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Yours,
A & C Editor
Answer
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Name
Mohammed Al-Hindi
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Profession
Question
Assalamu alaikum,
How is the response to your pictures in dispelling stereotypes about muslims in the West?
How effective is this medium (photography) in educating about muslims especially in this environment?
Jazakallah Khair for your response.
Answer
I think one thing is we try is to show a spiritual aspect of Muslims which is not the media image that is projected most of the time - the spiritual aspect seems to communicate to a much wider audience.
Photography is very important. We have in the west a younger generation that does not read very much, whose attention span is very short, therefore images play an important role.
Thank you,
Peter Sanders.
Name
hayam
- Sri Lanka
Profession
Question
asalamualikum.i know being a muslim your view at sceneries and people would be different when taking a photo.can u pls tell me
what make u different than other phtographers?
Answer
Wa alaikum as salaam. Personally I don't think being a Muslim affects how you see things. I think its much more basic than that.
If you have compassion for creation, you look at creation with compassion. If you have anger in your heart, you look at creation with anger.
Jazakallah khair,
Peter.
Name
Yosra Mostafa
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Profession
Question
Dear Peter Sanders
Know first that I hold the deepest admiration for you as a modest and down to earth person - we met a couple of years back in Cairo - and for your beautiful work. My question is: How did you find your life as a Muslim photographer after a life of chasing rock stars for a shot? Did it set you on a different path?
Thank you very much.
Answer
Dear Yosra
Assalaamu alaikum. Thank you for your question. You know I am often asked this question but I don't view the change so radically.
In the 1960s poets like Bob Dylan, the Beatles or whoever, were my inspiration.
Therefore photographing them was an opportunity in a small way to have a one to one with them. Now, my inspiration comes from people who spend their life in prayer or study or serving the community as best as they can, whatever it is that they do to heighten their spiritual awareness.
Its not a different path, its a continuation of the same path I was on!
All the best,
Peter.
Name
Muslimah
-
Profession
Question
Which of your shots is the one that is very dear to your heart and you will never forget it?
Answer
This is a very difficult question. Because many of the pictures are very close to my heart.
Unlike you, I know everything that happened prior to taking the picture and everything afterwards. Each one captures a whole period or story or event in my life.
I do like the images which its made very clear that they were a gift from God and there was no real skill on my part. For instance the picture of the man praying in Hasan Fathi Mosque in Gourna, South Egypt (in front of the simple divine name written on the wall).
I had just been to visit the mosque and as I was leaving I looked back in and saw the man praying in the pool of light. I did not think too much about it at the time and I only took two frames.
If I had thought about it I probably would have shot about two or three rolls of film to make sure I got the picture absolutely perfect. It was only when I returned home and started to look at the images did I realize it was a very beautiful picture. Very definitely a gift from God.
Thank you,
Peter.
Name
Malak
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Profession
Question
do you think it is worthy to focus on photographing the islamophobic scenes or to show the beauty of Islam and muslim communities?
Answer
Dear Malak,
If you mean by 'islamophobic' things you mean the negative images, then I truly believe that we should concentrate on the positive. This is highly recommended as Sayidna Isa (peace be upon him) was walking with his companions and they saw a decaying dog. The companions remarks at how horrible the dog looked, yet Sayidna Isa (peace be upon him), said, but look at the whiteness of its teeth!
Its often easy to see the negativity but much harder to see the positive and the beauty.
Thank you,
Peter
Name
Farrukh
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Profession
Question
Photography has become a hobby of mine in recent years, particularly an interest in capturing traditions and cultures of the world, something I feel you do very well, before they have been commercialised even further. In your experience how response have Muslim oraganisations been in supporting such type of preservation work?
Answer
Dear Farrukh
Thank you for your question. This is important.
I have been working in this field documenting the Islamic world since 1971. To be perfectly honest, its been a huge struggle to earn respect for the work.
But one thing I notice was that immediately after the events of 9/11, suddenly all the Muslim organizations wanted me to come and give presentations to non-Muslims to show another side to what the media was saying.
I think this was due to a realization that the Muslims had not been presenting themselves to the outside world.
As anybody knows, working in the media, there are always two sides to every story and I always feel its my duty to present the silent majority who are not being heard.
Many thanks,
Peter
Name
Art fan
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Profession
Question
I am believing that art is a vital way to express what is inside and outside us. how do you find this theory? Is there ant of your photograph that change a perspective of people around you?
Answer
I absolutely agree, the heart is an essential element to human beings. Without it we would be empty!
Belief without love is fanaticism.
Regarding the second part of your question, often if you are involved in art, your never completely aware of how your work does effect people. Occasionally someone will inform you of how a particular picture effected them or how it may have led them into a particular place and started them on a whole adventure.
This has certainly been in my case, where I have seen one simple image which has led me off on a long journey to go and visit and experience that place.
As an artist one hopes and prays that God uses one for good and not for bad.
Many thanks for your question.
Peter.
Name
Salem
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Profession
Question
What is your advice for whoever interests in the photography?
Answer
Dear Salem,
Thank you for your question. My advice is always to take as many pictures as you can, and be your worst critic.
If your taking pictures of other people, seek their permission first. You get a much better picture if you receive their permission.
Photography is all about light. You need to study it and understand it from a spiritual perspective and a physical perspective.
Jazakallah khair,
Peter.
Name
Mohamed
- Australia
Profession
Question
How do you see the Muslim world through your camera lens?
Answer
Dear Mohamed,
Assalaamu alaikum. This is a difficult question, as my immediate reaction would be to say ' the same as I see the rest of the world'. But this may not be the answer you are looking for.
If you mean how have I experienced the Muslim world since I have been traveling in it, its been a huge voyage of discovery. I have met such amazing people, extremely spiritually evolved people, people who have spent their entire lives in study and worship and are such enlightened beings, they bear no resemblance to the extremists that we find adorning our televisions and media.
But like most treasures these people are extremely hidden and you do have to search to find them!
All the best, Peter.
Name
Makram
- Canada
Profession
Question
its a good chance to speak with my favorite photographer peter sanders. I wish you all the best dear brother.
I want to know how many countries you visited and how did you find your experience photographing Muslim cultures?
Answer
Dear Makram,
Assalaamu alaikum. I'm quite honored to receive your message.
I have been to over forty countries. I am reminded of the Qur'anic verse that says, (paraphrasing) "We created you in tribes and nations so that you might know one another."
This traveling has given me a very broad perception of Islam. Shaykh Ba (from West Africa) said this about Islam 'the river is crystal clear. Its water remains pure, sweet and unpolluted. It reflects the color of the riverbed.'
Thus it is that Islam in China is Chinese, just as in Africa it is African and in Britain it is British (and in Canada likewise).
This great advice from this scholar sent me on a quest to find out what real British Islam and the result was a three year project that ended up as an exhibition that has traveled all over the world including Tel Aviv, Baghdad, Washington and the complete project will be published as a book in the next month. It is entitled 'Art of Integration, Islam in our green and pleasant land'.
Thank you for your question. Peter.
Name
Karmina
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Profession
Question
after all these years of work and the selections of photographers, how do you evaluate yourself?
Answer
Dear Karmina,
Very low in the list! People say many things about me. I think I have just been doing it longer than most people, but there are many photographers working out in the field in far remote places who are unknown and who are doing spectacular work.
They are the eyes of people who are unable to travel to these areas. There are people working in war zones risking their lives for the rest of us to allow us to know what is going on in these areas. I'm just somebody who has been very fortunate in having good openings.
Warmest regards,
Peter.
But I've still got a lot to learn!
Name
Mohammad Ahmed
- Canada
Profession
Question
what are the limitations of the photographer? do u think art for art in terms that photographer can take photos of anything regardless the religion?
Answer
Dear Mohammad,
Assalaamu alaikum. Thank you for your question. The limitations of a photographer is himself!
As regards the second part of your question, One is limited by one's heart. Depending upon how much 'taqwah' you have in you, there may be certain restraints regarding things that you would not want to photograph.
Remember that images have a very deep effect on one, much more than we ever realize. For this reason I have never taken myself into a war zone, although I know photographers who have. They spend the rest of their lives having nightmares about the things that human beings do to one another.
Don't underestimate the power of images, and I think personally its easy to say I'll photograph anything, and much harder to put certain restraints and limit yourself to certain areas.
This is the problem I have with art today. It seems to lack discrimination.
Most of the beautiful art that was created in previous times came from glorifying God. Now most of the creativity is used to sell us products that take us away from God. For example, why is so much nudity used to sell us everything from cars to paint, to bathroom fittings to anything in fact! The easy answer is because they know men are weak.
Anyway it takes a much higher creativity to create an image that will make people think to a higher level.
Thank you, Peter.
Name
Lalia
- Saudi Arabia
Profession
Question
When are the exhibitions you are planning to hold? do you have any plan to tour the arab countries?
Answer
Dear Lalia
Assalaamu alaikum. Thank you for joining online! Our last exhibition was in Saudi Arabia, Jeddah, at the Chamber of Commerce building earlier this year.
We were extremely impressed by the amount of young people who attended, but were also very enthusiastic about photography.
Our next exhibition is planned for Qatar in October this year. There is also a discussion about taking the 'Art of Integration' to Abu Dhabi and possibly Riyadh.
Hope you get the opportunity to come and visit.
Kind regards, Peter.
Name
Breathe
- Egypt
Profession
Question
Throughout your travels through the different Muslim countries, what is the thing that you saw that disappointed you the most and what is the thing that inspired you the most?
Answer
Assalaamu alaikum. What disappoints me the most I think and I don't usually like to criticize, but as a community we are ecologically very unaware of our surrounds.
For instance when you visit the desert, you find so many plastic bags and litter left lying around. I once visited Jebel Nur and Jebel Thara and was shocked at how many plastic bottles and litter was left at these holy places.
But on a positive note I have been incredibly inspired by the hospitality and the generosity and kindness of Muslims in every country that I have visited. Generally from people who were extremely poor! And as someone coming from the west, this had a huge effect on him.
Jazakallah khair, Peter Sanders.
Name
Closing Message
-
Profession
Question
Peter Sanders:
" Thank you to everyone who took the time and effort to send in a question. All of them were really interesting - I really did have to reflect deeply and I thank you for this. Its always good to remind oneself what we are about!
Peter Sanders."
Answer
A & C Editor:
The session has ended. We would like to thank our guest for taking the time to answer your questions, and all those who participated in the dialogue.
You can view Peter Sanders' photographs through this link:
www.inspiralbooks.com
We apologize for not being able to answer all the questions due to time limitation.
