A light painting by Jahanzeb Aamir. Courtesy JZ Aamir
A light painting by Jahanzeb Aamir. Courtesy JZ Aamir
A light painting by Jahanzeb Aamir. Courtesy JZ Aamir
A light painting by Jahanzeb Aamir. Courtesy JZ Aamir

The illuminating experiences of UAE artists who paint with light


  • English
  • Arabic

When Jahanzeb Aamir wields his self-created lightsaber-style contraption in front of UAE landmarks, with a camera positioned to capture his movements, it seems a bit peculiar.

But the resulting images are so spectacular that the photographer’s art was recently spotlighted by Instagram.

Aamir, who goes by the name JZ Aamir (@jzaamir), is a light painter, an increasingly popular form of photography that uses the movement of light and a long exposure to create striking images that illuminate a subject in different ways. The magical result is created entirely through a manual set up, with very little digital manipulation.

The technique dates back to 1889, when physiology researcher Georges Demenÿ attached bulbs to the joints of an assistant and created the first-known light-painting photograph titled Pathological Walk from in Front. Photographers began experimenting with light painting as an art in the 1930s.

Possibly the most famous light-painting images were created in the 1949, after Pablo Picasso met Life Magazine photographer Gjon Mili, who showed his light painting photographs to the artist. Picasso took his light-pen and began drawing what is known as “Picasso Draws a Centaur”.

Aamir discovered light painting when he moved to Dubai six years ago. He used his calligraphy skills in images to create uniquely designed and colourful Arabic lettering with light, against backdrops of abandoned buildings, monuments, mosques and hotels around the city and in his native Pakistan. His photograph featuring the word “love” in Arabic drawn with lights inside Jahangir’s Tomb in Lahore was featured by Instagram this month and has received more than 800,000 likes.

“ I found this technique that allows you to draw in space in front of the camera,” says Aamir. “It was more fascinating than usual photography, so I started experimenting with it. I started creating orbs and different graffiti work. Then I realised I can bring back my passion for calligraphy through this.”

The 37-year-old photographer, who is also a graphic designer and marketing specialist in Dubai, has been honing his Arabic calligraphy skills since the age of 12.

“Light painting is just a step in the direction of combining my interest of calligraphy and shooting amazing architecture and abandoned buildings,” he says. “I visited the ghost town in Ras Al Khaimah and such places in Pakistan. To me, these places tell the story of light before darkness. From there I got the idea of bringing them back to life with my light calligraphy.”

The process to creating a light painting is fraught with complications, including choosing the right time of the day and exposure. Aamir also had to work out how to get his calligraphic strokes to the right thickness.

“I tried working with LED lights that are available in the market, but it didn’t work,” he says. “In calligraphy, the lines move from thin to thick and then thin again. So typical LED lights don’t work.”

With the help of YouTube tutorials, Aamir built lights into wireless “pens” with different colours of light. He meticulously plans each image by researching historical sites and landmarks.

“I then decide which location and composition would work, making sure not to disturb the area,” he says. “Then I come home and decide what word would suit the history and story of the place. I practice it on paper and then in front of the camera before setting it up on location. Because a camera captures in reverse, I have to practice writing Arabic from left to right.”

George Durzi (@gtdurzi) is another photographer working with light. He started following the work of light-painting photographer Eric Pare a year ago and decided to create similar effects. His style generally features a yoga practitioner, who holds poses while he draws an orb of light behind her.

“The best time to take such images is during the ‘blue hour’, right when the sun is below the horizon and the sky is filled with a blue hue,” says the Jordanian national. He works as a digital marketing manager in Dubai, and also takes photography workshops at Gulf Photo Plus in Dubai and Jordan.

“This is before it goes pitch black and you can include the background but the light is softer. Anything after that is not quite attractive to capture,” he says.

“I used to struggle working with models who couldn’t stay still for that long. Now I work with a friend who is into yoga and she holds her breath while we try to capture the image.”

He also prefers shooting in the desert and near water.

“I try to find ponds and lakes so that there are reflection touches in the images.”

Lina Younes (@lina_younes), founder of the The Animation Chamber, an artist collective for animators and light painters in Dubai, says she was infatuated by Picasso's light-painting portraits and began using the technique in 2012. She.

“We can use any tool to paint, so why not light?” she asks.

“Light painting freezes static light and traces moving light, which makes it unique. It can be achieved by any form of analogue or digital camera. There is no mystery in the technique, yet the outcome is always magical.”

Younes says the required duration of the shutter speed varies depending on the location and intensity of light.

“Usually 15 to 20 seconds are more than enough to achieve a beautiful image. Sometimes more than one person takes part, and people become ghosts,” says the artist, who recently held light-painting workshops at the Sikka Art Fair. She enjoys creating mirror images, using torches in both hands to make portraits and figures.

One of the biggest challenges while creating the images is controlling the light.

“Too much light flooding into the lens could overshadow the light painting at hand,” she says. “Using that to your advantage while fixing the frame is vital.”

Tips from Lina Younes to create a good light painting photograph:

Have patience

Always direct the light towards the lens or it will not be recorded

Use your body as a measuring tool

Experiment with any light source available

Make sure to focus on your subject​

aahmed@thenational.ae

Paris Can Wait
Dir: Eleanor Coppola
Starring: Alec Baldwin, Diane Lane, Arnaud Viard
Two stars

Afro%20salons
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFor%20women%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3ESisu%20Hair%20Salon%2C%20Jumeirah%201%2C%20Dubai%3Cbr%3EBoho%20Salon%2C%20Al%20Barsha%20South%2C%20Dubai%3Cbr%3EMoonlight%2C%20Al%20Falah%20Street%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFor%20men%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EMK%20Barbershop%2C%20Dar%20Al%20Wasl%20Mall%2C%20Dubai%3Cbr%3ERegency%20Saloon%2C%20Al%20Zahiyah%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi%3Cbr%3EUptown%20Barbershop%2C%20Al%20Nasseriya%2C%20Sharjah%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Defence review at a glance

• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”

• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems

• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.

• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%

• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade

• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels

What%20is%20cystic%20fibrosis%3F
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3ECystic%20fibrosis%20is%20a%20genetic%20disorder%20that%20affects%20the%20lungs%2C%20pancreas%20and%20other%20organs.%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EIt%20causes%20the%20production%20of%20thick%2C%20sticky%20mucus%20that%20can%20clog%20the%20airways%20and%20lead%20to%20severe%20respiratory%20and%20digestive%20problems.%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EPatients%20with%20the%20condition%20are%20prone%20to%20lung%20infections%20and%20often%20suffer%20from%20chronic%20coughing%2C%20wheezing%20and%20shortness%20of%20breath.%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ELife%20expectancy%20for%20sufferers%20of%20cystic%20fibrosis%20is%20now%20around%2050%20years.%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
The specs: 2019 Infiniti QX50

Price, base: Dh138,000 (estimate)
Engine: 2.0L, turbocharged, in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 268hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 380Nm @ 4,400rpm
Fuel economy: 6.7L / 100km (estimate)

Essentials

The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes. 
 

Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes. 


In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes. 
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
STAY%2C%20DAUGHTER
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAuthor%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EYasmin%20Azad%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESwift%20Press%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAvailable%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

The specs

AT4 Ultimate, as tested

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 420hp

Torque: 623Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)

On sale: Now

Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
'Top Gun: Maverick'

Rating: 4/5

 

Directed by: Joseph Kosinski

 

Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris

 
Results

Stage 5:

1. Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) Team Jumbo-Visma  04:19:08

2. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates  00:00:03

3. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers

4. Sergio Higuita (COL) EF Education-Nippo 00:00:05

5. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep 00:00:06

General Classification:

1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates 17:09:26

2.  Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers 00:00:45

3. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep 00:01:12

4. Chris Harper (AUS) Team Jumbo-Visma 00:01:54

5. Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-Nippo 00:01:56

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Day 1 results:

Open Men (bonus points in brackets)
New Zealand 125 (1) beat UAE 111 (3)
India 111 (4) beat Singapore 75 (0)
South Africa 66 (2) beat Sri Lanka 57 (2)
Australia 126 (4) beat Malaysia -16 (0)

Open Women
New Zealand 64 (2) beat South Africa 57 (2)
England 69 (3) beat UAE 63 (1)
Australia 124 (4) beat UAE 23 (0)
New Zealand 74 (2) beat England 55 (2)

Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Astra%20Tech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMarch%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAbdallah%20Abu%20Sheikh%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20technology%20investment%20and%20development%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20size%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%24500m%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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Country-size land deals

US interest in purchasing territory is not as outlandish as it sounds. Here's a look at some big land transactions between nations:

Louisiana Purchase

If Donald Trump is one who aims to broker "a deal of the century", then this was the "deal of the 19th Century". In 1803, the US nearly doubled in size when it bought 2,140,000 square kilometres from France for $15 million.

Florida Purchase Treaty

The US courted Spain for Florida for years. Spain eventually realised its burden in holding on to the territory and in 1819 effectively ceded it to America in a wider border treaty. 

Alaska purchase

America's spending spree continued in 1867 when it acquired 1,518,800 km2 of  Alaskan land from Russia for $7.2m. Critics panned the government for buying "useless land".

The Philippines

At the end of the Spanish-American War, a provision in the 1898 Treaty of Paris saw Spain surrender the Philippines for a payment of $20 million. 

US Virgin Islands

It's not like a US president has never reached a deal with Denmark before. In 1917 the US purchased the Danish West Indies for $25m and renamed them the US Virgin Islands.

Gwadar

The most recent sovereign land purchase was in 1958 when Pakistan bought the southwestern port of Gwadar from Oman for 5.5bn Pakistan rupees. 

'Saand Ki Aankh'

Produced by: Reliance Entertainment with Chalk and Cheese Films
Director: Tushar Hiranandani
Cast: Taapsee Pannu, Bhumi Pednekar, Prakash Jha, Vineet Singh
Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Company%20Profile
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