Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1503864
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 16 JULY 2023 6 ALMANAC My essentials XAXA CALLEJA 43, painter After travelling and working in many countries for years, I am now back to the place that I was raised in, Nadur, Gozo. I started photography (www. nadinemohrphotography.com), when my dad gave me one of his old cameras to practice a few years back. From the first click I was hooked. The fact that one can never capture the same moment twice and make it your own really spoke to me. I love the editing and postproduction too. Playing with lights and shadows, setting the mood and tone of the photograph. I ride a racer bike as a commuter and for pleasure. 4 5 1. Book 2. Film 3. Internet 4. Music 5. Place ZEN Habits, is a website written by Leo Babauta that I frequent periodically. I like the simplicity and directness of his message. Basically, his website focuses on finding simplicity and mindfulness in our lives. It is also about removing what is unessential and to focus on what is im- portant. With all the distrac- tions that are available I find it hard to focus and not feel overwhelmed by my com- mitments. Zen Habits, offers simple advice which I find practical for my daily life. THE soundtrack of "The Pi- anist" which featured music composed by Frédéric Cho- pin. For many years I painted listening to this soundtrack. Now when I listen to Cho- pin, I find I can only listen to one or two pieces. There is something in Chopin's pieces where I feel the bittersweet- ness of life wrapped up in his notes. It makes me want to cry and at the same time I feel in awe that anything exists. I am enamoured by the Aeoli- an islands, particularly by Vul- cano and Stromboli. I love the intensity of the blue sea in stark contrast to the black volcan- ic beaches. There is a certain roughness and authenticity to these islands that I find capti- vating. Not to mention the smell of sulphur that welcomes you before you set foot on the island of Vulcano. On Stromboli I felt humbled by the enormous ac- tive volcano. I feel a heightened sense of awareness when I visit these two islands. THE Book of Ichigo Ichie, The Art of Making the Most of Every Moment, The Japa- nese Way. This book describes the concept of being present in all moments. All moments are fleeting, and this book re- minds us of this and how we should savour the moment before it slips away. Each mo- ment is unique and will never be repeated in the same way again. The authors also re- mind us to seize the moment, or it will be lost forever. MY Octopus Teacher. Most of the film is concentrated on the building of a relationship between the filmmaker and the octopus. You can feel how he is transformed by his rela- tionship with the octopus. The film shows us what happens when he slows down and really engages with his surroundings. Often, we are in such a rush to move onto to the next thing that we fail to notice what is in front of us. 3 2 Compiled by Laura Calleja suggestions by email lcalleja@mediatoday.com 1