Malta

Malta's bays and flat rocky coasts

In the Malta shots, the coast changes from wave-washed rocks to quieter bays. Low light temporarily creates a wide trail on the water. In closer views, however, the small gradation between the dry rock slab and the edge washed over by waves becomes visible.

Light on the rocky coast

In Malta, flat coastal rocks appear against the sea with varying degrees of clarity depending on the light. For a comparison, it is therefore recommended to use a fixed projection as a reference point.

From land the first thing you notice is the open water. In an aerial view, the process can be reversed and the coast can be seen from the sea. Wherever it changes direction, small protected spaces are created. Other sections extend almost straight to the edge of the picture. When selecting a motif, it is worth comparing these transitions with each other. A single, striking rocky outcrop can identify a location more clearly than a much larger expanse of water with only light and waves visible.

How the bay opens

The two sides of a bay do not have to take up the same amount of space in an aerial photo. Often the closer headland obscures part of the opposite bank. A higher view opens up the space in between and shows the transition to open water. This makes a second view particularly valuable for depicting the location. While one image explains the location on the coast, the other can show the sheltered interior area, where the course of the shore and the use of the land are more clearly visible.

Shapes in the side light

Deep light places a bright side and a shadow side on the same shape. In this way, even small elevations gain a clear profile. However, a particularly bright area can also distract from the main subject. When selecting an image, it is helpful to briefly look at the photo in a reduced size. What first catches the eye will often be the introduction to a publication. Another crop can take advantage of the light accent while still showing enough surroundings to see the location.

The distribution of blue tones

For a direct image comparison, use shot 51 and shot 62 from the gallery with 86 aerial photos. In the first excerpt, shades of blue play a smaller role. In the second shot, blue areas take up more space. Blue can extend over a large contiguous area or only appear in individual parts. What also counts for the effect is whether these areas extend to the edge of the picture or surround the main subject.

According to camera data, Shot 44 and Shot 1 were taken on January 10, 2020. There is a gap of around 214 minutes between the two images. The exposure time was 1/1000 second for the first of the images mentioned and 1/240 second for the second.

For a selection of moving images, the gallery contains 31 linked clips. Below is “Malta from the air”. Under Aerial Videos the preview leads to the aerial photographer's respective offer at Adobe Stock.

Select the coastal view for a photo series

When telling a story about a coast, the order of the images counts. A further look first explains the course of the bank. A closer view can then show the transition from land to water. If an image series begins with a narrow section, readers usually need an additional location reference. The planned size is also important for the aerial photographer. A small indentation can be a clear reference point on a double page spread and almost disappear completely in a narrow column. The caption should match the actual section used.

Related motifs in the aerial photo archive

The article Croatia offers another perspective. A look at the Croatian Adriatic coast can show the shape of a bay or the close relationship between houses and water. In the gallery Crete there is a different focus. The Crete series ranges from an almost vertical view of rocky slopes to the vast coastline under clouds.