PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTOGRAPHY

         The more decades I do this, the more I realize everything in photography comes down to one word, it is vision. Call it vision, imagination, or seeing. It all comes down to the same thing which is the ability to envision a final result in your mind's eye, and then to make it so with your tools at hand. It's never been about the gear. It's always been about seeing something, knowing how you want it to look, and making it so. Making it so is the easy part; seeing it in the first place is what makes a photographer. Powers of observation are everything. Snapping a camera is trivial. Photography is much easier for a layman to use and create what looks like a technically passable, sharp and well-exposed image. As most beginners discover instantly, simply having the best tools and technically sharp images doesn't get the glorious, passion-inspiring results they intended. Beginning photographers are usually afraid to do anything other than exactly what we thought were the rules. There are no rules other than to make your image as you want it. Non-artists who want to be

photographers often take much longer, if ever, to create decent images because they have been misled into worrying too much about trivial issues like noise and lens sharpness instead of the real issues of light, color, composition and gesture.

       Photographs are amazing. Through photographs, we preserve history such as child's first steps, a decaying landscape, or rare and endangered animals. We use photographs to recall the first steps on the moon, the inauguration of a new president, the lifting of a flag on a far-away hill during war. Mothers laboriously decorate large scrapbooks just to protect their precious memories. Photographs evoke essence of places we have not been, we perhaps will not return to, and should never forget. Honestly, I use Auto a lot even today. However, something must be said about knowing how a camera captures images. Eventually, every photographer runs into a scene they really would like to photograph, but their camera seems to be doing the wrong thing. Perhaps you are in a dark room and holding your camera. Unless you know how to adapt your camera to the situation, your images will probably come out blurry. Having the knowledge within oneself on what to change, on how to correct your settings will prevent you from losing that moment. We are all of us insufficient in learning somewhere. At no point in time do I ever feel I know enough or have learned it all. Even the highest-paid most professional of photographers, even those with thousands of dollars in lenses and software, have to further educate themselves at some point. To put it poetically, expensive equipment does not a good photographer make.  

         Photographs are visual artwork. They take something ordinary and elevate it to a position of honor. Famed landscape artist, Ansel Adams, once said, “A great photograph is one that fully expresses what one feels, in the deepest sense, about what is being photographed”. I also like a quote I once read by photographer David Hum. “Photography is only a tool, a vehicle, for expressing or transmitting a passion in something else”. What images I capture should express the passion I feel for that scene, that objects, or that moment in time. When other people view my work, they should know in part who I am as a person. It seems simple to say it, but photography should always be fun. It is great to have ones work published in the marketplace and it is nice to make money from it, but at the same time, I should always enjoy the process. My passion for photography, my passion for the photograph itself and thus for the subject matter, must communicate itself to the viewer.

           In view Sayyidina Imam Malik, there is no question with regard to the permissibility of taking photographs, for according to that position, painting pictures of human or animal life on a paper or fabric is allowed, hence camera pictures would hold the same ruling. However, in view of the mainstream and majority position of classical scholars, the question arises as to whether photos of humans and animals fall under the type of picture-making prohibited by the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) in numerous Hadiths. Camera photos were not in existence when classical scholars were discussing the issue of picture-making, hence one will not find an express ruling regarding photography in their works. As such, it was left to contemporary scholars to determine whether photos held the same ruling as that of painting and drawing pictures. The position of the overwhelming majority of Indo-Pak and some Arab scholars is that photographs of human or animal life are not permissible. They state that the ruling on picture-making does not change by changing the tool with which the picture is produced. Whether an image is produced by painting it or using a camera, as long as it is an image of a human or animal, it will remain unlawful (haram). Shaykh Muhammad Bakhit al-Muti'i of Egypt, a 20th Century scholar known for his knowledge and piety, wrote a whole treatise titled al-Jawab al-Shafi fi Ibahat Surat al-hotography in support of this view of permissibility. His basic understanding is that the reason behind the prohibition of painting pictures (in the words of the Hadith) is challenging Allah in His Creating of living creatures. In camera photos, however, one does not produce an image through one's own imagination, hence one is not challenging the Creating of Allah as such. It is merely a reflection of a living being already created by Allah Most High.

           In many of these Hadith, the Arabic word used for the "creation of a likeness" is the  same as we use today for photography. Hence, some scholars have tended to pronounce photography as forbidden on the basis of these Hadiths. However, photography was invented long after the Prophet and, therefore, it is not possible that these Hadiths refer to photography unless there was some technique at the time of the Prophet which was used to create photos in the same way as a camera does. Since there was none, we should determine what the word signified at that time. If we consider how the word is used in the Qur'an, we find that it is invariably used to denote how Allah creates people, animals and things. In its original use the word sawara means "to give shape and form." Hence, majority of learned scholars are of the view that these Hadiths refer to sculpture and making statues and shapes and engravings on stone or wood to create likenesses of Allah's creation. Hence, there is no disagreement among scholars that such works are forbidden not only to produce, but also to buy, possess or display. Photography does not enter into that. The late Sheikh Muhammad Bakheet, a former Mufti of Egypt, has made it clear that photography is not included in such prohibition. He states that this art is no more than capturing a shade or a reflection by special technique. He clarifies that what is forbidden is to create a likeness which has no previous existence in order to produce something like what Allah has created. Using a camera to take a picture is similar to fixing what we see in a mirror. No one says that looking into mirror is forbidden because it shows a likeness of Allah's creation. We use lenses in cameras in order to capture a mirror picture of the person or the object for which we need a photo. This is perfectly legitimate.

           It was in Hadith narrated by Ummul Momineen Aisha, "I used to play with dolls in the presence of the Prophet and my girl friends also used to play with me. When Allah's Apostle used to enter (my dwelling place) they used to hide themselves, but the Prophet would call them to join and play with me. It is in Hadith - Narrated by Ummul Momineen Aisha "When the Apostle of Allah arrived after an expendition, the drought raised an end of a curtain which was hung in front of her store-room, revealing some dolls which belonged

to her. He asked: “What is this?” She replied: “My dolls”. Among them he saw a horse with wings made of rags, and asked: “What is this I see among them?” She replied: “A horse”. He asked: “What is this that it has on it?” She replied: “Two wings”. He asked: “A horse with two wings?” She replied: “Have you not heard that Solomon had horses with wings?” She said: “There upon the Apostle of Allah laughed so heartily that I could see his molar teeth”. 

         Pictures drawn, taken or even making shapes of human beings or animals is allowed in Islam provided they are made for some good purpose even as play things for children. Pictures can be drawn in text books, drawing books or black boards to explain various subjects to students. Pictures can be drawn or taken for scientific and technological research and education at Colleges, Universities and laboratories. Human or Animal models can be made for scientific research and education. Medical fraternity can work on dead bodies of humans and animals for their education and research. They can record their findings by way

of pictures. Pictures can be taken and used for passports, identification cards, driver licenses, social security and a host of other requirements. Pictures of Islamic scholars can be drawn or printed in books for identification. Pictures can be taken for security purposes. Surveillance cameras can be placed at places where there is risk of theft as for life security of the people. Pictures of family members can be drawn, taken with the help of a camera since these pictures are used as a remembrance for the following generations.

       Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, says: "Photography as a medium of communication or for the simple, innocent retention of memories without the taint of reverence/shirk does not fall under the category of forbidden Tasweer. One finds a number of traditions from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, condemning people who make Tasweer, which denotes painting or carving images or statues. It was closely associated with paganism or shirk. People were in the habit of carving images and statues for the sake of worship. Islam, therefore, declared Tasweer forbidden because of its close association with shirk (association of partners with Allah). One of the stated principles of usul-u-Fiqh (Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence) is that if anything directly leads to haram, it is likewise haram. In other words, Tasweer was forbidden precisely for the reason that it was a means leading to shirk. The function of photography today does not fall under the above category. One must add a word of caution: “To take pictures of leaders and heroes and hang them on the walls may not belong to the same category of permission. This may give rise to a feeling of reverence and hero worship, which was precisely the main thrust of the prohibition of Tasweer. Therefore, one cannot make an unqualified statement to the effect that all photography is halal. It all depends on the use and function of it. If it is for educational purpose and has not been tainted with the motive of reverence and hero worship, there is nothing in the sources to prohibit it”. 

       A hadith indicate that pictures of animate beings are haram, whether they are humans or other creatures, whether they are three-dimensional or two-dimensional, whether they are printed, drawn, etched, engraved, carved, cast in moulds, etc. These ahaadeeth include all of these types of pictures. The Muslim should submit to the teachings of Islam and not argue with them by saying, "But I am not worshipping them or prostrating to them!" If we think about just one aspect of the evil caused by the prevalence of photographs and pictures in our times, we will understand something of the wisdom behind this prohibition: that aspect is

the great corruption caused by the provoking of physical desires and subsequent spread of immorality caused by these pictures. The Muslim should not keep any pictures of animate beings in his house, because they will prevent the angels from entering. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "The angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or pictures." (Reported by al-Bukhaari, see al-Fath, 10/380).

       Sculpting led people throughout history to eventually consider the statues of people, animals or birds to possess some power and worship them. Still today approximately 3/4 of the people in the world: Buddists, Hindus, Christians, some American Indian and African religions, and others pray to statues and bow in front of them. That is a form of ''Shirk'' because it is just like giving partners to Allah (s.w.t.). Sculpting and painting have always focused on nude bodies of women, men and children. Sculptors and painters tend to change the reality of they are sculpting or painting, i.e. making things larger than life, very small, change the features of the object, or change the object all together as in abstract art. Sculpting and painting is considered a time consuming, and unproductive useless profession. Photography is legal as long as the rules are observed, such as no pornography, or alterations of how things really are. As to your brother, you should encourage him to pursue a more useful field, and keep art as a hobby he can use to paint scenes from nature like rivers, mountains, trees, sunrises, sunsets or anything else. 

      The detested pictures and images are only those, which are worshipped and revered. One should not wear any clothes, which have any revered or worshipped images printed upon them. Clarifying this point, the eminent Muslim scholar, Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, states: "Photographic pictures and those printed on clothes are originally permissible as long as the picture does not contain anything Haram, and does not aim at glorifying its subject under religious or worldly considerations. The ruling here is more stricter if clothes bear pictures of persons known for their disbelief or deviate character”. Basr ibn Sa'id is reported to have said, "Zayd ibn Khalid became ill and we went to visit him. There was a picture on the curtain of his door. I said to my companion 'Ubaydullah al-Khulani, who was the servant of the Prophet's wife Maymunah, 'Was it not Zayd who told us about pictures the other day?' 'Ubayd Allah replied, 'Did you not hear him when he said, 'Except if it is made of Al-Tirmidhi reported on the authority of `Utbah that once the latter went to visit Abu Talhah al-Ansari, who was ill, and he found Sahl ibn Hanif (another Companion) there. Abu Talhah called someone to come and tear up the sheet which was under him. "Why tear it up?" Sahl asked. "There are pictures on it, and you know what the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him said concerning that," Abu Talhah replied. "Did he not also say, 'Except if it is made on cloth?'" Sahl asked. "Yes, but it makes me feel better," Abu Talhah replied. Based on this, there is nothing wrong in wearing clothes having pictures on them for both children and adults as long as these pictures are not revered or glorified and do not display nudity or lewdness.

      You will get to look into the impact of photography on society. As there are many ongoing questions about various facets of photography, let us study the influence of photography on our lives and the structure of the society. Susan Sontag, in her writing "On Photography", discusses the objectivity of photography, which is a strongly disputed subject within the photographic community. According to Sontag, photographing any subject should bring out the correctness and suitability of the thing getting photographed. One should put one’s self into a positive relation to the world that feels like knowledge and therefore like power. However, it is the photographers who decide what object to take a photo of, what angle to frame the photo, which photography technique to use and what elements should be excluded from the photograph. All these factors may mirror a certain socio-historical context. Following these lines, the impact of photography on society cannot be ruled out. That photography is a subjective form of representation is a strongly debatable issue.

        The effect of photography in modern times has raised a number of concerns. The impact of modern photography can be seen on society. The camera is presented as a supporter of voyeuristic reserves in Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window in 1954, where although the camera is an observation station, it is the act of photographing which is is more than passive observing. In 1960, Michael Powell's Peeping Tom shows the camera as both sadistic and sexually aggressive technology. Capturing the images of the pain and suffering, apparent on the faces of the female victims, the influence of photography is clearly to be seen. The impact of photography on society, as one of the new media forms changes the structure of society. Further discomfort has been caused due to cameras and photography in regards to being insensitive. Photos of war and pornography always cause a stir. It is also feared that disturbing or explicit images are easily accessible to children and society at large today. It is a concern today that people can be turned into objects that can be symbolically possessed by anyone today. Another impact of photography can be seen in is tourism, where photography has a very important role to play. Local inhabitants are often positioned and described by the camera lens for crating that “tourist gaze". However, it has also been disputed that local photographers can position the tourist photographer as a superficial consumer of images. Nevertheless, we cannot simply turn our faces away from the impact of photography on society and our lives.

          Firstly, a positive way of photography to affects society is provides a form of communication because it can be considered as a medium as it is used for educational purposes. As for example, the pictures shown in a text books are in purpose to explain and reference for students. Next is captures moments of reality as we all know the historical moments of Independence Day. The picture of that historical moments can be shown to the future generation as a prove of the national freedom from the colonial. Besides that, records scientific observation. Photography connects people through interests, locations, and cultures. It spends time and distance as a bridge between worlds. You will learn much about life, nature, and people by connecting yourself with photography groups and viewing online galleries. It will create more opportunities for taking better photos with less effort, but in the end, it doesn't make you any greater. You also will get an opportunity to share what you have learnt. Kindness goes a long way to create a persona other people like enough to spend their time looking at what you have done. In the end, your behaviour furthers your photographic goals, no matter how large or small they may be.

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