The Manrilla Blog | Life. Art. Religion. Culture.

I learned today from my father that a close friend of mine, Abdullah Nasr, died at the age of 40. Abdullah was a kind, gentle man. He died of a sudden heart attack while playing indoor soccer. He will be sorely missed.

I met Abdullah at the Islamic Center in Ann Arbor. He was from Palestine. A large man with a mirth to match his belly, I spent many hours at his meat market, sipping tea, eating olives and chatting in Arabic for hours. Abdullah gave me a great outlet to polish my oral skills in Arabic. He always had time for someone. He gave generously to his community. I loved his smile. When Abdullah smiled at you it felt as if clouds had moved out of the way of the sun. I remember going up to the mosque and praying the fajr prayer at 5:00am and Abdullah would be there, making the adthaan, or call to prayer. He had a surprisingly sweet voice for a man of such bulk. I will miss his laughter, his smile, his playfulness (we used to wrestle outside of the mosque after Friday Prayer). He could be seen often with a smirk on his face, laughing or playing a joke on someone. I will miss his kind, gentle heart. Ya ‘ammi. Wayn ant? Fyl jannah, in sha Allah. As-Salaamu ‘alykum was rahmatu rabbina ‘alayk.

I finally got the first portrait up off the ground yesterday, commencing the new series, People I’ve Known. There is a Projects section up on the photography site, where I have some older photographs that I’ve compiled to start that series. But I’ve begun a new series of photographs, looking to do an exhibition eventually with all of these. My goal is output all of these as large prints (30″ x 40″ or larger). I’m shooting the series on 4×5. I’d like to say exclusively, but we’ll see. Shooting in the studio yesterday with Nick and Sara made me realize how much I missed shooting 4×5. For those unfamiliar, a 4×5 camera, otherwise known as a large format camera, creates a negative that is 4 by 5 inches. This is huge in compared to traditional 35mm, which measures 24 by 36 millimeters. Though I do so dearly miss my Hasselblad 501 c/m, the 4×5 is just magical. It’s slow; precise. The images captured have a sense of space that other formats just don’t. You shoot only one sheet of film at a time, forcing to you to change your approach. I’ve been shooting straight 35mm digital now for almost 6 months. And while I do love digital for what it’s worth, it’s also a big breath of fresh air to put a big camera on a big tripod, pull out two or three sheets of film, load some holders, put the dark cloth over your head, compose your image reversed and upside down, take a deep breath, cock the shutter, focus the bellows, loupe up to glass and click. Ahhh…, yeah. This is going to be a fun, rewarding series. I’ll post images at some point. Stay tuned.

Some people (Tracy would probably say so) may think of insomnia as a curse; and to be sure it is troublesome at times. But it is also a boon. A gift. It is often during these late hours, when no one else is around and the world sleeps that I find myself in a trance. I can plow through work like a man possessed. I have long wondered at my apparent lack for need of sleep. This weekend for example, I have slept hardly 4 or 5 hours, Thursday to Monday. And while I do occasionally hole away and sleep for a whole day, say once every 6 months or so, besides that, I am up and running.

This “gift” allowed me to finish a little personal project: What I Saw. It’s a project that’s lept into my head, where I will take images that I shoot in my wonderings, where I go out with iPod and camera and just walk around, looking for things that call me to shoot, take the images and drop them in a Flash movie with music of the day. I completed the first one this weekend. Simply titled, “3728″, I spent the day going about in the fridged cold. And despite freezing my arse to the bone, I had a great time, when so few of them come that easily these days. So take a little trip over and visit the page. The music that I listened to that day as I made my way about provides the soundtrack. The Northwoods Improvisers, featuring Faruq Z. Bey. The album’s 19 Moons. Hasta luego.

Perhaps this article can solve yer blues, greens and reds.

Today is a special day, It is a day of change. The lesser of those two changes is the new look at Marc Manley Photo.com. I have completed the new layout, look and feel of my photography Web site. Have a look.

The second of these two changes, the bigger one, is Charles, my little brother has flown off to Sweden. As of this writing I’m not sure if he’s touched down yet. More than likely not. Charles, this is a huge undertaking. I am really proud of you, man. I know that you will see so many sites and sounds. I know you’ll make us all proud and will enrich us with your experiences that you’ll have when you return. Use the camera. It’s a vehicle to the soul; really. I miss you and can’t wait for a word from you. Stay black.