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Location:E 11,Sharjah,United Arab Emirates

Growing a little too slowly.

In the world of blogging and following(or being followed) on social media, it seems one has to be connected 24/7.  It's been really busy with being my alter ego, Mustafa the business entrepreneur. Our electrical retail outlet is what pays my bills for now, so I still need to give some time there, before I can become a regular blogger and post updates about what I'm doing for myself and photography.

For a matter of fact, I have been just so busy trying to survive in this market, I haven't picked up my camera for 3 weeks now, and I feel like I've lost it. Frankly, I've taken up too many personal goals and I'm confused how to fulfill each of them, in each sector of my life. I have a few religious goals, I have a few entrepreneurial goals, I have a few fitness goals, a few goals as a family man and a few goals for photography. So in this schizophrenic life of mine, with multiple personalities, each personality having its own goal and aim in life, God only knows where I'm going to end up. It seems I'm trying to grow a plant between rocks, and botanically, that ain't such a good idea. Though I still haven't lost hope, and that's where I'm still positive and strong. A plant between rocks? so be it. Pssh its just time management foo'.(yea right!)

A dear friend of mine, suggested I use BlogPress to start blogging. I disregarded her suggestion at first since I didn't like blogging from a phone, but now I'm reconsidering it. My next one should be from there.

     

Cured from G.A.S.

I remember all those times during my early days getting into the field of photography. I remember the feelings, and I remember the emotions. I was over whelmed. Therefore, that gave me a lot of gas. This wasn't a clinical problem, but more of a psychological condition. What is gas? GAS is Gear Acquisition Syndrome.

Let me take you step by step.

Prologue - You have a decent camera, and you meet a friend, who is awesome with his point and shoot. You learn, and you understand your p&s even better. That's where all the majority is. If you are still here, you better give yourself a pat, because this isn't a gas condition.

Chapter 1 - Oh you have researched the web, and you've seen all the other people with amazing stuff, out of DSLRs. You just gotta have one. I need more control over my camera, and P&S is just not giving me what I want. I'll just buy a really cheap DSLR and the kit lens is all I need.

Chapter 2 - Oh! You can make money with your photography as a hobby, with stock photography. I guess I need to invest a little bit to buy a macro lens. Then I can really make some money

Chapter 3 - OMG! This kit lens SUCKS. I can't even zoom to an object outside my room. I need a zoom lens. Like something that can cover from a wide angle till a telephoto.

Chapter 4 - Man, I get too much camera shake in low light situations. I need a tripod. Everyone has a tripod, and I can afford it. Its an awesome thing to have in your gear right. I'll buy a tripod and fix this low light situation.

Chapter 5 - Okay, I can't take my tripod everywhere. At gatherings, everyone stares at me. Also, since its a zoom lens, the aperture is not good enough to take images in low light. I need to get a FLASH. The pop up is so uncontrollable. I need Flash that I can bounce.

Chapter 6 - Okay, so this website says that the prime lens are the sharpest, and that website says that a prime have better glass too. I should have at least one prime in my gear right?

Chapter 7 - I have the prime, but the I use the zoom more often. I need to invest in a good sharp zoom lens, with a wider aperture.

Chapter 8 - Man, I can't work with this small camera body. I need a better one, to fit perfectly with these set of expensive lens I have.

and it goes on....

Luckily for me, I woke up from this condition. Heres the good part of waking up after possessing this much gear. It gives me a better perspective. I see them as tools. I have a bigger toolbox, which means that I have less restrictions to certain photography genres. It was just recently that I had purchased a Zack Arias workshop, and that workshop really put all my photography into perspective. I knew some stuff, and I knew how to do it, but I didn't know WHY? I didn't know the technical. Now I do, and gives me a better and clear picture of what and where it is that I want to end up.

Also, an amazing quote from  Edward Weston "...few photographers ever master their medium. Instead they allow the medium to master them..." I have applied this theory for so long in terms with Money, being a business entrepreneur, that don't work for money, but let the money work for you, and I just couldn't see and think about applying the theory elsewhere.  

Finally, You know its like a little girl saying, I want to grow up and live in a Palace, and if she seriously worked towards it, gradually, everyday she would add detail to that. Initially, the vision in her head would just be an outline of a palace, and then slowly, she would envision, how the gates would look, how the windows would look, how her room would look, how many trees the palace would have and so on till she reaches there.

Everyone envisions where they want to end up, but it is the journey which gives the final shape ,the detail and the perfection to their vision. (Wow, I should copyright that) haha!

Photo

Engagement Session : Kumail & Pamela

Can't you tell they are made for each other? Kumail and Pamela, have finally arrived at the point where they were destined to be; with each other. I've known Kumail since High School, and met Pamela during College, and now, two good friends become one. Pamela is a sweetheart and a wonderful lady. Her radiant smile and her jolly-good personality is nothing less then simply amazing. Ofcourse, I wouldn't say Kumail is any less. I am so happy they have made it to this point, and I hope they stay happy for years to come.

Our shoot took place in a small garden, in the middle of Karama (totally not the location we had in mind) and I made Pamela doll up at 3AM. Haha! Ofcourse there were some miscalculations by me for the sunrise, but I think in the end all went pretty well I would say.

This is right before their wedding here in Dubai. They've finally tied the knot. Congratulations!

Here are a few shots from that day. Enjoy :D

Wedding : Idrees & Insiya

An elegant man living in the hearts of Dubai, and a beautiful bride, crossing over from the borders of Oman, have finally tied that knot of matrimony. It was an amazing all around event, with a little bit of everything. Culture, Tradition and P-A-R-T-Y!

Great chemistry between the bride and groom, and not to say the whole family, planning the event. The brothers of the groom were playing ten roles at once, from the wedding planners to the best men. Who needs ten hands when you can do everything with just two? The wedding started out with a henna function, where the ladies of the house, decorate their hands with henna in the celebrations of the newly weds. Following was a Darees, where the couple are blessed. Which is then followed by Rukhsati, where the bride bids farewell to start her new life, with the man of the hour, Mr. Idrees. And then comees the reception, where everyone is thanked for their presence, and may I say, PARTY!!!

These were an amazing 4 days, and the family totally welcomed me with open arms, and made me feel part of the household. Thank you Idrees and Insiya, for making this experience memorable for me. 

Here's a sneak peak of some of the moments from our April Wedding.

The April Wedding - It is, what it is.

A Decent Card Reader       AED 100
Special 95 Petrol Top up    AED 130
Backup CF Cards              AED 250
5D Battery                         AED 350
Laptop                              AED 6500
Car Broke Down on my way to the Wedding - PRICELESS!

What do you want me to say? I can only laugh about it now, because it was funny. On the other hand, I was lucky. It was the wedding night, and just to relieve you guys, I did reach the wedding, way ahead of time. I shot the whole wedding, except when the bride and groom were seen off, I was suppose to head back to their room from the venue and do a set of final shots of them there, to achieve the perfect ending for their wedding night. Well that didn't happen. My engine started burning as I followed the bride and groom in my own car. Since I have this american car, it is really crazy on safety, but also freaks you out. As soon as the temperature went in to the hot zone, my car started an internal alarm. It was like I had to evacuate or this car would explode. The alarm was loud, and it got me panicking. In that instance, I slowed down, and the bride and groom sped off, unknown to my situation. I didn't know what to do, so I started to look for a grocery store or a gas station (in Ajman : Okay, after Midnight Ajman becomes scary. And I didn't know the roads) and started making turns right and left and right and left. Finally, I found a small cafeteria which was open, where I bought two bottles of water. I popped the hood, and I saw one of the pipes was busted, and the coolant was spraying out. I let the car cool down. The radiator was empty after it had sprayed all that coolant out, so I poured in some water. The temperature came down, but I had lost my way. While finding my way back, the temperature rose again. It was a lost night. Finally, I called them up and apologized sincerely of my situation. It was so unprofessional, but it was, what it was. I finally found my way back, and reached home 3 hours later, because I had to take periodic stops for my engine to cool down.

Luckily for me, this happened after the major stuff was over. Though I still believe that if I got some of those shots, I would've had a perfect ending to my story.

No matter how much you prepare for a job you undertake. Sometimes, **it happens.  And it is, what it is.

I will soon be putting up some of the images from the wedding. So keep checking.

Business Tuesdays: Under Promise and Over Deliver

I think one of the most important lessons, I have learned the hard way. Why are people unhappy by your work and your service? Maybe you are unhappy about how some service you might have paid for, didn't come up to your expectations. That's the keyword, expectations. An employee expects his employer to take care of him. An employer expects his employee will work hard in return. A husband expects his wife, to take care of him, and in return a wife expects the husband to take care of her. The world is filled with expectations. When I go down to a steakhouse, I'd expect a nice juicy steak on my plate, and not the ones I make at home, which are half cooked and raw. But if that steak is raw and dry, and the worst you had in your life, someone somewhere has let you down. Your brand, your name is a promise. I can expect a Billy's Steakhouse can give me a bad steak, but if I go to a Tony Roma's or something, I expect to have a really good steak. That brand, that name is a promise in itself. 

Enough of general talk. No matter what field you are in, every person trying to make a buck, will promise the moon, the stars, the sun, the galaxy and the whole universe. As a customer, you will be like "Wow! This must be the deal of the century." and when they deliver, the sun, the moon, the stars, the galaxy, but not the whole universe. What's going to happen next? Your expectations will fall. Hence making that the worst deal of the century. Its not about the effort involved. The person might have worked day in day out, to give you the sun, the moon, the stars, and the galaxy, and it must've been their best work, but they over promised and they under delivered. And thats when all that effort will mean to nothing.

This is customer service 101 guys. If you service your clients better then competition, people will pay the extra buck for you. Take some time, and remember why you went to an expensive place only because some one spoke to you nicely. So never promise the sun, the moon and the stars to your client. Always under promise and over deliver.

Join me back on Tuesday, for another round on Business Tuesdays. 

Photo Credits: Apple ; Fruits

Its got my name on it.

Let me tell you a story, which my English teacher told me back in High School.

There was a team of 2 people, who used to build houses for a living. They worked together for almost every project. (For the sake of the story lets name them Gary and Jones). Gary used to go get the jobs, and Jones used to build the houses. Jones was so good at building houses, that Gary never had to inspect them before delivery. They continued this for many years, till Jones said "Hey Gary! I can't do this anymore, I'm done with building houses, and now I need to retire." Jones was hoping Gary would listen to him and let him retire, but he didn't. Gary said "Jones, I can't let you retire just yet. I have one last job we need to do, and then you are free to retire." Jones was totally annoyed. He just didn't have any heart left in him for the jobs. Since it was his last job, he went ahead and did it, but without heart. For the heck of it, he finished that job, with messy fittings, a bad paint job, and uneven fencing around the house. Jones went back to Gary in his office, and said "Here you go, its all done." and handed over the keys of the house to Gary. Gary smiles back at him and says "Great!" and hands him the keys back and says "Jones, its your home now. A gift from me to you for working for us so long."

Moral of the story: Whatever you do, do it with you heart, because its got your name on it.

It can be anything, anywhere, just put your heart into it, because its got your name on it. It can be a paid job or a non paid job, my passion and my dedication towards it shouldn't change. Why? Because its got your name on it. Your name is what you are. People remember you by your name, and you need to make sure your name is remembered in a good way. At the end of the day, everything you do has your name on it. I always try to give it all I have, and yes, sometimes you loose motivation, but thats when you need to tell yourself, that look, its GOT MY NAME ON IT. I can't repeat this enough, but this is what it is. Whatever field you are in, you need to remember that you represent your name, which is a brand. No matter how small or big, its your name, and everything you do, HAS YOUR NAME ON IT. So go ahead and nail everything, anything everytime you do. 

Photo courtesy : Ali A. Daud

Keeping your head high.

Its been a hectic long week, with a lot of eventful things happening. One of the many eventful things is India winning the Cricket World Cup 2011; Congrats. Now that the cricket fever is starting to wear off, lets get back on track.

Opportunities don't come knocking at your door until you've reached a high point in life, where you have various opportunities on an ala carte menu. I want to and can grab anything out of the hat, but I won't. I want to choose which way I steer this boat of mine. Then I think to myself, am I even on the boat yet?

I'm in the most confused state of minds right now, and this isn't the best time to write on the blog, but I'm still going to do it. I've kept my head high for a lot of things in life, and I am going to continue to do so. All I'm waiting for is that ignition to this venture. That one opportunity to go out there and prove not to the world, but to myself that I can do what I believe in.

Its not easy trying to give birth to this artist within you, when your life is filled with responsibilities. There have been times where I feel like throwing in the towel, but by God, I need to be hit by lighting for that. I have a goal; and that is to make a living out of something I love. What do athletes do when they see a hurdle or an obstacle. They jump over it and run to the finish line. That's what I'm going to do. Jump over the hurdle, and keep going. That's what I did when I was an athlete, doesn't have to change now. I don't believe in overnight fame or money. Every hurdle or obstacle I pass is a strong brick in this tower of success I'm building. And towers weren't made overnight.

The "Manual Mode" Myth

In the days before the automatic camera's, there were your cameras which made every photographer work real hard to get that correct exposure. There were pocket manuals for different conditions, about what your shutter speed should be and what your aperture should be and what your ISO rating should be. The photographers worked really hard for their pictures. Hence photographers like Ansel Adams and Alfred Eisenstaedt were some of the famous pioneers of the art industry. They all shot in Manual mode, because that's all that was back then.

Technology has advanced a lot since then, creating micro sized chips with enough memory to fit a complete event, unlike the days of film. They have created more user-friendly cameras, and the creation of the "AUTO" mode in cameras.

For a short course on using M mode; it consists of 3 basic factors. Shutter speed, Aperture and ISO. The shutter speed controls how long your shutter is open. Aperture controls how much light enters the lens. ISO controls the sensitivity of the sensor to the light. In the manual mode, to get the perfect exposure you need to adjust shutter speed and aperture according to the display of the light meter. Now, you either choose the aperture first, and dial the shutter speed till the light meter displays the correct exposure, or the shutter speed first, and dial the aperture till the light meter displays the correct exposure.

Now heres the misconception. "You are not a pro if you don't shoot in Manual." I'm going to come out and say it out right. I mostly use Av and I almost rarely use M. Why shouldn't I. Its an option on my 5D Mk II. Its there for a reason. You don't need to worry about what anyone thinks about how you shoot, as long as you get the job done. There were manual cars before, with gear shifts, till they came out with an automatic gear with a trip shift system. You are a pro as long as you are professional. As long as you get the job done. I use my camera on Av mode because I know how each f/stop changes the exposure, I manually decide my ISO depending on the situation, and I let the camera decide the shutter speed. The only time I use M mode is during still life and flash photography, when I'm using my umbrellas and soft boxes.

Don't be shy of how you shoot. If auto is how you roll, you go ahead and create magic. In the wedding industry, its all about timing. If you fumble with your settings, you might lose the opportunity to have captured a moment.

Did you know most "pros" use Av mode a lot more then M mode.

Business Tuesdays: Inspire and Exalt

Inspiration. A tool to exalt. A tool to uplift.

I am an easy person to inspire. Many things inspire me, because inspiration is a tool to elevate. I believe in the philosophy that if you can do it I can do it too. Its simple. You have two hands, so do I; you have two eyes, so do I; you have two legs, so do I. Most importantly, you have a brain; so do I. Don't get me wrong, because I'm not saying that if you can do it, I can do it better. No! I'm not a proud man, but I do take pride in my achievements. For example, If you tell me, okay get down and give me 300 Push-ups because you can do it, and I will tell you I can do 300 push-ups too, but probably not right now. If I worked towards that goal, one day, YES! I will be able to do 300 push ups. That is what I really mean when I say if you can do it, I can do it too. Just not right now. This keeps me going, everyday of my life. You can believe whatever you want; whatever keeps you going is key. So pick up that camera, and if someone tells you, you aren't creative or you don't have it in you, tell yourself NOT YET, BUT ONE DAY I WILL and keep clicking, because practice makes perfect.

Exalt. Uplift. Rise. My philosophy.

Simple concept. If the world understood it, I think it would be a better place to live in. To rise, you need to leave your seat. To succeed, you need to leave your place. Today, everyone is so concerned about their current position that they are scared that they will be replaced and they would lose their current power, their current position and current status. Its simple. If you stay in one place, you won't move. That's how sole proprietorships turn into multinational corporations. A single idea into a million dollar corporation. Let me give you an example. In my market, there was this retail outlet, where the owner used to sit on the cashier's desk. He would have his sales team to bring in the sale, but he would never leave the cash counter. He wanted to be in control of his cash, and so he was. The company reached its optimum profit limit. The partners in his company told him, to leave the cash counter and manage the shop. He denied as he thought that being in control of cash was power. After much advice, he was asked to delegate those responsibilities to someone else which he did. After leaving that cash counter, he could now look over the cash counter, the sales team and the store, where he found a lot of loop holes which he fixed. Had he never moved from his place, the holes would've remained. Also he was able to see many other things which he changed in terms of functionality. Years passed by, and the company reached its optimum profit limit. The partners again asked him to leave his position and delegate them to someone else. He denied, thinking how can I leave this place. If I leave this place, I will totally lose control. After much discussion, the partners persuaded him to delegate his duties. He finally did. After delegating he had found himself totally free and nothing else to do. During this time, he worked on opening a second location to his initial business, and this way from one to two, from two to four and today operates six locations  from one location. So if you sit in that place where you are, and hope things will change, forget about it. Stand up, and move. Get a fresh perspective, and rise.

For me, I'm going to go grow into my photography business.

Join in on every Tuesday for more positive business related philosophy.
 

Engagement Session: Shabbir and Arwa

The wonderful and glamorous Shabbir and Arwa. The two of them actually met at Arwa's place when Shabbir came down to Dubai from Chicago, and had no place to go, and arrived at her doorstep. Arwa always wanted a knight in shining armor on a horse, to knock on her door, but it was Shabbir with 2 suitcases and no place to go. How did that happen? Shabbir is good friends with Murtaza (Mapu) aka Arwa's cousin from Chicago, and he just said, hey man, just crash at my cousin's place. So there he was knocking on her door.

Shabbir and Arwa were great in front of the camera. A great pair, and fun people to be with. Frankly, when I met Shabbir, I was little weirded out with his habit of always having his hands in his pockets. The moment I asked to take them out, he would be like "Where do I keep them?". Then gradually, I realized that when I don't have my camera in my hand, my hands are in the pocket too.

The experience was exhilarating, and they both were lovely to shoot. We shot through the streets of Diera, and then finally ended up taking a ride on the Abra during Sunset. The light was amazing, and gave us some really good shots.

Engagement Session: Shabbir & Arwa - Images hidden upon client's request for selective viewing.

Fighting Negativity...

It is amusing how sometimes people leave it to "life" to decide their path. What's more amusing is how when you are born, your fate has been decided by your parents before your name. Times are changing now. Ive been blessed with two sons over the past few years, and I will be lying if I hadn't thought about what my son would one day grow up to be. The feeling of envisioning your son to be something you want him to be is so natural, no matter how much I denied myself, that when my son comes in this world, I will let him be what he wants to be(natural in most eastern cultures). Its only the most fortunate ones who can wake up in the morning, to do the thing that they love the most.

For a person belonging to this eastern culture like me, where a father expects his son to take his place in the "circle of life", it is quite difficult and sometimes impossible to become what he wants to be. Don't get me wrong, my family is not that conservative to the thought. Its not like they are denying me to purse photography, but they aren't letting me pursue it freely either. So my father has developed his business, this brand, and this name for himself in the "market", and he's given 30+ years of his life to it, and expects me to sit in the same place where he sits today and be that man. There is nothing wrong about him feeling that way. I think any father who has achieved something with hard-work, their sweat and blood, will want someone to take over; and that someone will preferably be his heir. Don't get me wrong guys, but I'm stuck in this place, where one part of me, wants what my parents want, and the other part of me wants what I want.

That is key. What I want. People who wake up to do what THEY want to do, is life in itself. Most people do what their parents want or wanted them to do, and accept it as reality, and continue doing it. Its selfless. If Herman Einstein told his son Albert, that son, I've created this company where I have manufactured and sold electrical equipment and I want you to take my place, I don't think the world would've understood the theory of general relativity, let alone revolutionizing the world of physics.

I think I'm really lucky to have a father like my father, and I've learnt a lot from him. Just today in the morning, he asked me to give my ads in the classifieds for my photography business. See he does and says these small things, but there are moments where I'm reminded my place in the "circle of his life". I won't give up hope, especially never in myself to be great. To be someone. Even if Ansel Adams told me my photos sucked, I wouldn't give up!

I believe everyone of us, each and every single human being has the power of being different, and no one is any less then the other. We are all Einsteins; we just need to believe that.

Remember, Everyone's Beautiful!

Social Media or Poor Man's Billboard?

Today, I've completely dedicated to putting my name out there. Where is OUT THERE?

Its funny how social media today can be so confusing, (you must be thinking, ever since I've started reading this guy's blog, hes been confused) since everything is interconnected in a way. Now twitter is connected to facebook and this blog is connected to facebook and twitter, and everything is like blah!

Im not confused, but just a little ... well you see I have this thing, or should I say this is how I work. Before I use anything, or purchase anything, or get into anything, I am going to think it through like there is no tomorrow. For example, my friends gifted me a pen tablet, and it was on my wish list, but you see the reason I hadn't bought it yet was I didn't know what I would do with it. I know why and how to use it, but how am I going to incorporate that into my life. I know, I know, Its crazy, but thats how I work. Now that gift is still packed in its bag, not because I don't appreciate it, but I think it was a wonderful gift, and it was something I wanted. Now I need to make place for it, and use it to justify its presence in my life. I keep thinking about it day and night, what am I going to use it for, like that special moment. I rarely own anything that I don't use, but I do own a few things, which I know I WILL use.

That's how I work with everything. I plan and I plan and I plan, and finally I execute. So, if you think I just got up from my bed, and started using Twitter, and Facebook and this Blog, you are wrong. I worked it through in my head a thousand times, and finally I came to a point, where I could work it no more, until I started. So I started...Its the not the best ways to work, but it works for me.

Therefore, I went ahead and created a Facebook and Twitter page for my brand.

Follow me on Twitter, @mustafatin  

The Chicken or The Egg...Who's first?

Okay it's barely been like 10mins and I am already blogging again.

I'm quite mind boggled on how and where to start this Photography business. I try to look at other inspirations but they are all out of this region. Now for example, this region right here, has many ...lets say...LAWS...and legalities, that it doesn't give me the freedom to just walk out of my home with a camera and start a photography business, unlike other places.

So, where do I start from? Where do you take off from? How do you get on the runway? How do you start? I need an ignition, but where and how? Oh it boggles me. Sometimes, I feel I know all the answers, and then somewhere down that track some one will ask you a question and you'd be like "Oh! I dunno!"

Do you buy equipment first? Do you get a job first? How do you do a job without equipment? How do you get your equipment without a job? We don't live in a country, where photography is diverse, and has a full fledged market. We have a few electronics suppliers, and the main agents for Nikon & Canon. I don't believe there is a place here in this region, which rents out equipment for use, which would make the above question much more simpler. Do you buy equipment first or you get a job first? Photography equipment is not cheap, specially not in this region and especially if you are trying to start a business.

Think Mustafa...Think!

When a blog is born...

So I sit here before my laptop, and this black thin cursor keeps on blinking....Blink!....Blink! My white screen is staring at me, and the cursor keeps blinking; mocking me in the process.

What do you write in your first blog? Apart from the usual and boring introduction, "Hi, My name is Mustafa Tin, and I am lifestyle photographer/blogger based out of Dubai, U.A.E." Well, I'm not a blogger, but this is my first blog, and it is MY blog, so I guess that does make me a blogger.

I'm just going to put myself out there in the open for this city, and the rest of the world residing in cyber space to see who I am. I am going to document each and every step of this journey towards my goal of starting a business in Photography. I am going to make sure, that the greatness that lies ahead for me in my future, should have a story to it. It should have a background; it should have HISTORY, and this is none other then HIS STORY!...My Story! My story in the making. I want to document each obstacle, each hurdle, and each success that I gain through my endeavors as being a successful photographer in this region. And I guess this is a good enough place to do it.

I want to jump, and fly one day. I want to see, and show one day. I want to learn, and teach one day. I want to be inspired, and inspire one day. I want to win, and win one day.

I want to make all the mistakes right now, right here, still when I'm learning to stand up and walk, because its going to hurt like a bitch when I fall running fast.