Walking / Stick / Figures – IMRAN®

Walking / Stick / Figures – IMRAN® 

 Dead old vines that once sapped the life out of now‑deader trees twist into walking/stick/figures suspended high above me in the backyard of my Long Island, New York property in late summer. Their contorted shapes look frozen mid‑stride, as if nature paused a strange parade overhead. 

 © 2026 IMRAN® 

 #IMRAN #NewYork #LongIsland #trees #nature #BlackAndWhite

Pleasantly Petrifying Photography! — IMRAN®

Pleasantly Petrifying Photography! — IMRAN®

My beloved late father gave me my first camera — a Diana — when I was seven, growing up in Pakistan. That’s how I began shooting black‑and‑white 35mm film. Agfa‑Gevaert is a name I still recall, followed later by Ilford and others, with Kodak and then Fujifilm as I ventured into color photography a few years later. Soon color became my only medium. Then came digital, from the very day the Apple QuickTake became available.

I barely find time to post even a fraction of my 100,000 color photos, let alone convert images to monochrome. Some photographers choose black and white as their primary medium. For me, certain themes simply gain mystery and drama when stripped of color. Fallen trees, rock formations, even portraits of old, wrinkled faces take on an ironically ageless quality sans chromatic distraction.

This dead tree on my Long Island, New York property already looks mysterious in color — you’ll see that when I post it later. But in monochrome it takes on a truly, pun intended, petrifying presence. Almost like a movie fable talking head emerging from a tree trunk. 

The detail becomes even more interesting when zoomed in to any area for detail. There are dozens of zoomed crops I can imagine posting out of just this picture to illustrate the point. 

Are you into B/W? 

© 2026 IMRAN®

#IMRAN #NewYork #LongIsland #EastPatchogue #HeronPointe #GreatSouthBay #photography #autobiography 

GSD K2 Guards NY Property On 57F/17C Summer TGIF Morning - IMRAN®

GSD K2 Guards NY Property On 57F/17C Summer TGIF Morning - IMRAN® 

Can you see the dog? Or the Mercury falling?  It’s the middle of summer on Long Island, New York, and 17 Celsius / 57 Fahrenheit! I’m not complaining this Friday morning. It’s like free air conditioning to help reduce electricity bills! My Atlanta-born Tampa(Bay)-raised German Shepherd Dog, K2, loves this weather while surveying and guarding the property. 

© 2026 IMRAN® 

#IMRAN #NewYork #LongIsland #GSD #summer #TGIF 

Wild Turkey Inspects My Car At Long Island New York Home — IMRAN®

Wild Turkey Inspects My Car At Long Island New York Home — IMRAN®

On July 2, I stepped outside and found this wild turkey strutting around my car like it was performing a driveway inspection. No drama, no buildup — just a perfectly timed pre-July‑4th‑weekend cameo from a bird with zero respect for personal space.

In 31 years of living at this home, I’ve seen small foxes, regular herds and even an albino-like deer, unwelcome raccoons, rapidly multiplying rabbits, even more unwelcome large flocks of migrating geese who destroy the grass, some pheasant like birds, but never this bird. 

I don’t drink, but with America turning 250, even I had to laugh. If I were a drinker, this would’ve been the universe’s cue to pull out a bottle of Wild Turkey bourbon and toast the bird for showing up so perfectly on brand.

© 2026 IMRAN®

#IMRAN #NewYork #LongIsland #WildTurkey #bird #nature #car #MercedesBenz #summer #USA250

Stunning Year-End Sunset Tampa Bay - IMRAN®

Stunning Year-End Sunset Tampa Bay -  IMRAN® 

This December 30, 2025 sunset was one of the most photographed and posted ones on social media.   No edit, no filter. 

Wait until you see the Timelapse I captured at my blessed home in Apollo Beach. I’ll post that later. 

© 2025-2026 IMRAN® 

#IMRAN #Florida #TampaBay #ApolloBeach #Sunset #sky #clouds #nature #seaside #winter  #gratitude #blessed #lifestyle #Maghreb

My Red & White Roses Sharing Body Heat On Cold New Year’s Eve Morning - IMRAN®

My Red & White Roses Sharing Body Heat On Cold New Year’s Eve Morning -  IMRAN® 

11 am, December 31, 2025, at Apollo Beach, Florida home. Cold weather of the last two days is the excuse my red and white roses used to hug and share their body heat.  Wishing you great body heat and love in the new year. 

© 2025 IMRAN® 

#IMRAN #Florida #TampaBay #ApolloBeach #nature #flowers #NewYearsEve #December #YearEnd #winter #humor 

Nature's RGB - Red Flowers Green Leaves Blue Sky At Beautiful Bush At Apollo Beach Florida Home - IMRAN®

Nature's RGB - Red Flowers Green Leaves Blue Sky At Beautiful Bush At Apollo Beach Florida Home - IMRAN®

I just loved how beautiful the blue colors of the early spring Florida sky looked as a backdrop to these red flowers and green leaves. Taken with my Nikon D850, I reduced the photo to a smaller file to post online. 

© 2021-2025 IMRAN®

Complex Clouds, Magnificent Magical Tantalizing Textures, Span Sunset - IMRAN®

Complex Clouds, Magnificent Magical Tantalizing Textures, Span Sunset - IMRAN®

Words can barely capture the incredibly complex cloud textures and tones that spanned the early August sunset over Tampa Bay. Earlier rain had made the pavers around the pool look darker. 

This HDR (high dynamic range) panorama was created from about eight handheld shots taken with the Nikon D850, stitched together in Adobe Lightroom Classic CC.

On one side, sharp clouds carved dramatic shapes, while in the middle, higher formations smoothed into silky, fog-like patterns. Even farther above, smaller distant shapes reflected the fading sun’s light, deepening the scene into darker, redder tones.

I chose not to “correct” those hues, because they lend the image an indescribable richness—one that others often chase with filters, but nature gifted me directly.

© 2025 IMRAN®

#IMRAN #Florida #TampaBay #ApolloBeach #Sunset #sky #clouds #nature #seaside Nikon Adobe Creative Cloud Adobe

Nights In [Purple & Gold] Satin - Aerial Appreciation Stunning Sunset Dramatic Dusk - Apollo Beach, Tampa Bay, Florida - IMRAN®

Nights In [Purple & Gold] Satin - Aerial Appreciation Stunning Sunset Dramatic Dusk - Apollo Beach, Tampa Bay, Florida - IMRAN®

As dusk darkened, new Nights in Purple and Gold Satin draped Apollo Beach, Tampa Bay, Florida — and me. In that radiant veil, the glow of my eternal gratitude burned bright, a light no night could dim. 

This is an absolutely unedited, untouched, SOOC (straight out of camera) DJI M3P drone video I captured at my blessed home on August 2, 2025.

© 2025 IMRAN®

Purple & Gold Summer Sunset Sky Tampa Bay Florida - IMRAN®

Purple & Gold Summer Sunset Sky Tampa Bay Florida - IMRAN®

© 2025 IMRAN®

#IMRAN #Florida #TampaBay #ApolloBeach #sunset #summer #nature #gratitude #lifestyle #GermanShepherdDog #seaside #beach #dronephotography DJI IMRAN

Magnificent Fire Island, Long Island, New York, Atlantic Ocean, Winter Sunset - IMRAN®

Magnificent Fire Island, Long Island, New York, Atlantic Ocean, Winter Sunset - IMRAN®
During a winter visit to my blessed Long Island, New York home for Valentine's Day weekend with my then-girlfriend, I captured this magnificent sunset on Fire Island at Smith Point Beach Park. The image was stitched from multiple handheld iPhone photos, so some stitching artifacts are visible on the right side.

© 2022-2025 IMRAN®

#Beach, #FireIsland, #IMRAN, #iPhone, #LongIsland, #memories, #Nature, #NewYork, #Ocean, #Panorama, #seaside, #SmithPoint, #Sunset, #Tourism, #Travel, #winter

Balancing Between Light and Darkness – A Stunning Sunset on Foreboding Days, Long Island, First Week of 2010 - IMRAN®

Balancing Between Light and Darkness – A Stunning Sunset on Foreboding Days, Long Island, First Week of 2010 - IMRAN®

The scars of the economic collapse lingered in the air—an unsettling hush after the storm of hardship brought by the reckless tax cuts and economic policies of George W. Bush. We face even greater dangers today, in 2025, but I remain hopeful that we will endure the latest attacks on poor people and the working class.
Though the first signs of recovery had begun in 2009, the weight of despair was still crushing, and hope felt like a distant whisper.
Yet, on that fateful evening, the heavens painted a masterpiece of resilience before my very eyes. Standing on the boardwalk at my beloved Long Island home, I captured an unedited, breathtaking sunset through the lens of my Nikon D300—an image that mirrored my own journey.
The golden sun, defiant and determined, struggled to pierce the ominous veil of swirling clouds above. Below, the marshlands—mysterious, untamed, dangerous—stood as silent witnesses to the battle between light and darkness. The day itself was unusual, with temperatures locked at a frozen equilibrium, both high and low at 34°F, refusing to budge.
In the midst of nature’s restless turmoil, I held onto faith. Even in those darkest days, I knew that light would return—not just in the sky, but in my life. And by the grace of the Almighty, brighter days did come. What followed were moments of clarity and renewal, both literally and figuratively—a reminder of the strength found in belief, perseverance, and the enduring power of hope.

© 2010-2025 IMRAN®

Balancing Between Light and Darkness – A Stunning Sunset on Foreboding Days, Long Island, First Week of 2010 - IMRAN®

Balancing Between Light and Darkness – A Stunning Sunset on Foreboding Days, Long Island, First Week of 2010 - IMRAN®

The scars of the economic collapse lingered in the air—an unsettling hush after the storm of hardship brought by the reckless tax cuts and economic policies of George W. Bush. We face even greater dangers today, in 2025, but I remain hopeful that we will endure the latest attacks on poor people and the working class.

Though the first signs of recovery had begun in 2009, the weight of despair was still crushing, and hope felt like a distant whisper.

Yet, on that fateful evening, the heavens painted a masterpiece of resilience before my very eyes. Standing on the boardwalk at my beloved Long Island home, I captured an unedited, breathtaking sunset through the lens of my Nikon D300—an image that mirrored my own journey.

The golden sun, defiant and determined, struggled to pierce the ominous veil of swirling clouds above. Below, the marshlands—mysterious, untamed, dangerous—stood as silent witnesses to the battle between light and darkness. The day itself was unusual, with temperatures locked at a frozen equilibrium, both high and low at 34°F, refusing to budge.

In the midst of nature’s restless turmoil, I held onto faith. Even in those darkest days, I knew that light would return—not just in the sky, but in my life. And by the grace of the Almighty, brighter days did come. What followed were moments of clarity and renewal, both literally and figuratively—a reminder of the strength found in belief, perseverance, and the enduring power of hope.

© 2010-2025 IMRAN®

#IMRAN #NewYork #LongIsland #EastPatchogue #HeronPointe #GreatSouthBay #Sunset #sky #clouds #memories #history #nature #inspiration #perseverance #hope #gratitude #Nikon

Capturing Tampa Bay Florida Sunset In Timelapse, Panorama, 360° At Apollo Beach Home Exactly 2 Years Ago Today - IMRAN®

Capturing Tampa Bay Florida Sunset In Timelapse, Panorama, 360° At Apollo Beach Home Exactly 2 Years Ago Today - IMRAN®

This is a video clip created from 300+ individual Nikon D300 which did not have that feature built-in back in 2007 when I got it as a great gift. This was the sunset exactly 2 years ago. Enjoy the music video of the unusual lighting and colors as clouds, rain, and sunset did their best to confuse the camera. You can see me working on capturing panorama and still shots with the Nikon D850 and 360°x360° with the Insta360 R2.

© 2023-2025 IMRAN®

#IMRAN #florida #tampabay #apollobeach #sunset #sky #clouds #timelapse #musicvideo

Stunning Sunset, Showers & Stars Sliding Seaside - IMRAN®

Stunning Sunset, Showers & Stars Sliding Seaside -  IMRAN®

Prepare to be spellbound! This 30-second time-lapse music video is more than just a sunset—it’s a breathtaking dance of light, clouds, and the cosmos.

Watch as swirling clouds paint the Tampa Bay sky while Florida’s signature sunset ignites the horizon in fiery hues. But don’t blink—rain shower silhouettes glide across the waters, drifting from Clearwater toward St. Petersburg, fleeting yet mesmerizing.

Look closer. The shift in wind, the falling humidity—the sky is in motion, whispering its secrets. Then comes the moon, first just a sliver. But as evening deepens, its full body emerges, revealing even its shadowed half. And then—Orion’s Belt, with hundreds of stars appearing to revolve around this little corner of the universe.

This isn’t just a video—it’s a moment suspended in time. Play it once, then again—you’ll always find something new. What did you notice?

Like, love, comment, and share the magic!

© 2025 IMRAN®

#IMRAN  #Florida #TampaBay #ApolloBeach #Sunset #Timelapse #MusicVideo #Stars #Moon #OrionsBelt #Flying #Boats #Storms #Nature

A Dog’s Life: Watchful K2 & Kennedy's Love of Dolphins, Even Through Pain - IMRAN®

A Dog’s Life: Watchful K2 & Kennedy's Love of Dolphins, Even Through Pain - IMRAN®
As I grappled with the devastating reality that my time with Kennedy was shorter than I had hoped, fate had its own plans. The news of his inoperable tumor and his struggle with basic functions left me heartbroken. I knew it was only a matter of time before his internal organs would reach a breaking point.
Yet, even in the midst of this pain, Kennedy’s spirit remained unbroken. One evening, as we stood on the dock, a heron gracefully landed atop my home. Kennedy observed it briefly but soon grew bored, leaving K2 to keep a vigilant eye on the bird—a true bird’s-eye view guardian.
But what truly brought Kennedy to life were the dolphins. The moment K2 and Kennedy heard the unmistakable sounds of a nearby dolphin, it was as if Kennedy had found his second wind. Watching him eagerly rush to see his beloved marine companions brought me a bittersweet joy. Best Dog Ever.

© 2024-2025 IMRAN®

#IMRAN #Florida #TampaBay #ApolloBeach #GSD #GermanShepherdDogs #dogs #memories #life #loss #greatness #philosophy #LifeLessons

Hope Inspiring Resplendent Roses & Blossoms At Blessed Home Long Island, New York, Day Before My Birthday 2012 - IMRAN®

Hope Inspiring Resplendent Roses & Blossoms At Blessed Home Long Island, New York, Day Before My Birthday 2012 - IMRAN®
A dozen years ago before I penned these words in 2024, the rose bushes at my blessed home on Long Island, New York, were in full, glorious bloom. It was the early summer of 2012, the day before my 50th birthday.
The tornadoes and droughts of total economic meltdown, brought on by the policies of Republican President George W. Bush which enriched the super-wealthy with one trillion dollars of tax cuts, had wreaked havoc on my life as on millions of ordinary individuals, families, and entire towns. The next few years were spent on surviving, recovering, and rebuilding. Even then it was a rocky road.
By the time 2012 rolled in, after a labyrinthine journey of heart-sinking troughs, fleeting peaks, and unexpected drops into new valleys, life began to hint at a promising change ahead. I had to remind myself that life’s most exquisite blooms often come accompanied by the piercing thorns of reality.
The key is to persistently tend to one’s garden of dreams, rooting it in unshakeable faith, nurturing it with the water of hope, showering it with the rain of love, fortifying it with the grains of gratitude, and ceaselessly illuminating it with the lights of confidence, and perseverance.
No matter the adversities you face, remember, they are but temporary. You possess the strength to surmount them. Never let go of your dreams. Never relinquish your authentic self. Within you lies an indomitable spirit. You are capable of blooming despite the thorns. Are you ready to live the life you dream of?

© 2012-2025 IMRAN®

Heaven's Bloodshot Eyes Crying Oceans Of Tears In Memory Of My Beloved Mom's 33rd Death Anniversary (2/2/1992) - IMRAN®

Heaven's Bloodshot Eyes Crying Oceans Of Tears In Memory Of My Beloved Mom's 33rd Death Anniversary (2/2/1992) - IMRAN®

My beloved mother left us at age 50 on 2/2/1992. Even after 33 years, the tears have not ceased. Thinking of that day still brings an unending flow of sorrow.

As I saw this sunset on her anniversary at my blessed Florida home, I was overtaken by emotion. Even heaven's eyes are bloodshot, crying oceans of tears. The sun seemed to understand the pain I, her firstborn son, have endured all these years.

I do not expect it to abate now or for the time I have left before I see her again in the Universe around us.

© 2025 IMRAN®

#IMRAN #sunset #anniversary #mother #life #memories #gratitude #prose #nature #Florida #ApolloBeach #TampaBay

Photo with 18 years old Nikon D300.

Ten Turns (Around The Sun) Today, Stunning Sunset Tampa Bay Florida End July 2014 - IMRAN™

 Ten Turns (Around The Sun) Today, Stunning Sunset Tampa Bay Florida End July 2014 - IMRAN™

Nikon D300 handheld photo end July 2014, a decade ago. Stunning sunset ten loops around the sun today.

© 2014-2024 IMRAN™

Setting Fire To The Rain - IMRAN™

Setting Fire To The Rain - IMRAN™

There were weather systems on the flight from Long Island, New York, to Tampa Bay, Florida, tonight. Instead of flying south along the eastern seaboard of the United States with views of the Atlantic Ocean coastline, we had to detour around a few areas. Flying into the sun heading out to the Gulf of Mexico, right past sunset over Carter’s Lake in Georgia, south of Chattanooga, Tennessee, the sunlight seemed to set the clouds on fire above — with cool darkness falling below this evening. 

© 2024 IMRAN™ 

#IMRAN #flying #aviation #clouds #travel #Georgia #sunset #sunlight #nature #weather #piloting #TravelPics #SouthwestAirlines