On Friday 24th April the Parish Centre Hall in Kalkara hosted the official launch of Emanuel Borg: Il-Kalkara mil-lenti tiegħu / Kalkara through his lens, a commemorative publication issued by Assoċjazzjoni Wirt il-Kalkara. Distinguished guests were presented with complimentary copies, while other attendees were able to purchase the book.
More than a coffee-table volume, this publication is a carefully curated tribute to a photographer whose lens quietly shaped the way a community remembers itself. Emanuel Borg: Kalkara through his lens foregrounds photography as cultural preservation, recording moments that would otherwise fade, and transforming them into enduring documents of place, people, tradition, and change.
Authored and researched by Chev. Duncan Brincat, the book combines biographical research with a strong photographic selection that captures Kalkara from within, its daily rhythms, ecclesial and civic milestones, social organisations, and the evolving streetscapes that framed village life across decades. The structure of the work reflects this breadth, with chapters that guide the reader through themes such as Photographer, artist and memorialist, Distinctive events, Historical occasions, Groups and committees, Regatta in Kalkara, The Parish Church, Archbishop Gonzi, Installation of Parish Priests, Kalkara enclaves, and Through the passage of time.
At the heart of the book is the story of Emanuel Borg himself: born in Kalkara on 20th September 1922, he began practising photography professionally around the year 1947 and operated studios in Rnella Street. His work ranged from portraits and weddings to broader documentary coverage, earning a reputation for meticulous standards and deep familiarity with the subjects he photographed. Borg was among the early members of the Malta Photographic Society and, in 1968, obtained certification and membership through a correspondence course with an international photographic organisation in London. He also contributed nationally through his work with the Malta Tourist Board and other assignments linked to public information and historic occasions. He retired in 1982, continued practising photography as a pastime, and passed away on 13th September 2012.
By presenting Borg’s images as both art and testimony, this publication strengthens community memory and invites readers to reflect on how photographs; when preserved, studied, and shared, become a collective archive of identity. In doing so, Emanuel Borg – Kalkara through his lens stands as a meaningful contribution to local heritage documentation and a fitting homage to a man whose quiet dedication helped keep Kalkara’s story visible for generations to come.
Publication details
- Title: Emanuel Borg – Il-Kalkara mil-lenti tiegħu / Kalkara through his lens
- Authorship & Research: Duncan Brincat
- Published by: Assoċjazzjoni Wirt il-Kalkara
- Photography collection: John Borg
- Funding: Central Bank of Malta
- Printing: BestPrint Co. Ltd.
- Year: 2026
- ISBN: 978-9918-0-1466-8
