In this about section, I have put the technical parts of my work at the bottom. I though it best to talk to you. To share with you a little bit of the Martin Bonnici Photography story and what I am about.

Already a Knight of Saint Michael of the Wing and of the Royal House of Portugal, in early August of 2017, I was made a Knight of the Imperial and Royal Russian Order of St. Stanislaus for photographic services to H.I.H the Grand Duchess of Russia. On the 14th of November 2017, H.E. The Count Dr Stanislaw Dumin, King of Arms of the Imperial House of Romanov visited Malta to present four awards from the Imperial House. The ceremony took place at the church of Our Lady of Damascus in Valletta, in that ceremony I was formally presented with my letter patent of Russian Nobility for my photographic services.

I'm very proud and greatfeul to say that through my hard work and dedication, Setpember 2017 saw me awared two international medels of merit for my photographic services. I was awarded a medal of Honour from the Real Academis Sancti Ambrosii Martyris for photographic servises to the Real Academis Sancti Ambrosii Martyris. On the same day I was also awarded the prestigious Medalha Marechal Trompowsky from the Brazilian Goverment in conjunction with the Real Academis Sancti Ambrosii Martyris for photograpic services to nobility and chivalric orders internationaly.

For me, although photography is my profession and has been internationally for over 28 years, it is also my burning passion. Through my work, I get to explore the fabric of life and bring those images to you. Being a travel photographer/photojournalist I am really a story teller, but with images. It often seems as though most days are an adventure just waiting to happen. There are also plenty of days that are spent behind the computer too, that’s okay as well. It gives me a chance to read, connect with friends around the world and edit..lots and lots of editing which I also love doing.

It seems easy to be one dimensional, to say I am a photographer, my work involves so much more. In order to try and understand life a little I read quite a lot of early western philosophy. The reasons for this is as a story teller it is important to ask a question. Seeking the right questions is like being on a fantastic journey and lets face it, in life I think living becomes about the journey rather than the destination.

When I am working in the field walking those extra miles, walking through waist deep snow, going to sea in a sea kayak or just getting lost in a city to bring a better image to you. Each and every image is produced with burning passion and a very deep love and appreciation of life.

About my process and what I do.

When one thinks of travel the first thing that comes to mind is the physical or geographical movement from one place to another. For me it’s much more involved it’s the endless pursuit of the question without the need to have an answer it takes in all of life, time, shape, form, action and emotion. Henri Cartier Bresson one of the most important fathers of photojournalism spoke of the decisive moment, but what is a moment?

French philosopher Voltaire spoke of the importance of time. Roman Emperor (philosopher king) Marcus Aurelius spoke of the passage of time and the need to act so as to not waste the precious moments. French photographer Henri Cartier Bresson father of photojournalism spoke of the Decisive moment.

My photographic work explores a combination of these topics in life via travel photography in all its glory. I define my own work as a continuous visual philosophical question. “Is the image a moment in a lifetime or a lifetime in a moment?”

Other than international travel and photojournalism, I also specialize in shooting in sensitive heritage and historical interiors, cultural travel, adventure and sport images with a strong narrative from an experienced artistic eye. Through Martin Bonnici Photography I have produced number of solo exhibitions. Some of these have been to help give a strong cultural ambiance to promote product launches.

Member of the International Mirca Art Group. I sit as 1 of 6 council members representing Australia and Malta. We produce high quality exhibitions world wide including exhibitions aimed at human rights to help better the course for others. I am also a member of Room No. 5 Circle of Art. This is an invite only commercial group of international artists of various disciplines. These exhibitions are of a wide breath of topics.

Everyone has a different way of looking at life, their methods of working and expression is totally unique to them. In my view this it is one of the many things that makes the arts so great and special.

To try to break down a very small part of the process I go though it would look something like this:

Aesthetics: What is good (or not good) and why.

Composition: What am I trying to say and what do I want you look at.

Accuracy: Camera setting for light, colour, focus depth of field and so on. Also composition rules.

Digestion: My interpretation of an image to leave the viewer with the right feel to that image so they hopefully come to the right conclusion. This means understanding the rules and techniques with the intention of breaking each elements to find a deeper level of expression. To be fluid is important.

Part of a huge process of what I use to bring it together. Platonic and Socratic dialogs: An example from the book of Parmenides. They talk about things that are alike but not alike. In short, a photo is like a scene I am trying to show you but it is not that actual scene, only a representation of it. My job is to evoke emotions by showing you that image.

The sliding questions: What are my clients concepts? What are my clients needs? What am I trying to show you? What do I want you to feel? have I achieved my goals. Last of all, do I want layers in the image that you may or may not find.

The answer: What will the use of that image be. This will allow me to finish the image off for that purpose.

Please feel free to contact me for a chat or for me to answer any questions, thanks for stopping in.

Martin