Something about me

Articles and Interviews

I am Mimo Khair, a Lebanese/American freelance photographer currently based in Germany after 12 years in Shanghai, China, 16 years in New York and before that Lebanon. I have been traveling the world during the last 30 years in search for my stories and images. I began her photographic journey in New York City where I lived after my studies and have since exhibited and published my work globally mostly focusing on social issues, human rights and children’s rights as well as street photography and the arts.

I am currently exploring photography art and motion design internationally and at home in Germany where I live with my daughter.

Exhibitions and awards:

Bronze winner of the Paris PX3 photo prize for 2017.

Published in a book 20 women story tellers  (taking action with powerful words and images),  by Pamela Burke

Represented by Nordi Art gallery in Copenhagen, art for making a better world through charity donations.

“the fragile web of human connections” a solo exhibition at Wallstyle  gallery in Duesseldorf, Germany (April- May 2016).

MPA (mobile photography awards) winner. Exhibited at a NYC gallery.

Yahoo screen video won best of  2014 videos and was features on front page of yahoo for 2 weekends.

Winner of Europatlas award and exhibited at Toucoing “100 pictures to understand” in memory of the Paris attacks.

Exhibited on a large screen in Times Square, NYC as part of the ‘see me’ awards and exhibition.

Page containing links to interviews and press articles:

There have also been several group exhibitions that I took part in globally during my career as well as charity projects that are still ongoing.

I currently run workshops, photography walks and work as a freelance photographer and motion designer.

Feel free to contact me on any of my sites if you have any interest in my work,  to request  permission to use my photographs, or to purchase limited edition prints.

176 replies on “Something about me”

Dear Mimo Khair,
My name is Carlos Irineu, but nowadays I mostly go by my artistic name Charles K.
We used to chat a bit in Instagram back in 2014 or something like that. If I remember correctly you were traveling a lot but most of the images were from China. I remembered colored blurred experiments with people can’t umbrellas in Shanghai.
I’ve always been very impressed with your work and I’m glad to see it’s still evolving.
I have rediscovered you by chance today. I’d like to know if you’d be ok with letting me use 4 ~ 6 images from your Flickr feed, in whatever resolution you might want, fully credited, obviously. That would be for an article I’m writing. The working title is “Negating negative space” and my main point is that everything in most well conceived images is “assertive”. I can’t write the whole article here but I can send you a draft if you’d like to understand my views before letting your images be a part of it. 🙂
And that would be for WASEmag, a small global magazine (it’s viewed in 120 countries by Google’s least count but it hasn’t got hundreds of thousands of viewers) that only publishes galleries about exclusive human nude art. I happen to be the person who created it 2 years ago and now I’m getting more essays about art & creativity into our soon to be released website.
You might be wondering “why me”, or why street photography in an nude art website. A fair question for which there are two answers.
Firstly I believe that while it’s editorialy hard to publish street, landscapes & nudes at the same time, to me most photography done with artistic intent share this concern about “being here”, capturing moments and taking about our relationship with ourselves, others, nature. People on the streets, refugees, dancers, trees, mountains… There’s just one World and we try hard to talk about it in different ways.
Secondly, when I was searching my mental archives for good examples where there’s a figure/background meltdown, where One can only be in relation to the Otherness, I remembered you.
In many of your images nothing is “negative”: each element supports and opens up to the others.
Here’s my IG and our current website follows below.
Many thanks in advance for your time,
Happy to catch up with your latest amazing work,
Charles K.

Hello. Just wanted to say that I find your work to be inspiring and I really like the emotive quality of your photos! Kudos, and I look forward to future posts! 🙂

dear Mimo
thanks for opening our eyes to see , feel thank , care , question the humanity and the blue planet via your eyes and all your senses and passion and tasking you from young age took on your Shoulders, not because it heavy but because it all your brothers and sister ( and I feel one of them) . you take us for places all around the world but it very much inside each one of us this world ,,,so we better stand up and do good for the world for children for youth for respectful ages , places , ecologies to be aware and clean in our mind and hearts to give hands ,,, to care and help
thanks so much for your steady help in the y-top

Your photographs are… unbelievably amazing. I am completely awestruck and now so very happy I stumbled upon your blog. Your humanness – kind and generous – that you express in your words, transcends into your photography. Absolutely… cool. 🙂 all the best, Anna

Hi Mimo,

I am currently a senior at the University of Michigan. First of all I wanted to say your photography has had a profound affect on me. I’m not familiar with all of your photographs, but the few that I have seen are so inspirational to me. There was one photograph in particular of a girl in Lebanon; I first saw the photo of her in a post on Yahoo!. The photo was of a small, green-eyed child from Lebanon, and spelled out on her fingers were the words “love” in both English and Arabic. If I’m not mistaken, I believe I read that her parents had passed away not too long before the photo was taken (maybe a few days or so). I found it amazing that this little girl could still have those words written on her fingers after all she had been through. She should be an inspiration to anyone who represents love and peace in the world.

I don’t have a website that I want to use this photograph for; however, I did want to use it to hang in my apartment. It’s so amazing how this little girl could inspire me while on the other side of the world, and she doesn’t even know it! But the photo is amazing and what she represents is even deeper. Because of that, I would truly be blessed if you grant me permission to use this photo to hang in my apartment in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I believe her message and what she represents should be spread across the entire world in some way, shape, or form, and by me using the photo to show off as art, I’m hoping that I could fulfill that goal.

I adore the photo so much that I just had to write you. I’ve been trying to find an email address that would tie me directly to you, but all I could find was this comment section on the website. I thank you so much and I hope to hear from you soon. If you do write back, please email me directly and we could have a conversation on the steps that I would need to take to acquire your permission, even if that means me paying some amount!

Thank you so much for everything. How your photographs inspire people can’t be put into words. Keep doing what you love!!

My email address is irvingjo@umich.edu

Hi Mimo, my wife stumbled on your site by chance, and it was very nice to find out that the little girl who was my neighbor in Kousba is today such a skilled artist.
By now you’re wondering who is this. I’m Georges Youssef, Joumana’s brother, I live in Chicago and have been since I came here in 1979.
Anyway I just wanted to say that your work is wonderful and you’re very talented. I wish you all the luck success and happiness.

Georges Youssef

Love your pictures. Is there anything that can be done for the little green eye girl who lost her family and now is at a refugee camp? Adoption? Does she have more family? financial support?

I love your connection to people. I really like your pictures of Asian faces, young and old (my daughters are Chinese). There are stories for each one and you can see so much in their eyes. Thank you for your beautiful work…

Hi Mimo,
I am touched by your photo of Reem and her situation. I have a great interest in this girl. Can you verify if she is still in a refugee camp in Lebanon? If there anyone on the ground who can make contact with Syrian refugee camps? Please call me at 828-550-2293 or email me below.
Thank you so much,
Shelley Costello

Hi! You posted a picture of a little girl in a Syrian refugee camp. Is she available to be adopted? Contact me at the email address I provided, please. How could I get in touch with her?

Love your photos. I’m particularly interested in the shots around Japan and China because I’m living in this region now. I’m, myself, just discovering my interest in photography. I’m a very beginner, so a bit overwhelmed how to start, but your shots are really inspiring. Keep it up! By the way, out of curiosity, do you have any shots from Korea?

Sure 🙂 could you by chance link me to those photos? Or give me some suggestions how to find them on here? I’ve been living in Seoul for a year and fell in love with photography through this city and country…your photos are great, so it’d be great to see your view on korea. Enjoy Shanghai!

Hi, I would really like more info on the girl on yahoo. The one who lost her family with the word love on her hand. I would love to be able to reach out to her and help her in any way possible. Thank you

Thanks for the picture of the little girl with green eyes and love on her hand. I would like to know if there is a way to adopt her to the United States. She deserves a better life for sure. At least let me know where she is so I can contact the appropriate people. Thanks so much for your work and efforts Mimo.

Hello Mimo,
You have such a delicate and peaceful way of writing and conveying your artwork/photography/life journey.
Beautiful finding tonight. I shall explore more in time.

For now, I wish you all the best 🙂

Natalia

It is possibly no secret that your beautiful photographs show your highly skilled technique. From my point of view, however, it is even more evident and important how clearly they show your warm heart and the way in which you connect with the subjects in your pictures. All the best, Marcus.

“the Shalom Templata multi­cultural program”? – how marvellous! A very catholic arrangement (lower case deliberate, of course). Compliments on your work; you must be proud.

As I viewed some of your photos, my passion for photography has grown even more. Then reading your bio I realized you are living the life I’d love to live. Maybe a bit differently but all the same with the same passion. Thanks for giving me the encouragement through your work.

I absolutely love your photos! After reading your post “Searching for Home” I couldn’t relate anymore than I already do! Being in Shanghai, you must meet plenty of people with the same sentiments. And aren’t you lucky to be there? Shanghai was home for 8 years before I moved back to the US for college. I still go back in the winter to see my family, so if I’m lucky, it would be great to meet such an accomplished and wonderful person such as you 🙂

[…] I won’t even attempt to draw like Hansi, paint like Marina or Jots, create like Mobius and Buddahkat, or cook like Viveka or Spiced. Besides, my photography skills don’t come close to Robin, Otto, Bulldog, Nia, Suzanne, Cindy, Cathy, Victoria, Dink, and Mimo. […]

Hi !
Your photographs are absolutely captivating and beautifully shot !
Have you ever thought of going to Singapore to shoot the busy lives of the Singaporean street or even open an exhibition there? Also are you planning on opening any exhibitions in Shanghai, I’d love to visit and enjoy more of your work and I’m sure others will too !

Your photos really have what people call the ‘wow factor’ – but that doesn’t really do them justice. People are always the best subjects, no? Keep up the amazing work – glad to have chanced upon your blog.

It’s a pleasure to meet you. :0) You’re one of the best “natural photographers” I’ve seen, probably ever (and I’ve seen lots and lots over the years). I think you have more talent in your pinky than so many people I’ve met. No hype- just raw talent. [applause!] And it’s good to see the monochromatic film grain and blur. Love it. xo Take care, -Birgitta

Hey, anytime. 🙂 if you don’t mind my asking, what do you shoot with and what lens did you use mostly for these pics? I love the natural appeal they have and the fact that you’re not afraid to use semi-slowed shutter speed. (Love that.) Your photojournalistic portraits have really good shadows and highlights- great gamma and contrast. I’ve honestly never been more impressed with anyone’s street photos. You make that stuff look easy (I know better). I’d like to branch out more in that area but no matter how I try, I’m drawn more into the heavy shadows and still life/abstract. Anyway- good stuff here! Take care.

Thank you for liking my photos, and leaving a comment. You are a great photographer. Your work inspires me to play with my camera, some more. 🙂 Thank you, again.

Hi Mimo,

Whilst looking for a particular type of image I came across your stunning picture, A Moment of Clarity. I am currently producing a play to show in London during September and we want an artistic image for our poster. The play is by a revered but troubled writer named Sarah Kane and the play, 4.48 Psychosis, is about a moment of clarity that she experiences amid the chaos of her own depression.

I would love to use your image for our poster design, and we would of course credit you in all publicity and provide links to your blog and photo stream. If you are interested I would be very happy to emai you with more details about the production and venue.

The link to the theatre is http://www.thedraytontheatre.co.uk/ and our company name is Crooked Pieces. Our website is currently under construction but please feel free to email me at crooked pieces@gmail.com. You can also find us on Twitter @crookedpieces and http://www.facebook.com/crookedpieces.

Thanks Mimo, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,

Charlotte

Hi there,

I am a blogger at Lebanon Spring (http://lebanonspring.com), and I wish to use one of your flickr photos in one of my posts. It’s about the martyrs statue in downtown Beirut.

There are lot of similar photos on the net, but I really liked yours. Can you please let me know if this is ok with you?

The blog is about Lebanese and Middle Eastern current affairs, and is used as a personal non-profit blog,

I intend to publish my post anytime now, so I appreciate any prompt response. I look forward to hear from you.

Regards

Zak

Hi Zak,
Yes you may. Just please use with proper link back to the flickr photo. Hope my response is not too late for your blog entry. Thanks for your interest!
Mimo

Hi Mimo, it is a true joy to discover all the openings to worlds deep and true that you seem to have an eye for in in whatever place you visit with your camera. Thanks for sharing your talent with the world!

What you have done with your life and talent is absolutely fabulous. Being in Spain right now and seeing your pictures of Lebanon makes me miss it all the more. Especially the small things like the bread. Thank you for the memories!

Congratulations or should I say Mabrook for just been Freshly Pressed. I am always inspired by female photographers and look forward to more of your beautiful work soon. I missed the cheese flat pancake that I used to eat one fine morning in Beirut some years ago. Your pictures brought back the aroma of Lebanon. Cheers!

Hello dear, I’m a so happy to meet you here via WordPress 🙂
I love your style in photography…thanks so much for sharing your talent with us.
I visited Beirut once, way back 2005… Beirut is beautiful and most Lebanese women are lovely and sexy 🙂
Thank you so much for your visit in my blog, I highly appreciate it. Have fun 🙂

Wow Mimo – just been looking through your various sites. Your dedication seems to know no bounds. You have a truly amazing body of work which I find thoroughly inspirational….and so modest in person too!

Greetings from London

Very artistic photographs with feeling. From some of the phrases you use I feel you have been touched by Emin ways?

May your path be illumined in 2012 x

Mimo, I can’t remember if I already told you that I nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award! I’m sure you’ve been awarded many times, but I hope you’ll accept mine as well! 🙂

Beautiful site! I lived in China 3 years: 2 in Hangzhou, 1 in Hunana, and a summer in Beijing, working for the Olympics. It was absolutely amazing! There’s so much to see and do there and what sights and sounds! I look forward to following your blog and seeing your take on Shanghai and other travels! 🙂

You must have great stories to tell from your travels here! I do love living in China and so many impressions! I just followed your blog and I look forward to seeing more! Thanks for your visit!

Hi Mimo.

Thank you for visiting my very humble photo blog. I wish I could take amazing photos, like yours, but I am not very talented. I have to hope that my posts can provide a little interest, and maybe inspiration for others that are maybe starting out on travelling or photography. Perhaps this is most likely to be newly retired people like myself.

I find your blog and the links on it very interesting, which brings me to my other problem, of finding enough time to read everything that I would like to. When retired, there is never enough time. I am already feeling guilt about the amount of time that I spent at the computer, neglecting my other responsibilities, and of course, photography.

Thank you for a really great blog.

Dave

Thank you very much Dave for your kind comments. I think your blog is wonderful and I am in agreement with you about the time needed for reading, I try to keep my blogs short and to the point for that reason. I look forward to following your musings!

Hi Mimo! It’s really fascinating and inspiring to see your work and to know about you. I am not a photographer.. But I really appreciate how you capture your surrondings.. Please do continue to inspire us.. 😀 – Shravya

Mimo
your energy, enthusiasm, courage, devotion, passion and love are transcribed in everything you do; whether it is those amazing photos or the words you write. I have never met you but feel I know you…. I admire and respect so much what you do. I hope that very soon our paths will finally cross.
I wish you a continued safe journey into the unknown… what an accomplishment! Stay safe,
Best, Leslie

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