In late chilly fall,
Falls early night.
My eyes rise,
To fiery skies,
Of legend & lore,
Making spirit soar.
Heeding my call,
Birds take flight.
© 2010-2011 IMRAN
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PS Forgive me, friends, 18 hours days and nonstop work travel is making me remiss in leaving comments but I do view your photos on iPhone on the road, just hard to leave comments. Thanks for your continued visits.
Technorati Tags: IMRAN, Imran Anwar, Nature, Nikon, Photography, Poetry
Though I do not know the name of this flower bud's genus, I just know that the soft , luscious, suggestively inviting textures of pink on it could make any budding genius rise to the occassion - of taking a stunning, unedited, image as this came out. The silky wall of pink of an already blooming flower and the bokeh with green higlights in sharp and soft relief completed the effect.
Can you see what turned the camera on so much?
© 2010-2011 IMRAN
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Technorati Tags: IMRAN, ImranAnwar, Nature, Photography, Pink
This is just being posted for entertainment, not photographic excellence or stunning displays of nature as I love to do.
I was being driven from Sargodha, in Punjab, Pakistan to my home in Lahore. As the car zoomed by the dusty plains and fields, passing through tiny towns and barely visible villages, I was shooting pictures with the Nikon D300 through the car window.
It was too hot to open the window, so I just took the chance of possible window reflections appearing in the photo. You can see some of the motion blur on the bricks and the man's headgear. The unedited photo still ended up looking well structured by the rule of thirds. But, what I enjoyed was the subtle gray sky, the brilliant green leaves, the rich fire orange red bricks lighter colored than the almost red tinged skin tones of the had working laborer, radiated by decades of manual labor beneath a non-sheltering, sweltering sky.
This scene was shot literally at 60mph or more, at 1/1000th of a second, while also slightly turning my body to capture it as the car went by this scene. I laughed thinking about the title that had already popped in my mind as I was taking the picture. I didn't know how well-placed the bricks and the squatting man would be in the resulting photo.
Here in America, even when people don't fully observe posted speed limits in work zones, where sometimes there are more people in hard hats standing holding up signs to SLOW down traffic than are actually doing the work, we are are more considerate than drivers in developing countries like Pakistan.
The speeds with which traffic zooms through work area made me think of what bodily reactions of people here would be.
They would definitely be doing more than... Sitting, Bricks. ;-)
© 2010 IMRAN
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1/1/11. All ones.
One more opportunity to focus on the number One priorities in life. To be the One you wanted to be. To live to the fullest the one life you've been given.
Mark my words. This year is over.
No, I am not kidding. It was hardly a few days ago when I was wishing you a Happy New Year 2010. Even though it was a difficult, in some ways tortuous, tumultuous and terrible year, it too flew by, like the many years of life.
Despite the challenges, the pain, the sorrows, the shocks, the twists of irony it smashed into life, it was one more blessed year of life, of health, of ambition, of strength, of courage, of resilience, of overcoming. And, it went by far too fast.
Don't let this new year do the same.
2011 is here. It started with 1/1/11 and gives you, me, all of us, every single opportunity to be all that we want to be, to achieve all we want to achieve, to live all we want to live.
Take One moment, to dwell on these reflections, 2011. Make it the brightest new day of the brightest life you can live.
© 2011 IMRAN
Although it was nearly mid-day on June 15th, 2010, the bright almost-Noon sun above had not yet managed to sizzle off the moisture from early morning's dew drops on these flowers at the entrance near my home.
The Nikon D300 did a great job capturing what caught my eye in the first place... the needle sharp reflections of moisture were shining like tiny crystals and diamonds embedded in petals that looked like pure Gold Leaf, positively glowing above the bokeh background of dark leaves, like a fine jeweler's velvet green display to melt a viewer's heart and turn it to solid resolve of a buyer.
A golden moment, a jewel in time, in every sense of the word. What do you think?
© 2010 IMRAN
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Technorati Tags: Imran Anwar, Nature, Photography
The Baths location at Virgin Gorda, in the British Virgin Islands, is one of my favorite places in the world. I had a most amazing trip there not too long ago, as part of a 7 day Caribbean cruise. But it is definitely one place I would love to go by my own boat.
I have a sailboat (but never learned to sail!) but just enjoy motor yachting and boating far too much. So, God Willing, I hope to visit there one day again.
This was just a spectacular day, with the most magical blue colors captured by the pocket Nikon. The shallow waters surrounding the rocks are full of colorful fish you can walk among. Like the words of the great song, Cat's In The Cradle, your Catamaran, or Cat, can be safely cradled near the rock clusters.
A boating paradise, a lover's delight, a God worshippers place to just be in awe of his bounty.
As 2010 comes to a close today, as you make new year's resolutions, make yourself a promise that you will try to visit this, or places like this, in your lifetime, that make you love spending time with the ones you love, love the planet we are on, love the time we are given here, and the majesty and love of our Creator.
© 2010 IMRAN
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Though it becomes harder to navigate iced over boardwalks or trudge through snow covered sand, winters also provide some incredibly clear atmospheric conditions.
Even with cloudy skies, the low humidity makes the air crackle with energy, sizzle with color, especially as it comes time for Christmas. Trees, at the Southwest side of the marina at my home, silhouetted against the majestically cold fiery sky complete the Holiday mood. Untouched, unedited photo.
Merry Christmas to those who celebrate, Happy Holidays to everyone.
© 2010 IMRAN
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Today is the 2nd death anniversary of my beloved father. It was literally at this hour, when I was expecting a phone call from him. The phone rang. I answered, "Hello, Abu (Dad)!". Instead, it was my brother in law saying my Father had just taken his last breath.
This photo, taken at one of the darkest times in my life, was poignant in many ways.
It was coming close to my beloved father's first death anniversary last year when I stood at my beach at home, alone, gazing into the distance, thinking of him, my Mother long gone, life, and the end that one day comes too soon.
The spot I stood at, when I took the photo on October 20, 2009, was where he and I had stood to watch a sunset exactly 13 years before that day, when he visited me in the Fall of 1996.
In a twist of fate, he had come to be by my side at a time of turmoil in my life. He literally cashed in his life's savings and brought them over to give everything to me, to tide over even a few months in that rough patch.
Things improved, great times came about, and I was able to repay him with gratitude for being the greatest father ever.
Last October, as I stood on the beach, the crisis I faced was 100 times worse than 1996. I was on the verge of losing everything I had built with 21 years of hard work in America.
But, what was most difficult was not the material loss, but knowing, I was so completely alone, now that he was gone for one year. I knew I would recover financially, if not here, somewhere else, if not now, someday in the future. But, I would never overcome the loss of both my beloved parents.
As these thoughts washed over me, I looked in the distance and the lone man standing at the end of a dilapidated pier, like a last man, at land's end, felt so symbolic of my state of affairs, and my state of mind.
Even as I saw myself in this picture, I was struck by the contrasts and the dichotomy that is so like our lives. Dark clouds on one side, with bright pink sunset light on the other, lighting the sky.
Here's to us always being true to ourselves, even when we're the last ones standing at the land's end of our own lives.
© 2009-2010 IMRAN
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I am writing these words, and posting this photo, while visiting San Francisco, California.
This photo was taken just about 2 years ago, just 3 weeks before the passing away of my beloved Father in Pakistan.
A lot of difficult things were going on in my life, but I was not worried. I have always remembered the advice he gave me.
Prepare for the worst, but always Hope for the best.
I have therefore always believed in "crossing that bridge when I get to it" and knowing that life can always surprise you.
Even then, I had no idea on that day, as I crossed the Golden Gate Bridge at sunset, that my life would so quickly unravel.
A few weeks later, my Father was dead, gone forever, but living forever in my heart and memory. People who had seemed to be a part of my life showed their true colors, in my time of direst need, when an economic downturn led me to lose almost everything I had worked 21 years to get. But, other human beings, some good people, and some angels in disguise, continued to hover nearby with their love and support.
The next nearly 18 months were a surreal experience. I could be tempted to say, "It was a living hell"... but it was not.
Every day, every loss, every negative news, every lost opportunity, every closing door, every humbling experience, made me realize how very lucky I was, and am.
I realized that the worst day of that life was better than not being alive. The most difficult situation I faced was nothing compared to not having my health and abilities.
And, the roads were narrow and long, the lonely walks even to go get food, in snow and rain, were cold and brutal.
And the shaky, fog covered, rickety bridges, kept on appearing in the road ahead...
And I kept on.... as my father would have wanted.... as I knew no other way, and there was no other path, but ahead.
I kept crossing the bridge, but believing in God, even more, every passing day, that he would never let me ever experience, or feel, like I had hit Rock Bottom.
These rocks at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge are a poignant reminder of where I was and where I passed.
Te dark alleys of life I passed through in the last 2 years in the time after this photo was taken, the journey I am still on, and, at every step, confidently and boldly looking up at new horizons.... with my head bowed down in complete surrdener and gratitude. Thank You, God.
© 2008-2010 IMRAN
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Thank you all. My 26th Explore! October 29, 2010.
It appers no sooner has the morning sun appeared when we find out we have rushed through to the end of another magnificent day.
No sonner has a new year risen, that it is time to start preparing to bid it adieu.
This bright sea of light under a darkening but joyous red sky, at my home beach, on Long Island, NY, was taken on January 10, 2010. And, today, it is already coming to the end of October, 2010.
A bright, silent moment to reflect upon the silent majesty of our humble lives.
To step back, feeling the sand in our feet and sands of time sliding through our fingers.
To see how the cycle of a day that flashes by so quickly, suddenly becomes the passing of a lifetime.
Make the best of every minute, every moment.
Live every breath with every depth of soul you can muster.
See the bright sea of light that reminds us of todays gone and tomorrow around the horizon.
Until, if we are blessed, the last vision we have is a bright sea of light, a golden pathway opening before us, beckoning us, our souls, over the horizon, into the promise of the great unknown.
May we do the best we can when we are here. May God Bless our souls when we are gone.
© 2010 IMRAN
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Imran Anwar is founder of Internet email in Pakistan, co-founder and co-owner of the .PK ccTLD of Pakistan, and founder of the credit card industry there. As a New York based technology, cloud computing, strategy, marketing, media and business professional he is often seen and heard on global media like CNN, Fox News, Express TV, WWRL and many others. These are Imran's personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect those of any employer, parent company, client, family member or other persons or organizations. Phew!
Technorati Tags: cloud, computing, Imran Anwar, technology, Cloud Computing, IMRAN, Imran Anwar, Security, Technology, Strategy
This is one of the most unnatural looking yet completely natural colors I can recall capturing. This non-HDR shot shows stunningly high dynamic range of my neighbor's highly Neon bright Hydrangea to the side of my house at high noon.
It was nearing mid-day when I stepped out of the house to take some pictures on an especially vivid, blindingly bright, Summer day in June.
Usually the weather at my home at that time can be somewhat hazy from humidity and heat on Long Island, New York.
This day it was definitely glowing warm and the sun was almost vertically above. These plants are at the corner of my neighbor's house, and partly shaded - but the grassy grounds that stretch behind the house were awash in the bright hot light of the sun.
I cannot take credit for the spectacular colors the Nikon D300 captured at ISO280. I was simply shooting in Program mode - while bending over backwards (literally) to frame the three depths of flowers aligned but visible for a bokeh effect and playing with the 100-300 (450mm eq) lens.
I hope you too can feel the heat and afterglow from this image.
© 2010 IMRAN
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Technorati Tags: IMRAN, Imran Anwar, Nature, Nikon, Photography
As a late Fall sun started to set on the golden hills along the Golden Gate Bridge, still relatively late compared to New York's earlier forays into winter darkness, at 7:45 PM, I braved the breeze and decided to walk across the length of the bridge.
Along the way, I managed to shoot some pretty spectacular sunsets you have seen here earlier, made special by my managing to catch scenes without the ongoing rush of traffic spoiling the shot.
With the Pacific Ocean beckoning the sun into it's calming lap to the right of me, I looked down to my left and saw the idyllic scene of sailboats, masters of the sea, sitting in silence, as cosmic winds of photons swept by them to crash glowingly into the amber green earth behind them. A golden moment to remember, from whereever I see, to shining sea.
© 2008-2010 IMRAN
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SOOC Image Straight Out Of Camera!! NO editing, tweaking, of ANY kind. Only framed in Photoshop & saved original 16.2MB Nikon RAW image as a 5.5MB JPG.
I've seen some of the bluest skies in the world in my travels. The soft yet crisp blue of Colorado to the beatific blues of the Bahamas's skies, blues like that make other places' skies sing the blues.
Yet, this completely unedited RAW Nikon image of the sky over the delectable pink flowering tree's blooms was simply breathtaking.
The soft luscious tendrils of pink were aroused in excitement from the warmth of summer's passion. They yearned to reach for the sky, caressing it's distant face with sweet brushing motions. The sky lit up, tickled pink.
I think you will appreciate the unusually lovely pink and blue shades. What a wonderful world in everything around us.
Taking the picture was interesting. A neighbor of mine was working on something so I borrowed his 6 feet (2 meters) ladder to precariously climb atop it to get close to the blooms. I would have caught them even sharper if it were not for a a very windy day at the start of July that was whipping the branches wildly. But, more than focus (the bokeh in the back looked nice) the colors are just amazing to me.
© 2010 IMRAN
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This sunset to the side of my house, silhouetting my neighbor's home and the mast of my sailboat next to others, was an interesting contrast of solid colors, themes, ideas and visual & verbal imagery.
It seemed as if the masts' as black rods were levitating a white hot solar mass floating above them, in a red hot sky on a cool November evening.
As I reflect at Dawn on this bright image of dark silhouettes of Sunset one year ago, I am reminded of the power of miracles. Surreal events in our life that can make the impossible become possible. Guaranteed things that we take for granted that do not transpire. Such is the magic of life. Such is the drama of living.
All we can do is live every day, knowing, believing, that Nothing Is Impossible.
And, Impossible Is Nothing.
© 2009-2010 IMRAN
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SOOC Image Straight Out Of Camera!! NO editing, tweaking, of ANY kind. Only framed in Photoshop & saved ~14MB Nikon RAW image as a 5MB JPG.
It's everywhere I see. It's everywhere I imagine. It's everywhere I touch. It's everywhere I feel. A sense of sensuality.
Lovers wrapped beneath white silky sheets in the dark of night, or in the open broad daylight vision of lust as pink petals unfurl against sheaths of green splendor in the grass.
My eyes froze on this stunning rose in my flower bed in a spectacular Summer afternoon at home. The luscious pink petals parting like the lips of an inviting Lolita, making the stem and bud beneath it rise, responding to the lust of life, to push up, seeming to bend its tip around the lower petals of the budding rose.
Is it only me? Or, does sensuality not drip from every moment of this stunning life and world around us?
© 2010 IMRAN
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Technorati Tags: Green, IMRAN, Imran Anwar, Long Island, Nature, New York, Nikon, Photography, Prose, Pink, Sensual
Just a few meters/yards in distance - and a few moments in time (the distance between two events) - away from the Golden Gate (Sun Hanging On A Wire) photo, of a universe seemingly divided, was this surreal Godly vision. (Human operated camera at 1/2500th second f/25 at ISO1600).
A setting sun, exopsing rising new horizons, railings glowing red hot but with a soothing welcoming tone. A bird soaring on a heavenly rich red Gold colored sky, from what you see to shining sea, a red hot molten lava color but so cool to soak in the view of, a pacific ocean of calmness emanating from the Pacific Ocean waters, glowing through clear airborne fluids and fogginess of moist inviting and approaching night.
O'. what a wonderful world.
© 2010 IMRAN
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