A Look Back...2nd Solo Art Exhibit

A look back at my 2nd solo art exhibit, "Forces In Nature", held at the Greenbelt Arts Center in Maryland. Images were displayed as photographic prints taken in Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia, New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas. The two month show ran from Nov. 2010 - Jan. 2011.

Keep in mind, since then, the Digital Photos by Rhia website has been updated to http://mariammkhan.wix.com/digitalphotosbyrhia

And the nature photography website has been updated to 

http://mariammkhan.wix.com/digitalphotography

 

To My Grandfather...

A dedication: This photographic image is dedicated in loving memory to my paternal grandfather. It has been 4 months since he passed away. Last month, he would have turned 100 years old. He will always be dearly missed.  

In this photo: On this day Papa sang songs in several languages and talked of his childhood. It was a good day. One that will be missed as he will never be forgotten for the man that he was. A glimpse into his past shows that he only had an 8th grade education achieved a century ago at a level of less than British standard in what was then India and is present day Pakistan. His children made great strides towards success in just one generation gap. He lived in the United States of America where his grandchildren were raised and most paternal grandchildren were born. 

A prayer: I, his oldest poti (paternal grandchild/granddaughter) loved him dearly and my photos of our time together hear on earth reflect that I want him to be smiling down in heaven with the strength of a man renewed and with all his senses, especially sight and hearing, happy and waiting for each of us there with a place next to him.  May he rest in peace. God willing. Amen.

Survived by: Papa is survived by his wife (my grandmother), 4 sons, 5 daughters, 10 paternal grandchildren, 11 maternal grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.   

Estimated time: Winter 2009/10

United States Library of Congress

Here are two beautiful panoramic images I captured at the U.S. Library of Congress. While photographing there, it was apparent that there was amazing architecture and lighting. When photographed in combination, it led to some dazzling results. I hope you enjoy these as much as I do each time I look at these and that you soon plan your own visit to the U.S. Library of Congress. 

 

National Harbor

Here is an image from a night photo shoot of architecture at the National Harbor in Maryland. While it was cold and windy, the expedition was well worth it upon seeing this image. The lighting shows perfectly against the contrast of the dark sky.

Photo Contest Entries

Here are three photos I entered to a photo contest on Facebook to get the most "likes" and win a scholarship to help pay for tuition. While I did not win the scholarship, I still love these photos for the category of Europe-Lifestyle/Culture, Landmark, or Nature...

Notre Dame in Paris, France; Category: Landmark

This is one of the many beautiful stained glass windows in the cathedral.

St. Chapelle Cathedral in Paris, France; Category: Landmark

Here I came upon the cathedral close to sunset when the sun was perfectly behind the spire from this angle to capture this otherwise impossible image.

Sunset in Paris, France; Category: Nature

The glass architecture of this building made for a lovely sunset image indeed.

Baby Photos

Who doesn't love looking at their child's baby photos over the 1st year after birth? And with that, here's to a beautiful baby girl. These are all of her adorable images over her 1st year of life captured from my camera! Happy birthday!

 

 

 

 

Costa Rica: Whitewater Rafting

My first experience at whitewater rafting was amazing and exciting. It was full of adrenaline and surprise. It was a first experience I will never forget. It was so FUN! I would do it again in a heartbeat. I like athletics and this feat was challenging enough to hold my interest the entire way down the river. It was not so scary that I would never go out there into the rapids again. We had a few close calls with one person almost falling out; but we kept at it and made it down the river. 

After making it down the river

 I was so nervous as we settled into the raft for basic instructions. I knew that once we pushed off, there would be no place to go but downriver and that I would be trapped on the raft with nowhere to escape if I changed my mind. Luckily, I did not feel scared or nervous for too long and did not want to get out of the raft or away from the water. I did not change my mind about the attempt as the first rush of adrenaline came with the first rapid. I was having too much fun getting soaked to worry about escaping from the raft. 

Getting soaked in the rapids

As an inexperienced, first time rafter, I was placed in the last row just in front of the instructor after he explained a few basic commands and how he would give them. The raft held 7 of us; perfect for 3 of us on each side and the instructor at the rear. As I was rafting, there was a rescue man rafting in a kayak with us that also acted as the photographer. As you can see, he did a great job!   

Before getting into the most difficult rapids

This experience was great and I highly recommend it to all you other fun loving, thrill seekers out there! It was also very affordable while I was on vacation in Costa Rica after studying hard! This was before the spring rains when the river swells and the rafting becomes more challenging and dangerous. It was still a class 3 & 4 river which is not for beginners but I was with a good group and instructor that have a lot of previous experience. I cannot wait to go back to more whitewater rafting for intermediate and experienced rafters, even after the rains! I think the images above prove I can handle it!

Costa Rica: Horseback Riding

I love horseback riding and animals so imagine my joy when I found this tour combining my passions; photography, travel, language, authentic cuisine for lunch, animals, and horseback riding after a river boat tour through the Costa Rica tropical rainforests sighting birds, alligators and monkeys high up in trees. The indigenous populations along the shore were excited to see us and enthusiastically waved! I hope you can appreciate the gorgeous natural lighting seen in the image of the horses standing under the stables. As the sun started its journey to set at the end of what was an exciting and relaxing day full of anticipation at the marvels of nature in a totally different climate, I was one happy trekker.      

 

At the Zoo in Costa Rica: Parrot

Here is a photo of a parrot at a zoo in Costa Rica where I photographed it looking directly at the camera! One of the parrots could also say "Hola!" (Hello! in Spanish).

Last night at the beach in Costa Rica

Palm trees, mountain, ocean, sky, clouds, ME, and sunset = an amazing last night at the beach for me in Costa Rica!

Another gorgeous sunset photo in Costa Rica

Panoramic Costa Rica

Here are 2 more panoramic shots from Costa Rica's beaches. Scroll further down to see the previous digital images. Happy viewing!

Costa Rica's sunset

Here is another photo from Costa Rica...

This photo is from the top of the mountain near the beach at a hotel pool that overlooks the ocean sunset in the distance. Look closely, that's not the pool flowing into the ocean! I was several miles above sea level at the top of the mountain! I would love to return to Costa Rica for beautiful sunsets like this and to experience some of the fine cuisine again! What a wonderful, glorious memory that fills me with peace and tranquility.

Costa Rica: Spring 2012

Over the spring and summer I traveled extensively. I came across a beautiful beach in Costa Rica with a mountain side view and palm trees. There were surf boards. The sun was glistening during the hours before sunset with blue skies and many yachts on the water. The mood was set with small shops and restaurants lining the beach. I had an amazing lunch. I came to know that Costa Rica's food is wonderfully flavorful and delicious with an aroma all its own. It is never spicy so that there is no taste to get used to that would aggravate one during travels. It is the best cuisine I have ever had the pleasure of tasting! This is definitely one of the countries I want to go back to. 

While the surf boards in the picture are larger than life and purely for decoration, there are many other surfboards and boats that are all too real. So if you are in for an adventure, visit Costa Rica's beaches, mountains, volcanoes, rivers (calm for boat tours and rapids for white water rafting), rainforests, zoos, organic coffee bean estates, cities and traditional shopping...

Experience Costa Rica's CULTURE!

I did all of these locations and I never expected it.

Stay tuned for more photos each day...

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