http://search.deviantart.com/?q=by:Mgsblade&section=today deviantART RSS for by:Mgsblade en-us Copyright 2009, deviantART.com Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:18:55 PST deviantART.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://s.deviantart.com/minish/widgets/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/28722351/ http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/28722351/ Thu, 03 Dec 2009 04:26:16 PST
And so I present my travel log! Complete with pictures

1st Wed. Casablanca
Visited Port
Walked to Sultan Hassan II mosque (dragging luggage in tow, lesson learned: travel light)

Went to area called Hobous

Took Train to Rabat

2nd Thursday Rabat
Chella Citadel

Mausoleum Hassan 2

Walked to Sala

Maronite school

Ou... ]]> *Mgsblade http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/28644067/ http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/28644067/ Tue, 01 Dec 2009 05:38:57 PST

If you can suggest anything further tell me I'll add it

1. Research research research: personally I like to know everything about a place before I go as not to miss out on anything, I nearly killed myself when I found out that there is an overnight train from Cairo to Aswan in Egypt that I could have taken.

So what do you do? buy at least two guide books, find travel sites and blogs(important) about the places your about to visit and create a rough itinerary for yourself.

2.Days off: personally I go crazy when it comes to a holiday, it turns into a marathon to see and photograph as much as possible so I like to incorporate a day off in to my itinerary from the running around in order to take it easy and relax, usually I make the first and last days of the trip, also I like to take an extra day off when I get back in order to rest.

3. Guides/Drivers: Even guides don't know everything, if you feel like your missing out on something, ask people(preferably locals. I remember being with a guide who just wanted to get home, and swore to us that there was no way into a castle that we wanted to visit! it took my friend jumping out of the car and asking a local in order to prove that it was open.

also 90% of people in the travel industry want to milk their customers so you should know that every travel shop and restaurant you are taken to gives a commission to the guide, just so know your getting ripped off

4.Exchange Rates;KNOW YOUR EXCHANGE RATES.

5.Travel documents: photocopy all your important documents and give them to a friend/ family so that if you (God forbid) get robbed you can have copies faxed over to you.

also try to save the documents via pdf to your email inbox.

also I recommend investing a travel pouch that you wear underneath your clothes to put both your money and Documents in.

***make sure you get your international driving licence done, it comes in handy***

6.Cell Phones: I recommend buying a cell phone line as soon as you arrive, its usually cheaper than roaming. also take a backup cell phone with you, I once spent an entire night in Glasgow trying to get a new phone because my friend decided to take a shower with mine(you know who you are).

7.Taxi drivers: know that you will almost always get ripped off and there is usually nothing you can do about it.

8.Locals: The experience is always better when you know locals in the place your visiting. they know where to go and know all the hidden places, plus you interact and befriend the local culture which is sort of the goal of the trip.

9.Luggage: if you plan to move around allot like I like to do, you should travel light!! from experience a two week trip should take two (maximum three) pairs of jeans with you and maybe four to five t-shirts, a medicine/vanity kit(never forget the Imodium),sunscreen, a towel(sooo important),plastic sealed bags(for the smelly socks and undies)and the chargers for the electronics.

also try to buy luggage that can be strapped over the shoulder or in backpack form, so that you can be more maneuverable and also they are more secure from thieves.

you should carry a separate bag(always wear it to your front) for your cameras, cell, Ipod and travel docs. it should NEVER NEVER leave your side, even while sleeping.

**take a good book with you as well, for those long waiting periods**

10. Cameras: Personally I like to take two with me, because the people I usually travel with don't take pictures(apparently i take enough for everyone)anyway I have my big Slr (for my serious shots) and a small point and shoot(for the fun touristy shots).

well that's about it for now, I'm sure there are a few more lessons learned but I cant remember them at the moment!

]]> *Mgsblade http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/27971970/ http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/27971970/ Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:30:54 PDT
It can be something simple like loosing weight, buying that object that you wanted or something huge like taking over the world

I have been thinking about it and I cant really put my finger on what I want to accomplish, all I know is that travelling and improving my photography is my number one priority.

]]> *Mgsblade http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/27718858/ http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/27718858/ Mon, 12 Oct 2009 03:17:17 PDT you can either jump and answer my question or read through my thoughts and then tell me what you think?

Recently I started discussing an interesting topic with a fellow deviant ~bs4life4show. predominantly it was about how to define a culture or country. our own or other? to be more specific he asked the question "How do you define being an Egyptian (whether a male or a female)?"

Now lets take a few steps back, recently ~doniaem(check her work out) posted a journal [link] containing quotes from a book she is currently reading about the modern Egyptian girl in her twenties. the quotes where very funny, true and interesting! although one in particular annoyed me greatly:

"007 might love a smart girl with a dash of chutzpah; 00Egyptian would much rather opt for the pretty little quiet thing in the corner with the right daddy, thank you very much."

The fact that the writer uses the word "chutzpah" in the above paragraph reveals that she is an outside observer and not a "local", further searching led me to the writers Bio. where within the first two lines she claims to be "born and bred in England".

The point I'm to make is that how can you dare to analyse a culture/society when you obviously not apart of it?

Anyway ~bs4life4show read what I had to say and asked me a very simple question "How do you define being an Egyptian (whether a male or a female)?" now I could not be specific about the Egyptians because I'm Jordanian but I knew if I looked at the underlying intention of the question I could begin to answer it.

I started by thinking about how I define my own society and quickly realised that I instantly jumped to the negatives; the driving, the miserable nature, the horrid treatment of time and appointments...

so I decided to look up a basic definition so that I might be able to use it as a stepping stone:

"Culture is the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively
-a refined understanding or appreciation of this
-the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people or other social group: people from many different cultures
-the attitudes and behaviour characteristics of a particular social group!"

When I tried to apply it to Jordan I could not clearly define it, possibly because of its young age(around 60) and because of the large number of refugees and small number "indigenous people" (take the term very loosely) which results in a lack of unity. but this is a completely different topic that can be talked about in volumes.

The definition did turn my thoughts to how I define other cultures and I came to the satisfying conclusion that defining a culture (for me) is in the small details; their actions, their accents, their history, their beliefs and traditions, and also their representation stereotypical or otherwise in the global media.

~bs4life4show replied and expressed that his definition was any people within a particular border, despite any and all differences that they might have, I cannot really accept this because so many countries come to mind where many cultures exist within its borders(EX: Tibet and China), and lets not forget internet culture that transcends all physical locations.

I'll end this journal with an old Arabic Proverb : "whomever lives among them for 40days becomes one of them".

Any form of comment is welcomed

]]> *Mgsblade http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/27610155/ http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/27610155/ Tue, 06 Oct 2009 06:32:52 PDT
I'm not sure if its because we don't get allot of rain out here, but I see it as something completely special and cleansing....The smell, the muted sounds of the city and the sound of the drops hitting everything and also the feeling of solitude when your walking out in it!

I was planning to do a feature about it but I could not find any shots that represented the atmosphere and mood that I experience when I'm caught in it! plus almost all of the shots are pre. or post. rainfall! so I have decided to do a project on translating what rain feels like to me and possibly the people in the region in pictures!


.....Only problem is that it doesn't rain that much!

]]> *Mgsblade http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/27332377/ http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/27332377/ Mon, 21 Sep 2009 04:03:10 PDT
Anyway if your interested add me, the name is Bashar Tabbah and I'm sporting a lovely moustache and goatee, check it out!

]]> *Mgsblade http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/26990245/ http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/26990245/ Thu, 03 Sep 2009 04:58:45 PDT
I absolutely love books especially (and probably obviously) photography and photojournalism books, that's one of the reasons why Hudson & Themes are probably one of my favourite publishers.

Currently I'm reading "The Arabian nights" a modern translation of a 14th century Syrian manuscript of a thousand and one nights, and I'm really enjoying it!

A dirty book is rarely dusty. ~Author Unknown
You know you've read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend. ~Paul Sweeney

The smallest bookstore still contains more ideas of worth than have been presented in the entire history of television. ~Andrew Ross

Fiction reveals truths that reality obscures. ~Jessamyn
West

TV. If kids are entertained by two letters, imagine the fun they'll have with twenty-six. Open your child's imagination. Open a book. ~Author Unknown

To choose a good book, look in an inquisitor’s prohibited list. ~John Aikin

Books are the compasses and telescopes and sextants and charts which other men have prepared to help us navigate the dangerous seas of human life. ~Jesse Lee Bennett

The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them. ~Mark Twain, attributed

He who lends a book is an idiot. He who returns the book is more of an idiot. ~Arabic Proverb

Books are a refuge, a sort of cloistral refuge, from the vulgarities of the actual world. ~Walter Pater

To read a book for the first time is to make an acquaintance with a new friend; to read it for a second time is to meet an old one. ~Chinese Saying

Never lend books, for no one ever returns them; the only books I have in my library are books that other folks have lent me. ~Anatole France

What holy cities are to nomadic tribes - a symbol of race and a bond of union - great books are to the wandering souls of men: they are the Meccas of the mind. ~G.E. Woodberry

]]> *Mgsblade http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/25667882/ http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/25667882/ Wed, 01 Jul 2009 07:48:13 PDT
Who do you aspire to become? I want to know who is your Role model/s in life? it can be a person in life or a fictional character from a book or movie, it can even be a song!

Write as much or less as you want, I promise to read an reply to all! who knows you might introduce me to new influences

Personally I have a few influences, the first two that come to my mind are:

1.Usama Bin Munqidth: A Syrian poet, historian, soldier, hunter, adventurer and diplomat. who's life coincided with the most dramatic moments in Islamic history including the fall of the shi'ite political power in Egypt, and the beginning of the crusades, he lived his life according to Islamic "Muru’ah" (Chivalry) and served under and influenced many of the great hero's of the Islamic world in including Salah Al din.

2.Sherlock Holmes: A Victorian Gentleman with superior intelligence who uses his mind to solve the most impossible of problems using astute observation, deductive reasoning, logic, and knowledge. not only is he a magnificent intellectual but he is also "street smart" and able to handle himself in a fight.

in essence there are four underlying factors that I aspire to have in my life: Manners, intelligence, adventure and strength.

ok your turn!

]]> *Mgsblade http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/25230146/ http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/25230146/ Sat, 13 Jun 2009 03:17:12 PDT
I Just had a bright Idea! To celebrate my three years here I have decided to do a special feature for my friends and anybody who would like to join in! I want to compare our most recent work and see if it truly improves over the next year.

And so I want everybody who reads this journal to send me a link or thumb of their best work or something in which they have applied all their skills to create and I'll post them to this journal. next year on my 4th anniversary I'll ask for your improved work so we can compare both!

and hopefully if we are still around, I'll continue this indefinitely

I'll start:
As of 10.6.2009 I think this was my best work


















http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/25154842/ Sat, 06 Jun 2009 03:07:37 PDT but sadness because I'm not even halfway to what I want to become as a photographer and time is passing way too quickly!

Anyway I must thank everyone on DA for all the support! without it I would be nowhere.

here is to 10 more years and 50 new countries!

]]> *Mgsblade http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/24388080/ http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/24388080/ Thu, 23 Apr 2009 03:10:57 PDT
In the meantime here is a new question for everybody to think about.

What did you want to be when you "Grew up"?

I remember wanting to be a Fighter Pilot or an Archaeologist

alas I ended up being a Manager, something I never dreamt of!

]]> *Mgsblade http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/23961757/ http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/23961757/ Mon, 30 Mar 2009 01:56:50 PDT
April 1: Arrive in Casablanca,head towards Rabat at night.
April 2: Visit Rabat.
April 3: Car to Fez and spend the day there
April 4: Visit Fez
April 5: Visit Roman city of Volubolis & then Meknes.
April 6: Visit Fez
April 7: Take the train to Tangier from Fez possibly continue to Tetouan
April 8: Visit Chefchaouen
April 9: Visit Asilah or go back to Tetouan
April 10: Marrakech
April 11: 4x4 trip outside Marrakesh + stay in Ouarzazate for the night.
April 12: Take a taxi back to Marrakech from Ouarzazate.
April 13: head back to Rabat & Possibly visit El Jadida
April 14: visit Rabat
April 15: Casablanca - back to Amman

]]> *Mgsblade http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/23827094/ http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/23827094/ Sun, 22 Mar 2009 07:43:31 PDT



*Mgsblade http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/23149515/ http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/23149515/ Thu, 12 Feb 2009 02:03:37 PST
I'm quite embarrassed to admit it but I put my name together 10 years ago; The Mgs stands for Metal Gear Solid! a game on the playstation 1 that I used to be crazy about, and blade is from the movie Blade(remember that I was 15 back then ), nowadays I keep the name for the nostalgia and for its uniqueness!

oh and also go under the name B101, which is slightly more intelligent! B stands for the 1st letter in my name and 101 is for Room 101 in George Orwell's book 1984!

]]> *Mgsblade http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/22773044/ http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/22773044/ Sat, 24 Jan 2009 01:30:24 PST
Mine are:
1. Morocco
2. Turkey
3. Spain
4. China
5. India

As you can obviously tell, I have a love for ancient civilizations, especially Islamic ones, so my current goals is to visit the Islamic world first then move on to others!

]]> *Mgsblade http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/22116128/ http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/22116128/ Mon, 22 Dec 2008 06:42:07 PST

My question is:
How did you end up on DA? what's your story behind becoming a member? oh and just to make it a little bit more interesting, who was the first person to watch your work?

I Remember Joining in 2002 after reading about it in a magazine, but the internet was so bad in Jordan(the good old days of 56k modems)that I gave it up! then three years ago I found a site called pixelgirl.com that featured works from DA.

Even then I only lurked and browsed the pictures up until 2006 when I encouraged my friend ~flatfootpussycat to join and upload his images, he soon began getting comments and fav's! and I can still remember thinking to myself "hold on, if he is getting all that attention, why cant I?!"

so the simple task of uploading my three favourite pictures on the 17th of July changed my interests forever, you could say it was the beginning of the addiction.

]]> *Mgsblade http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/21958250/ http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/21958250/ Sat, 13 Dec 2008 04:57:17 PST
What is your opinion of great photography? what makes a great photographer? both in real life and in our little virtual art world and what makes you click on that add to favourite button?

After thinking about it, I think have narrowed it down to: Originality, Personal Interest, Quality and emotion/atmosphere. although im sure there are more-I am actually more interested in what other people's opinions are!

]]> *Mgsblade http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/21925669/ http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/21925669/ Thu, 11 Dec 2008 04:52:43 PST

*Mgsblade http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/21495427/ http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/21495427/ Sat, 15 Nov 2008 04:31:49 PST
Big thank you goes to for showing me this great website called Jocr8 witch is a sort of a DA/Facebook for Jordanian artists [link] so if your not already on it go and Join! it may be still in Beta but it has great potential!


I if have forgotten to add anyone I apologies, just send me a note and ill add you quickly!

















http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/21276141/ Sun, 02 Nov 2008 02:49:06 PST
I would like to see how many of us are on here! and it seams like a great way to bring the small number of us together!

here is the first feature i made about the people i did find: [link]

so far:

http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/21203752/ Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:05:05 PDT
I've been really busy catching up with work since I got back from England and this is the first chance I have had to actually take my time with DA.

Thank you all for the support while I was away, and a big thank you to all the new watchers.

I'm not going to start uploading the English shots until I finish with the leftover shots of Jordan, but I suppose nobody really minds

Old Journals:
[link] THE LIST!
[link] Journal feature Three
[link] Journal feature Two
[link] Journal feature one
[link] Syria, Damascus
[link] Day trip around Jordan
[link] Really long Travel log of southern Jordan
[link] Egypt , Cairo and Alexandria

]]> *Mgsblade http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/20643152/ http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/20643152/ Tue, 23 Sep 2008 20:37:49 PDT

lets hope we get some blue skies and some great photo opportunities!

Btw its my Birthday today

Old Journals:
[link] THE LIST!
[link] Journal feature Three
[link] Journal feature Two
[link] Journal feature one
[link] Syria, Damascus
[link] Day trip around Jordan
[link] Really long Travel log of southern Jordan
[link] Egypt , Cairo and Alexandria

]]> *Mgsblade http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/20220574/ http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/20220574/ Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:50:52 PDT
First of all, I would like to thank everybody(most of all my watchers) for their support!!! *Deep Breath* I have finally completed uploading all my shots from my Syria trip, it took 5 months, 53 deviations and a lot of reading to get to this point.

Below is my Journal with all the the shots "thumbed" in, including the shots I placed in my scraps

Day 1: Sharing an Elevator with a Korean General
Damascus
I'm going to leave the old city shots till last, it contains shots of the Merchants, souqs, streets and mosques.

Day 2: The City of Females

St.Georges Monastery
A 6th Century Monestary located near the Krak De Chevaliers castle


Krak De Chevaliers
The mighty Crusader Citadel



Hisn Sulieman
The Old Roman Temple Of Zeus


Masyaf
Home of the Assassins and an encounter of a lifetime.
Here is my Article: [link]
Here is what my frined had to say about it: [link]



Day 3: The Man the yellow Suit
Hama
Home Of the Famous 14th century waterwheels.



Ma'arra
Famous for the Cannibalistic massacre of 100,000 people by the Crusader army, also famous for being home to the Pessimistic blind poet Abu al-Ala al-Maari who's work "A Treatise on Forgiveness" is widely believed to have been the inspiration for Dante’s Divine Comedy.

Shayzar
This Magnificent Castle was the childhood home of Usamah ibn Munqidh whose Diaries are regarded as the most important contemporary Arab chronicles of the Crusades.
http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/20108287/ Sat, 23 Aug 2008 06:28:44 PDT

This is harder than it looks!

The rules are:
Choose a singer/band/group.
Answer using ONLY titles of songs by that singer/band/group.
Tag 3 more people (let them know they've been tagged).

I choose French house band “Daft Punk”:

Are you male or female?
"Human After All"

Describe yourself!
“The Prime time of your life "

What do people feel when they're around you?
" Face to Face”

Describe your current relationship.
"Short Circuit"

Where would you like to be now?
" Around the world "

How do you feel about love?
"Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger"

What's your life like?
"Rockn Roll"

What would you ask for if you had only one wish?
"Voyager"

Say something wise:
" Television Rules The Nation "

I'm tagging

Old Journals:
[link] Northern Coastal Syrian Campaign
[link] THE LIST!
[link] Journal feature Three
[link] Journal feature Two
[link] Journal feature one
[link] Syria, Damascus
[link] Day trip around Jordan
[link] Really long Travel log of southern Jordan
[link] Egypt , Cairo and Alexandria

]]> *Mgsblade http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/19674535/ http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/19674535/ Wed, 30 Jul 2008 05:40:26 PDT
Hello friends and visitors, this is going to be a quite a large feature, since I haven't done one since January!

So here are some of my favourite-favourites from the last 7 months:


-----------------------------------------------
*Mgsblade http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/17938278/ http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/17938278/ Sun, 20 Apr 2008 05:07:19 PDT
hello
I'm submitting My deviations Chronologically and will be copying thumbs to this journal as they are uploaded, It also gives me time to sort out the 900+ shots that I took, AND compile all the information about each place!

Each Title next to the day is some odd occurrence or interesting thing we did that day...ask if your interested!

Day 1: Sharing an Elevator with a Chinese General
Damascus
I'm going to leave the old city shots till last, it contains shots of the Merchants, souqs, streets and mosques.

Day 2: The City of Females
Krak De Chevaliers
The mighty Crusader Citadel



Hisn Sulieman
The Old Roman Temple Of Zeus


Masyaf
Home of the Assassins and quite an adventure. If you’re really curious about what happened, here is a long version that my friend wrote in his blog [link] otherwise wait till I get around to writing what happened Myself..


Day 3: The Man the yellow Suit
Hama
Home Of the Famous 14th century waterwheels.



Ma'arra
Famous for the Cannibalistic massacre of 100,000 people by the Crusader army, also famous for being home to the Pessimistic blind poet Abu al-Ala al-Maari who's work "A Treatise on Forgiveness" is widely believed to have been the inspiration for Dante’s Divine Comedy.

Shayzar
This Magnificent Castle was the childhood home of Usamah ibn Munqidh whose Diaries are regarded as the most important contemporary Arab chronicles of the Crusades.

http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/17816005/ Sat, 12 Apr 2008 15:01:29 PDT
Also considering writing small essays about about interesting facts I find about the region and its history, I know not many people would read it, but i think it would be interesting.

Travel Journals:
[link] THE LIST!
[link] Journal feature Three
[link] Journal feature Two
[link] Journal feature one
[link] Syria, Damascus
[link] Day trip around Jordan
[link] Really long Travel log of southern Jordan
[link] Egypt , Cairo and Alexandria


------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Member of ]]> *Mgsblade http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/17602742/ http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/17602742/ Mon, 31 Mar 2008 08:57:01 PDT

Travel Journals:
[link] THE LIST!
[link] Journal feature Three
[link] Journal feature Two
[link] Journal feature one
[link] Syria, Damascus
[link] Day trip around Jordan
[link] Really long Travel log of southern Jordan
[link] Egypt , Cairo and Alexandria


------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Member of ]]> *Mgsblade http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/17420480/ http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/17420480/ Thu, 20 Mar 2008 03:57:56 PDT always claimed that no matter what the location, each photographer's view/concept of a place was different.

I am not really sure about the idea but i will put forward one examples for you to consider: the "London Eye".

BTW one picture is actually a painting - try to figure out which one it is!

*Mgsblade http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/17133442/ http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/17133442/ Sat, 01 Mar 2008 13:31:06 PST
I plan go through my gallery and add as much knowledge and comments to the descriptions, for future reference and hopefully possibly to be added to a published book in the far future !

please go through and ask questions- anything that comes across your mind or if you would like to add any details - I offer conversation, information and candy!

Help Promote feedback! and Join Project Reciprocation [link]

Now for all the lovely visual, non-wordy stuff! I offer you my recent fav's :

... ]]> *Mgsblade http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/16431133/ http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/16431133/ Wed, 16 Jan 2008 12:11:00 PST
Something I have realized about DA is that there is a complete lack of thought provoking discussions, so here is an attempt to spice up your life;

Lately I have been thinking about how much colours in my shots mean to me, and how that reflects my personality.

The thought came up when I was asked by a friend why I don't take B&W shots, to which I responded that I wouldn't dream of it; colours are life, they represent a positive outlook on life and are a pleasure to look at (to me! Lets not insult my fellow B&W fans), and just like listening to an upbeat song, I believe that a colourful picture affects a person in much the same manner.

Now I may put up a negative façade with the people around me, but I feel like my work paints a truer picture of me, or quite possibly it is a way of trying to brighten up the future by colouring the past..

If you have reached this point in my gibberish, then I have a question for you; what are colours to you? How do they make you feel? And what part of YOUR art do you think brings out your inner personality? Explain and express yourself and show me!

Features
http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/15084192/ Fri, 26 Oct 2007 12:38:07 PDT and welcome!


Can any one do me a favor and check out My scraps and recommend which pictures to move into my main gallery?


Things have been slow recently, partly because of work, but mostly because i wrecked my car while out trying to photograph the country! I'm alright but sadly the car has been in the garage for three weeks now (and counting)!


Promoting friends




















http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/14227183/ Sat, 18 Aug 2007 14:28:10 PDT Well I’ve been here a whole year (and a month), and have come to the conclusion that I should get myself a subscription, and now that I have one I would like to feature some of the people I have met and corresponded with throughout this last year…so enjoy, and leave comments or suffer my wrath!!


Is the first person to add me on DA! when ever I see his name I pronounce it as R-see aiy aiy




My Friend and the person who got me into Photography in the first place. (Guess who is standing in the third photo)




A great Graphic Designer and just started getting in photography




Has been very supportive from the start, and has a great passion for photography.




Likes to send confusing messages, and likes to take photographs with great angles




A fellow Jordanian and amazing artist, and has a love for cars
*Mgsblade http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/13547335/ http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/13547335/ Sun, 15 Jul 2007 03:18:09 PDT
I Also have decided to only put a selection of shots Here on DA, as I took over 900 shots so enjoy !

The Citadel of Saladin [link]
Pillars [link]
Domes [link]
Pyramids in my Garden [link]
Arabesque [link]
The Winding Minaret [link]
Trinkets in the Ancient Souq [link]
A Slow Day [link]
Where the Princess sleeps...Alone [link]
Cairo Skyline [link]
Alexandria's harbor [link]
The Great Library [link]
The Star and the Tower [link]
Fishing [link]
The Catacombs [link]
Education Never Stops [link]
Sultan Hassan Mosque [link]
Another Hallway [link]
Toys in the Bathtub [link]
Traders Corner [link]
Hidden Balcony [link]
The Nilometer [link]
The Gate with Minarets [link]
Souq al-khiyam [link]
Souq al-khiyam 2 [link]
Souq al-khiyam 3 [link]
Egyptian Streets [link]
Chilling [link]
Waiting for Customers [link]

Scraps from inside the Great Library:
[link]
[link]
[link]



3000 PAGEVIEWS!!! WOOHOOOO!

And thats it, Here are some of my best shots from my visit to Egypt, now i suppose i have to get back to the Jordanian list!!! [link]


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Member of

]]> *Mgsblade http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/13247921/ http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/13247921/ Thu, 07 Jun 2007 04:24:27 PDT
Centre point: Amman

• The Citadel (Centre)
• City centre Downtown amphitheatre [link] [link]
• Ammonite towers (West amman)
• Swiefiya church mosaic (West amman)
• Cave of the seven sleepers (south Amman)
• Kan Zaman (south amman)
• Qasr Nuweijis Roman mausoleum (North Amman)
• Yajouz Romano- Byzentine settlement (North amman)
• ‘Ain al ghazal (North amman)
• Train lines and station
• Iraq Al-Amir + caves of the prince (outside west) [link] [link]
• Al-Qastal ( south Amman ) [link]
• Salt-ottoman houses(outside north east )
• Amman nightlife [link]
• King Hussein mosque [link] [link]
• Old fahes village
• Forests on airport road
• Tomb of the unknown soldier/sports city


North & Northwest of Jordan:
• Jarash Roman City [link]
• Salt Village [link]
• Ajlun medieval Castle [link]
• Dibeen national park
• Pella Ancient city
• Umm Qais Roman City
• The mosque of abu ubeidah, tomb
• Irbid City
• Yasileh
• Capitolias
• Caves of habis
• Abila


Jordan rift Valley and the Dead Sea
• The Dead sea & its Resorts
• Baptism site
• Panoramic view center
• Hammamat ma’in (hot springs)
• Lots cave
• Qasr Al-Tuba
• Wadi mujib
• Wadi dana

Eastern Jordan and the desert Castles (Qasr)
• Qasr kharana [link] [link]
• Qasr Amra
• Qasr Al-Azraq
• Azraq nature resurve
• Khirbet as-samra
• Qasr Al-Hallabat
• Umm Al-Jimal [link]
• Qasr Deir Al-kahf
• Qasr Burqu
• Jawa

Kings Highway
• Mount Nebo
• Hesban
• Umm al Rassas [link]
• Mukawir
• Qasr Mushatta [link]
• Qasr Tuba
• Qasir bshir Roman Fort
• Petra [link] [link] petra by night [link] [link] , Mount Haroun,
• Wadi musa, Al Wu’eira medieval crusader castle
• Wadi rum [link] + nabatean temple in Rum
• Karak medieval Castle [link] [link]
• Showbak medieval Castle
• Haj forts along southern kings highway (Anaiza fort Qasr al Bint ect.)
• Aqaba [link] [link]

]]> *Mgsblade http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/13059373/ http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/13059373/ Wed, 23 May 2007 05:48:39 PDT
First of all, ever since i started a DA account i noticed allot of journal entries involving a 100 item list that the artist has to theme their work on...as a challenge.

Well I've come up with something similar, i went out and bought a detailed map and guide to Jordan, and started to compile my own challenge; it will involve a list of all the sights and places i would like to visit and shoot, the result being that I hope to compile a decent enough amount of shots, to print a really high quality book, and form a nice gallery in the process!

once i finish with the list, i intend to post it here or maybe create a new account, im not sure yet

Secondly a few months back I realized that i needed a (photographer specific) business card for my photography excursions, i asked a few people but they seamed too busy, so in order to take the pressure of them, I'm contemplating creating a design competition!

What do you think about it? and does anyone have any experience in this matter, i need some tips!

]]> *Mgsblade http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/12418348/ http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/12418348/ Sun, 01 Apr 2007 15:11:22 PDT
To start off I kind of combined words with imagery because I want people so see the whole picture and maybe inspire them to do something along the same line.
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In the last five days I have walked alone with ghosts, listened to silence, breathed underwater, and chased the moon in the desert till sunrise.

Here is the trip in detail; I suppose it could be called a photo journal

5 days ago: Picked up this week’s photo companion (my cousin) and set out for Petra [link] where we had reservations for the night tour and a stay at one of the hotels there, upon arriving we decided to give little Petra a tour before the 8 o clock appointment at the entrance of the ancient city (five minute walk from the hotel).

Little Petra could be classified as the other side, or rich quarter of the larger ancient city, it resides a good ten kilometers away from the modern town of Petra along a small winding road [link] , I really enjoyed it because we got there just in time to be the last people in, personally I like it better when I’m alone it gives me the freedom and solitude (far from loud tourists) to imagine how glorious these places must have been and get the shots the way I want them [link] .

At 8 we left the hotel and walked to the main gate where about 200+ people were waiting to go in, but for some reason they where all in a rush to get to the end, so all I had to do was hang back for a while; and all of Petra’s candle lit canyons would be mine…and they where! It was a fantastic experience, just wondering along quietly taking pictures with the candle light guiding my path and a cool breeze in my face [link] , one really amazing thing was that it was so quite that you could actually hear yourself breath… Half way down I could start to hear music (Bedouin flute) echoing along the natural stone hallways that almost sounded like wind but only grew stronger the closer I got, suddenly I turned the final corner and in the faint glow of the candles I could just make out the fantastic structure.

In the candle lit orange glow where the 200+ people sitting listening oh so very quietly to this Bedouin flute player as he emerged from the dark doorway and sat among the candles in front the crowd and played …. [link] [link]

The walk back was equally as fantastic, one scene that I wish I could have captured(but didn’t have the equipment to do so), was the lights along the path being turned off each set at a time…as if the darkness was reclaiming the ancient city. [link] [link]


4 days ago: left Petra at 7 drove for an hour and a half, arriving just in time for the dive boat departure, I didn’t have very good luck in Aqaba , it was cold.(the water temp was 21c), windy, and jam packed with people because of the holiday(shitty hotel service didn’t help either), I only got to do two dives but as always it was special… I dove a scuttled freight ship off the cost .

3 Days ago: decided that we had enough and decided to finish the vacation in Wadi Rum

Yesterday: drove for an hour beside the large brown stone islands that shoved themselves through the desert floor and arrived at the campsite, picked our tent and met our guide and his 4X4, and within an hour we where sitting on a rock watching our guide make us a fire for a cup of tea. This place was almost surreal I couldn’t believe how quiet it was in the open desert. [link]

At one point in out trip I noticed some thing purple sticking out of the sand, at a closed inspection it turned out to me a plant, in all it contrasting beauty. [link]


After that the Guide drove us to a viewpoint (in the meantime we drove past a herd of wild camels, they just sat there munchi... ]]> *Mgsblade http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/12038898/ http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/12038898/ Sat, 03 Mar 2007 11:01:44 PST
Yesterday was quite a full day I headed out with my photo-buddy Ali: [link] to Ajloun Castle, located in the Greener parts of Jordan (we are not all desert you know!). and spent a few hours there then tried to pass by Jarash but yet again we got there around closing time so we couldn't get in(BAH....this is turning into an obsession!).

but it turned out to but a nice day and i managed to get it all in a few hours!

other Great news!

I GOT FEATURED IN A MAGAZINE ARTICLE woohoo!!!

A while ago i asked a local magazine called I magazine: celebrating Jordan, if they would like feature some of my stuff, AND THEY AGREED!

it ended up being an article about me but it was still Great

so if you wanna Check it out (and learn more about me) here you go:

Page 1: [link]
Page 2: [link]
Page 3: [link]
Page 4: [link]
Page 5: [link]


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Side note: The Photo's i post here are not Stock, so if you wish to use them note me and get my permission first
also if you want more info about Jordan visit: [link]

]]> *Mgsblade http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/11936457/ http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/11936457/ Fri, 23 Feb 2007 15:25:53 PST
to make it easier for me and you im gonig to write my plan out so you can follow!

1-My friend and i had planned to go to Jarash (an abandoned roman city) to see the chariot racing and the Roman reenactments but as it turns out they don't work on Fridays (thus alienating the entire working population of Jordan and I )

1.5-Police Checkpoint

2-we decided to go to Karak (An ancient Crusader stronghold), where we ended up loosing our selfs in a literal maze of stone passages (and loving it)...... It was one of the most amazing castles i have seen till now!

3-later we went to see and resting place of the Prophet Noah just outside Karak City.

3.5-Police Checkpoint

4-then we descended to the lowest point on earth and drove along the dead sea, got stuck in traffic because half of Amman decided to go swimming that day.

5- stopped by the entrance to wadi Mujib (a beautiful nature reserve) and had a look around.

5.1-Security Checkpoint

6-Then we drove uphill again to visit the newly built panoramic view center (complete with museum)

6.5- Checkpoint Checkpoint

7-Decided to complete the trip with a visit to Madaba (final resting place of the prophet Moses)

8- After getting Rejected by restaurant in Madaba because it was "cubbles or families only" we headed back to Amman and ate there

so after a round trip lasting from 10am to about 7 pm and crossing around 200+km i feel like I'm soaked in history, and i think i just about saw every single type of terrain there is to see!

all and all it was a really great day, just because it wasn't really planned out, we just agreed on where we should go next and went, i hope i get to do this again sometime!

The old doorway [link]
Fallen Walls [link]
The halls have I's [link]









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Side not: The Photo's i post here are not Stock, so if you wish to use them note me and get my permission first
also if you want more info about jordan visit: [link]

]]> *Mgsblade http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/11601089/ http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/11601089/ Sun, 28 Jan 2007 15:06:37 PST
Personally i love the city of Damascus, because it has so much history ; estimated to be around FIVE THOUSAND years old, it is the oldest "lived in" city in the world (coming in close to it is Allepo another Syrian city) so you can just imagine the things that occured here (Romans,Sultans, Crusaders, knights, the Assassins, Mongols, great dynasties and the poor souls just trying to live through it all).

Some of the places and actions in the pictures i uploaded here have been going on since the beginning (for example the market: place-Souq al hamadya still has roman arches holding up the roof) .

Another amazing thing you see in the old city are the tombs of great Arab leaders, like Saladin(as well as Nour Al din, and Beybars among other notables... ) just hidden in tiny Mosques between street vendors and innumerable shoppers (who move about their daily activities ignorant to the truly remarkable history of this place ).

All and all this was amazing experience, especially the walk through the old city in middle of the night with no one around.... like walking with the ghosts of the past, just you the place and your imagination.

An Empty Souq [link]
Arches of Time [link]
Arches and Minarets [link]
By the light [link]
Ancient alleyways [link]
The Umayyad Mosque [link]
The Souq [link]


Plan to go back in the fall of 2007, and do a complete a Tour of the country, not just the capital.

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Side not: The Photo's i post here are not Stock, so if you wish to use them note me and get my permission first

]]> *Mgsblade http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/11112776/ http://Mgsblade.deviantart.com/journal/11112776/ Tue, 19 Dec 2006 04:47:32 PST

]]> *Mgsblade