Downtown Wanderings and Toronto Comic Con

I know I haven't posted in so long, and I am SUPER back logged with editing (I have pictures that need to be edited from a year ago), but I got a second hand 5D Mark 1, and I took it for a test run last week.  I wanted to see the quality of photos compared to my Rebel, and obviously, they were much better.  I feel so much more like a pro now!  I figured it was time I start working with a full frame camera...especially if I dream of working with National Geographic some day, inshallah (inshallah means God willing).  So now begins a new chapter in my photography, and it has reminded me how much I love taking photos!  So here's to new beginnings, new adventures, and inshallah one step closer to achieving my dream!

Project Ramadan Social

Project Ramadan is such an amazing cause.   Using donations, they put together baskets for families who do not have enough during Ramadan (though I believe they also continue it throughout the year as well).  Everyone meets at the build site (the Muslim Welfare Centre) around 10, and for 3-4 hours, everyone works together to put these baskets together.

These pictures are from the social they threw a few months back in order to get more donations, and explain the cause to those who may not have heard of it.  The people who started the initiative are all young professionals, who wanted to see more done for the community.  May Allah (God) bless them for their efforts, and if you are interested in helping out, please check out the link below:

http://www.projectramadan.com/

Enjoy!

Pearls for Palestine Gala

I have not posted something on this site in so long, though I've been taking quite a few photos!  I will definitely be doing some more editing, and posting more shortly!  I'm super behind (I haven't finished editing my Abu Dhabi/Sharjah/Dubai pictures, and that was in December!) but I'm slowly getting to things!

For these photos, I was given the pleasure of photographing the Pearls for Palestine Gala, that was held by Islamic Relief a couple of months ago.  It is obvious to say that I am not the most political person, however, human suffering breaks my heart.  I was asked to volunteer my time to take photos for the gala, and I could not say no.  Islamic Relief is doing so much to help those suffering in Palestine, and they need all our support.  You do not have to be Muslim to understand that killing innocent men, women, and children is wrong.  I'm not going to sway you, or explain to you why it is wrong, because this is not the forum for me to express these thoughts, I humbly request that if you are uncertain of what is going on, that you do some research, perhaps ask someone, and then make your own informed decision.

Anyway, I hope you like the pictures!

Fancy Footwork

While wandering around York during MIST, a friend and I came across some break dancers.  They were practicing for their friend's birthday party (what an awesome gift!), so we stopped to watch.  I was lucky that they didn't mind me taking some pictures while they practiced.  I've always enjoyed taking pictures of dancers!  I remember back in high school, I attended a conference (while volunteering with the hospital) and they had break dancers there.  I had a small point and shoot (a little Canon with the drop-in film) but it didn't stop me from snapping up some pictures of the dancers.  It was difficult to capture all the movement with that camera because point and shoots are slow, but it didn't matter!  In any case, it was so much fun watching them practice, while taking these pictures.  They were very impressive!  Who knows, maybe even some of them will make it big!