My World: Photog?

[fahim mohammed]

No, we both answered. Travelers from a distant land, passing through.

This time she went one way....

And I, the other...

Europe images by Ayesha.

 

[fahim mohammed]

She took a flight to Vancouver, then to Whitehorse; followed by a 3 hour snowmobile ride...for what?

She was chasing the lights...so here, first is her story.

Sony RX 100 MK III

 

[fahim mohammed]

The shack..

 

[fahim mohammed]

A clear night.
The weather? A very pleasant -35C without the wind chill factor.

 

[fahim mohammed]

Why go all this way? Why not buy a pair of shoes, a dress, a ring...

Because it is there? Because she wanted to do it...at the expense of other things.

To see if she could do it alone.

The moon was up. The stars were clear and bright.

To challenge oneself. To do what one has longed to do. to see if she had it in her.

 

[Asher Kelman]

Why go all this way? Why not buy a pair of shoes, a dress, a ring...

Because it is there? Because she wanted to do it...at the expense of other things.

To see if she could do it alone..............

The moon was up. The stars were clear and bright.

To challenge oneself. To do what one has longed to do. to see if she had it in her.

Ayesha has special independent qualities, far greater than one could design any robot or Sony pet. She is her own boss, it seems and is quite willful. I do hope she has passed down this rare quality to her female offspring.

I know you're proud of her, but allow me to share my interpretation! With her endless spirit for adventure and an eye for the wonders all over, she stuck by you! That speaks a lot!

Asher

 

[fahim mohammed]

Asher, and I stuck by her...

Point and shoot, I had told her..

Like this, she had skyped, sometime later..

I want to visit a place, I haven't visited before, she texted me.

On my way back, she said.

Go for it, I told her..

 

[fahim mohammed]

Ljubljana.

 

[Maggie Terlecki]

Fahim,

Her night-time shots especially are wonderful! She's good a good eye!

Maggie

 

[fahim mohammed]

Maggie, hope you are well.

Thank you for the kind comment. Ayesha sends her regards.

Best wishes.

 

[fahim mohammed]

Last one for now...

At home we saw many of the images she had made. Few are posted above.

I need a better camera, she said. Why?, I asked her.

I would get more better pictures, she replied.

No, I said. You can have any of my cameras, but they will not do much better for you. Easier maybe, but not better.

So what do I need to do better? She asked.
And where do I learn to do better in photography?

I gave her a superior smile...I will teach you, I said pompously.

So we practiced. For quite some time actually. Same thing again and again. We examined the results.
Generally, if one does the same thing exactly the same way repeatedly, on makes the same mistakes repeatedly...yes. No! I was the teacher, after all ( please bear with me on this one )

I taught her how to set the camera to all ' Auto '.
I taught her how to CLICK the camera correctly.

And I taught her how to POINT the camera. For days on end, we pointed and we clicked and we examined the results. Point and Click I told her.

She was going on another trip. I asked her if we could change places.

Make images of people and things like I do. And I shall try something else.

Fun, she said. Took the same camera and I shall post her images later. You judge.
Point and Click.

 

[Asher Kelman]

Great series! Never been to Ljubljana, but now she has planted a form on which I can retell myself stories of that place that never had a physical presence in my mind.

Thanks, the work is beautiful.

Asher

 

[Asher Kelman]

The shack..

Fahim,


This is especially impressive and interesting. Was Ayesha ever in the house, or just passing by on the road? I see no footstep marks in the snow and no people in the house, so how did the shot come to get taken?


Asher

 

[fahim mohammed]

Hey, thanks Asher for stopping by.

Ayesha had rented this lodge. Why no foot marks?
Guess she was flying.

Take care.

Fahim,


This is especially impressive and interesting. Was Ayesha ever in the house, or just passing by on the road? I see no footstep marks in the snow and no people in the house, so how did the shot come to get taken?


Asher

 

[fahim mohammed]

Where?, I asked.

I am in Iceland, she said. Thought to have a look at the place, on my way back home.

Let's see some street photography from you, I told her.

 

[Asher Kelman]

Where?, I asked.

I am in Iceland, she said. Thought to have a look at the place, on my way back home.

Let's see some street photography from you, I told her.

My goodness, Fahim! So different from all your other work and mine! I surmise you're alluding to Ayesha, that this is her work?

At first glance, it's a simple photograph. There's a discrete bleakness both peaceful and remarkable. It's clean, comfortable and safe! No empathy tested here, just admiration for the beauty of the moment ..........some marks on the road, parallel elements..........a sign, a point that stops our wandering eyes. This sign, an awkward challenge, catches our attention, opposing the direction of all those cars that can be seen. That small element elevates the picture far beyond "precious" to "significant"!

My experience of this work is akin to feeling the "presence" of the architecture of an established respected University of stature like Oxford, The Sorbonne or Cambridge! This photograph has to be taken seriously. It has such gravitas! I salute you for Ayesha!

Asher

 

[fahim mohammed]

Asher, she saw your comments.
Wow...is all she, could say. And a big thanks.

Geothermal energy everywhere. Even the sidewalks are heated..by geothermal energy.

In winter, the bare trees are lighted with tiny lights resembling leaves.

Marvellous, extremely friendly people. Spotlessly clean cities. World class infrastructure, top notch free
Medical care and education. Huge art culture.

And the buses run on the dot whatever the weather.

 

[Asher Kelman]

Asher, she saw your comments.
Wow...is all she, could say. And a big thanks.

Geothermal energy everywhere. Even the sidewalks are heated..by geothermal energy.

In winter, the bare trees are lighted with tiny lights resembling leaves.

Marvellous, extremely friendly people. Spotlessly clean cities. World class infrastructure, top notch free
Medical care and education. Huge art culture.

And the buses run on the dot whatever the weather.

So Iceland appears to be an ideal tourist location for experiencing the views of extreme weather without freezing one's tones off! The appearance of steam and mist against impressive snow capped landscape is an dream for making photographic art!


You have placed another place on my must-visit list!

Asher

 

[fahim mohammed]

Thanks Asher.

I am told that it is indeed a lovely corner of the world.

Best.

 

[fahim mohammed]

Iceland and Slovenia have plenty of fresh clean water.

But not the other side of the world, it is a scarce commodity.

Travellers?, yes we are. Sometimes we can lend a small helping hand..

We come from far away...but sometimes we have to show where we come from...

Go as a traveler..leave as a friend.

Thank you for being with Ayesha and me on this small journey across the East and the West.

 

[Asher Kelman]

Street Photography - secret, distant or after getting to know the locals?

Iceland and Slovenia have plenty of fresh clean water.

But not the other side of the world, it is a scarce commodity.

Travellers?, yes we are. Sometimes we can lend a small helping hand..

Fahim and Ayesha,

You both have a knack for making friends with the folk you photograph on the street. I can sense that connection. Some photographers get what they want with a long lens and there's no connection at all. Robert is skilled at signaling and then they will be ready for his shot, and in the right place, as he needs.

Stopping and getting really involved socially is another way. The advantage is real education for there photographer and the interesting people one can meet.Still, most of us avoid this approach as it hazards giving up natural "unposed moments" where folk have no idea there's a camera on them. However, you've managed to harvest rich images that have the feeling of being genuine moments in the lives of the locals you have stopped to greet and befriend.

All approaches are great. I know that Robert also photographs some locals as friends actually returning with prints for them! That's something I should try to do too!

Asher

 

[Asher Kelman]

This picture is one of those rare examples where a title is not needed, (- and I happen to believe that the picture is not required to "speak for itself" - ). The children's joy, unity and intent is so strong that one immediately is pulled in and is part of the scene and can almost here the shrieks and the splashing of water.

Then we notice the little fellow on the extreme left, at the edge of the picture, he will be last in turn. That inclusion adds balance and the reality of ranking and chance in one's life.


Bravo Ayesha and Fahim.


Asher

 

[fahim mohammed]

Oh shucks Asher..it is just a point and shoot grab. Like I would do

This picture is one of those rare examples where a title is not needed, (- and I happen to believe that the picture is not required to "speak for itself" - ). The children's joy, unity and intent is so strong that one immediately is pulled in and is part of the scene and can almost here the shrieks and the splashing of water.

Then we notice the little fellow on the extreme left, at the edge of the picture, he will be last in turn. That inclusion adds balance and the reality of ranking and chance in one's life.


Bravo Ayesha and Fahim.


Asher