FIVE of our stay in Hungary so found plenty of time to relax and do some sightseeing around Siofok, the area where we’re staying.

Tuesday May 5 was the date of our main show which was held in the beautiful, Csepel Munkasotthon in Budapest. We were all very excited to hold a show in such an amazing environment and be the main attraction. The 90 minute performance went by flawlessly with the various numbers provided by the group ensuring a flowing performance. From the ovation given at the end by the audience it is evident that once again the Astra Folk Group produced an amazing display to match any other during its long and colourful history.

We’ve become used to the Hungarian hospitality now. As with all other occasions right after the show we were treated to a dinner and were joined by our Hungarian friends. To cap a wonderful evening, entertainment was provided by our guitar players, and so continues our Hungarian adventure.

Photos

2009-05-04T18:49:00.003+02:00

I have just managed to upload a few photos of our first three days in Hungary.

To view photos please click here.

Astra Folk Group, Hungary – Day THREE

2009-05-04T08:56:00.005+02:00

I finished my last blog wondering after a great night with the Group if things can possibly improve. I can assure you day three was an absolute blast.

After a morning to ourselves we departed for Pilisszentivan around 2pm. The two hour journey took us to the local fire station where we were welcomed by the chief. Our guides took us for a tour of the nearby lake an immensely peaceful area surrounded by greenery. With just a small boat I would spend some quality time on this peaceful stretch of water. It was a great time for some individual photo opportunities.

Our show was to take place at the gymnasium of a local school. This event was hosted by the town’s mayor. With ours being the first show of the afternoon the Group changed quickly and started what was to be a memorable event.

I am continuously amazed by the skill and talent of our group members. The group contains a very good mix of young and not so young members, some in their forties and fifties, who despite this, manage to produce performances of such high quality.

From the standing ovation given at the end of the performance it was evident that the audience enjoyed every minute of it. Anton, our director called on stage a local group of performers who accompanied the Astra Folk Group in one final dance. From the comments made after the show there are no doubts on the impressions we left on these people.

The fire chief had earlier invited us for a dinner back at his station and we duly obliged right after the show. The station’s crew and the local dance group, who were also invited, never knew what hit them. Combine the Astra Folk Group with food and drink and those who know us can imagine the result. I cannot remember the last time I laughed so much. What an evening. Unfortunately my English is not good enough to describe it, so you will have to wait until I upload the photos.

Obviously the party spilled onto the coach on our journey back to the hotel where we arrived at around 1am, tired but happy.

Astra Folk Group, Hungary - Day TWO

2009-05-03T07:09:00.013+02:00

Friday May 1 was our first whole day in Hungary, and what a day it was. After breakfast by candle light (only because of a power cut) the Group met for a rehearsal to polish their skills, not that they need it but as we all know anything concerning Ta’ l-Istilla, we strive for perfection.

Our coach soon left for Keszethely where we were promised some sightseeing before participating in a lakeside festival. As soon as we arrived in this town we were taken to imposing Keszethely castle which looks more like a palace and has a beautiful imposing structure. The guide showed us around the various rooms steeped in history, antiques and beautiful paintings. The vast gardens are beautiful but time was running short and we had to depart for the festival.

Shooting open air in a mixture of direct sunlight and shade is a challenge for any photographer but the Astra Folk group produced an outstanding show with large crowds cheering them on and making my job a bit easier and definitely enjoyable, Even though the locals do not understand a word of Maltese, the Group still managed to make them feel part of the show. I shot a total of around 500 photos but it will be impossible to upload them all here but I will try my best to show you a few images on my website later on.

One thing we are definitely not missing is food. Either because the Hungarians have been warned of the huge Gozitan appetite or they have a genuine love for food, they have certainly not been letting us go hungry. Right after the show we were whisked off to a Hungarian dinner hosted by the local government of Keszethely and what a dinner!

Speaking of food, I’m forgetting the fact that right before we left the hotel for Keszethely we had a presentation with Mr. Bela Danielez, the President of the Committee for Safety Regulations and General Assembly for Budapest who welcomed us to Hungary and invited us to help ourselves at the vast food table prepared for us by the hotel staff. So with camera in one hand and delicious food in the other I tried to cover the event! Food, glorious food, I’m not sure who’s going to be overweight in a week’s time, me or the luggage?

Back to our evening dinner, once we stuffed our faces we left for our hotel to hopefully get some good night’s sleep. But when you are with the Astra Folk Group one thing is for sure, the entertainment and merriment never stops. The two hour journey back to Siofok was a non-stop medley of music. Many of the senior members of this group have been together for decades and they really know how to party, despite their age, I do not hesitate to say. Maria tat-Tmintax provided us with some great laughs but you will have to see the DVD when we’re back home for that one!

Anyway back at the hotel I looked forward to a relaxing night but I was convinced to stay at the bar for a couple of drinks. Wonder of wonders, we ended up in the hotel lobby until 1am playing Marcijiet ta’ San Gorg and countless other songs led by Joe Bajada, Spiro Sillato and Teddy Zammit on guitars, Peter Mohr on the banjo, Joe bil-mandolina and Joe taz-Zebbug biz-zavsafa.

That was the end of Day TWO in Hungary. If any of the coming days trump this one I can’t even begin to imagine what will happen. More to come.

Astra Folk Group – Hungary, Day ONE

2009-05-01T07:37:00.005+02:00

We left Gozo at the early hours of Thursday April 30 where we all met at St. Francis Square to be driven to Mgarr. I definitely got to see a different side to the Group at such an unearthly time. Yawning, half-closed eyes, lost looks etc. Such an exciting start! Having said that, there was definitely the feeling we were at the start of an exciting trip.

All the preparation beforehand by Anton Zammit ensured we had a seamless check-in at Malta airport and from then on everyone relaxed. The two hour flight to Vienna went quickly and we were pleasantly surprised to find the pilot to be none other than George Frank Mizzi, a Gozitan friend of ours, who graciously introduced the Astra Folk Group to the rest of the passengers. Nice touch!

From Vienna Airport we departed to Siofok, Hungary. This journey took between two and three hours although I’m not exactly sure as I kept dozing off. My sleep was continuously interrupted by Joe ‘Elvis’ Bajada (who incidentally is also my roommate!) showing off his guitar and singing skills obviously joined by the rest of the Group. Well, they have to practice, don’t they?!

Our Hotel is right on the water’s edge overlooking a huge lake which at the moment doesn’t look very pretty surrounded by grey skies. I hope the weather improves. Apart from the fact they can barely speak a word of English, the hotel staff are very nice and welcomed the Group with open arms.

We spent the rest of the day lounging around the warm indoor pool and ended the day with a nice dinner and a few drinks at the bar. Our work starts on Saturday…Hungary here we come. Hopefully I will be able to start uploading photos soon. Talk soon.

...and so the journey begins.

2009-04-25T16:34:00.001+02:00

Hello Everybody. Through this blog I plan to keep in touch with many friends and relatives and hopefully make new friends in the process. Those of you who know me know I run my own estate agency by day an exciting and ever changin job. By night and any spare time I get I practice photography which is the main reason for this blog.

In the coming days I will be joining the Astra Folk Group on a trip to Hungary where we will spend what I'm sure will be ten magical days. Although I've never travelled with the Group before, I know all my fellow companions so know what to expect…endless laughter and fun! The Astra Folk Group is much travelled and have been all over Europe and beyond participating in shows all over, so it's an honour for me to be part of this group.

The reason for my travelling with the Group is to photograph the trip. I've been on a few shows with them however I've never travelled with the Group before so I'm pretty excited. My aim is to update this blog daily while we are travelling and share with you our experiences.

I recently accompanied Astra Folk Group to a show in Mdina where we had a great time. With an all round medieval theme the old city provided a glimpse into the past of our islands. We did different numbers in many areas of the city and attracted sizeable crowds. A live performance on Family TV added some gloss to the evening. For more photos of this outing please visit my website by clicking here.

So there you go, you just had the privilege of reading my first blog ever. I hope it's the first of many!

Talk soon…