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children contemplations human rights inspiration lebanon morning coffee talk Photography war

Daily Coffee Talk~ 66/365

The Lebanese Revolution~ November 2019~ Tripoli

On November 13, 2019, I was in Tripoli during the height of what had come to be known as the October Revolution in Lebanon. During those months, Tripoli was given the name ‘ the bride of the revolution’, because its people rose with power, with hope, and with an undeniable spirit to right what was wronged by a failing and criminal government of thieves and war lords in Lebanon.

What I met that evening was unforgettable. Simple and humble people gathering in the city square with music, art, food and a common cause. Hope tinged the air with gold and the enthusiasm was infectious. I found myself lifted to the platform where the speakers were addressing the crowds along with my camera and lenses.

The view from the platform of the revolution on Allah Square.

But looking back on the first image today, 2 years and 2 months later, I am heartbroken to realise that back then, the cry of the people expressed in writing on that wall in red : ‘your lies are causing our hunger’, was only the beginning of a disastrous economic collapse that has left these beautiful people below the poverty line with no end in sight.

I was born in Lebanon and grew up there in a scarring civil war that raged on for the majority of my young life, until at one point in 1987, I just picked up and left, never to return except for short family visits.

And today I watch with disbelief how my country continues to suffer, how its people go hungry without food, medication, electricity, water, infrastructure or money. I feel helpless about helping them and I struggle to understand how this can be fathomed and tackled without emotion.

I hope to photograph my country again in its glory, with it people happy and smiling, well fed and armed with dignity.

keeping the hope alive in you.
Categories
Boracay inspiration lebanon morning coffee talk Photography street photography

Morning Coffee Talk~14/365

Leap of faith~ Boracay

Good Morning,

I remember as a child playing with friends on terraced hills above my village in Lebanon, and we did this crazy thing of jumping from one terrace to the next (and these were high terraces), screaming something ridiculous in Arabic like: ‘my mother threw me and the Virgin Mary caught me’. We were very devout children trained well by aunts and grandmothers to fear a god who punished bad children and saw pretty much everything were did. So we trusted that if god or any of his saints were watching, then leaping was 100% safe and we would not break any bones.

Two broken bones later, I started to doubt this theory.

That feeling of invincibility that we all have as young children is certainly something to reconnect to when needed later in life. That faith that somehow all would be well and that sometimes a blind leap is exactly what is needed despite our great fear of the unknown.

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LEBANON lebanon Photography

Yearning for my Country~

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lebanon Photography

There is always hope~

There is always hope, can you see it? ~ when all seems like it’s spinning out of control, explosions, pandemic, fake news, poverty, corruption,… and the list goes on; there is always a small bright light that keeps us going. I call it hope. I trust in humanity, in the future, in the goodness of people, because to simply put it: ‘all the concentrated darkness of the world cannot out out the light of one single candle’. We live in a planet of duality. Where there is dark, there is also light, with the bad comes the good and from death life rises like a phoenix. I am so grateful and overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness of people from all over the world who are responding to the tragedy in #beirut and the #Beirutexplosion. Your donations, your kind wishes, your shares and your humanity fuels the hope and spirit of the young generation who will save #Lebanon from its seeming hopelessness. A better future will prevail. If you still wish to donate to benefit the Lebanese families please do so via trusted NGOs like @sealforlebanon and @impact.lebanon to ensure that it does not end up in the pockets of the corrupt politicians. Thank you all 🙏🏻❤️

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human rights LEBANON lebanon Photography

Help for Lebanon~

Dear friends, as a result of the tragic blast that has crippled my country #Lebanon and my city #Beirut and its beautiful resilient and life loving people, urgent help is needed. I am deeply saddened and pained by the lost lives, injuries and resulting destruction and homelessness of my people. For that reason I have investigated a safe way to help, no donation is too small and every little bit can go to feed a hungry person or to shelter those without a home. I am offering a free print (from attached 7 images taken in Lebanon) to anyone who donates to @sealforlebanon (Beirut emergency fund 2020) any amount over 50 dollars. Please send me your receipt of donation , your address and chosen image and I will mail you a signed print and my sincere thanks and gratitude. You can find the donation link on the profile of @sealforlebanon . Thank you in advance and let’s stand together as a human family at this time. https://www.facebook.com/SEALforLebanonhttps://seal-usa.org/beirutemergencyfund/

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lebanon Photography refugees

A face to remember~ Lebanon

The most striking thing about visiting the refugee camps is always the unmistakable bright spark of hope that lives in the children. Despite all the hardship and unbearable living circumstances, they find the ability to play, laugh and be children.

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lebanon Photography refugees

Dry desert flowers~

Woman at the Syrian refugee camp in beqaa valley, Lebanon

How fair is it that someone’s whole life experience and story can be diminished to one word: ‘refugee’ ?

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art lebanon Photography

Portraiture award from PX3~

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

WINNER OF PX3, Prix de la Photographie Paris

MIMO KHAIR OF GERMANY WAS AWARDED THIRD PRIZE IN THE PX3 2018 COMPETITION.

PARIS, FRANCE
PRIX DE LA PHOTOGRAPHIE PARIS (PX3) ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF PX3 2018 COMPETITION.

Mimo Khair of Germany was Awarded: Third Prize in category Portraiture for the entry entitled, ” I love you .” The jury selected PX3 2018’s winners from thousands of photography entries from over 85 countries.

Px3 is juried by top international decision-makers in the photography industry: Carol Johnson, Curator of Photography of Library of Congress, Washington D.C.; Gilles Raynaldy, Director of Purpose, Paris; Viviene Esders, Expert près la Cour d’Appel de Paris; Mark Heflin, Director of American Illustration + American Photography, New York; Sara Rumens, Lifestyle Photo Editor of Grazia Magazine, London; Françoise Paviot, Director of Galerie Françoise Paviot, Paris; Chrisitine Ollier, Art Director of Filles du Calvaire, Paris; Natalie Johnson, Features Editor of Digital Photographer Magazine, London; Natalie Belayche, Director of Visual Delight, Paris; Kenan Aktulun, VP/Creative Director of Digitas, New York; Chiara Mariani, Photo Editor of Corriere della Sera Magazine, Italy; Arnaud Adida, Director of Acte 2 Gallery/Agency, Paris; Jeannette Mariani, Director of 13 Sévigné Gallery, Paris; Bernard Utudjian, Director of Galerie Polaris, Paris; Agnès Voltz, Director of Chambre Avec Vues, Paris; and Alice Gabriner, World Picture Editor of Time Magazine, New York.

ABOUT Px3:

The “Prix de la Photographie Paris” (Px3) strives to promote the appreciation of photography, to discover emerging talent, and introduce photographers from around the world to the artistic community of Paris. Winning photographs from this competition are exhibited in a high-profile gallery in Paris and published in the high-quality, full-color Px3 Annual Book.

Visit http://px3.fr

For Press Inquiries, Contact:

Press@px3.fr

About the Winner:

Contact Mimo Khair:

mimokhair@me.com

🙂

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Iphone lebanon Photography Uncategorized

Beirut: Impressions on the Run

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the certain nature of uncertainty

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when the mask drops

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The urban spirit

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when you have seen more than your share

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tales of fading glory

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on the road for handouts

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a page from the Beirut sketchbook

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sleepless nights and random sketches

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some stories are best left vague

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his imaginary girlfriend

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time to leave

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opening act

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non-stop protest

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Beirut nights

Beirut, beautiful, sophisticated, artsy, dirty, confused, decadent, mismanaged and always pulls on my every hidden emotion.

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lebanon Photography Travel

Mobile Impressions From a Journey in an Old Land~ Lebanon

For more of my mobile photography, follow my Instagram feed!