Towards The Light

This street has always caught my eyes at how beautiful it looks when the sun is hitting it from a certain spot. The contrast between light and shade is brilliant and from within a distance it's like you are walking towards a light tunnel. Sometimes it's so bright that you can really see what's at the end of it.

A few days ago I decided to take a walk around the area and while I was busy experimenting with my camera I almost forgot I was walking on one of my favorite streets in Malta. I walked back and took a few photographs.

The street starts in Floriana and goes all the way to Valletta. What you see in the photograph is the sidewalk. Beside it there is a somewhat narrow road and beside that there is a huge square. If you have ever watched Isle of MTV (Malta) you would know what square I am talking about! The party usually takes place at that spot.

This black and white photograph was shot using a Canon 40D with my usual 60mm Macro Lens, which also does a great job at shooting portraits and street scenes. The photograph was converted and edited using Photoshop CS4.

This print can be found at my shop on Etsy: Towards The Light and if you want to browse my other photographs please go here: LRAphotos

Light and Darkness

"Love is not consolation. It is light." Friedrich Nietzsche

I have had this photo on my hard drive for a long time. Today I was browsing through my photos that I shot with my Canon 40d and found it again and couldn't believe I have waited so long to include it in my blog.

These are really old window shutters that can really block light to complete darkness. I have always loved the way the light shines through the panels if you leave them a little open. Originally the photo was not in black and white and I converted it for it to be more dramatic and emphasize more on the light.

I also really love the quote because it's so true. Even a simple window that blocks almost all the light gives you consolation with those faint rays of light.

Higher

St.Lawrence Church, Vittoriosa, Malta

"Love is not consolation. It is light. " Friedrich Nietzsche

No it is not something from outer space. This is a church dome, the St.Lawrence church dome. I posted another picture from this church a few days ago, so if you missed it you can go read what I wrote on the other post. This church is oldest church in Malta and it's full of interesting history.

Once again, what attracted me to this church dome is the way the light was hitting it.The sun hitting on the right hand side really brings out the texture of the old stone. The perfect circles are all textured differently and it shows how much time and effort they put into building beautiful buildings a couple of centuries ago. While I am sure they had deadlines, I am also sure that their deadlines were not fast and in result we get a building like this St.Lawrence Church in Malta. 

The nicest sight is actually walking into the church. The church is usually dark (dark drapery, dark paintings) and then you reach this dome and see a burst of light that is right above the main altar. 

 This photograph was captured on my iPhone using the Hipstamatic app. Some minor editing was done in PS CS4. Settings for Hipstamatic were BlacKeys B&W/Lucifer IV

Window To Eternity

The Cloisters, New York City

"A photograph can be an instant of life captured for eternity that will never cease looking back at you." Brigitte Bardot

Lets be honest right away. I have been avoiding going to this place because for some reason the name didn't sound very appealing to me and I could not imagine how New York City could be the home of something medieval that is genuine. After honesty comes truth. I was wrong, very wrong.

The walk towards The Cloisters was immediately haunting. It was extremely quiet and I got in character very fast. At one point I could hear myself breathing and as most of you know that rarely happens in New York City. 

By the time I arrived at The Cloisters I totally forgot that I was in New York City and when I remembered I found it difficult to believe it. This place is magnificent. I would go there again without hesitation. The rooms are beautiful and as I said very genuine, so genuine that if you concentrate hard enough you can imagine monks walking around in their loose brown robes chanting Gregorian. 

This particular window caught my eye right away. The way the light was hitting it was beautiful and the sun was so bright that if you looked outside you would see nothing except that burst of light you are seeing in the picture. That same light hitting in the chandelier in the middle of the room reflected a nice light on the walls and revealed their texture and colors. 

This photograph was captured on my iPhone using the Hipstamatic app. Some minor editing was done in PS CS4. Settings for Hipstamatic were BlacKeys B&W/Libatique 73 Lens.