Across the Medium — On either side of the lens

#1 • Jan Zammit — Actor, model, photographer • Photos by Bernard Gatt • Location: Mosta, Malta

Across the Medium is Stradalia’s series of quiet stories shot with artists and makers—short photo essays paired with a brief write-up.

We caught Jan in Malta for a modelling job and took a morning in Mosta—mid-August, out before the heat for kinder light. Days after the Santa Maria festa, the streets were cleared and calm. First stop, the Rotunda—where else would you begin—then a simple loop of corners and limestone.
Jan works in front of the camera most days. He’s appeared in more than seventy TV commercials, and the approach is steady: be professional, be kind, be respectful. He begins by understanding what the director needs—“it’s my job to help bring their story to life”—then eases into movement: no rigid poses, just natural shifts, always aware of where the lens sits and how the light falls. “Don’t pose. Be free,” he says, “but stay aware.” He creates options for the photographer or DP—angles, marks, small changes that let a frame breathe.
Because he also photographs people, he knows how vulnerable it can feel on the other side. Connection comes first: music on, a short conversation, the ice broken. Comfort isn’t a nicety; it’s part of the work. On set he watches the monitor, adjusts a shoulder, tries something else—detail-minded without fuss. Trust lands, and good pictures arrive.
Around Mosta we keep that rhythm: shade, then sun; a doorway, then open street and we end with a quick tea break and a chat in a popular local spot. We wrap when the ideas thin and the picture feels settled. Quiet work, done well.
For this shoot Jan is wearing our light-weight Script Hat in off-white made from 100% cotton twill with an adjustable closure.

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