Mie Ahmt Photography

White X-mas

It has been a hectic time... I went from Denmark to Lake Tahoe to Celebrate Christmas.
As usual when I fly from Europe to the States I lost my luggage, so I ended up spending Christmas eve in the same sweats and sweatshirt that I wore when I left Denmark! Charming!
I have been trying to transfer some of the Danish Christmas traditions to America - but people here haven't quite warmed up to the idea of Dancing around the Christmas tree ... yet! Maybe next time! Until then I am happy to just hang my Danish flags from the Christiania Christmas Market on the tree....
Lake Tahoe was very very snowy and white... I loved it! Wild and crazy weather is awesome... Especially AFTER I got my luggage and was able to put my long johns on! Yay!
 

Good Bye Kabul

I left Afghanistan a few days ago. Suitcase full of shots - so I am pretty happy. I always feel I could have done more - this time is no exception - But I am happy and content - and feel that my experience living in Kabul the last 4 years has helped me in many ways there. Who knows... Maybe it has also hindered me - as you probably won't find me walking around the streets finding that perfect shot... I know better! I know how dangerous it can be there and I know not to get carried away.
I know I am missing out on great photo opportunities but I hope I can get the best of both worlds and still make good photos.

I spent a few days in Dubai.. Met up with some old friends & mainly tried to clean up after Kabul. A lot can be said about Dubai - but it is the perfect place to pamper yourself after some time in Afghanistan!

The flight to Dubai from Kabul easily get into my top 5 of miserable flights (and I have had MY share of horrible airplane related experiences). Because of Xmas and over bookings and a lot of other events I should have foreseen - I ended up flying on Safi Airlines out of there.   I don't know how many extra rows of seats they put on that airplane, but it must have been quite a few as there was NO way what-so-ever my legs would fit in my little space.  It probably didn't help that I was in the very very back of the plane (the last seat before the bathroom) which ment no possibility for me to lean my seat back - while the guy in front of me had his seat permanently pressed into my knees.

As usual I sat there with my camera in my sweaty palms ready to crash and die... Here is what it looked like flying into Dubai on one of the only days of the year were it actually rained in Dubai.
Now I am back in Denmark for a few days... Enjoying Mom and Dad's X-mas food - and walks around this little town that I grew up in... It is amazing how everything looks the same... and at the same time - things are so different. There is only one shop left in town... The Grocery store! When I was a kid...

Anyways - This is a picture that ewokes many emotions in me. The amount of time I have spent here... waiting for trains, friends, boys and sometimes just for time to pass...

Shooting in a SandBox!

When I bought my beloved Canon Mark III this summer - one of my main reasons for buying exactly THAT camera was the 'dust-proof' seal! I knew I was going back to Afghanistan to take pictures - and that dust proof would be the way to go...
Now, I do understand that dust proof is ONLY when the lens is actually attached to the camera and stays that way (And yes! I do have the super-duper 'dust-proof' lenses with the rubber seal (I believe they are called the L-series)).
I try very hard to not change my lenses outside here - and I clean my sensor all the time... And with all the time - I mean daily! I have the sensor scope (that I must admit I have learned to love) - and I am so so so careful... and yet - This is what I have to deal with.
This day started out with a clean sensor... after about 2 hours of shooting and no lens change... This is the result:

(obviously the white rings are NOT the dust spots... that just shows where the dust-spots where before I removed them in LightRoom.)

I have 200 pictures due for a client on Tuesday... I am a mean dust removing machine...

...makes me wonder

This is what is playing in the Movie Theaters in Kabul these days...
Looking at the first picture - you just gotta wonder...

WTF?

I love the expression  on this mans face.... WTF???

All I want for Christmas part 3

This little neat thing called a HoodLoupe has been on my wish list forever! Now it is finally (good timing) available at BH.

The Hoodman Professional LCD Screen Loupe is used to make a close inspection of the review image displayed on your Digital SLR LCD Display. The LCD Screen Loupe isolates the cameras LCD Display from ambient light so you will not be distracted by glare or shadows, making it easier to view image details quickly to confirm focus to ensure that you have the best image possible.

I like...

Scott Rouse from The Lightroom Lab made this nice little list of great gifts for photographers for under $100... It is a great list - my favorite is definitely #7: Animoto All-Access Pass - $30.

I hadn't heard of Animoto before - but after checking it out myself I am impressed! It's a website that turn your photos into cool dynamic movies. This is my first try

This little 30 sec movie was free - but there are options to buy a full length movie for $3 - or the $30 (a year) full access pass. I like! They also have options for commercial use that's $249 a year... Pretty Cool!

If you want to try it out - You should use this referral code prlkvcew - that'd be really cool too :)

Eid Mubarak

Eid al-Adha occurs the day after the pilgrims conduct the Hajj

On this day Muslims all over the world  - who have the means to, sacrifice an animal (usually a goat or a sheep), as a reminder of Ibrahim's obedience to God. The meat is then shared out with family, friends (Muslims or non-Muslims), as well as the poor members of the community. .

I watched the sacrificing of a cow today as you can see in this gallery.
If you are vegetarian for political reasons - or just don't like blood in general, you probably shouldn't watch this!

To honor my mom

... on her Birthday.
Here is a product that makes me giggle

All I want for Christmas part 2

All I want for Christmas is a book by Annie Leibowitz!
I have heard that this book is  a good read!