Went down to the Inner Harbor in Baltimore to enjoy Fourth of July Fireworks! Didn’t get a good vantage point, and ended up taking handheld photos from the middle of a staircase, while trying to avoid getting bumped by passersby, and getting the rest of the staircase out of the frame of view… So I was only able to take a few photos, but here are a couple of the fireworks! All in all, a great time (except for some craziness following the celebrations – this is Baltimore after all….)
I’m very excited to share that I’ve been working on a web redesign! You may have noticed that my logo is no longer seen on the top here; this is in preparation of integrating this blog with the main website.
The website has been coded from scratch using HTML5/CSS 
The goal was to integrate the current different online bits and pieces into one simple and elegant site, with easy navigation.
The main page will be a scrolling portfolio gallery (click to open slightly bigger image in a new window):
(social media icons on the bottom left)
The blog will be integrated (embedded) into the website:
(The online albums will also be embedded)
Simple CSS coding for some cute effects (highlight box on mouseover):
Easy to use contact form:
The best part is, NO FLASH! A mobile version is in the works that can be viewed on your iPhone, iPad, etc
Last Sunday we decided, sort of at the last minute, to trek over to DC to check out the cherry blossoms, ’cause the weather hasn’t been that great lately and we didn’t know if they would last. Since it was still a little chilly, it wasn’t super crowded, and thankfully it stayed sunny all the while we were there!
Looks like I ended up taking pics of mainly the Jefferson Monument and the Washington Monument, trying to frame them with the cherry blossoms in many different ways. Blue sky + beautiful cherry blossoms + iconic landmarks = awesome!
Corner of Jefferson Monument:
Washington Monument:
Inside the Jefferson Monument:
Jefferson Monument again:
Washington Monument, distant view through Cherry Blossom Trees:
Cherry Blossoms:
I know the horizon looks crooked here but that’s because I’m not perpendicular to the waterbank:
Walking over a bridge towards the waterfront:
Tried a little starburst effect by shooting into the sun:
Blue sky through Blossoms:
More of Washington Monument:
Back to Jefferson Monument:
Panorama (ok not real panorama but cropped):
(all images copyright haris sair 2011)
Last weekend, Baltimore celebrated St. Patrick’s day a little early with a parade that started from the Washington Monument in Mt. Vernon, going toward the Inner Harbor. I went with the wife and kid to check it out, I figured we would just watch a little, enjoy the nice warm sunny spring day, but when we got to the Monument, it looked like it was going to be more Awesome than I thought it would be, with all the costumes and bands and such, that I RAN back to the apartment to grab my photo gear, and RAN back to the parade, and luckily I only missed a little in the beginning (I think). Here are some pics!
-Band Type Peoples:
-This Guy Is Serious:
-Even Cars Dress Up:
-Ladies in Costume:
-Thank Goodness It Wasn’t WIndy:
-I Love The Stache:
-Even His Hair Was Green (but can’t see to well here ’cause the sun was too strong):
-Looks Like A Vegas Showperson:
-Banjos! (the guy on the right looks like that famous comedian who was in that comedy show about alien people living on earth):
-Distinguished:
-Very Colorful:
- Hmmm. Political:
- Baltimore Orioles Mascot Riding in Style:
- Flanked by Flags:
- Irish boy:
- These Drummers were AWESOME (wish I could’ve taken a video):
- Dancing the Jigs:
- Even the Doggy Dressed Up:
- Not Entirely Sure Who This Was:
- Miss Maryland (I think. Thank you for looking at the camera!)
-This Guy Was a Spectator But I Found Him Most Interesting:
Here I am, back again! I’ve been meaning to update the blog soon after Thanksgiving, but the weekends got quite hectic… added to that, my dual-OS computer had been locked into Linux due to work, so I had no access to photos for a couple of weeks…
The last major events (besides ringing in the new year!!!) were the Shadi and Walima of Ghazal and Dilawar. I had the pleasure of shooting a couples/pre-wedding session for them at Old Town Alexandria about two weeks prior, and we all had such a blast. I learnt over the different shoots that the bride’s side of the family are all photographers, so I had to make sure not to disappoint!
And what a great wedding it was. Very well organized, extremely courteous family and guests, just the right amount of flair without being flamboyant. Ghazal’s father kept worrying about when I would take the time to eat dinner
Second shooting by my talented friend and cousin Taha Kazi
A few assortment of photos from the ceremonies below. Sample Shadi pdf book is at the bottom of this post (Flash needed). Many more pictures are available in the albums section of the website.
Enjoy!
WALIMA