“Night’s Jewel” I captured this beautiful moon during a late-night outing with two friends at the park, where we were venting about a shared struggle. As we sat by the swings, we looked up and were mesmerized by its glow, feeling an unexpected sense of hope wash over us. The moon, with its gentle light, has always felt like a safe haven for me-a reminder that even in difficult times, everything will be alright.
”Pathway to Peace” This photo captures my favorite spot- a sanctuary where I can unwind and release all my thoughts and negative energy. It’s a place that radiates peace and positive vibes, filled with joyful memories and uplifting moments. Whenever I’m feeling down, I turn to this haven, as it has greatly supported my mental well-being. Surrounded by tranquility and happiness, this space is my safe retreat, reminding me that I can always find solace and strength here.
”Taste of Togetherness “ These two girls are the same friends I with at the park when I captured the moon. This photo represents our shared love for food and the joy we find in each others company. Through our outings, we open up about our struggles and support one another, allowing our feelings to flow freely. This bond means the world to me, as we help each other heal and stay motivated, reminding one another that we will be okay.
This photo was taken during the late fall season last year. The weather was misty cold, and a light wind was passing through my ear. My cousin and I were out cycling, and we were sitting at the benches near a lake. Suddenly, I saw this duck just landed on the cold water. The sunset time was stunning, and the duck was floating near me. I took the chance, took out my phone, opened the camera, and took an amazing, stunning photo where all parts of nature meet together.
Title: Sunset time at Far Rockaway beach
This photo was taken during wintertime in February. I had my sociology class, and after that class ended, I was feeling exhausted. So, I looked at my phone and saw that the sun was about to set in an hour. The weather was cold, but the sky was clear. So, I decided to take the Far Rockaway bound A train and get off at Beach 60th Street. The walkway was covered with little snow, but the sunset from Beachside looked insane. The feeling was heart whelming, and this picture became one of the greatest times and memories of my lifetime.
Title: Sunset time from 35,000 feet above the ground
This photo was taken while I was coming back from my Texas trip this summer. I was able to capture this photo because my flight had a two-hour delay. The split between ground and sky as well as the straight horizontal line of this photo made the photo more interesting. It was great feeling and experience watching the sunset from that height. This photo is one of my memorable photos of my trip.
The title is so literal and explanatory if whats going on in the image again there is nothing happening outside the window you can only pull that it is daytime and even the ad on top of the seat is out of frame so you can only focus on the empty seat. When taking photos I tend to try and force a deeper meaning within the photo and it takes away from the genuineness and candid nature of the photo. I decided that I wanted a series of photos that portrayed something as simple as my morning commute. So taking that into context no one is literally in the seat there is nothing more to the photo making a statement on the simplicity of a routine morning commute.
“The Not So Yellow School Bus”
This was yet another photo centering my commute to school a bit more to analyze. I named it not so yellow school bus because a yellow school bus had just passed and it made me realize how getting older meant leaving behind that bus and taking the MTA which was adorned with yellow poles and lines throughout the bus. Although the viewer could not have known a school bus had just passed, that’s why I believe the name of the photo can be just as important as the photo itself as it provides context in its analysis. So the color in this photo provides nostalgia and again the empty and quietness of the scene demonstrates a departure of chaotic and hectic themes that are so normalized in a commute to school.
“Across the Platform”
The train is definitely the busiest part of my morning routine, and arguably the same for most New Yorkers. I love photography’s ability to capture a moment in complete stillness and silence. So while the platform was bustling and packed, the viewer wouldn’t know that because I intentionally left them out of frame. There is little to inspect besides the obvious silver bars and train. There is an element of framing as the most look through the gaps in the car to make out the train in the background. This was definitely an art style photo because rather than gain a newfound philosophical understanding of the transit system I just wanted to relate to the viewer in feeling peace.
This photo is called “Posing Monkey”. And it was taken in Taif, Saudi Arabia by me on Aug 30, 2024. I saw this monkey while driving so I stopped on the side of the mountain so I can look at them. Monkeys in this country tend to live on the mountainsides. I thought the pose was absurdly hilarious due to how similar the monkey looks to some statues of humans.
Two monkeys can be seen in this image, looking towards the street, who may be looking at standby cars as a car is slightly seem in the rare view mirror seen at the left most part of the photo. The nearest monkey is sitting near the street curb while the taller monkey is seating near the pipes on the floor. It may be hard to notice but there is a sign for drivers near the second monkey.
This monkey is looking at a tree branch he most likely picked up. The branches are on the floor around the rock the monkey is sitting on, almost like a circle around it. Monkey’s are clearly learning.
A Gradient: I went shopping this weekend and when i walked out the mall i was hit by this beautiful view of the sun setting. i couldn’t help myself but to take a picture. It is amazing how the sky is able to deliver a variety of colors. Sometimes purple, sometimes pink. On this day it was a beautiful gradient going from blue to orange. Two colors we may not pair often but can be really beautiful together.
Biking Date: It was a beautiful day Saturday so my boyfriend and i decided to go biking. In this picture we are in VanCourtland park located near the 1 train. VanCourtland as you can see is a really big park where a variety of activities can be done. We biked for what felt like 5 miles. I was out of breath so we decided to rest a bit before we headed back home. My boyfriend and I were in complete silence just taking in this beautiful view of what that world has to offer us. Again, i couldn’t help but to capture this moment and the big fluffy clouds over us.
Foggy Night: I was on my way to the airport around 3am Friday night. It was slightly drizzling which created a bit of fog. My dad and i were stuck in a bit of traffic so i was able to take a quick picture of all the Lamps creating this ray of light. It was really pretty to look at. the whole highway was lit up by these lamp.
A few weekends ago, I witnessed Ivan Cornejo, a Mexican musician who composes and performs songs ranging from regional Mexican music to Mexican ballads, live in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The picture title Attention, is really an exact translation from Spanish to English of the song Ivan was singing. It was taken of him as he struck a note, with an angle at his arm and a tilt to his head that made it seem as if he was singing to the heavens. Ivan’s stance, the background, lighting ,and pictures really heighten the passion and significance of both the song and the photograph itself. The stage is the only thing that is illuminated by the tiny lights that descend from the set. In the meantime, the various number of fans around the platform, taking pictures and videos of Ivan, emphasizes the stage’s importance as the dominant impression.
The Last Time
Given that the new album has an orange record cover, most of the backdrops used during the performance were a very vivid orange (his previous album was a blue cover). When the lights turned blue, I instantly knew what was about to happen, and that’s when the photograph was taken. The amphitheater had been illuminated in a royal blue tone, with a lot of darkness in the backdrop. This made a fitting setting for the song, to the point that Ivan Cornejo’s expression was projected onto large, bright screens above the stage to convey the passion of that song. Blue, which represents serenity and tranquillity, was used to depict the decisive moment in this picture, which showed Ivan’s emotion as the song The Last Time was ready to be sung.
Curiosity
The feeling of confusion and uncertainty brought on by fog, ironically, has nothing to do with the title of the picture, Curiosity, which is the name of the song he was singing at the time. Nevertheless, in addition to the fog, this photograph also features a variety of screens, crowds, and multicolored lights inflicting in some way chaos. Even though I found Ivan far, it added some sense of that reality effect where there is a fuller picture of the audience, and that the chaos portrayed through the audience. Besides adding excitement to the crowd, the lighting also plays a major role in creating chaos. It produced several silhouettes of the fans in the crowd, each of them staring up at Ivan, radiating admiration, with multiple screens capturing an unforgettable moment of his performance.
This picture was taken at mid September, I had 45 minute break until my next class starts. I wanted to go to the Brooklyn Bridge for a walk. I made it my aim to get to Brooklyn Bridge. And back to college within 45 minutes. It was quite a long walk, but I enjoyed the scenery on the Brooklyn Bridge. The beautiful site of the city, huge buildings, landscaper, car passing by on the bridge as waves flow of the river. I took this photo to save it as a memory that I was on a Brooklyn Bridge while in college. The meaning of this photo to me is seeing myself happy, a little tourist exploring.
2) “ nikkah Ceremony”
In this picture, this is an Islamic marriage ceremony taking place at Mosque. The bride name is Aisha, she has veil covered over her head for her husband to lift it up. I clicked this photo because I liked the details, and I appreciate all the efforts the family put from decorating the mosque to the eatery was superb. I really enjoyed the wedding occasion. There was a wedding cake, and the couples put the ring on each other.
3) “ jewelry collection”
This is my jewelry collection that I have, so where at occasions like Eid I wear bangles. Sometimes I wear earrings with my cultural clothes. I match my bangles with my clothes so if I’m wearing green, I’m going to wear green bangles. I took this photo because I really liked jewelry, it gives it more beauty to the hands, makes me feel pretty too.
(Title: A Green Dome) Humanity seems to have captured nature or at least parts of it and secluded it to specific areas within our industrialized society as if it were a domesticated breed of dog or cat that evolved over the years into their own specific breed of animal. I find these sights to be both quite sad and a display of nature’s brilliance as within the photo a sight both seen only within the untouched forests lay directly ahead and above us, with everyday city life looming in the background.
(Title: Across the Metallic Stream) This photo taken of a tree line across the street where cars flow like water is very interesting. The idea that the tree in the foreground is both trying to block the building in the background in order to preserve the focus of the photo on the line of trees while also somehow seeming to grasp our attention to it even though it lies in the corner. The reality effect of the image being uphold by both the nature present in front of us, and the modernization seeping through the cracks and gaps within the branches of the trees is also interesting.
(Title: Industrial Coffin)
This photo was taken with the idea of a tree being compartmented into its own coffin of concrete, and rebar, and steel, and whatever else goes into the complicated process of constructing modern buildings. However, the lighting is far more prevalent of a factor within this image. This photo was taken in the pitch-black night and my phone automatically brightened pieces in the center focus of the screen. The dark night that nature will seemingly never forget to provide, is crept into the corners on the right side of the photo.
I took this photo of the full moon because it looked so beautiful and mesmerizing. I was out late at night with my two friends at the park, by the swings venting to one another about a similar situation we are going through. We all just looked up and admired how beautiful it was feeling a sense of hope in the moment. The moon is a source of peace for me, calling out in its gentle glow and filling me with hope. It reassures me that everything will be alright , offering a comforting presence during difficult times.
2) “Pathway to Peace”
This picture demonstrates my favorite spot- a sanctuary where I can unwind and release all my thoughts and negative energy. It’s a place that radiates peace and positive vibes, filled with joyful memories and uplifting moments. Whenever I’m feeling down, I turn to this haven, as it has greatly supported my mental well-being. Surrounded by tranquility and happiness, this space is my safe retreat, reminding me that I can always find solace and strength here.
3) “Taste of Togetherness”
This photo shows two of my friends , which were the same friends I was speaking about in the first photo where I took the picture of the moon. This pic captures our shared love for food and the joy of spending time together. We support eachother through rough times, sharing our feelings and experiences as we eat and laugh. This bond is incredibly meaningful to me, as we help one another heal and stay motivated. In our friendship, we find reassurance that we will be okay, no matter what challenges arise.
I was midway through cleaning my home when I noticed the shadow of my home’s living room. It was reflected on the window in between trees. Everything clicked for me in that moment, and I was inspired to take a picture of it. As I started looking for the vantage point, certain angles worked better since I wanted the living room to occupy the Space right in the middle of the photograph. Actually, when deciding on the title, nothing seemed right until I thought of “light my way home”. The title made me emotional, so I chose it. Additionally, it seemed just right because while there is light in the foreground, the light in the living room is more outstanding. Moreover, the title reminds me that there is always a warm home to return to no matter how much I explore the world.
Title: Is it this? or is it that?
Yes, I actually decided on such a title for the photograph. You may be wondering, why? Well, if you have not noticed, in the photo there are some bright and dim lights. If you focus on the bright lights, you will notice that while they seem to be coming from the outside (buildings and such), it is not the case. Similarly to the photo, “Light my way home”, the light is reflected on a window, and they are actually led lights. Making use of windows to be part of the composition is really amazing as can be seen from the resulting photographs. Finally, due to the light pollution, it is hard to see stars in NYC, so I created the illusion of some by spraying some hair spray sparingly on the window right before capturing it.
Title: Lights here, there, and everywhere.
This photograph was the third I took and another one in which the vantage point is of great importance. It was actually taken by using the same window as “light my way home” but at different angles. With this one, I chose to focus on lights because we all live in a city with a lot of light. This light can come from many places, but each one has its own shade as we can see in the picture. Also, if you look closely to the top part of the photo you can see some shapes which are actually from a curtain but can blend in due to its similarity, in color, to the clouds.
