Ferry Crossings

Crossing between Gozo and Malta is part of the daily commute for most Maltese citizens, especially those that like me live on the smaller island of Gozo.

The commute is via a ferry and the trip takes approximately 25mins. The ferry is in service daily approximately every 45mins and rain or shine it operates according to schedule. Only in very bad weather will it miss some trips. This is due to the fact that it is a vital means of transportation.

I have been using the service for most of my life, be it for school, work and other errands. When crossing everything is very familiar and thus nothing seems interesting anymore mostly cos it’s part of a process. I am on the ferry to arrive to my destination.

All this changed this summer when I noticed a couple of tourists.

Looking at things with a different mindset

So there I was sitting in the ferry cafeteria when I noticed a small group of tourists, probably friends, looking in wonder the whole trip. The ferry was leaving port from Malta to Gozo and they were taking in the views from atop the ferry. What splendid views! After around 5mins, we passed Comino, a small island found between Gozo and Malta. It’s famous for its beaches and it’s a tourist attraction.

Also, the tower built by the Knights of Malta is always a good conversation piece of history or simply because it was featured in the Count of Monte Cristo movie.

Photographing the familiar

We all tend to try and photograph new places because it is easy to get inspired. Having said that, it’s worth taking a look around your hometown and familiar areas that are within reach. It is a fact that it’s a bit more difficult to come up with different perspectives, but thinking about it, these places are the most reachable to us. This means that unlike tourists, we can revisit these places over and over, try different things and if nothing comes out of it, we can go the next day. We can photograph something in different seasons, in a way that shows its history etc.

Another approach can be that of documenting changes in your hometown. These are things that will probably resonate more and are noticeable more from a local than a tourist.

Concluding

So next time you are out and about photographing something which looks mundane, take some time, try looking at it from a different perspective, after all, isn’t that what photography is all about?

Let me know your thoughts and as always, thanks for taking the time to read this article.