I'm going to be away from Flickr for a while because of some things I have to take care and I don't know when I'll be back.....thanks to everyone for visiting my stream and all the kind encouragement. I've made many great friends here on Flickr and I've enjoyed so much of the beautiful and diverse visions you have all shared with me and the community of Flickr, and I've learned a lot from you all. Thanks again :) - M.

~A picture is a poem without words.~ - Horace

One of my very great friends on Flickr dedicated this photo to me, which I thought was so sweet. Thanks thor :)

One of first photos I ever saw on Flickr, and which is still one of my favorites by azli jamil Waiting

Me: American Muslim Woman living in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

I'm a simple person who finds means of expression through writing (I love poetry) and photography. I'm very visually oriented, and I love looking at other photographer's work through their photostreams.

Flickr: Flickr for me is more about other photographer's work than my own. I upload photos sparingly and photography is more of a means of expression and a hobby. Even if I wasn't photographing life, I would still be on Flickr faving and commenting on other photographer's work because I love pictures so much.

Photography Experience: Newbie and learning everyday. If you look through my stream, you will not find a particular style, because I don't have one or at least I'm not aware of having one. Everything interests me as long as it captures my eye. I'm open to all types of subjects and I'm interested in experimentation. Most of my images are post processed although a few are unedited, but I'm not a purist nor realist. I'm often trying to convey a meaning in a photograph, and I find I'm closer to reaching a meaning when I process the photo to a place where I want it to go. Very rarely is the photo unedited, saying what I want it to say, and it often doesn't look like how I saw it with my own eyes.

Flickr photographers are my inspiration. Tips and pointers are always appreciated. Sometimes I might ask a Flickr photographer for help about a particular photo that I like, so don't be surprised if you get a Flickrmail from me :) Throughout many of my photos I'm trying (but mostly failing) to achieve meanings from some of the greatest words ever written:

Our revels now are ended. These our actors,

As I foretold you, were all spirits and

Are melted into air, into thin air:

And, like the baseless fabric of this vision,

The cloud-capp'd towers, the gorgeous palaces,

The solemn temples, the great globe itself,

Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve

And, like this insubstantial pageant faded,

Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff

As dreams are made on, and our little life

Is rounded with a sleep.

-- William Shakespeare

Contacts: All my contacts are photographers whom I like and admire and hope to learn from. My contacts continue to grow, and I try to interact with all of them, so it is challenging to keep up (I try to leave comments, or fav as much as possible, but I'm slow in the process especially with a busy schedule, but I do get to everyone). I hope that by having so many contacts, I can become a better photographer :) But even if not, great photographs are rewarding in themselves. I sometimes quote from poems when commenting on a photo, so please excuse my quirkiness, but I often process a photo and a poem in the same way in my mind, and when I'm really struck by a photo I will remember a particular poem that I like.

My Camera: Canon Powershot S2

Editing Programs: Gimp, Photoshop CS3, and Photomatix

My favorite shots:

Thanks so much for all the encouraging comments, favs, and invites !!!

All the best and thanks for visiting my photostream. Hope you like my view of the world :)

Peace, Salaam, Shalom