Visual Blog

“And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquility in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought”        - Translation from The Quran 30-21
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    Four long nights of celebrations, traditions, prayers and every bright color imaginable solidified the marriage of Kehkashan Fatima Sajanlal and Mohammed Azhar Mahdi. 

   The first two of these nights involved the bridal Mehndi ceremonies and celebrations. Mehndi is a deep seeded tradition in Indian and Pakistani life and holds even more significance on the nights before a couple is officially married. Kehkashan sat still for almost five hours as her bridal Mehndi was applied to her hands and feet by an artist. The process started hours before guests began to arrive, and the house was full of family and friends by the time it was done. Kehkashan chose to represent both Indian and Pakistani style into her Mehndi and hide her and the grooms initials in the design. 

    The second night of Mehndi celebrations were held in a banquet hall adorned in brightly colored cloth and lights. The bride and groom are both offered gifts from each others families and then music and food becomes the focus of the night. Aside from symbolizing the start of the wedding ceremonies the Mehndi is said to symbolize a pleasant transition in life. 

    On the third night, or the Nikah, the couple is officially wed. Women and children gathered on the main floor of the Islamic Education Center Husaini as the ceremony began, men gathered in the basement and started prayers. The words of the Imam could be heard over the speakers in the room with the women and children. Once the Imam said his peace the men joined the women, and Mohammed joined Kehkashan on stage to sign the marriage contract and complete the marriage. They unveil their faces to each other, or the Aarsi Mushaf Dikhana, and then the celebrations begin. A small celebration and dinner was held on the night of the Nikah hosted by Kehkashan’s family.

    On the last night, during the Valima, the couple hosts their first celebration as husband and wife. The marriage has been made official and the grooms parents have given their final blessing. This night is full of festivities and joy and concludes the long week of wedding ceremonies. 

    Kehkashan and Mohammed have know each other since childhood. Their families have always been connected through their religious community and relationships with mutual family and friends. Through all the tradition and ceremony are just two young people starting their lives together and looking for the tranquility and affection you feel from marrying someone you care deeply about. 

 

A Second Chance for Death Row Dogs

    On July 9th, 2016 dozens of dogs and a handful of cats completed the first step in their journey out of high kill animal shelters and into loving homes. 

    Starfish Animal Rescue has been collaborating with a high kill shelter in rural Kentucky since 2006, rescuing an average of 1,500 puppies and adult dogs a year. The Kentucky shelter admits on averages 200 dogs and puppies a month. This massive intake overwhelms the shelter and leads to most of the animals being euthanized when their hold period is up. This happens not because the animals are aggressive or unadoptable, but simply because there is no room or resources to keep them. 

    These Kentucky dogs and cats of all ages are loaded in a cargo van and prepared for the long drive to Illinois. Large crates line the floor of the van and small crates stack up from there. Long temperature control vents run from the front of the van to the back to keep the animals as comfortable as possible on this long drive. When they arrive in Batavia, IL a large group of volunteers are waiting for them. 

    The animals are unloaded from the van in their crates and sorted into groups by the various rescue organizations that will be picking them up. Each animal is taken out of the crate and outside to go to the bathroom and receive food and water. The volunteer assigned to that animal walks them and waits with them until the animals crate is cleaned and they are ready to be picked up by their rescue group. Many of the animals, scared and tired from the transport, are just ecstatic to see grass and feel it under their paws. 

    On this particular transport there was a mom dog and her puppies brought together. Most of the time puppies are surrender by themselves without either mom or dad. After being taken outside to walk around and eat the doting mom was reunited with her puppies. She looked over each pup, giving gentle nudges and kisses, making sure they where all accounted for and taken care of. This is a rare opportunity for the rescue group to show first hand the importance of spaying and neutering pets. Even though she is very caring mother and did a great job caring for her pups, we do not need her to bring even more pups into the world in the future. The most effective long term solution to the large number of animals being euthanized every year is responsible pet ownership and spay/neuter education.  

    Starfish and so many other rescue groups like them are working tirelessly to save these animals that have been abandoned and forgotten. For every animal that they save a live is changed forever. Not just the lives of the animals saved from the brink of death, but the lives of the families that adopt these animals and enjoy the unconditional love of a companion animal, a new member of the family. 

Union to 59

I sat in an empty train car a couple months while traveling home from Chicago. I had just spent the weekend wandering around the city taking photos. The ride was slow and relaxed. As boredom set in I looked for things to shoot on the train and tried shooting out the window at one of the many stops. I was surprised to see an ominous green haze over the photo, I played with this haze the rest of the ride home.

4:56 A.M.

       On February 29, 2012 an EF-4 tornado ripped through the town of Harrisburg, Ill. I remember my roommate getting the phone call, from our Editor in Chief, telling us that a tornado had touched down and we should go check it out. We had no clue what we where walking in to. We expected some damaged houses and blown down trees, but the devastation was unthinkable. 

      Neighbors who had spent the morning digging their friends and family out of demolished houses now helped each other gather belonging. Families mourned their losses. First responders worked to clear the roads and secure the area. And volunteers started to pour in asking to help in any way. 

    In the days that followed I saw a community pull together and take care of their own in a way I never witnessed before. They cared for their community and they opened their lives to the horde of media that covered the storm. I feel so honored to have met the people I documented for months after the storm and to have worked with so many amazing journalist who showed true compassion for the victims. 

    It has been four years since this deadly tornado shaped the town of Harrisburg and took so much from the people who lived their. But this anniversary also marks the day that a community came together through tragedy and came up a stronger town that took care of its own. 

    I am forever grateful to the people I met while photographing this event. I feel that this experience shaped me as a journalist and instilled in me the desire to tell people's stories in the best and worst of times.