Malta street fashion & a monastery that has been closed to the pubic for 400 years
Malta Street Fashion
Back in March 23 Kate and I had spoken about doing 90’s street fashion in Malta. My career in photography was founded in the 90’s and I’m on a bit of a personal adventure revisiting that past. Specifically the photographers who influenced me at the time. To my luck Kate and I share the same tastes from that era and she quickly agreed to the idea.
A few hours before these shots were taken Kate returned from a shopping expedition in Valletta and she was excited to share her finds.
The dress is a brilliant blue (I know, why are these in B&W…) its cut a perfect fit for her. The hat was another great find, I love hats and Kate had been searching for a big brimmed hat for ages. Kate clearly understood styling and was on a mission to match the 90’s mood board I had shared.
I had used the same time to scout for locations. My original plan to shoot in a local fort was scuppered as it had been booked for a large wedding (the whole thing!) so we used the nearby port which turned out to be equally beautiful.
We were surrounded by huge super yachts and glamorous wedding guests and yet Kate still stood out. We dismissed the onlookers and set about taking these shots. Kate was immediately fabulous, the outfit somehow emboldening her. She was more access than model, a dash of Audrey Hepburn in the last of the Malta sun.
“The monastery of St Catherine in Valletta has been closed to the public for the past 400 years”
The monastery of St Catherine
I woke up early in the morning and went for a coffee and on my journey I walked past a nun. A hour or so later Kate went for a coffee and also walked past a nun. We messaged each other shortly after, she was excited about going to a monastery she had seen. We are tourists here in Malta, but with a purpose, a joint desire to be creative.
The monastery of St Catherine in Valletta has been closed to the public for the past 400 years and is newly opened to the public. It’s a very calming place, the entrance looks over an ornate garden with a fountain as a centre piece. This is surrounded by cloisters that make you want to whisper so as not to interrupt the stillness the architecture and place of mediation affords. The monastery was founded in 1575 and was initially intended to care for female orphans. Over the centuries it has been renovated and rebuilt by a number of caretakers but today it echoes the past in a very soothing way.
Kate was immediately connected with the place and the woman who greeted us at the reception allowed us to take some photos. With a rush of euphoria we quietly took some images that were as still as the environment we were in. Kate was in her creative element and seemed to blend into the rich history that was all around us. This is just one of many images that we were lucky enough to take together yesterday morning.