2015, SHARJAH - SHARJAH ART FOUNDATION: LIGHT SHOW // NIHAL ABDELLATIF & SARAH AHMED

PHOTOGRAPHS BY NIHAL ABDELLATIF

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PHOTOGRAPHS BY SARAH AHMED

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2015, SHARJAH - SULTAN IBRAHIM // ALI MRAD

سلطان إبراهيم، هو أكثر ما كانت تطلبه أمي عندما كنت أذهب معها إلى سوق الأسماك في صباح يوم الجمعة من كل شهر.

"عندك سلطان ابراهيم؟ بكم الكيلو؟ عطني منّ" هذه جملة تتردد دائماً في ذاكرتي كلما مررت بجانب السوق خلال عودتي من منطقة الفنون. سوق الأسماك في الشارقة (القديم) هو جزء من شريط حياتي، لازلت أذكر ميناء السفن التي كانت تصطف أمام محلات الأسماك، كنت استمتع بالنظر إليها وهي تهتز سعيدة ومتحمسة للإبحار، لكن تم نقلها لمكان آخر لعمل توسعة لأرض السوق.

ما إن تم الإعلان عن بناء سوق جديد شعرت بوخزة في قلبي لكنني تقبّلت الخبر لأنني أعلم بأن هذه التحديثات ستكون للأفضل.

انتقل الموظفون إلى سوق الأسماك الجديد والذي يسمي بـ "سوق الجبيل" المشيد خلف القديم مباشرة، ويجري الآن أمام ناظري هدم السوق لعمل مواقف سيارات لزائري السوق الجديد.... ذكرى لهدم ذكريات.

2015, ABU DHABI - CAPITAL PARK // SARAH AHMED

It was around 8 AM, there was no one at the gate and it was open. A stranger told me to just walk in because it was open but I left a dirham with a note, just in case (entry fee).

It was a bit humid, but the air was incredibly fresh. I’m pretty sure I’m not being biased but it phsyically made me feel better. I settled at a bench, read my book and listened to music. Some humans were there doing their morning walks (mostly mothers pushing strollers whilst simultaniously powerwalking). An old couple sat at a bench, with rice & bread for birds/piegons.

A man in a sharp suit walked around, and it seemed pretty obvious that this must be where all these corporate humans around this park come to? A couple of minutes later, I notice he has a plastic bag, and he was going around the park, looking for humans that water this glorious place, giving them juice boxes & sandwiches for breakfast.

It was one of the nicest things I’ve seen in a long time.

2015, ABU DHABI - ART HOUSE SPEAKS ANNIVERSARY // CANNONBALL PRODUCTIONS & SARAH AHMED

Art House Speaks is an event that takes place every month in the coolest cafe in Abu Dhabi, Art House Cafe. I've attended almost all the events, and I'm absolutely thrilled that places like this exist in Abu Dhabi.

Attending an Art House Speaks event, you should expect laughing, tearing, and being overwhelmed by feelings you never knew existed. It's a beautiful community, where humans share their poems, stories, jokes, and music.

Art House Speaks joined the 100 thousand poets for change, and have an excellent event coming up on the 26th of September. Visit their Facebook page for more details.

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These rad photographs are courtesy of Cannonball Productions. They're a very passionate independent media production house run by Andeo & a group of indie champions. // twitter

2015, ABU DHABI - ART HOUSE CAFE // SARAH AHMED

Art House Cafe hosts one of the raddest spoken word events in Abu Dhabi, Art House Speaks. I’ve been to the events but I’ve never been here during the day and it’s absolutely gorgeous. It’s a very chill place to hangout in. Excellent food and lovely staff.

2014, KUWAIT - DATES' SOUQ // HUDA ABDULMUGHNI

Souk Mubarakiya is Kuwait’s oldest market, unaltered despite the passage of time. Near the Sheikh Mubarak Kiosk, built early last century, is situated the old date market.  Still retaining its original design, the date market runs along a corridor of no more than forty meters, with fifteen shops occupying each side.  If one day you have the opportunity to visit, be sure to show up very early in the morning to meet the oldest shop-owner, Ali Fahad Al-Ajeel, whose store has been around since the 1940s.  Ali sells grains, rice, tea and other food commodities.  Nearby, Hussein Abdulrazzaq's shop still carries the same aura of years past, with the help of Abu Jaber.  Despite the change in activity of certain shops, the twelve shops continue to stock their dates traditionally.  Within their four walls, these merchants - in their old  surviving stalls - are the keepers of our culture.

At a young age I found myself gravitating towards the art of portraiture. I found the candid rawness of the human face to be extremely moving, especially when combined with the chaos of their urban surroundings. I believe good portraiture creates a humbling and intimate experience for the viewer, as one is granted for a brief moment a glimpse into the private spheres of another’s life. As a Kuwaiti photographer, I used my portraits to capture the fleeting history of Kuwaiti culture; a traditional culture which is slowly fading with the extreme modernisation and westernisation of the society by the younger generation. In the brief moments of the ‘souk’ (market), I find the history of the Kuwaiti culture still surviving within the four narrow walls of some of the oldest surviving stalls. These merchant men have watched over the ever evolving souk, whilst retained their age-old methods, ever constant in an ever advancing society. While conversing with them, I find the simplicity of their mannerisms inspiring, their stories entertaining and thought provoking. I try to capture the modesty of their lives through my encounters, in the hopes that my camera can somehow portray their narrative along with their image.

2013, BAHRAIN - ABANDONED HOUSE // LAYLA

"[the last photo] is a photo of this little boy who saw me taking self-portraits, running back and forth between my camera and different walls. he came over with a giant grin and asked me if i would take a photo of him, then he made this intensely serious face, then he ran off." -layla

6TH MARCH 2014, ABU DHABI - IBSAIS SWEETS // SARA AHMED

Ibsais Sweets is a family owned and operated business originally started in the town of Nablus, Palestine.

Ibsais Sweet's quality revolves around the all natural ingredients used in our products, using the traditional Nabulsi cheese, NO artificial colouring, only natural colourings such as the Turmeric and the home made pastries prepared at our facilities the same way they are originally prepared in the home town of Nablus. 

an incredible little charming place. we ordered the 'knafeh istanbolyeh' which is made of fresh cream that is topped with noodle pastry and it was divine. 

kudos to to the graphic designer(s) responsible for the wallpapers, logo and menus; absolutely brilliant work. the ladies who served us were lovely!

a tiny tip: when you do order, ask them to keep the sugar syrup on the side. that way you can control how much sugar goes in there and it doesn't ruin the texture of the noodle pastry.

LOCATION & CONTACT INFO

Abu Dhabi branch: Al Falah st, opp to Ministry of Finance //  02 4455 091 
Khalifa city branch: Etihad plaza st, opp to Raha Gardens gate 14 // 02 555 66 15

2013, DUBAI - BOOK MUNCH // SARA AHMED

BookMunch is Dubai’s first literary café designed by the community for the community. In addition to offering mouthwatering dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner, it houses a big collection of hand-picked titles that caters to all ages. BookMunch also hosts regular events for book lovers, book clubs, book signings, readings, arts and culture.

a charming literary cafe in dubai. browsing through the books, i've noticed a huge collection of children lit and cook books. that being said, it's a lovely place to get your own book, have a nice meal and read.

a map to this place's location and contact information:

website // tel: 04-3884006  // email: info@bookmunchcafe.com

13TH MARCH 2013, PHILADELPHIA - FLEA MARKET// AZIZ AL FRAIH

I was walking around and people were selling their crap

5th FEBRUARY 2014, DUBAI - THE ONE AND ONLY CAMERA REPAIR SHOP

HISTORY:

The history of Camera Repair dates back to 1979 It was the year when camera repairing was not known. 

When Rashid Hakim thought of setting up a camera repair shop people advised him that it was a foolish idea because the concept of camera repair was not there. People of U.A.E. dumped their cameras into dustbins if there was a problem. (via camerarepairs)

tears of joy and happiness were very much existent when we found this beautiful little-big shop in dubai with a wonderful and passionate team to run it. their services range from repairing cameras (vintage and modern), developing films, digitalising media, 8mm transfer, lens repair and cleaning. if you're not interested in photography and have a pile of vintage cameras (and need the cash (or not)) you can always head over there and sell them too.

things they sell: film rolls (pieces/bulk), camera bags, chargers, lenses, filters, vintage cameras, flashes and so much more.

the staff (and the owner) are very helpful and can give you tips if you're new to this world.

below is a map to this magical place's location and contact information:

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website // tel: 04-3389234 // tel (mob): 050-6510273 // email: photoxperts@gmail.com 

for people in abu dhabi (other emirates), make sure you arrange with local couriers like team express.