Cover photographer: Martin Abela, Malta
If you're visiting Malta, keep an eye open for one of the island's rising
photographic talents. Martin Abela set out to teach himself photography
back in 1978, reading every book and magazine he could find. In 1981 he
had work accepted in a local exhibition, and in 1986, decided to open a
small photographic shop.
In 1990, he had moved to larger premises and won a local competition for
Kodak Ektar film and was asked to be the official photographer for a Maltese
modelling school. Two years later, he had work published in the British
magazine PIC, won a scholarship to study photography in Florence, and had
his first successes in FIAP (International Photo Art Federation) salons
p; a local first place, and an international silver medal.
In 1993, Martin was invited to shoot in Tunisia for the Ministry of Tourism,
and has since held exhibitions in both Tunisia and Malta. He prints his
own colour work, and his specialisation is fashion portraiture. These photographs
are from a session experimenting with coloured lighting,
inspired by the model's hairstyle.
Martin now has a studio in B'Bugia Street, B'Bugia and a photo shop in
St Pius Street, Sliema, Malta.