Daniel Cilia needs no introduction.  His work has placed him at the forefront of Gozo’s photographic scene, as he shaped his career as a full-time photographer and book designer.  But beyond his love for capturing the island’s beauty, Daniel is passionate about Gozo – its history, geography and the kaleidoscope of other facets that make up our cultural identity.  Recently, VisitGozo had the pleasure of catching up with him for a chat.

Daniel picked up his first camera when he was thirteen, driven by impatience with drawing.  As a young teen, he was inspired by his cousin’s love of sketching and sought an alternative. Daniel soon realised that photography was the next best thing to drawing, with the immediacy he craved.  His quick fix for drawing impatience turned into a fascination that has never stopped evolving, fuelled further by attending photography courses.  At sixteen years of age, he found himself working as a student nurse in Malta, and for a while, his hobby was relegated to the back burner, but not for long.

By 1985, he had already held his first exhibition at Circolo Gozitano, followed by another at the Museum of Fine Arts, Malta.  Daniel soon discovered that while he loved curating the displays and engaging with visitors, he hated dismantling the exhibitions, because it left him with a deflating feeling after all that hard work.  Seeking something more enduring, he fused his photography with his love for books, which had inspired him from an early age.  Books are a perpetual exhibition, and Daniel, who has already published 160 books, hints that there are more in the pipeline.

In 1988, he won a scholarship to study photography in Florence.  In Italy, his mentor, an American creative photographer was not a technical person, and needed assistance with camera functions and flash systems, a role, Daniel fit into perfectly.  This laid the groundwork for him to follow his mentor across Italy on high-end fashion shoots.  It was a significant learning experience, but not the niche Daniel wanted to pursue.

Back on the island, Daniel confesses that he was not interested in wedding, automotive, glamour or portrait photography.  Naturally, growing up and living in Gozo has marked him, and his mission has become a full-time pursuit to capture the island in all its facets and seasons.  Today, Daniel lives in Italy and recalls showing his book Gorgeous Gozo to the Vice Mayor of San Miniato, who was astonished that such a colourful variety could exist within a region the size of their small municipality.

For Daniel, the richness of so many elements in such a small space – the feasts, bands, the churches, chapels overlaid over country or urban space, is a unique treasure.   The fascination is even more astounding as islanders keep piling on.  He explains how David Apap, the Mayor of Għarb, introduced the infiorata, a tradition that blended seamlessly with the feast.  Likewise, in Għajnsielem, the feast of Our Lady of Loreto on Friday is marked by the recently added attraction of the statue of Our Lady that glides overhead above the square amid the joy of the revellers.   “I have travelled far and wide,” Daniel reflects, “but here on this island, we have something truly special. Gozo keeps evolving, and a touch of healthy competition keeps everyone on their toes”.

Some photographers chase cities, others chase people, and when asked what he chases, Daniel laughs.  Joking, he says ‘sometimes I chase Etna’, referring to his many intriguing photos of capturing the Sicilian volcano from the Maltese islands. These photos taken while on the go, make visible what at times the naked eye sees far away on the horizon.   But in truth, Daniel chases the serendipity of the moment or the allure of a fleeting moment like the much sought-after pictures of the acclaimed firework ‘ballul tal-blanen’.   His followers on social media know what to expect from him, and Daniel doesn’t disappoint with his shots going viral within hours of posting online.

Gozo and photography go together, and even after 40 years of photography, Daniel emphasises that he keeps discovering new things.  Gozo keeps on giving, and in almost poetic words, he says: “Sometimes it comes to you – you do not seek it. Maybe it’s the season, or the way light falls on a tree or a field of poppies”.

He recounts how, on World Photography Day, which falls in August, a time not ideal for photographing the island, he set himself a challenge to post a photo taken in Gozo every two hours.  Even he was pleasantly surprised, saying simply, “A lot of photographs came to me.  Gozo is photogenic. If the island were a person sitting for a portrait, it would still surprise you – even if you know it well”. 

When asked if there is anything overlooked in Gozo, he does not hesitate.  He echoes Edward Lear’s whimsical words that Gozo’s coastline is “pomskizillious”.  It is as if Edward and Daniel have fallen under the same spell of the island’s rugged beauty, despite a separation of nearly 160 years.

On another level, some shots are planned well in advance.  Today, planning is rendered easier thanks to apps that provide information about light, sunrise, sunset and other environmental conditions.   However, on his errands around the island, Daniel is always on the lookout, often stopping to examine a viewpoint he never noticed before.

Without a doubt, his favourite picture of Gozo is one he published in his 150th Anniversary book, a photo of five boys on a bicycle somewhere between Ta’ Sannat and Xewkija. Taken in 1984/85 using an SLR, the image won the Malta Photographic Society prize for Happiness.  For Daniel, the image hums with the carefree spirit of childhood and captures Gozo as an island of joy, perfectly embodying the essence of growing up and having fun.  To top it all off, during the COVID days, Daniel managed to track down all five boys featured in the picture via the use of social media.

Another favourite is a striking photo of the Azure Window battered by waves on a stormy day. This photo, turned into a postcard in the 1980s, is still selling today.  Daniel recalls that he was still working at the hospital when someone came in and mentioned the stormy spectacle at Dwejra.  Daniel took his chance and dashed out during his lunch break to capture the moment.  With a mischievous grin, he admits he was crazy enough to get very close to the waves, running back and forth to get one shot after another. This was the age of film, with no way of knowing if he had actually captured anything. The story continued the following day, when a fisherman nurse at the hospital spoke of a ‘mad tourist’ frantically chasing the waves, camera in hand, in pursuit of the perfect photograph!

For Daniel, photography is both about remembering and revealing.  He seeks to break taboos and challenge the notion of Gozo as small and mundane, capturing its concentrated beauty. Every year, he searches for new stories and fresh perspectives, guided by a love that celebrates, preserves, and shares the island’s magic for generations to come.

VisitGozo would like to thank Daniel Cilia for this interview and for sharing the photos.