Local Elections Matter.

Back on April 15, the Islamic Center of Irving hosted the 2017 Candidate Forum for the local candidates. This year, Irving citizens get to choose a new mayor—Beth Van Duyne, who hasn’t really been the best friend of her Muslim constituency, decided not to run again, thankfully, and will soon be up in Washington, helping to fill the swamp—and some districts get to choose new city council and school board representatives.

If you live in Dallas County, and you haven’t voted yet, please vote this Saturday, May 6. You can find more information at Dallas County Votes. I know the National Elections are sexy and all, but Local Elections Matter: this is where we live, after all. Continue reading “Local Elections Matter.”

Lomography F²/400: first roll

You probably already know the story: back in 2010, Lomography “bought the last ever Jumbo Roll of original 400 ASA film from some renowned Italian filmmakers” and recently pulled it out of cold storage and turned it into ~2000 rolls of Lomography Color Negative F²/400 that sold out within days.

If you’re in a hurry, here are my first, very brief thoughts on the film itself. Please take them with a grain of salt:

It’s a pleasure to shoot, develop, and scan. It comes out a bit blue, but it’s easy enough to correct. Pictures on this roll look a bit grainy to my eye, but not offensively so. I have an idea that maybe my developer was a bit hot. I’m in the process of shooting a roll at 320, and InshaAllah I’ll be a bit more careful of times and temperatures on the next roll.
Continue reading “Lomography F²/400: first roll”

ignorance will suffice

A reminder for me, first, if perhaps a bit late:

As narrated by Abu Huraira, the Prophet, peace be upon him, said

إِيَّاكُمْ وَالظَّنَّ، فَإِنَّ الظَّنَّ أَكْذَبُ الْحَدِيثِ، وَلاَ تَجَسَّسُوا، وَلاَ تَحَسَّسُوا، وَلاَ تَبَاغَضُوا، وَكُونُوا إِخْوَانًا

Beware of suspicion (about others), as suspicion is the falsest talk, and do not spy upon each other, and do not listen to the evil talk of the people about others’ affairs, and do not have enmity with one another, but be brothers.

Continue reading “ignorance will suffice”

Everywhere, signs

I photograph to encourage thought, or hope to. I don’t always succeed, but it’s not always up to me, and I’m not really sure, yet, how to direct thought in specific ways. I hope to refine my vision and technique, and learn to make photographs that remind myself and other of the wonders that are all around us. As Allah says in Al Jathiya, 3-5

إِنَّ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ لَآيَاتٍ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

وَفِي خَلْقِكُمْ وَمَا يَبُثُّ مِن دَابَّةٍ آيَاتٌ لِّقَوْمٍ يُوقِنُونَ

وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ وَمَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مِن رِّزْقٍ فَأَحْيَا بِهِ الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا وَتَصْرِيفِ الرِّيَاحِ آيَاتٌ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ

Indeed, within the heavens and earth are signs for the believers.

And in the creation of yourselves and what He disperses of moving creatures are signs for people who are certain.

And [in] the alternation of night and day and [in] what Allah sends down from the sky of provision and gives life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness and [in His] directing of the winds are signs for a people who reason.

Continue reading “Everywhere, signs”

Looking at (my) Photographs (2)

So much of my photography is devoid of people. I often explicitly exclude people from photographs, wait for people to exit the frame, move myself and re-frame to crop them out. I’m not sure why, but I think it’s partly (or mostly) due to fear. Whatever it is, of the 20 photographs I selected for this first exercise, 12 of them included people: 1 of a single stranger; 2 of groups of strangers; 1 of my dad; 8 of my wife.
Continue reading “Looking at (my) Photographs (2)”