PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP*
with Joe Smith & Therese Debono
17, 24 and 25 May. Gozo.
11.00 – 13.00 / Lunch / 14.00 – 16.00
THE WORKSHOP
Discover the Art of Pictorialism & Straight Photography. Join us for an immersive 3-day workshop at Bored Peach Gozo, where you’ll learn to transform everyday moments into stunning photographic art. Guided by experienced tutors Joe Smith and Therese Debono, you’ll explore two foundational genres in photography.
THE DETAILS
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Kick off the workshop by delving into Pictorialism.
Learn how to:
Transform the Ordinary: Use soft focus, creative lighting, and dynamic composition to reinterpret everyday subjects.
Create Emotional Narratives: Capture the subtle moods and atmospheres that give your images depth and character. -
Shift your focus to Straight Photography, where clarity and realism take center stage:
Celebrate Precision: Emphasize detail and accuracy in every shot.
Reveal Hidden Beauty: Discover the allure in ordinary, often overlooked moments.
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Put your newfound skills into practice during an engaging day of shooting assignments:
Dual Approach: Experiment with both Pictorialism and Straight Photography techniques.
Practical Learning: Gain insights through real-time group discussions and constructive critiques that will refine your unique photographic vision.
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Location: Bored Peach Gozo
What to Bring: Your camera (participants are encouraged to experiment with both staged setups and spontaneous street photography)
Explore the historical roots and contemporary relevance of these genres, and leave with a deeper understanding of modern photographic practices. Elevate your photography by learning to see the extraordinary in the everyday.
MEET THE ARTISTS
Joe Smith and Therese Debono are fine art and documentary photographers. While each has a distinctive and personal vision, their collaboration began in 2015 after graduating together with a Master’s in Fine Arts (Digital Arts) from the University of Malta. Since then, they have worked on significant projects, including Spaces in Suspension (2021), which has become a seminal reference in the local art scene.
Joe Smith
Joe received a standard academic education, but after joining the Malta Government in his late teens, he pursued further studies in the arts. His interests span photography, painting, and graphic media. A professional photographer since 1979, he is a Fellow of the Malta Institute of Professional Photographers and various UK professional photographic institutions. He also studied graphic design in Florence, Italy, before earning his MFA in Digital Arts from the University of Malta in 2015.
His portfolio focuses on social documentary, performing arts, portraiture, architecture, and fine art photography. His 33-year documentation of star musicians at the Malta Jazz Festival is internationally recognized. Joe has received numerous national and international awards and has exhibited extensively in Malta and abroad.
Therese Debono
Therese is a documentary photographer specializing in places, streets, and portraiture. Her work explores endangered locations, local interiors, and documentary portraiture, with notable projects including Maltese Interiors, Brides on Beds, Class of ‘93, and BLANK.
Her primary focus is on the loss of heritage in Malta and the ongoing overdevelopment that threatens the island’s once-powerful and unique character.
Born and raised in Malta, Therese holds an MFA in Digital Arts and an MA in Cultural Heritage from the University of Malta. She lectures on photography and cultural heritage at the MCAST Institute for Creative Arts and teaches photography at the University of Malta within the Departments of Communications and Media, as well as Knowledge Science.
www.smithjp.com
www.theresedebono.com
