Roberta Writes – Art series: Introducing the art, photography & poetry of Michael Sammut #art #photography #poetry

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Today, I am showcasing the incredible photography, artwork, and poetry of Michael Sammut. You can follow Michael Sammut on his blog here: https://lifeexperiencesandadventures.wordpress.com/

Tell us a bit about your photography – are you a professional photographer or is photography a hobby? Have you done any courses on photography or are you self-taught?

From a very young age I was interested in photography. The fact that you can capture a moment in a photo and immortalize it, truly fascinated me. My first hands on experience was with a very basic camera my dad owned. It would be a very long time before I could finally afford to purchase my first camera. From then onward, I never stopped trying to improve my skills, learning by trial and error and research from various sources.

It is a hobby, but a fundamental part of my life. 

Picture caption: Three- spot Grass Yellow. Photographed in Sri Lanka by Michael Sammut

In a dark forest
A yellow butterfly lands
On a violet bloom.

Haiku 533.

What draws you to photographing birds and other creatures in our natural world?

I am particularly interested in photographing nature, in particular birds and butterflies. Not only because I find them fascinating but also to immortalize their beauty and share it with other people, with the final intent or hope, to promote the conservation of our natural world which is constantly under threat from human irresponsible activities.

Picture caption: Hummingbird Hawk- Moth. Photographed in Gozo, Malta by Michael Sammut

Flying to and fro
Sipping from purple flowers
The fast wings humming.

Haiku 672.

Tell us a bit about your camera and what works for you with photography?

In over 35 years I have worked with various cameras from the same brand. I lived through the evolution from film photography to digital photography which brought in many changes and somehow made photography more accessible. Now I have started to work with mirrorless cameras which are a huge leap into better results in photography especially when you need high speeds in low light conditions, a common occurrence when photographing fast moving subjects like birds. I prefer a telephoto lens as it gives you the freedom to choose how to frame the subject. Nowadays there are some great options in the market that don’t necessarily break your bank account. I use a 100-500mm lens which Replaced my previous 100-400mm lens. For other subjects I use a 24-105mm lens.

Picture caption: Sparkling Violetear (male). Photographed at Wild Sumaco Lodge, Ecuador by Michael Sammut

Glittering jewel
A moment frozen in time
Darting hummingbird.

Tell us a bit about your art journey – when did you start drawing and painting? Which came first, the photography or the art, or did you always do both?

As much as I was interested in photography I was also interested in art, in particular drawing and painting. This came before photography but to my regret, I have put this aside for a long time due to limited time. 

Picture caption: Spring Bloom. Acrylic on canvas by Michael Sammut
Depicting the beauty of fields covered with flowers in spring.

Robbie: I am very drawn to this incredible artwork. The colours are amazing.

What medium did you prefer to work with for your artworks?

My dives into the art world are somewhat sporadically. As a medium, I prefer to work with acrylic, aquarelles, ink and pencil colours. I find that Acrylic gives you a great variety of options but pencil colours give you more control. 

Picture caption: Black- shouldered Kite. Ink and aquarelles by Michael Sammut

Who is your favourite artist and why?

My favorite artists are Vincent Van Gogh, Vasily Kandinsky, Paul Klee and Picasso. Whenever, I look at their paintings my mind is intrigued and pleased at the same time.

Picture caption: Aftermath: Acrylic on canvas by Michael Sammut
Painted during the Yugoslav wars, when genocide and atrocities occurred on a daily basis and the world just kept their eyes closed. 

You can find more of Michael Sammut’s artworks on his blog here: https://lifeexperiencesandadventures.wordpress.com/my-art-page/

About Michael Sammut

Picture caption: Blog photograph of Michael Sammut

My name is Michael Sammut, born in Malta, where I still live. Travel is an important part of my life, firstly because I love exploring and discovering our planet but secondly the get away from the insular mentality of small island countries. I love nature, travel, adventure, nature conservation, art, poetry, music and photography. 

I graduated as an Industrial Designer and also hold a certificate in Ornithology.

I have dedicated my life to exploring and studying nature and in return love to share the beauty of nature that surrounds us, hoping to inspire more people to love and protect nature and the environment. 

In recent times I have been inspired by a fellow blogger and poet to dive into the world of Haikus which has opened a new way to express my interests.

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Published by robertawrites235681907

I am a writer of young adult fiction and poetry

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71 thoughts on “Roberta Writes – Art series: Introducing the art, photography & poetry of Michael Sammut #art #photography #poetry”

  16. Wonderful mini interview, so lovely to showcase Michael’s photography, art and poetry! Congratulations to Michael, and thank you Robbie… reading it has been both entertaining and informative, especially the part about the camera Michael uses, and the lens, nice and interesting details! 😊

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  22. A wonderful interview, Robbie! I have been following Michael for some time and really enjoy his fabulous and sometimes breathtaking photography! The first photo in your post is a great example of his beautiful work. Thank you for sharing this with us.

    Dwight

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