Sold Out
Valletta, under the Arches of Queen Victoria Square. It’s not yet 1015 on the day before Christmas, and Domenic has sold all of his beautiful Carnations. Fifty beautiful bunches he had. They’re all gone now!. There’s only one bouquet left, an ordered one, seen here propped up against the wall on the left side of his little flower stall. A few other Carnations are still on display hung in pots on the side. These he’ll probably give to the Parish Priest, to put in front of the Statue of Baby Jesus, on his way home. It’s an unusual early closing day for Domenic, seen here gathering all the cut-off stalks from his sold Carnations, whilst wishing his customer would hurry up and collect his ordered flowers so that he can close his stall and return home to his wife. In his early seventies, Domenic has inherited this stall from his Father. Descendants of his family have run this little business in Victoria Square in Valletta, since early Victorian times. Soon to retire, he’s thinking of who will traditionally continue to run the Flower Stall. Both of his Sons run businesses of their own – as Florists of course – but both are extremely busy with their greenhouses and the export and local distribution of flowers, to care about this little stall. Tears well up his eyes as he remembers that this little stall has fed and clothed his family for decades, only to be regarded as too small to bother about now, after all these years!. Maybe he’ll talk one of his granddaughters into it and break up his family tradition. It was always the eldest son who inherited the stall. If she keeps the good customer relations he has, he’s sure she’ll be allright. A few good tips from him will certainly see her on her way. He’d certainly hate to see the stall closed down altogether or end up the property of a non-family member. Suddenly remembering it’s Christmas time, he quickly brushed away his thoughts and made a mental note to think about this problem after the festivities. A shadow from behind him made him turn round to find that his customer has come for his flowers.
Sold Out belongs to the following groups:
Complex Simplicity of Art, All Things Poetic, Artistic, Philosophical, Candid Photography ( 1/24 ) , Creative, Talented, and Unknown, Elderly , European Everyday Life (add the place!), Everyday Life, First Things, Former DPF Members, ImageWriting (2/24), Light In The Darkness, Mood & Ambience - Strictly Photos, Olympus and Four Thirds Group, SHOPFRONTS , Street Photography and Photojournalism, Your Magic Place (PLACES only!!) and à EUROPA! Available for sale asGreeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints and Framed Prints
Philip Golan
A wonderful holiday story with a super candid shot to illustrate it.
Merry Christmas Anthony.
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you Philip. Sometimes I just cannot stop writing…I only wish I could write better English!. Merry Christmas to you my friend and may you have a Happy and Prosperous New Year.
Marvin Collins
Great image and the story that goes with it is equally entrancing. Beautiful lighting and colors and the processing is excellent. Very well done Tony my friend!!
Anthony Vella replied
Hello Marvin…..pleased to know you like this image. Appreciate your kind and encouraging comment my friend.
mikebov
Wonderful combination of Photograph & Narrative
Best wishes
Mike
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you Mike….so glad you like both picture and story. All the best for Christmas and the New Year my friend.
Ellen
I know this little shop in Valletta, i see it every year! Thanks for sharing, beautiful photo Tony!
Anthony Vella replied
Hi Ellen…..I have no doubt that you know this little flower stall…..most of those who come to Malta have seen it. Its so old. Thank you for your visit and comment my friend.
Cora Wandel
Great photo and story, excellent as always! – Cora
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you Cora my friend….you always flatter me with your kind comments. May you be Blessed with a very Happy Christmas and a Healty, Successful and Prosperous New Year.
IngridSonja
A lovely story-a lovely picture!
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you Ingrid….appreciate your visit and kind comment. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and all your loved ones.
Dennis Gay
G’day Toninu,
A very poignant and moving narrative supports this very well made image – a slice of real life in Valletta.
Your basic exposure/s must have been very good to produce such a rich HDR and the processing has made full use of the light.
A good tight composition makes this image much more personal and that you have photographed Dominic at work is a far better result than a posed shot.
A good depth of field right into the booth and focussed/sharpened beautifully.
The colours are warm and rich and not overdone.
A wonderful record of a passing time that I find very interesting and well worth revisiting.
GB
Dennis
PS: My heartiest and warmest Christmas Season wishes to you and yours Toninu!
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you Dennis . Your deep scrutiny and kind comment of my work honour and encourage me my friend. I too hope that you and your loved ones had a very enjoyable Christmas Day, and wish you all a very Happy and Prosperous New Year, filled with Love and Good Health.
Peacefulwarrior
A great narrative to add to a perfect little human piece….. very nice indeed. :))
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you Peacefulwarrior. Glad you like both picture and story.
Simon Duckworth
Great narrative to go with a brill photo, adds the a real story to it.
Anthony Vella replied
Hi Simon. Nice to know you find both Picture and Story interesting enough to leave your good comment. Thank you my friend .
Rosalie Dale IPA
Tony what a work of art – AND the story of course just finishes it off. Perfect processing for a beautifully poignant image – I have to agree with Dennis. Do trust you had a great Christmas … bless you!
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you Rosalie….you’re very kind. Yes we’re having a Great Christmas Day (it’s still 1730 hrs here) We have quite a few guests from my wife’s family over for lunch and tea (we’re 20 in all!) and westill have a few hours together yet. Thank you for your visit and kind thoughts my friend and hope you had a great Christmas Day too.
Antanas
very good
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you Antanas….appreciate your visit and kind comment my friend. Best wishes for the New Year.
debsphotos
Wow Tony…what a narrative!!! !!What a wonderful story to accompany this fantastic image!!! Very well done on both accounts!! *-)
Anthony Vella replied
Hi Deb. Nice to know you like tis picture and its narrative. Thank you for your visit and very kind and encouraging comment my dear friend.
Cora Wandel
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you Cora my friend. Greatly appreciate this Great honour. Forever grateful.
Xandru
Brilliant image Tony, and an interesting narrative! Ever thought of taking up writing for a living :))
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you Alex. Glad you like the picture and narrative. Greatly appreciate your visit and kind comment my friend.
shellbee
superb piece of art
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you shellbee…...appreciate your visit and kind encouraging comment.
Joanne Bradley
Exceptional candid shot with a great storyline behind it! Congrats on ImageWriting feature!
Anthony Vella replied
Hi Joanne…....nice of you to visit my gallery. Thank you for your very kind comment and compliment.
Gilberte
Hi Tony…what a wonderful shot accompanied by a wondeful writer’s story.Writer and poet! I know what I am talking about! Sahha Betty
Anthony Vella replied
My Dear Friend Betty….thank you so much. You really flatter me. Its a great compliment to have you comment so favourably on my work. You have a fantastic portfolio yourself and your artistic talents reflect your work beautifully. Greatly appreciate your support, Dear Lady.
Tibby Steedly
Tony, your images and writing are truly magical. Thank you for another wonderful experience!
Anthony Vella replied
Oh Tibby…you too flatter me too much. I am nothing special. I just look out for anything worth capturing, compose and shoot…the rest is just luck. My Photography and Writing are the product of my love for Art in all its forms, and my gratefulness to God for all His creations and for teaching me to appreciate it all. Thank you my friend….appreciate your visit and kind comment.
Shelly Hiebert
Wow…I just love this image. Such a real moment in time. And your story is really very beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing both Tony :)
Anthony Vella replied
Hello Shelly. Thank you for your very kind and encouraging comment my friend. I’m glad you like both picture and story. Nice to know my efforts are being appreciated.
Béla Török
Excellent work, Anthony!
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you Bela…...glad you like this picture.
David Clark
wow Tony
- I was mesmerized by the writing -I kept reading and looking back at the photo and reading and getting more out of the photo- just wonderful -the photo by itself is terrific with the words it becomes magical – especially at Christmas time- congratulations on the feature -and thanks (by the way your English is superb – better than most Americans I would have to admit) —daveAnthony Vella replied
Hello Dave. Pleased to know you enjoyed both picture and story. Nice to know my efforts are being appreciated. I greatly appreciate your vist and encouraging (if not extremely complimenting) comment my friend. Thank you, and I hope you and your loved ones will have a Happy and Prosperous New Year filled with Love and Good Health.
narabia
great story
it was a pleasure to read still in Christmas atmosphere around
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you Narabia…..as I know that you’ve been to Valletta, I guess you know this flower stall.
narabia
I am affraid not. The only I remember was very close to St. John Co-Cathedral (front to Republic street) but I think it was a green one.
By the way, Valletta is my fav city in Malta. I loved also Mdina but it is very different, a treasure. I had given a name Valletta to my little kitty :D
Anthony Vella replied
Hi narabia. This little stall is under the Arches at the back of Victoria Square on the left, right next to the Palace side entrance, where the open Market starts. It can’t be seen from Republic Street. The other flower stall you mentioned is still there. Glad you enjoyed your visit and nice of you to name your kitty after our Beautiful Capital City.
Alison Cornfor...
A fantastic image with a beautiful narrative! All the best for 2009!
Anthony Vella replied
Hi Alison…so sorry I missed your kind comment and wishes. Please forgive me. Thank you for your visit my friend.
Jason Connolly
Brillisant, love it.
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you Jason. Appreciate your encouraging comment my friend.
Heather Nel
This is an invitation to please place this artwork into our group SHOPFRONTS LINK
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you for your kind invitation Heather. I have just joined the group and submited this image.
Sylvia Gonzales
A very touching story!!! And this capture is BRILLIANT!!!!!!! Absolutely Love This!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you Sylvia. Glad you like this picture and appreciate your visit and kind comment.
Alateia
i love this to peices, but i need the location in there somewhere before i can accept it into EUROPA where it will be very much at home
Anthony Vella replied
Hi Alateia. The location is in the middle of the text in the paragraph starting: Descendants of his family have run this little business in ‘Victoria Square in Vallleta’, since early Victorian times. Whilst hoping that this information is to your requirements, I kindly beg you to let me know if you’d require the location to be more obvious, and I’ll do my best to comply with your request. Thank you for your kind interest. Tony.
Clare McClelland
Beautiful work
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you Clare. Pleased to know you like this image.
Alateia
oops sorry i missed that, i have so many images to approve its hard at times to be as thorough as i need to be. would you mind submitting it please, thanks for the info
Heather Nel
Anthony Vella replied
Thank you for your time to inform me of this honour Heather. I truly appreciate it.
Heather Nel
Anthony Vella replied
WOW Heather…..I am greatly honoured. Thank you and all those who voted for my work. You’ve truly made my day!!