As Sun Sets On 2013, 2014 Begins To Appear - IMRAN™ -- Happy New Year To All!

As Sun Sets On 2013, 2014 Begins To Appear - IMRAN™ -- Happy New Year To All!, a photo by ImranAnwar on Flickr.

In every life there are bright mornings and dark nights, ups and downs, and everything in between.

Some will be celebrating the best year(s) of their lives going by as the sun sets on 2013, while others will think it could not end soon enough.

But, to all, each and everyone of you, my family, friends, fans, loves and loved ones, as well as all decent people of this beautiful planet…..

A Happy New Year, and all the best in 2014.

The base SOOC image is Straight Out Of Camera with my 6 years old Nikon D300!! NO editing, tweaking, of ANY kind. Only added my greeting and name in Photoshop..

© 2013-2014 Imran Anwar
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Stunning Colors Of Nature - IMRAN™

Stunning Colors Of Nature - IMRAN™, a photo by ImranAnwar on Flickr.

SOOC Image Straight Out Of Camera!! NO editing, tweaking, or color processing of ANY kind. Only added my name in Photoshop..

These stunning colors are presented as the Nikon D300 captured them in my flower beds at home, with not a bit of editing done to the image.

Imran

Every NoteBook Has An Ending. Make Yours Special. - IMRAN™

I am a very adventurous modern-day old fashioned romantic, in case some of my 50 shades of color writings don’t tell you that already.

But, maybe it was watching all those Pakistan romance movie my parents loved going to see, or just being a sappy fool at heart, despite being Happily Single™ (yes, I even sold T-shirts online with that logo) I also believe in sail-mates and soul-mates, and in living happily ever after.

My parents only got 32 years together before my Mom died at 50. Dad outlived her by nearly 17 years but never remarried.

So, even as guy who loves action flicks, I shed a few tears when I watched The Notebook. If you thought The Notebook was a great movie, then you have to read this true story:

Married 62 years, Charlie & Helen Bridges died 3 days apart this month

What do you think of true love, of devotion, of mad dedication, and, of a The End to the movie of our life, like this one?

http://j.mp/1bwDFw9

Sailing Off Into The Sunset - IMRAN™

Sailing Off Into The Sunset - IMRAN™, a photo by ImranAnwar on Flickr.

As I stood at my dock, waiting to see what new magical colors the sky would display at sunset, I noticed a cruise ship heading out of Tampa Bay, towards the Gulf of Mexico.

As the sun set on a lovely, but not overly spectacular sunset sky, I knew the ship would not make it there in time to give me a great silhouette shot.

But, just at the moment the direct sight of the sun took its last gasp and slid under the horizon, the ship was in the frame just enough to make for a lovely effect nonetheless. I clicked Bon Voyage to the ship, as it’s passengers enjoyed Sailing Off Into The Sunset, literally.

(Straight Out Of Camera image, with no color editing, but cropped lower 500 pixel rows of water to give a widescreen view).

© 2013 IMRAN
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Stunning Scene At Harbour Island, Eleuthera, Bahamas - IMRAN™

Stunning Scene At Harbour Island, Eleuthera, Bahamas - IMRAN™, a photo by ImranAnwar on Flickr.

I have been blessed to see many beautiful places on this wonderful planet. And the stunning views and colors of the Bahamas and the Caribbean remain among my favorites.

The colors of the sky and water constantly change depending on how bright it is, where the sun is shining and what kind of clouds are painting patterns on the water surface.

Coral Sands is a beautiful hotel to stay at, and the sand under my feet was literally talcum powder soft and sweet pink in color.

I hope I am blessed to return to this place again. I hope this photo takes you there for a few moments in time.

This photo was taken with a pocket Nikon S6 in 2007. I would love to take pictures with a higher quality Nikon next time I visit.

© 2007-2013
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Backyard Paradise - IMRAN™

Backyard Paradise - IMRAN™, a photo by ImranAnwar on Flickr.

The brilliant blue sky, green foliage and glowing sands at low tide bring out the best views of the flats at Tampa Bay, Florida.

What a blessing to be able to witness this scene, a blessed backyard of paradise point in this mortal life and morsel of universal dust we call Earth.

© 2013 IMRAN

Another Gorgeous Tampa Bay Dusk - IMRAN™

Another Gorgeous Tampa Bay Dusk - IMRAN™, a photo by ImranAnwar on Flickr.

I was blessed to see this stunning sunset and dusk on Tampa Bay, when the winter sky was filled with hues of gold and fiery orange, and the water shimmered in shades of blue, pink, and purple depending on the direction and the clouds above.

My now nearly 6 years old Nikon D300 still takes great sunset photos. I took 36 or so photos in 3 rows of 12, just spanning about 120 degrees of view.

These handheld camera photos were imported from the camera, automatically stitched by Microsoft’s ICE, imported into iPhoto, cropped and cleaned up to share here. Please enjoy.

Click to view the actual sky detail of this magical moment.

© 2013 IMRAN
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Soft Pink Sensual Lips Unfurl - IMRAN™

Soft Pink Sensual Lips Unfurl - IMRAN™, a photo by ImranAnwar on Flickr.

This is just one of the many unedited (image Straight Out Of Camera, name added in Photoshop), stunning images of nature’s soft pink sensual unfurling lips that I captured with a macro lens on a 2 year old iPhone 4S. It is from one of the flowers I grew inside my home in NY and then dried.

© 2011-2013 IMRAN
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Sun (Good Night) Bird (Good Flight) - IMRAN™

Sun (Good Night) Bird (Good Flight) - IMRAN™, a photo by ImranAnwar on Flickr.

Tonight’s sunset over Tampa Bay, Florida, seemed to be one of the “usually unusual” beautiful experiences of nature. Something to be savored in the moment, and then forgotten, when the next beautiful night takes its place in the eye and the mind’s eye.

But, as this unedited photo (taken with a handheld nearly six years old Nikon D300 and with NO color processing or tweaking) shows, the stunning natural subtle layers of clouds, in an otherwise clear evening, made crisper by a cold front coming through, just made for a magical incredible sight.

The majestic bird taking off into the night sky, silhouetted against the darkening red sky and black horizon, made my spirit soar. I hope you enjoy it and share your thoughts, as the Sun says Good Night and the Bird takes Good Flight.

© 2013 IMRAN
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Panorama View Inside Keukenhof Netherlands - IMRAN™

Panorama View Inside Keukenhof Netherlands - IMRAN™, a photo by ImranAnwar on Flickr.

I was running out of time in my trip to Holland (Netherlands) during my visit to Europe.

As I left Amsterdam, I had a choice of sleeping in a bit at the hotel and heading to the airport earlier than the flight time, or taking a train and bus ride to Keukenhof, the world famous place where tulips and bulbs of all kinds cover the landscape as far as the eye can see.

This area inside the park has a beautiful tranquility to it, with a lake, fountains, wandering geese, and meandering paths, wondering eyes and summer breeze sighs, combining to make it an afternoon to remember.

This was taken with my 2 year old cell phone to snap a handheld panorama, doing my best to avoid people walking by me, and not losing the perspective the panorama app needed. It came out pretty good, I have to say.

I did make it back to the airport in time, for my return to the United States and am glad I made the time to visit this beautiful place.

© IMRAN
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Black Clouds Smoke From Red Hot Burning Sky - IMRAN™ (SOOC)

Black Clouds Smoke From Red Hot Burning Sky - IMRAN™ (SOOC), a photo by ImranAnwar on Flickr.

This is another stunning silhouette of a breathtaking red sky over St. Petersberg, Florida. This too was taken across miles of wide open Tampa Bay, with a Nikon D300.

The red hot sky was on fire seeming to release layers of dark smoky clouds over a city filled with people oblivious to the majesty of nature swirling overhead.

SOOC Image Straight Out Of Camera!! NO editing, tweaking, of ANY kind. Only added my name in Photoshop..

© IMRAN
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Atlantic Waves Wave Cold Farewell To Winter's Day - IMRAN™

Atlantic Waves Wave Cold Farewell To Winter's Day - IMRAN™, a photo by ImranAnwar on Flickr.

There is nothing quite like the majestic serenity of a winter’s day at a secluded spot on the ocean, with not a soul in sight for miles.

The sounds of a silent soul soaking in the scene, felt, though not heard, louder than the crashing of the waves giving up the fight against gravity and the combined strength of otherwise insignificant grains of sand making their stand.

The cold onslaught of the mighty ocean merely hoping to erase recent footsteps of a man’s walk on the beach.

The surf, rolling, thundering in, and then haplessly collapsing foaming, seething, bubbling, hissing before receding, to gather strength for its next return, knowing it has no choice, but to dance this eternal dance, until the end of time.

The Atlantic Ocean’s wave’s wave a cold farewell to a New York winter’s day and ominous clouds, with the promise that they will tango again.

© 2013 IMRAN
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Fifty Thousand Shades Of Grey - IMRAN™

Life is not black and white. It is full of a million shades of grey.

It has its ups and downs. We probably have between 50,000 and 70,000 hours available in life.

If Black is down and White is the up part of our lives, it is in the grey zone that we will live most of our days and hours.So mope not if you happen to hit a down period in your life. And gloat not if you happen to hit a high. 

Give thanks, instead, for having the 50,000 hours of grey. Be thankful that they are not black and dark. Be grateful they are in your power to make lighter, brighter, whiter, happier, more blessed.

Be proactive, make a choice, and do all you can that God empowered you with, to make them more delightful, more love filled, more full of smiles, more brimming with love. And yes, don’t take for granted the basics. 

Say a prayer of gratitude for being alive, healthy, loved, able to read with your own eyes, able to write or speak your thoughts, having the resources and ability to go online.

Bow your head to count the blessings, of having a bed to sleep in and food to eat, and being able to do many of things a billion or more on this earth cannot do.

Happy Thanksgiving, in every shade of grey. 

- Imran Anwar
Long Island, NY, November 2013

Fall Full Moon Falls As Sun Rises To Keep It At Bay At Tampa Bay - IMRAN™

Fall Full Moon Falls As Sun Rises To Keep It At Bay At Tampa Bay - IMRAN™, a photo by ImranAnwar on Flickr.

I had happened to pull an all-nighter in Florida to finish work on a project before catching an early flight to NY.

But just as the sun was rising behind me, I saw a beautiful fall full moon still clearly shining in the sky falling to the West over Tampa Bay.

This photo was taken with a 41MP Windows Phone Nokia Lumia 1020 cell phone. It is a great camera but one thing it does is try to lighten dark photos. That is great for indoor dark scenes but in this case it tried to “help” by making the scene lighter, easier to see, but taking away the rich tones I was seeing.

I enhanced the photo by darkening it back in Photoshop to bring it closer to what I saw that day…. “Fall Full Moon Falls As Sun Rises To Keep It At Bay At Tampa Bay”.

© 2013 IMRAN

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Stunning November Afternoon Glows With Orlando Magic - IMRAN™

Stunning November Afternoon Glows With Orlando Magic - IMRAN™, a photo by ImranAnwar on Flickr.

Even though Orlando is far from my favorite bodies of water, like Tampa Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, the landscaping in most resorts makes up for that with ample water surrounding everything.

This particular November afternoon on a Hilton Grand Vacations resort was a splendid display of the power of nature’s colors in Florida, with a touch of Orlando Magic.

This photo was taken with my WindowsPhone Lumia1020, imported into iPhoto, enhacned in Photoshop, with copyright insertion, and reimported into iPhoto to post on Flickr.

© IMRAN WP1020_20131108_15_41_22_Pro__highres

Smith Point Beach Fire Island Dance Party

During one of my drives to Smith Point Beach on Fire Island I saw this fun group of people enjoying  summer dancing with live music at the Beach Hut. Except for a few songs, I am not a big fan of country music, but this tune obviously had people enjoying the day like a weekend, even though it was a Monday.

Pollen, Petals, And Cell(ular Phone Camera) Biology - IMRAN™

Pollen, Petals, And Cell(ular Phone Camera) Biology - IMRAN™, a photo by ImranAnwar on Flickr.

This is a handheld photo taken at maximum zoom of the Nokia, WindowsPhone, Lumia 1020 at my home on Long Island New York this summer.

It is amazing to see the detail of pollen on the petals that a 41MP cell phone camera’s zoom (crop to merely 1.5MB) picture can show.

I Imported into iPhoto, enhanced with copyright insertion in Photoshop, and shared with you all.

Air, Land & Sky That Even Poseidon Would Love - IMRAN™

Air, Land & Sky That Even Poseidon Would Love - IMRAN™, a photo by ImranAnwar on Flickr.

1989 was my first full year of living in the United States (after first coming in 1987). And at the end of that year, during a visit to Miami, Florida, where I made many wonderful friends, it was Susane Ronai, a dear friend until years afterwards, who took me to Disney in Orlando for New Year’s.

Even though I came to Orlando many times in subsequent years, for meetings, to speak at conferences like HIMMS, and more, I never made it back to a Florida theme park. I did go to Universal Studios in Los Angeles, and to Six Flags in New Jersey, both in 1991.

This year, I finally made it back to a theme partk after nearly 22 years, with my beautiful girlfriend Kat. It ended up being Universal Studios’ Islands of Adventure, in Orlando, that we spent November 10, 2013, at.

The more than 10 miles of walking we got in was quite a lot, especially wearing new shoes without socks. LOL. But the Hulk roller coaster (that I took twice), and the tower where you are shot up at the same acceleration as a fighter jet being catapulted off an aircraft carrier, were definitely worth experiencing (again).

I had to miss the Poseidon experience because it was a stunning day and I wanted to capture a panorama (actually an auto stitch with the Microsoft Photosynth app in my Lumia 1020 41MP phone). Not using a tripod means less than perfect alignment, but in this case Photosynth did a decent job. I cropped the full 360x360 degree spherical view into a rectangular photo for you to enjoy.

Feel free to post the link on your FaceBook or Twitter feeds if you have been to this place, and share your stories here.

My Blessed Heavenly Home By The Sea - IMRAN™

My Blessed Heavenly Home By The Sea - IMRAN™, a photo by ImranAnwar on Flickr.

This is a panorama photo of my blessed home in Florida, the white home to the right. You have to click to soak in the scene larger size on a monitor. It was taken while standing in the water of Tampa Bay at my beach as the tide was receding.

Having slept at 4AM or so, I was woken by my girlfriend who had gone for a walk on the beach and realized the stunning Florida sky colors, sand flats color and the water shades would be worth waking me up for.

Normally waking me up from deep sleep is a serious offense (LOL), but in this case I just jumped out of bed and walked on to the sands with her.

I took 22 handheld Nikon D300 images facing the morning sun. It was a breathtaking moment as the sun behind the home gave it a heavenly aura.

Later back inside on my brand new MacBook Pro Adobe Photoshop and other apps could not handle stitching them straight but in a wave shape, but they were stitched by Microsoft’s ICE program on Windows 8, running in Parallels. But even that skipped 2 shots, as it seems beach/water/horizon/sky are the weakest parts of panorama software and those happen to be my favorite subjects. Oh well, this will do for now.

I opened that stitched image in Photoshop CC/CS to fill out the jagged edges (Fill/Content Aware), improved shadow detail, but did not reduce sun glare which would make the sky color seem fake, so I just added my name, exported as JPG and imported into iPhoto to post on Flickr.

I hope you enjoy this moment as much I did and do. Your prayers to bless my family, me and my homes are always requested.

© 2013 IMRAN

St. Petersberg Stunning Sunset Silhouette - IMRAN™

St. Petersberg Stunning Sunset Silhouette - IMRAN™ -- {SOOC}, a photo by ImranAnwar on Flickr.

This stunning silhouette of a breathtaking red sky over St. Petersberg, Florida, was taken across miles of wide open Tampa Bay, with my mostly trusty 5+ years old Nikon D300, in mid-September.

ISO200, 450mm handheld zoom, f/13 at 1/640 second 0EV.

SOOC Image Straight Out Of Camera!! NO editing, tweaking, of ANY kind. Only added my name in Photoshop..

© IMRAN
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