According to Merriam Webster, that is, the dictionary, photography means the art or process of producing images by the action of radiant energy and especially light on a sensitive surface. OHKAY. But to me, it’s entirely different. It is a feeling. A feeling of happiness and joy. Although it sounds cheesy, that is what photography means to me.
It is a capture of a moment that you feel special and holds a special place inside your heart. Although I am still learning and not all of my pictures are brilliant, and did not fulfill the criteria that Edward Brock Jr aka Venom in Spiderman 3 believe that could make a good picture –
“Photography isn't just about flagpoles. It's about lighting, composition, drama”
the pictures I took are really special to me. So far, I’ve put three photographs in my blog [for the October posts] and those pictures are some of the pictures I really felt special.
- Raindrops on the window pane [Introduction]
- Flovemingo [A conversation] ... nice title, eh? :P
- Loneliness between company [Holds a special place inside your heart]
I went to the KL Bird Park with my family on 9th August and it became one of my favourite places. The birds singing [and shrieking], the flapping of their wings, the panorama, with my family beside me.. Hence, the flamingo picture is special to me [flovemingo] And yeahp, it's edited :] For the raindrops picture [raindrops on the window pane] it was raining heavily and all 8 of us are in the car [the car was a 5-seater by the way :P don’t worry, I have little sisters with little… umm, sides :P not all of them though.. ] Although it is not the roomiest moment, it was really special because all my beloved ones in one place, I felt really warm, plus it was raining, which makes it much warmer and special.
And for this post, I put a picture of some of my friends becoming models :P BTW, they're very good, they have some potential! :D It was titled "loneliness between company”. It means that sometimes we feel lonely even though we’re not exactly alone. Hahah, sentimental tak? ;P Well, it was Maulidur Rasul so all of us can wear our baju kurung at school that day, as you can see. And yeah, it doesn’t necessarily mean we can bring the camera, but hey, it was a special day :D After school we hung out at the park [opposite the school across the street], waiting pak cik Mad [van] to pick us up.
So we took pictures [about 3 of us brought cameras] Pictures of us jumping and all [loved the jumping photos but too embarrassed to put them up!] We wanted to capture that moment because we weren’t exactly allowed to bring any electronical devices such as cameras and handphones and we rarely hang out at other places besides school and the nearest-to-school restaurants.
When you look at your pictures 10 years later, it brings so much memories and could bring a smile to your face without you noticing [especially if that picture was from the 80s. Just ask your parents.. or rather, ask yourself if - you yourself are from the 80s]. Our brain ability might disssapoint us at times, but this pictures will not as they last forever for you to cherish the wonderful memories.
Other than that, when you take a picture, and examine it, you find something unusual. For example, the flamingo picture. At first, when people saw them, they would say - "oh, it's just a big fat bird on small thin pink sticks" and walk away.
But then, when you examine the picture. You find something unusual. Its feathers look so sleek and soft. And I love the colour pink on its wings and feet. Although I'm not exactly a pink fanatic [I'm a blue and purple fan, tyvm!] but the color makes me calm. Know it's sounds weird, but it does. And I absolutely love the touch of elegant black on its wings. It makes you grateful and gasp in awe with Allah's creations. Alhamdulillah... MashaAllah...
Many times, people judge a book by its cover but when we examine something on a picture, you'll find many surprising things from a different perspective. Oh yeah; one more thing - they look so unique and exotic because of their, umm.. dare I say it - "small thin pink sticks" :P
* Maulidur Rasul is a term used to refer to the observance of the birthday of Rasulallah s.a.w. which occurs in Rabiul-awwal, the third month in the Islamic calendar. Hari kita ingat akan pengorbanan-pengorbanan Rasulallah s.a.w dalam membimbing dan memperbetulkan akidah manusia supaya mentauhidkan Allah s.w.t.. Baginda menerima banyak ancaman dan cabaran seperti:
- - leher baginda dijerut dengan serban
- - Abu Jahal menghempas batu besar ke atas Rasulallah saw ketika baginda solat
- - Baginda dihina di khalayak ramai seperti diludah, dituduh gila dan sebagainya
- - Baginda ditawarkan dengan harta, pangkat, kekayaan, wanita cantik dan sebagainya jika berhenti daripada berdakwah
Musyrikin Mekah melakukan pelbagai cara untuk menyekat kegiatn dakwah Rasulallah s.a.w.. Antaranya ialah mereka mengancam dan menyeksa sahabat-sahabat baginda seperti:
- - penyeksaan ke atas orang miskin dan golongan hamba yang memeluk Islam seperti yang berlaku kepada keluarga Yasir dan Bilal bin Rabah
- - mengugut akan membunuh sesiapa sahaja yang memeluk Islam
- - menyekat bekalan makanan supaya orang Islam mati dalam kelaparan dan sengsara.
Ya Allah.. betapa banyak cabaran baginda dan sahabat-sahabat baginda hadapi. Dan apa yang dinyatakan di atas bukanlah semua cabaran yang mereka tempuhi.
Baginda menghadapi penentangan dan ancaman musyrikin degan sabar dan tabah, malah terus tetap beristiqamah dalam usaha dakwahnya. Baginda berdoa kepada Allah s.w.t. supaya ditetapkan iman. Abu Bakar juga telah membebaskan Bilal bin Rabah daripada diseksa oleh Umaiyah bin Khalaf.
Berkat kesungguhan baginda dan para sahabat berdakwah, pengikut Islam telah bertambah dari sehari ke sehari. Ajaran Islam semakin diterima oleh masyarakat musyrikin Arab dan masyarakat lain. Islam telah membebaskan masyarakat arab daripada belenggu kejahilan kepada mentauhidkan Allah s.w.t.. Ini menjadi bukti bahawa Rasulallah s.a.w adalah pembawa rahmat bagi seluruh alam.
Perutusan Rasulallah s.a.w. kepada masyarakat Arab membawa cahaya kebenaran kepada kehidupan manusia dan mengubah cara hidup masyarakat Arab jahiliah dalam semua aspek kehidupan. Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. merupakan manusia unggul yang diutuskan oleh Allah s.w.t. sebagai contoh teladan kepada semua manusia. Rasulallah s.a.w. menghadapi pelbagai cabaran dalam menyebarkan agama Islam. Baginda berjaya mengembangkan Islam ke seluruh dunia berkat ketabahan dan kesungguhannya.
Umat Islam hendaklah rajin dan bersungguh-sungguh meningkatkan syiar Islam. Elakkan sifat mudah berputus asa dan menyerah kalah. Rajin dan tekun berusaha, tabah menghadapi pelbagai cabaran dan rintangan dan sentiasa bertawakal kepada Allah s.w.t. adalah kunci kejayaan.
Walau bagaimanapun, hari Maulidur Rasul bukanlah satu-satunya hari atau hari yang spesifik untuk kita mengingati dan mengenang pergorbanan baginda. Sentiasalah ingat-ingat jgak [saya sendiri pun kekadang terlepas pandang, tak teringat jgak.. :\] Jadi, marilah kita sama-sama luangkan walaupun sedikit masa untuk berselawat ke atas baginda.
Read this in wikipedia:
"....Young flamingos hatch with grey plumage, but adults range from light pink to bright red due to aqueous bacteria and beta carotene obtained from their food supply. A well-fed, healthy flamingo is more vibrantly coloured and thus a more desirable mate. A white or pale flamingo, however, is usually unhealthy or malnourished. Captive flamingos are a notable exception; many turn a pale pink as they are not fed carotene at levels comparable to the wild. This is changing as more zoos begin to add prawns and other supplements to the diets of their flamingos."
Wow, never thought that the food they eat determine their colours [and mates! :P] Well, I'm glad that more zoos are beginning to care for the health of their flamingoes. I know it's not really wrong to hold animals captive for our enjoyment and lesson [grateful and praise Allah for His creations - Alhamdulillah, MashaAllah..] and letting the generation learn about them, but more zoos should really care for and take necessary actions for the animals to stay healthy and happy. :)
