yumna http://yumnaaa.com/blog Sun, 13 May 2012 16:02:21 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Arabia Felix http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Yumnaaa/~3/DURVfTfj09Y/ http://yumnaaa.com/blog/arabia-felix/#comments Sun, 13 May 2012 16:02:21 +0000 yumna http://yumnaaa.com/blog/?p=3394 Arabia Felix, the Latin name for “Happy Arabia” was coined by geographers to describe the southern parts of the Arabian Peninsula, including modern Yemen. Throughout history, the cultural similarities from Northern Africa, the Middle East and even as far out as India have been evident, with music as one of the most distinct unifying forces. You hear it in the beating drums, the heartfelt strings, the poetic lyrics of love and life, and you understand that if there is one thing that can unite a region, it is the music. Music tells stories, teaches one a valuable lesson of history with each song that is made. From the 50′s to the early 80′s, we see a strong Western influence in music produced, especially in the gulf region, reflective of the colonial power in place. After Iran’s revolution in 1979, Khomeini ordered all popular music to be banned-a true symbol of the political repression. I begin my ongoing exploration of music produced during these times as an exploration of history. I share with you to open your ears to the beauty of these cultures, to help teach an invaluable lesson about these regions through something as basic to us as music.

I hope you enjoy listening as much as I’ve enjoyed discovering and sharing.

DOWNLOAD HERE

]]> http://yumnaaa.com/blog/arabia-felix/feed/ 2 http://yumnaaa.com/blog/arabia-felix/ VIDEO: Jac and The Fog http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Yumnaaa/~3/pE8teYD5Txk/ http://yumnaaa.com/blog/video-jac-and-the-fog/#comments Sat, 24 Mar 2012 22:54:59 +0000 yumna http://yumnaaa.com/blog/?p=3388 Music: Sun Araw – Deep Cover

]]> http://yumnaaa.com/blog/video-jac-and-the-fog/feed/ 0 http://yumnaaa.com/blog/video-jac-and-the-fog/ Jac and The Fog http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Yumnaaa/~3/VWMIfTONcmc/ http://yumnaaa.com/blog/jac-and-the-fog/#comments Fri, 23 Mar 2012 17:19:24 +0000 yumna http://yumnaaa.com/blog/?p=3371 Spring has finally made its way to New York, and with the news of a warm sunny day, Olivia, Jac and I immediately made plans to head to the beach. We woke up early to get the day started and it wasn’t as sunny as we had hoped, but we tried to stay positive, not knowing what was waiting for us at the beach. As soon as we drove over the bridge into Rockaway, we were engulfed by a cold, misty fog. The eerie vibes made us speechless, but so excited. We hadn’t at all planned to turn this morning into a photo adventure, but we were soon realizing what mother nature had in store for us. The beach was completely empty, not a soul to be seen or heard, only the sounds of waves crashing in the distance. As soon as we made our way over the hill of sand, we saw the ocean-completely surrounded by a grey fog and only a hint of the sunshine burning through to keep us warm. We immediately took our clothes off and danced around, exploring all of the hidden beauty that lay in front of us. The fog was our private curtain for anything and everything we wanted to do.

We all experienced the most magical day, reminded of the importance of spontaneity, embracing whatever the universe has in store-even if it may look cold and grey at first.

Jac and I used each other as muses for the day-you can find her absolutely stunning photographs on her website.

]]> http://yumnaaa.com/blog/jac-and-the-fog/feed/ 0 http://yumnaaa.com/blog/jac-and-the-fog/ New Orleans http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Yumnaaa/~3/y27mG_0kHCw/ http://yumnaaa.com/blog/new-orleans/#comments Wed, 29 Feb 2012 02:35:15 +0000 yumna http://yumnaaa.com/blog/?p=3343 Have you ever visited a land that captivated you so much that the thought of pulling out a camera hardly ever crossed your mind?

That was New Orleans for me. I basically had to force myself to take photos because I knew I’d hate myself if I didn’t. But holy fucking shit, what a city. And visiting it for the first time during Mardi Gras made it pure magic! I was lucky enough to have the wonderful Clayton Cubitt and his beautiful wife KT show me around the city, his hometown. So glad I did, because if I had no idea about what was really going down in NOLA aside from the douche-baggery of Bourbon street, I think I would have totally hated it. Just so much magic everywhere, life on every block, history in every breath you take. The people are all so kind and so creative, and so involved in the city- especially during Mardi Gras. I spent my time exploring, hanging out with beautiful people, floating naked in salt-water pools, people watching, wearing bindis, eating, laughing, eating more (HOLY BEIGNETS…mmmm)

While visiting Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo, I read a small note that described the city as a chakra point on the Earth’s surface. That’s the best way to describe New Orleans. A chakra point.

(roll over images for captions!)

]]> http://yumnaaa.com/blog/new-orleans/feed/ 4 http://yumnaaa.com/blog/new-orleans/ Cindy Gallop http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Yumnaaa/~3/_-0k0L_wQ8k/ http://yumnaaa.com/blog/cindy-gallop/#comments Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:51:00 +0000 yumna http://yumnaaa.com/blog/?p=3312 I was lucky enough to spend an afternoon chatting with and photographing Cindy Gallop in her beautiful home this past weekend. Quite the appropriate feature for Valentine’s Day, seeing as Cindy and her home have been major crushes of mine for quite some time now!

To be honest, I still feel stoned from the incredible vibrations Cindy radiates (hey, get your mind out the gutter! or actually, don’t..) She displays her power effortlessly all the while being absolutely sexy. Sounds dangerous, I know – but her intentions always aim for a greater good and that’s what I admire the most about Cindy. Her home is the result of a lifetime’s collection of objects from all around the world: her infamous Gucci chainsaw, a wide-range of taxidermy, hundred year old antique furniture, and crystal-encrusted sex toys.

But the real treasure is in Cindy herself. This woman has been a major source of inspiration ever since I began watching videos of her speaking about everything from business to sex-and even the two together. Her ability to articulate ideas not only sells her point, but also leaves you feeling like you are part of the cause (you are!). Cindy knows that our world is not pretty and perfect and embraces the dark and the dirty, using the reality of our human lives in a way that fabulously unwraps what society tends to shy away from.

I highly recommend taking the time to dive into Cindy’s world. I promise you’ll be impressed…and inspired!

Check her out on: Cindy Gallop, IfWeRanTheWorld, MakeLoveNotPorn, and on TED

]]> http://yumnaaa.com/blog/cindy-gallop/feed/ 1 http://yumnaaa.com/blog/cindy-gallop/ NYFW – A/W 2012 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Yumnaaa/~3/KoF_iD8vjqg/ http://yumnaaa.com/blog/nyfw-aw-2012/#comments Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:08:36 +0000 yumna http://yumnaaa.com/blog/?p=3282 I’ve never fully experienced a fashion week before, usually because I was too busy with classes or just didn’t care enough to get access. Now things are completely different and my job requires me to go backstage and document the madness. I always thought being backstage would be a lot more glamorous, but it’s really not. At all. I feel terrible for pretty much everyone involved, but especially for the models! They’re constantly being pulled and pushed like little dolls! Fashion week isn’t even officially over and most of the models I encountered today were completely agitated, except for the few who have experienced this more than once or twice. Which is surprisingly rare considering how young these poor girls are. I’m amazed at how talented the artists are for putting the models together so beautifully in under 2 hours, but otherwise I don’t really “get” fashion week. It’s really just lots of hype, and a means for fashion people to confirm their status by what row they’re seated in at shows.

Anyway. Fashion week. Very weird. Interesting experience, nonetheless. This blog post will probably [hopefully?] take me off all invite lists.

Oh, and if you were curious about what show each photo was from, hover over the bottom of the photo and a caption will magically appear!

Tata!

]]> http://yumnaaa.com/blog/nyfw-aw-2012/feed/ 3 http://yumnaaa.com/blog/nyfw-aw-2012/ Press and Prints http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Yumnaaa/~3/mKX47f2Dnow/ http://yumnaaa.com/blog/press-and-prints/#comments Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:50:11 +0000 yumna http://yumnaaa.com/blog/?p=3263 I was recently interviewed by the lovely Zeyna Sy over at Dazed Digital. It is currently the most viewed article on the site. Exciting!

Also, after being accepted into Milk Underground and showing my prints at the Milk Gallery, the prints are now on sale at the Milk Store

I’m putting up another round of prints on my personal store again, but bigger and better this time! More on that soon!

Happy 2012, friends!

]]> http://yumnaaa.com/blog/press-and-prints/feed/ 1 http://yumnaaa.com/blog/press-and-prints/ Internet Bitch http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Yumnaaa/~3/rcW8zTYAcTs/ http://yumnaaa.com/blog/internet-bitch/#comments Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:40:31 +0000 yumna http://yumnaaa.com/blog/?p=3238 “Don’t be technology’s bitch. Make technology your bitch.”

Model: Stephanie Wagenman (yes, Betsey Johnson’s muse!)
Makeup: Cyndle Strawhecker
Hair: Peter Mattelinano
Styling: Jasmin Rodriguez
Assistance: Eric White

]]> http://yumnaaa.com/blog/internet-bitch/feed/ 3 http://yumnaaa.com/blog/internet-bitch/ 2011, A Year In Review http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Yumnaaa/~3/NWLe6mzQE3E/ http://yumnaaa.com/blog/2011-a-year-in-review/#comments Thu, 29 Dec 2011 21:47:10 +0000 yumna http://yumnaaa.com/blog/?p=3188 Rang in the New Year in sunny Melbourne with some of my favorite people. Came back to New York to become a slave to finals and writing my grueling thesis. In the midst of my hectic last semester, I interned for Bidoun Magazine and learned a lot of awesome things, met a lot of awesome people who reminded me of me. Documented the “end” of Mubarak’s regime with the Egyptian community in Astoria, Queens. Celebrated Mubarak stepping down at our spontaneous office party. After numerous nights of working my ass off, hallucinating from a lack of sleep, break downs, and contemplating joining the list of suicides in Bobst Library, I finished my thesis. Became an official college graduate, and surprisingly attended my graduation ceremony. Celebrated with a lot of sleep and booze. Finished my time as a student of structured academics and became a student of life. Was a part of putting together The New Museum’s Spring Gala and had my photographs projecting in a room with very fancy, important people. Took A LOT of spontaneous road trips with my friends, had some of the most memorable adventures of my life thus far. I was mentioned in Forbes Online. The only time I left the country this year was to explore a tropical paradise with a beautiful friend. Thanks to her, I learned how to dive for the first time. There, I discovered a world I had only seen in my dreams, and fell in love with Earth all over again. Came back to NYC and things got weird. I meditated a lot. The news made me depressed and had me yearning to be in Yemen. Looked endlessly for a job and found the job of my dreams. Made a lot of photographs, videos, money, and plans for future projects. Spent a lot of quality time with my family, my backbone. I think I went to Miami like 12 times? My photographs began appearing more in tangible forms, like billboards, magazines, and exhibitions. Started writing. Hated it, still hate it. Learned how to have a day job and still have time to do my own work. Photographed beautiful people, made a lot of art that I’m very proud of. Said goodbye to one of my best friends. My hatred for my writing inspired a project that will take up a great deal of my time in 2012, and beyond. Got excited, got others excited. I danced a lot this year. And when I say a lot, I mean, A LOT. Learned how to stop giving a shit about what others thought. Learned to stay far away from negative personalities and obsessive flattery. Learned how to say no. Learned that in order to get, I must give. Last but not least, I learned how to find love in all the right places.

All in all, this year was full of immense learning and self-realization. New experiences, new friends, and new ideas.

And with all of that, I’m really fucking excited for 2012.

]]> http://yumnaaa.com/blog/2011-a-year-in-review/feed/ 4 http://yumnaaa.com/blog/2011-a-year-in-review/ Lately http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Yumnaaa/~3/HzjsJkCtCKU/ http://yumnaaa.com/blog/lately/#comments Wed, 07 Dec 2011 02:38:48 +0000 yumna http://yumnaaa.com/blog/?p=3121 Got 5 rolls of film developed today. I’ve been working an amazing day job for The Wall Group’s creative department. I get to go behind the scenes and meet incredible artists. It’s really helping me with understanding the business aspect of being a creative, which is perfect at this time in my life. I thought I’d be dreading having to work a day job, but I’m getting so much out of it that I surprisingly haven’t had any complaints.

Had my first gallery showing at Milk Underground, that was dope. Secretly watching people look at your work without knowing it’s actually yours, listening to what they have to say. That was a great feeling.

I’ve been writing a lot more lately, learning how to be OKAY with what I write and voicing my opinion in words, not just photos. I’m really lucky to have amazing friends to support that and teach me during my strange endeavors. It’s such a weird shift from being so used to having instant gratification in a form of expression that you’re so confident and comfortable with, then exploring a whole new medium that you kind of suck at and falling on your ass numerous times. But getting up, regardless of how bad you are, and just fucking doing it. Because you want to. And you believe in yourself enough to get through it and learn more and eventually succeed. That’s some shit. No course could teach me what I’m learning right now. In fact, I feel like my college education ruined my ability to express myself in words. I was so used to just vomiting accurate information and bullshitting to fill pages. At least I know how to do research, but shit. There was hardly any voice in it, any true expression. I can talk, I can take photos, but writing is new for me. It’s exciting. I feel like I just got a new boyfriend.

Anyway, expect some of that in the near future. Enjoy the photos. Oh and, I’m sorry but I think monthly mixes are dunzo. My apologies, I’m so bad at keeping that kind of shit steady these days. I STILL LOVE ALLA Y’ALL THOUGH!

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