Book Project 8: Gulf News interview

hello, Long time, been busy shooting for the book, yes still working on it, I wanted to share with you today an article about the book I'm working on, Had this interview a month ago and my fans "you" got mentioned in it which make me smile.

I re-post the article in here because i like it but the photos were weak in the news and all my fans and friends were telling me why there is only one photo of your work in there, i gave them many photos but i don't know what happened.

so i am posting the photo they had it and one new exclusive for your eyes only :)

enjoy
click on the image for a bigger view please


The story of a girl exploring the seven emirates and the profound changes they are going through is captured by Emirati photographer Fatma Abdullah.

She has been busy lately, adding the finishing touches to her first coffee table book that aims to portray the beauty of unseen locations in the Emirates through her lens. She has chosen locations that few tourists have discovered and successfully merged the creativity of her fashion experience with her signature style.

Fatma spoke to Gulf News about the experience and knowledge she acquired while working on her first book of photographs.

Interviewer What made you think of producing a book of photographs?

ME: The idea of publishing a photo book was tickling my mind for a long time. Last year I decided to translate my dream into reality.

Where did you get the inspiration for the book?

Frankly, I got it from my fans. They were always asking me to create some artistic photo shots and they wanted to see some traditional touches that combine a fashion photographer's view and they always wondered what the results would be.

How long did it take you to develop it?

It actually took me three years to develop this book. A lot of time went into the planning phase. The photo shoot for the book started this year because I was very busy last year with my series of exhibitions and work. I also spent a considerable amount of time choosing the models for my book's characters and the search for their dresses and the study of the makeup. You know, all the details must be taken care of carefully.

When are you launching it and where?

I'm hoping to launch it by the end of April. At times I need to wait quite a bit to obtain permission for a photo shoot at a particular location. Thus the delay. So I'm trying my best to finish it and launch it by the end of April."


How many pages does it contain?

The book will contain more than 100 photos."

To whom do you dedicate the book?

To my country, my fans, my family and my parents and everyone who has been helpful and supportive of my photo shooting journey for this book.

Where it will be available, any particular bookstore or everywhere?

I'm doing the best I could to make it available everywhere.

Will it be available outside UAE?

I'm planning to make it available across the world.

What's the title of the book?

Not finalised yet, since I have made slight changes in the plot of the story.

Are there any authors of photo books you admire?

I like children's story books and novels but no photo books in my mind right now.

What do you think this experience has added to your photography skills?

My photography experience helped me a lot to add a special atmosphere to this kind of landscape photography which is a little challenging and I'm a little bit nervous as well about how the outcome will be.

What's your plan after launching the book?

Well, I would like to see how it will go and maybe I will rest for a while, I hope. I'm having editorial shoots this year which I always enjoye. Editorials to me are like a genuine vacation, where I see everything and enjoy every minute of it.

Have you received any support from any organisation?

Yes indeed. I have received strong support from Canon Middle East. Canon sponsored me during my shooting by letting me try different kinds of lenses and offering me the new EOS 1D Mark IV DSLR camera, which I love so much.

Also, Dubai Studio were very helpful by giving me permission to shoot in some areas in Dubai and also Dubai Airport. In fact, all were so kind in permitting me to shoot inside. I'm very glad that my first experience has found such great support.

What equipment have you used for capturing your shots? Why did you choose them?

In this book I was planning to shoot different areas of the UAE rather than fashion, which requires different lenses.

So Canon offered to let me test the new Canon EOS-1D Mark IV DSLR. I chose it because I needed something which I am flexible with. The camera gave me the results that I needed such as a little bit of softness in my photos.

The equipment I used in my photo book are:

Lenses:

• TS-E 24mm f/3.5 L Tilt-Shift Lens: it was great using this lens. Amazing how you can control blur and focus in the left and right, it saved a lot of artistic editing I used to do before.

• Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L

• Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L

• Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L

• Canon EF 85mm f/1.8

Camera:

• Canon EOS 1D Mark IV

What measures do you think would help attract more Emirati women to the world of professional photography?

I want them to be positive with everything. Life is difficult and it's not an easy job to be a female photographer in the first place; but nothing is impossible. Just be positive and always look at the bright side when you face a hard time and always seek for the best and the best quality, not less, and stay original.

Posted by Unknown at 8:43 AM 7 comments
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Book Project7: and the shooting keeps go on

I wrote this post directly from Iphone so sorry for some mistakes:
I'm too scared to say I enjoyed the shooting last Tuesday, I am satisfied for the first time about the shoot, all been planned and prepared for 2 weeks, the model, hairstylist, and my lovely farah makeup artist, we've got some of Feryal al bastaky's amazing amaZing collection.I would like to thank her, she had her time with us and helped me a lot in locations, it's really nice to have a great spirit around me while am shooting. they were the perfect team, I've been amazed by the hairstylist Marie because I worked with for 1st time, she was fast and did exactly wat I wanted in the photo we showed her. All been on time, makeup artist did her magic and Feryal was prepared in time. We went to the location and we photoshoot in two locations like I've planned. It was funny day everyone were staring and wanna join the shoot lol ^^.

I was glad I got the permission on time from dubaistudios they were very supportive and really great with dealing. The girl was so nice and really helped me a lot in there.
I really really wanna share some of the photos with you but I guess you will have to get the book to view it this time. I shall make it private for the meantime because some of the photos I've submitted been copied. I don't mind though since mine were the original since they will be in news soon but the rest of the shoot will be private this time and am so sorry I might add some after the book will be published for more teaser ads later on.

Am still confused about the photo cover, were talking about it with mom and she said: why don't you have all photos in the cover? I was like: O.O ma'ah! It's not a tourist guide book. Lol
So I guess when I will be done with all shoots gonna print them all and then gonna have a creative group and going to decide which one will go for cover. The cover is a very sunsitive thing to me. I always wonder how some magazines here don't care about their cover.

Dramas didn't stop this year, friends saying I might have some kind of bad energy because I meet ppl throwing their anger "craziness" at me for no reason. So I shall stop going for any social places this year till the madness down.

This will be my last post about the book project and now you will only have to count down the days till I finish it soon.

I will only inform you abt the interviews of the book and
You can check my Twitter page or fanpage for more updates about the book.

I'm also not going to take any photoshoot or booking on April, I will give all my feelings and time for the book till it's done, then am going to take real holiday since I haven't for 4 yrs. I'm thankful how my friends and family really tried to give me good time when I don't work but really I need a real break after the book is done, to forget the emotional feelings that I had with the book, each photos done with a special mood, like living with 100 spirits and mixed feelings.

And I won't take any booking or photoshoot after the book is done unless it's big commercial because I might be busy later with exhibitions, am not sure yet but there are some plans need to be sort out.

So I'm so sorry to all of you and wait for the next post soon about something else ^^
Posted by Unknown at 3:14 PM 1 comments
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When I get weak

You fight all the time, years go by and you can't see anymore because you are tired of fighting for the things that make you happy and smile, the life you are seeking for. We sometimes need a "push" to work hard for the day we wanted and to know if it worth or we regret it? No we are not but it's annoying and we get bored and weak when we do it everyday. We say to ourselves why should I bother? I shall give up, you rest and sit while others walking and pass you by while your are looking, then you gather your strength and get up and walk again.
It was the 90s, I was a different person, a weak person who doesn't know how far I could go with the talent I have. He used to believe in me and watching him happy and make us all happy and noise all around, I still have his card he gave me in my birthday with the big Barbie doll house, I was a person who didn't express her happiness and her joy when I get gifts, he used to tell me I shall be happy and Do something.
That year we didn't talk much. That year he passed away.
I always remember how far your believes make me go and when I get weak, I always remember you and then I go further and express my happiness and my talent to the world.
To lose a brother who used to wake all the house is one of the hardest thing in life and it makes you stronger facing the world later.
RIP my dearest brother.
Posted by Unknown at 2:22 PM 0 comments

the book teaser


like i promised in my prev. updates, this is the teaser ad. but not official one till all the work and shoots are coming soon, please wish me luck, and i should be done after few months

MUA: Farah Alshohomy
Model: Andreea Hasa
Location: Nad El Sheba
Posted by Unknown at 1:27 PM 1 comments
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The book project 6: ideas changed

I know, no updates for a long time now, I really sit and ready to blog but then i don't have anything good to say so i keep it for another day, ok am lazy

We had a shooting for the book project on Sat, last week. I was so worried about the weather because it was full of clouds and they said it will be rainy day. Mom said we have to hurry up before the rainy storm starts. I luv it believe me, we are like waiting for it for the entire year, but not when you have a photoshooting, outside! so i was thinking, what's going on? the entire week was a disaster, and i only had limited time which is one week with Canon 1D Mark IV and the lenses to test. but, the MUA had done her work with the model, the model is ready and her hair is ready, wearing the jewelry and we've got into the car, so i said: I will be positive about today no matter what will happen let it happen. We arrived to the place, had lunch, and here came the rain, it was soft nice actually and it was just raining while we were eating, when we are done, the rain stopped, we start shooting then in 4 different locations, and yes!! we got shots with camels behind! and then we had time for the sea. it was lovely day. Who said positive thinking doesn't work? ^^ later that night the rain started to come so heavily and didn't stop till all the roads got flooded with water.

I returned the camera and the lenses. What i liked about that experience, the camera is really good and light, actually it's not heavy at all! and it gives me the best captures, so i decided to take it after a year of thinking to get the 5D Mark II.
maybe some of you are wondering why i didn't get it before? it's because i am that kind of person that i like to get a better camera when i deserve it. yes, better camera better quality but most of the job is done by the photographer, and i had to prove to myself I'm good first with the camera i have to get to the other level. and about the lenses i really enjoyed them and I'm glad that i had the chance to use them all and that gave me clear idea what i really need for my shoot or not.
so definitly I'm getting EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L. The good news is I bought the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV Digital SLR Camera it's officially mine ^^

I was sitting and looking at all the photos, like some and others didn't like. which made me think for a week and i decided to change the main story to go on with the photos i've got, and plus i will shooting more.
i will keep you with one photo for now and please forgive me because i won't post anymore till I'm done maybe just one later for a teaser.

p.s Dear anonymous write in my comments box, please write your name, i keep deleting by mistakes some comments because anonymous there is no shame to write a nickname :p and thank you

for now enjoy your time and I wish you all luck



Posted by Unknown at 1:18 PM 3 comments
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The book project 6: crazy sunny day, horses shoot with model



Am typing while my back hurts since I don't do Yoga this year and always saying I will do it tomorrow, I had pain. I went to the sea and my cousin helped me found some dunes, can u believe this? We were searching for a week on desert, all filled green which is good but not for my book.
I went to some old shops for the materials to male traditional outfits suits the model and they were done on time.
I spent 2 days shooting around the sea and sending fax to a place I need a permission for, and wow they r slow here. I don't know why but we keep delay the horses scene every week, something came up and I keep cancel, 2 months passed and then this week I said that's it, I will shoot, let finish this thing! It was Thursday all goes as it planned. But it was toooo windy in the morning, I was too worried to rain with too much wind, but them it calmed down when we arrived and omg it was too hot, and my body was in pain, no I can't cancel! sometimes farah "MUA" think am crazy lol
I did many fashion shoots it's way too better than doing art photography.
I start shooting the horses and I couldn't see the photos because it was too sunny, I kept running to the car to breath and mom was like:" do you wanna kill yourself?". Farah did the makeup inside the car in seat the poor girl lol and the model "Andrea" was so helpful and I was so glad she came from NY before our shoot day. While they were doing the makeup I went to see the horses. The good thing about that hot time that the horses were soo friendly and wanted me to touch them all the time. They were so young too from 3 to 4 yrs. I had only limited time with them like an hour. It was hard because I wanted to shoot the model while she hold the horse alone without anything on him. Which was hard. I picked the star horse, she came to me and was playing with me. I knew right away she will be the perfect horse who can model for us fast and she did. Amazing 3 yrs old Shamsa.
I'm so glad I didn't throw up that day from the hot sunny weather! We finished on time at 5 and left. Got milkshake from basken robbins with choc, and had migraine from the sun, I felt the pressure in my ears.
I thought this week shoot would be enjoyable and like I planned
The photos are not what I planned to. But from the photos I will manage what I can do and might change the story little bit.
I really need to do this week a fashion shoot somehow to cheer me up little bit lol, I saw T-ara new photoshooting and I loved their new look and the accessories! Inspiring shoot really.
wow too long post, I will leave you for now till another post. Forgive me if there is some mistakes in the post but am typing fast to sleep early ^^
Posted by Unknown at 1:43 PM 1 comments
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Hey

I got my iPhone! Yay me, sorry for this post but am testing to update my blog through the iPhone, I have been seaching for easy applications to blog with. I have many things I wanna type but hehe. I'm glad I got the I-phone 3Gs it was out of stock in here for along time and didn't want to buy it online. So it took me forever but I got it at the end. I'm still thinking What shall I join here du or etisalat. I heard Manu complains ant both and I called both. Etisalat has strong connection but u can have a bill that u can't imagen at the end of the month. Du has weak connection in some areas but there is no prob with the bill.
I need need a strong connection when I travel outside the country so I still don't know what to choose. I want to use etis. But I use my Internet 24 hrs because I need to check on my work+emails fb pages. Why I feel like it's 1997? When we use more Internet we get huge bills? Lol any suggestions r welcome
Posted by Unknown at 3:44 AM 0 comments
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