SEEING DOUBLE!
Whenever I start to examine a new picture I first always try to look at it with an objective eye, that is, I try to understand what exactly it is that the photographer is focusing on. This is sometimes difficult to establish when there are large numbers of persons or objects. Obviously, when there is a specific object to photograph, this is much easier as the focal point is usually in the middle of the picture.
In this gem of a picture ( Pic. 1 top) little is left to doubt about what the main objective is as it stands right there in the middle. Few are the goings on in an otherwise near devoid picture. The simplicity and sense of tranquility is unusual for this particular corner of Strada S. Giovanni with Strada Reale during the daytime, as much today as yesteryear. At a first examination there was not much to scrutinize, but on second thoughts……….
Richard Ellis took this picture just before 1910, if one is to go by the appointment of Michael Borgs’ establishment to supply Edward VII with his wares of Malta fine lace, jewellery, silver, bone china and similar articles that made him a familiar name throughout the island.
At the extreme right of the picture stood the “Grand Studio”, a photographer that mainly took portrait pictures and also some scenery. The style of the light fixture above the doorway collaborates further the date of the picture. On the left, partly hidden by the tree, stood ‘Muscat’, predecessor of the firm “Muscat’s general stores”. At the time this shop sold every type of ‘sporting goods’ imaginable including firearms, cricket bats and “athletes’ requisites.
Of course, right in the middle of the picture stands the main focal point of the picture, the kiosk selling liquid refreshment. Cold water, fizzy drinks, lemonade, flavoured water and I presume, tea and coffee. Other kiosks and stands similar in shape to what are now used to sell Maltese nougat during festas stood at various corners and convient positions. At least two stood at the city entrance, two beneath the arches in front of the bibliotheca, another at the corner of Strada Reale with Ordinace street. One stood at the entrance to the Victoria gate and another at the Marina fishmarket. I still have a faint recollection as an infant of another at the corner of Strada Reale with Strada Santa lucia in front of the law courts. Up to some years ago another one stood at the corner of Strada Teatro with Strada Mercanti, until it met the ignoble fate of being carried away by a refuse truck whose driver misjudged his turning angle and the kiosk is now no more. Another feature of those days were men and boys carrying water in small wooden casks and selling it by the ladle or enamel mug. No doubt, others such details will emerge whilst examining more pictures in the future. Many will eagerly and promptly remind me that the kiosk in the picture has changed shape completely and has now also changed from selling drinks to flowers. All are right but also all are wrong!
No, it was not replaced. A good look at the centre on top of the canvas awning will reveal the very familiar metal spiral of the flowers kiosk’s domed roof. Both kiosks are there, one is hiding the other. The drinks kiosk stood more to the side of St John’s cathedral whilst the flowers kiosk is at the corner of the pavement. Picture 2 (bottom) clearly shows the position of both kiosks.
Which brings us back again to what is the focal point of the picture. The drinks kiosk is clearly the objective, but at the same time this raises questions. Ellis is renown for taking panoramic and scenic photos that show as much as possible. This is the first time that I have ever encountered the exact opposite. Ellis did his utmost to hide the flowers kiosk and only a small insignificant detail gives it away. The picture could have been taken from one other angle without compromising sunlight, yet this is the chosen angle. The only answers I can think of is that it was taken in this manner by the kiosk owner’s request, or for the benefit of Ellis himself as an experiment.
One last note on another detail in the picture. At the base of the fountain on the right stands a box like object. This is a “shoe shine box” where the client rests his foot (and shoe) to be polished. The boy at the right side foreground is the shoe shine boy and the box he carries under his arm probably contains his brushes and polishes. This boy also appears in other pictures taken in the same area. I clearly remember shoeshine boys doing their trade at this very corner and others in front of the law courts…..Another story of the trades in Valletta some other time.
Whenever I start to examine a new picture I first always try to look at it with an objective eye, that is, I try to understand what exactly it is that the photographer is focusing on. This is sometimes difficult to establish when there are large numbers of persons or objects. Obviously, when there is a specific object to photograph, this is much easier as the focal point is usually in the middle of the picture.
In this gem of a picture ( Pic. 1 top) little is left to doubt about what the main objective is as it stands right there in the middle. Few are the goings on in an otherwise near devoid picture. The simplicity and sense of tranquility is unusual for this particular corner of Strada S. Giovanni with Strada Reale during the daytime, as much today as yesteryear. At a first examination there was not much to scrutinize, but on second thoughts……….
Richard Ellis took this picture just before 1910, if one is to go by the appointment of Michael Borgs’ establishment to supply Edward VII with his wares of Malta fine lace, jewellery, silver, bone china and similar articles that made him a familiar name throughout the island.
At the extreme right of the picture stood the “Grand Studio”, a photographer that mainly took portrait pictures and also some scenery. The style of the light fixture above the doorway collaborates further the date of the picture. On the left, partly hidden by the tree, stood ‘Muscat’, predecessor of the firm “Muscat’s general stores”. At the time this shop sold every type of ‘sporting goods’ imaginable including firearms, cricket bats and “athletes’ requisites.
Of course, right in the middle of the picture stands the main focal point of the picture, the kiosk selling liquid refreshment. Cold water, fizzy drinks, lemonade, flavoured water and I presume, tea and coffee. Other kiosks and stands similar in shape to what are now used to sell Maltese nougat during festas stood at various corners and convient positions. At least two stood at the city entrance, two beneath the arches in front of the bibliotheca, another at the corner of Strada Reale with Ordinace street. One stood at the entrance to the Victoria gate and another at the Marina fishmarket. I still have a faint recollection as an infant of another at the corner of Strada Reale with Strada Santa lucia in front of the law courts. Up to some years ago another one stood at the corner of Strada Teatro with Strada Mercanti, until it met the ignoble fate of being carried away by a refuse truck whose driver misjudged his turning angle and the kiosk is now no more. Another feature of those days were men and boys carrying water in small wooden casks and selling it by the ladle or enamel mug. No doubt, others such details will emerge whilst examining more pictures in the future. Many will eagerly and promptly remind me that the kiosk in the picture has changed shape completely and has now also changed from selling drinks to flowers. All are right but also all are wrong!
No, it was not replaced. A good look at the centre on top of the canvas awning will reveal the very familiar metal spiral of the flowers kiosk’s domed roof. Both kiosks are there, one is hiding the other. The drinks kiosk stood more to the side of St John’s cathedral whilst the flowers kiosk is at the corner of the pavement. Picture 2 (bottom) clearly shows the position of both kiosks.
Which brings us back again to what is the focal point of the picture. The drinks kiosk is clearly the objective, but at the same time this raises questions. Ellis is renown for taking panoramic and scenic photos that show as much as possible. This is the first time that I have ever encountered the exact opposite. Ellis did his utmost to hide the flowers kiosk and only a small insignificant detail gives it away. The picture could have been taken from one other angle without compromising sunlight, yet this is the chosen angle. The only answers I can think of is that it was taken in this manner by the kiosk owner’s request, or for the benefit of Ellis himself as an experiment.
One last note on another detail in the picture. At the base of the fountain on the right stands a box like object. This is a “shoe shine box” where the client rests his foot (and shoe) to be polished. The boy at the right side foreground is the shoe shine boy and the box he carries under his arm probably contains his brushes and polishes. This boy also appears in other pictures taken in the same area. I clearly remember shoeshine boys doing their trade at this very corner and others in front of the law courts…..Another story of the trades in Valletta some other time.
Joseph, as usual your scrutiny of the pictures is impeccable and impressive...however please let me point something out.
ReplyDeleteThe point of focus is in the middle only in "snapshots" and not well thought-out and planned photos. This is usually done by those who are not photographers per se, such as tourists taking holiday shots, people shooting family event pics etc etc.
The professional photographer, such as the acclaimed R. Ellis, go by what is called "The Rule of the Thirds", whereby the picture is divided by 2 equally distanced lines horizontally as well as vertically. This effectively divides the picture into 9 tiles of equal size.
So, if one let us say, is shooting a sunset the horizon would be on the lowermost horizontal divider. If one is shooting aan ocean landscape which incorporates foreground buildings (like for example a photo of the Valletta breakwater from Upper Barrakka) the horizon would then fall on the topmost horizontal divider.
The same then applies to vertical structures such as people standing, buildings, etc... However then the point of focus will be either on the right or left vertical divider.
In fact many modern cameras have a feature which draws these lines on your LCD or viewfinder while you shoot the picture, to help compose it in a professional way.
So, I would definitely say that the second picture's point of focus is the Kiosk. But Ellis was artistic and professional enough to further incorporate the post pillar in his rule of the thirds, further enhancing the "equality and equilibrium" of this particular photo. Note how the kiosk and post box are on the vertical dividers.
As for the first picture, I would be dubious if the kiosk was his point of interest in the first place. Dont forget that at those times, cameras had a small aperture giving them a high depth of field (not like todays cameras where with a small aperture of say f2.8 you can get your point of focus sharp while other areas closer or farther away are blurred). This unfortunately makes pinpointing the point of interest more difficult in old photos, as everything is in tack pocal sharpness.
However, if R Ellis was indeed taking a photo of the kiosk he would have panned farther to the left and bring in the kiosk as the main point of interest while include more activity and detail from the piazza. I do think that he intentionally wanted to shoot the 2 officers on patrol. I think that if his main point of interest was the kiosk, he would have changed his angle as also wait for a better time in the day, where the kiosk would be in full light and not in shadow as here.
Regards,
Will
PS Happy New Year to all the family
Thank you very much Juwil, for your observations. I will now look at photos from yet another angle that I never new existed.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunatley, I have been much indisposed healthwise, to say the least, since the beguiniing of the year and was in no mood for articles or observations. Another article is now on the way. This should be, hopefully, of a higher standard than what I have up to now published..
Hi Joseph,
ReplyDeleteVery impressive photos indeed! I'm interested in having an idea of how the Harbour area and the surrounding cities looked like before WW2.
Regards,
Philip
Hi Joseph I remember well the drinks kiosk! It was a treat to go with my parents to Valletta and stop for a ruggata! It used to taste heavenly from what I can recall.
ReplyDeleteLove the photos and looking forward to more, observations and all!