Driven by curiosity’s sake.
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Portraits- Fake and Flattering
Chris Orwig suggests that while taking portraits a photographer should “Strive for honesty versus something that is flattering and fake.” My last experience with portraiture was at the Muslim Day picnic and it didn’t go over well. I realized a huge stumbling block for me during that trial run was that I was shy with… Read more
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Rent-A-Kid Memorial Day Weekend 2014
Last weekend I was out at Muslim Day, the weather was not hiking friendly. This past weekend was Memorial Day, incredibly hot, and incredibly fitting for kicking off summer because we had family over in Palmdale! By the end of the day I was too exhausted the next day to go on our planned hike… Read more
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Candid Photography Lesson at Muslim Day 2014
Its been a “May oven” this year. Usually we have “May Gray” followed by “June Gloom;” but this year we have dry hot desert winds blowing in from the east- Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico. These super heated winds from the interior are unusual in that they come later in Summer (known as the “Santa Ana’s).… Read more
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The Astonishing Miracles of The Antelope Valley
I have gone all over the West Coast and the US, interacted with all sorts of people and have been inspired by the places I have visited. I have travelled abroad, visiting places on my way to Pakistan, all of which has been amazing. I imagined from these experiences that “adventure” and “inspiration” weren’t to… Read more
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I met a Muslim, now what?
People meet Muslims, they feel a bit intimidated because of the “elephant in the room.” How do you carry on a conversation if you don’t know what to talk about, feel constricted by self conscious desire to not say the wrong thing, don’t want to offend this new Muslim you’ve just met? It’s a fear… Read more
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Saddleback Butte: Lonely Sunrises
Scrambling up a steep side of the Butte, I fumble for footing on the scree that made up the trail near the top of Saddleback Butte. The trail was simple enough until the summit came. The dark made it harder, but the sliver of light had appeared on the horizon, and I felt an urgent need… Read more
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Vasquez Rocks: Making Off Like a Bandido
Going hiking is like visiting ghosts, I get lots of time to reflect on the past. This Saturday I visited California’s most notorious (yet little known!?!) bandit ghost-Tiburcio Vasquez. Vásquez pulled the race card, claiming that he was driven to commit his crimes because of norteamericanos discrimination against the Californios. He even went so far as insisting that he was a defender of… Read more
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Poppy Fields: The Rambling Trail
“When you start walking toward something, remember that you eventually have to go back the way you came.” ~Me Past my front yard, out to the north-northwesterly direction, the hills are turning a rusty orange color. The entire desert has actually turned green, but that orange, only meant one thing: California’s state flower, the poppy, had got its… Read more
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Crisis of Faith: Negotiating Culture
I am really digging this video by Ta’Leef Collective featuring Imam Zaid Shakir from Zaytuna College. It might be the melodic rhythmic music combined with the slow and deliberate idea development by the Imam that makes the video so inviting. But I feel the most compelling idea that gets presented is this idea that living in… Read more
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A Feather in the Wind
Its been three years since I took this picture. I haven’t shared it, like the majority of the pictures I have taken. I only share it now because it reminded me about that day I took it. There were lots of potential and excitement about my new adventure. Looking back makes me wonder if it… Read more