Another example of mine of how to use selective colouring in a photo, this time on one from the Maltese carnival. This one was taken with the Nikon D800 and edited in Colorblast for the iPhone. With all the clutter in the background it really brings focus to the important part; the girl enjoying a bit of sunshine.
The last of the Malta photos I'll show you before I go back to showing pics from Copenhagen, is this one. You've already seen the one taken a third of a second before where the canon at the saluting battery at Upper Barakka Gardens showed a red fireball. This cloud of gunsmoke was almost as impressive when captured. I do like the Nikon D800 even though the frame rate per second is not quite as good as my Nikon D300, but it was good enough for this sequence.
When you revisit somewhere after a few years you tend to notice the changes, even if you're not sure what has happened. This was the case when I saw Republic Square in Valletta for the first time in 4 years. It took me a few minutes to realize what was wrong; it wasn't a parking place anymore but a fully functional square with a modern fountain and benches to sit. And I must confess I like the change.
This is not the base of columns but the lids of granaries. The granaries where well inside the city walls of Valletta so that the grain was kept safe in case of a new siege. These granaries are in front of Fort St Elmo at the tip of the peninsula.
It's still very obvious that the Malta was a British colony for more then 150 years. Red telephone boxes, Royal Mail letter boxes, left-hand drive and the fact that most Maltese speaks very good English are just a few of the signs.
One thing I remember from earlier visits to Malta is the old yellow and red Leland and Bedford busses from the 1950's and 1960's. They have recently been replaced by modern busses run by Arriva. So no more bumping around in a door-less relic with the fumes trailing behind and the sound of the struggling engine and grinding gear-shifts. No more wondering when the passengers are expected to jump out to push the near wreck up that steep hill or if the breaks doesn't work or the driver just don't use them on the downhill. I actually miss the experience, even though I'm sure most of the locals like change.
A must see in Malta is the church of the Mosta parish, called Mosta Dome. Hailed as the third largest free-standing Christian dome in Europe, it really is worth a visit. Remember to see the miracle bomb as well, and hear the story of how the German bomb penetrated the dome during World War II and failed to go off, saving the lives of around 300 people celebrating mass there at the time.
For thousands of years the two big natural harbours of Grand Harbour and Marsamxett Harbour has made Malta one of the most important pieces of land in the Mediterranean, and more so it's strategic placement in the narrow strait between North Africa and Sicily. Even today it's still an important stop for many merchant ships and cruise lines. Sometimes the ships has to berth a little too close for comfort, like this tanker anchored right next to a block of apartments.
Called The Silent City Mdina in Central Malta is the Capitol of old from before the Knights of St John came it the island. Sitting on a hilltop it was the perfect refuge when pirates, invaders or other pests came to the island. With only about 300 inhabitants it's a nice and quiet place, especially out of the tourist season. And the narrow medieval streets invites you to explore and enjoy the atmosphere.
