Three Distinct Voices Behind the Lens Come Together in New Photographic Exhibition
Photo credit: Tessa Mercieca
Photography becomes a meeting point of memory, curiosity, and artistic exploration in a new collective exhibition by photographers Bernadette Carabott, Martine Ellul, and Tessa Mercieca. Bringing together three individual yet complementary creative journeys, the exhibition presents a rich and varied visual experience that reflects the evolving nature of contemporary photography.
Although each photographer approaches the medium through a different lens, their shared dedication to storytelling, experimentation, and artistic growth forms the foundation of this collaborative showcase.
For Bernadette, photography has long served as a bridge between emotion and memory. Influenced from an early age by her father’s paintings and inspired by a cherished childhood photograph, she gradually developed a personal visual language rooted in observation and reflection. What began as an instinctive attraction to image-making, later evolved into a more focused practice during retirement, when she immersed herself in manual photography techniques, workshops, and advanced study.
Bernadette Carabott
Her work today moves fluidly across genres, from evocative street photography to detailed macro imagery and the expressive abstraction of intentional camera movement (ICM). Bernadette’s photographs often carry a painterly quality, balancing technical discipline with spontaneity and emotion. Her recent participation in exhibitions organized by the Malta Photographic Society has further established her presence within Malta’s photographic community.
Equally inspired by artistic expression, Martine discovered photography as a natural extension of her lifelong appreciation for visual art. Over the past six years, she has cultivated a distinctive style shaped by continuous experimentation and a fascination with light, texture, and composition. Describing photography as “painting with light,” Martine is particularly drawn to moments and details that might otherwise pass unnoticed.
Her portfolio reflects a wide-ranging curiosity, encompassing architectural studies captured during travel, intimate macro photography, and candid portraiture. Through each image, she seeks to reveal unexpected beauty within ordinary surroundings while maintaining a strong sense of technical precision. Participation in workshops and exhibitions has played an important role in refining her artistic voice and expanding her creative perspective.
Martine Ellul
Bernadette Carabott
For Tessa, creativity was nurtured from childhood within a family environment deeply connected to art and nature. While she initially explored traditional artistic media, her creative direction shifted dramatically after purchasing her first digital camera a decade ago. Photography soon developed into both a personal passion and a defining form of expression.
Initially captivated by landscapes, Tessa broadened her focus during the COVID period, turning increasingly toward street photography and candid human interaction. This transition strengthened her ability to observe fleeting moments and dynamic relationships within everyday life. More recently, her attention has centred on birds, wildlife, and architecture, subjects through which she combines technical skill with imaginative framing and perspective.
Together, the three photographers present a compelling dialogue between differing styles, subjects, and experiences. Their collective exhibition celebrates photography not only as a technical craft, but also as a deeply personal form of storytelling capable of preserving emotion, inspiring curiosity, and transforming familiar scenes into meaningful works of art.
By uniting their individual perspectives, Bernadette, Martine, and Tessa invite audiences to engage with photography as both an artistic practice and a way of seeing the world anew.
