A Tribute to Breathtaking Skylines - 4K Timelapse

Happy holidays to my friends, colleagues, and the internet community. I've made this timelapse video as a tribute to the UAE's breathtaking skyline. I shot the sequences over a couple of years in different locations in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. So, crank up the music and watch it in 4K to enjoy the high resolution, and subscribe to my channel for more videos.

Last Day to Get My Short Story for $0.99

Today is the last day you can get your copy of my short story, The Downfall: An Unusual Love Story, for $0.99. Grab your e-copy now and let me know what you think. I would appreciate it if you leave me a review on Amazon.

The Downfall is a short story of two seemingly-opposing characters whose destiny is decided by an unexpected turn of events. It is not your typical love story. It is, however, full of inner dialogues and surprises, with a dramatic ending that will probably shock you and leave you wanting for more.

Click here to get your e-copy now!

 #shortstory #writing #amazonpublishing #kindlepublishing

My Short Story is Available on Amazon. Grab it Now!

I have recently published my first short story in English,  The Downfall: An Unusual Love Story, on Amazon. You can find it in an electronic version for $0.99 for a limited period. I would greatly appreciate it if you leave a review.

The Downfall is a short story of two seemingly-opposing characters whose destiny is decided by an unexpected turn of events. It is not your typical love story. It is, however, full of inner dialogues and surprises, with a dramatic ending that will probably shock you and leave you wanting for more.

Unfortunately, readers in some Arab markets may not be able to purchase the electronic version for some reason related to Amazon i guess. But it should be fine for readers in other countries.

Click here to get your e-copy now!

Dubai Water Canal Timelapse

I have created this 20 second timelapse video of the Dubai Water Canal one morning after sunrise. This is composed of 509 shots processed in Adobe Lightroom and then rendered into a video in Adobe Photoshop. For more high quality photography, you're welcome to visit my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/photoshamaa

For the Photography Fans

If you are a photography fan and like cityscape, landscape, or wildlife genres in particular, you are welcome to like my new Facebook photography page on: www.facebook.com/photoshamaa

In this page, I post photos I've taken in Dubai and elsewhere. Below are a few samples posted on the page. I also post tips and tricks from photography experts, as well as daily inspirations from many well-known photographers.

All photos in my Facebook page are mine unless otherwise mentioned. You are welcome to like, share and comment. Please do not use my photos for commercial purposes without contacting me. 

Hamlet the Poet

This is my translation of  Nizar Qabbani's poem "Hamlet the Poet". 

Hamlet the Poet

To be, or not to be… a woman

That is the question.
 
To be my favourite woman,
 
My spoiled Turkish kitten,
 
My sun, oh thou art my sun.
 
To be a blissful hand on my forehead,
 
To be a star in my next life… that is the question.
 
To be it all, or lose it all: I am just as barbaric when in love.
 
To be everything a drop of dew, carried on a blossoming flower, represents.
 
To be my blue notebook,
 
My papers,
 
My mental ink.
 
To be, albeit, a word
 
Looking for its essence in my lips.
 
To be a girl blossoming in my hands.
 
That is the question.
 
Oh my beautiful nymph sent to me by the sea,
 
Oh my brutal sound of drumming,
 
Will you ever comprehend me?
 
I may have misinterpreted my thoughts,
 
I might have fallen in your love with blindfolded eyes,
 
I may well have blown balance with madness,
 
Because I only love with madness.
 
Therefore, take me as me, otherwise reject me.

A Moment that Was

A split of a second brings all the difference.

At one rational moment, the power of brain overwhelms,

but still tiny adolescent stings send shivers 

across the physical atoms and electrons. 

These rare moments, 

transport us to nearby pasts,

where sweetness was once recognized,

and where truthfulness felt genuine.

Alas though, they get affluent times of interruptions

declaring them “lawless and punishable.”

Still the tingling moments creep in, unknowingly,

searching for sensical meanings

of how destinies were meant to be. 

They’re all “unintended wisdoms,”

acquired without notice, without desire. 

For a moment, the transportation seems pleasant

calling all the passion that was. 

Only for a moment. 

Dubai Marina at Night

Dubai Marina at Night, a set on Flickr.

A collection of photos I've taken of beautiful lights and reflections of Dubai Marina at night.

Dubai in my Camera

Dubai in my Camera, a set on Flickr.

Upon a Different Train

The hissing is secret. 

The whispering takes stage behind the scenes.  

Lips moving, shamelessly, to declare,

lawlessness in its ugliest forms. 

The laughs are exchanged, 

to determine an aforethought deception. 

And in the end, 

A hurt faithfulness decides to depart

upon a different train, 

to reclaim and regain.  

Magic of the Eye

It’s all about the eyes.

It’s neither the color, nor the neighboring lashes.

It’s, rather, your own reflection

mirrored through dancing pupils,

which are live testimonies to a timeless attraction.

Needless of words,

they communicate profound meanings of love,

only fathomed by the experienced and first-timers alike.

Just like clocks, ticking sincere passion by the second,

they also alarm you to decisive moments,

dispatching commas and full stops,

to finally announce: “The End.”

Dancing Shadows

It is dark and silent. 

Candle lights swinging in awe,

in respect to two dancing shadows. 

They represent an everlasting sensation, 

covered with lustful legitimacy,

and an endless thirst for a revolution against moderation. 

They speak an unspoken language,

only known to their special coexistence.

The touches, breaths, and whispers,

dominate the brutal conversation,

perfumed with a passionate aroma. 

They both enlighten the night,

with owl-like sparks,

which further electrify the passing seconds.

It is brutality in its most passionate forms, 

indifferent to its sadistic moments

because of one convincing reason:

"unconditional love."

An Honest Call

The soul is calling for You. 

Thy compassion and generous hands,

have filled an inner voidness, longing for a final repentance. 

They incessantly bestow unstoppable gifts,

shaming such a mortified face,

insisting, constantly, to bid farewell to righteousness.

Calmness

Calmness. 

It’s the dream that does it all.

It’s an aspiration, a well-grounded sensitivity,

towards the fearful unknown.

It used to spring from without;

now it’s the sourceful within. 

It used to connect to long-lasting touches;

but now it’s interiorized. 

A self-fulfilling prophecy, 

this which summarizes one’s conflicts in an eye-contact. 

Such contact communicates both bitterness and sweetness,

in an unmatched chemical reaction, 

blending each soul; flying them upwards. 

It used to be calmness.

Now, it’s unstoppable rage, 

inexplicable, but controllable.