Sasha Vella Photography

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The softness of light, in 35mm film

Part 2

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Expired film light leak

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Gozo, shot using expired 35mm film, Svema 1998

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Framed reflection in 35mm film

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The softness of light, in 35mm film

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Task 7: Shots inspired by Irving Penn - Part 4

Likewise to part 2, two similarly shot portraits of two different people in the same place. The expression in the first photo once again gives out a sense of power and intimidation, while the expression in the second photo is quite warm and welcoming. Shot on black and white film. 

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Task 7: Shots inspired by Irving Penn - Part 3

I also wanted to experiment with some kneeling down poses, shot from an upper angle. In the first image the model shields her face from the harshness of the sun, while in the second image, she faces the sun, squinting her eyes. Again, the sense of seriousness is created throughout these images, and while a sense of power is emitted in the first photo, a sense of vulnerability is present in the second photo. Shot on black and white film. 

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Task 7: Shots inspired by Irving Penn - Part 2

Two portraits of two different people, Nicky and Sarah. Both shot from the same place and angle. I noticed a sense of mystery in Irving Penn’s work, and I tried to recreate that through these shots, along with a sense of seriousness. Both models look at the camera in a very engaging way. I like what mood their expressions gave these images. Once more, shot on black and white film. 

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Task 7: Shots inspired by Irving Penn - Part 1

Inspired by his corner series, I decided to photograph the people I chose for this task in a corner. Struck by the eclecticism of his work, I wanted to have some interesting poses done by the models. My favourite from Jeanine’s three photos is the first one, as it brilliantly captured the peak of her kick. The second image turns its back from the viewer, while the third image delivers a sense of neutrality. I shot this task all in black and white film, using Adox 100 iso. 

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Deadpan - Part 2: Landscape

Shot once more on expired film, I love the way that the colours look in this image. The harshly textured rocks are given a soft feel, of pinks and blues and purples. This is also because of the time of day, during the golden hour as the sun was setting. The photo is deadpan to me, because I snapped the photo without thinking much of context or composition, it captures the path that we were walking as it is. 

Shot on expired Kodak Ektar 125, expired in 1991. 

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Task 6: Deadpan: Part 1- Portrait

Some might choose to describe deadpan photography as devoid of emotion or content. I understand deadpan to be capturing what is in front of you, without any form of barriers. The images I set out to capture when attempting to apply the deadpan technique are images that are taken in the moment as it is. In this portrait the viewer is struck by the piercing eyes, coming out of the soft tones of the photograph. The composition is balanced, although not really planned. The photograph is raw, and a certain degree of truth emerges from it. The second photo is softer, and less bold than the first. I was shooting in expired film, Kodak Ektar 125, expired in 1992. 

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Task 5: A Sense of Place Part Two: Wied il-Ghasel, Mosta (3)

In these last four photos, I focused on textures and negative space. The first image is one of my favourites, as it is almost cut perfectly in half, with two extremes on the two sides: detailed texture and empty negative space. In the last two photos, I tried to capture the way that the slight wind affects its surroundings, and once can engage with the feeling of the wind when he/she looks at the images. 

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Task 5: A Sense of Place Part Two: Wied il-Ghasel, Mosta (2)

Detail shots, of the rocks and the bridge and the chapel that is situated in the valley. In these shots, I like how the shadows shape the images, how it affects the rocks and brings out certain details, the lines that it creates on the columns and the arches of the bridge, and how parts of the chapel are in shadow, with the rocks overhead. The black and white brings out these details more in the photographs. 

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Task 5: A Sense of Place Part Two: Wied il-Ghasel, Mosta (1)

On another occasion, I headed down to Wied il-Ghasel in Mosta with my dog, this time shooting with my digital camera, not with my film camera. The valley of Mosta is another special place for me, another place that fills me with a sense of serenity and peace. I often come down here to relax, walk, take photos, draws and meditate. Often times I am the only person down in the valley, but sometimes I encounter other people walking through. The valley is also known for its chapel, and its many caves. Although I cannot document what this valley was used for in earlier times, I know that it was inhabited by many bees, which is where it got it’s name from; Wied il-Ghasel, translating to Valley of Honey. Thus this valley was a place where one could find a lot of honey. The valley is also known for the infamous bridge, were unfortunately many people have taken their lives here. In fact, when I am under the bridge, I always feel a sense of darkness and coldness. On the other side, there is also an old gun post, from the times of the second world war. This valley is rich in history, but now it is always so quiet and serene. The first two shots included in this post are wide shots, taken once in the valley. 

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Task 5: A Sense of Place - Part One: Ghajn Tuffieha (3)

Photos 8-10: textures and negative space

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Task 5: A Sense of Place - Part One: Ghajn Tuffieha (2)

Photos 4-7: details

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Task 5: A Sense of Place - Part One: Ghajn Tuffieha (1)

For this task, I decided to divide it into two different parts, documenting two places that are special to me, and capturing their own sense of place. While still following the shot list as written guidelines, I followed what captured my eye, and aimed to capture this place as it is in my heart. I chose a sunny week day, where I could have the entire space to myself. I followed my usual route when walking the area, and shot as I went along. I shot in 35mm colour film, at 200 iso, and was very pleased with the turnout of the colours in the photos. From the photos, I get a strong sense of ambience and peace, which are the same feelings that I get from being physically in the place. I have been to this place many times, and I keep returning to it, for the feelings that it gives me. I love how untouched by humans the place is, although it is still used as a get away and a place where one could relax and connect with nature. At the top of the bay, there used to be a hotel, which is now abandoned, although rumour has it that it might be getting rebuilt again. A lot of the beauty of this place lays in how untouched it is, and within the respect that we’ve had towards the surroundings. 

Photos 1-3: wideshots