Joe studied art and design in Malta and Florence, Italy where he was awarded scholarship in 1983.

He has been in photography since 1979. He is a member of the Malta Photographic Society of which he won the coveted Photographer of the Year Award in 1995 and also a Fellow of the Malta Institute of Professional Photographers. He is often called upon by both organisations to judge competitions and give lectures. In 1995 he was made Associate of the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain and later Artist of the International Federation of Photographic Art. In 2001 he was the first and only Maltese photographer to achieve Fellowship status of the Malta Institute of Professional Photographers. In November of the same year he was also made Associate of the Master Photographers Association of the UK. He has been responsible for the design of various postage stamps, logos of established companies, brochures, packaging and CD sleeves.

Between 1991-1992 he was art director of the in-house design and packaging studio of a cosmetics manufacturing concern

His preference is for monochrome photography especially those depicting the performing arts and his name has become synonymous with pictures of Jazz musicians who performed in the Malta Jazz Festival of which he has been the official photographer since the first edition in 1991. Many of his Jazz pictures can be found on the websites of renowned musicians who played in the Festival

He has also spent five years as the resident photographer of the experimental theatre group Politeatru between 1987 and 1993 with whom he travelled to Moscow in 1991 and staged an exhibition of theatrical photography at the Russian Federation Museum of Decorative, Applied and Folk Art. He still uses conventional film for his work but this is then scanned and output digitally.

In October 2002 he was awarded the prestigious Overseas Master Photographer Award of the Master Photographers Association of the UK.

Joe has exhibited extensively locally and abroad and has had work published in various publications. He is also frequently called upon to judge local and international competitions and also to lecture on the subject.

All photos copyright © Joe Smith.
All Rights Reserved.

Bernard Scerri - One of the brightest jazz bassists in Malta and also a personal friend, Bernard passed away last October at the young age of 36 after a short illness. In this photo he is accompanying Canadian jazz singer Diane Nalini during a concert she gave in Malta in March 2002. So long my friend.

Ralph Towner - Oregon's first appearance at the festival. The band also featured Paul McCandles on oboe/reeds, Glen Moore on bass/piano and Mark Walker on percussion.

Don Byron - Music for six musicians (Malta Jazz Festival 2002). Also featured James Zollar on trumpet, Edsel Gomez on piano, Leo Traversa on bass, Milton Cardona on congas and Ben Wittman on drums.

Tuck and Patti - The duo's second appearance during last year's festival. Their wonderful mix of beautiful new songs and timeless standards has become a favourite with the audience.

Gonzalo Rubalcaba - first appearance at the Malta Jazz Festival 2002 together with Carlos Henriquez on bass and Ignazio Berroa on drums.

Michel Camilo - This was Michel's second appearance after plating with Tomatito in 2001. Last year he was with his band featuring Anthony Jackson on bass and Horacio 'El Negro' Hernandez on drums. They played mostly numbers from the latest recording 'Triangulo'.

Roy Hutcherson playing with McCoy Tyner - Malta Jazz Festival 2002.

McCoy Tyner playing the music of John Coltrane - Malta Jazz Festival 2002.

Charnett Moffett - Charnett playing in the McCoy Tyner band during the Malta Jazz Festival - 2002. Mc Coy was playing the music of John Coltrane with Bobby Hutcherson on vibraphone and Eric Harland on drums.

Anthony Jackson - Playing for the first time in Malta with Michel Camilo Trio also featuring Horacio 'El Negro' Hernandez on drums. Malta Jazz Festival 2002.