The 44th Open Annual Exhibition and Competition of Photographic Art 2009 organised by the Malta Photographic Society will be officially inaugurated by HON. Dolores Cristina B.A. (Hons), M.P. Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport at the Italian Cultural Institute on Wednesday 10th June 2009. The exhibition is being held under the patronage of Images Sans Frontiere, in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute.
This year’s competition has seen an encouraging number of works being exhibited, each produced and executed with extreme excellence. Indeed, this year the Society has received a total of 531 works by 71 participants. There were 155 Monochrome Prints, 155 Colour Prints, and 177 Colour Projected Images. The 139 acceptances on show, comprising of 60 Monochrome Prints, 79 Colour prints and 89 Colour Projected Images, are not merely photographic images but distinct works of art.
This year, the Society brought over from Scotland Mr. Rikki O’Neill FRPS MPAGB, to chair the judging panel composed of Mr. Leigh Preston FRPS, EFIAP from United Kingdom and the local photographer Mr. Daniel Cilia LRPS.
The MPS Gold Awards were awarded to Mr. Charles Pace AMPA AFIAP for his monochrome print “MEDITATION” and to Mr. Johann Debono for his colour print “LEFT OUT”. The MPS Silver Awards were presented to Mr. Charles Pace AMPA AFIAP for his monochrome print “THE DOLL” and to Mr. Josef Bonnici for his colour print “QUENCHING FIRE”. In the colour projected images category, Mr. Patrick Genovese was awarded the MPS Gold Award for his work “KINETIC ENERGY”, whilst Mr. Marco Bilocca won the MPS Silver Award for his image entitled “IZAKK”.
The monochrome ISF Diploma was awarded to Mr. Charles Grixti for his print “CURVES” whilst; Mr. Marco Bilocca was awarded the ISF Diploma for his colour print entitled “HANDS OF GOD”. Mr. Melvin Bugeja was awarded the ISF Diploma in the colour projected image category for his work entitled “APOCALYPSE”.
Mr. Noel Harmsworth, Mr. Ruben Buhagiar and Mr. Martin Scerri were each awarded with Honourable Mention certificates for their monochrome prints “HUMAN”, “AWAITING ACTION”, and “967” respectively. Honourable Mentions under the colour prints category were awarded to Ms. Pauline Grech, Mr. Patrick Genovese, Mr. Martin Scerri and to Mr. Alex Attard for their work “THE CHOIR”, “INVISIBLE”, “MAN IN GOLD”, “SLUM DOOR” and “LAOS CHILDREN”. Mr. Melvin Bugeja, Mr. Charles Grixti and Mr. Leonard Cocks were also awarded an Honourable Mention certificate each for their colour projected images work entitled “SOLO CAMP”, “DOOMED”, “RED ARROWS” and “LA PAZ” respectively.
The Pentax Award for best work with a Local Theme was awarded Mr. Noel Harmsworth for his print “IX-XLUKKAJRI”. The Tony S. Mangion Award for the Best Portrait work was awarded to Mr. Charles Pace AMPA AFIAP for his colour print “HUGGING”. Mr. Charles Grixti won the Hasselblad Award for the best Experimental work with a colour print entitled “HUNGRY VULTURES”.
Due to the very high standard presented for the competition, this year the judges unanimously decided to award also the “Judges Choice” Award to three particular photographs. Mr Leigh Preston’s choice was for a colour print entitled “LET IT ALL GO” by David P Attard. Mr. Rikki O’Neill’s choice was for a monochrome print by Mr. Leonard Cocks entitled “WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?” The colour print “THE AQUARIUM AQUAINTANCE” by Ms Pauline Grech was selected by Mr. Daniel Cilia.
The exhibition will be open for the general public from Thursday 11th to Wednesday 24th June 2009.The opening hours are as follows:-
Monday to Wednesday
- From 0930 hrs to 1300hrs & from 1430hrs to 1630hrs
Thursday
- From 0930hrs to 1300hrs & from 1430hrs to 1800hrs
Friday
Saturday & Sunday
Wednesday 24th June
- 0930 till 1300hrs - Closing down of Exhibition
Further information on the Malta Photographic Society and its activities may be sought by contacting the Society on Tel. 21242265 or e-mail: mps1961@gmail.com.
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