Comments on: Reem Al Faisal – Hajj https://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2014/05/reem-al-faisal-hajj/ burn is an online feature for emerging photographers worldwide. burn is curated by magnum photographer david alan harvey. Sat, 18 Jun 2016 11:55:12 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.4 By: Steve Caddy https://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2014/05/reem-al-faisal-hajj/#comment-334093 Thu, 08 May 2014 10:30:37 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=22183#comment-334093 Well, I think it’s great. The photography does the subject no disservice in my opinion. It’s lovely and timeless and, I think, transparent. So what if the old documentary style is old? For me it resonates! Frostfrog, I agree with your comments re: Life. There are some very strong pictures here, and I would omit only #11 — just to cut down on the repetition of the crowd and the location.

Would have loved to have seen more pictures from the ground. I wonder for this kind of reportage — how closely you could work with with just a white iPhone or GF1 from under a white gown.

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By: Frostfrog https://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2014/05/reem-al-faisal-hajj/#comment-333120 Wed, 07 May 2014 18:45:04 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=22183#comment-333120 There’s one thing I regret about the way I worded my statement above. It might imply to some that I would not think the work as good and remarkable if it had not been shot by a Muslim woman. No. I did not mean this. I would consider it equally good. Given the restrictions we continually hear about, I do think it remarkable that it was shot by a Muslim woman, but what makes the photographs is the eye, heart and passion of Reem Al Faisal.

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By: Gordon Lafleur https://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2014/05/reem-al-faisal-hajj/#comment-332043 Tue, 06 May 2014 23:42:53 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=22183#comment-332043 Congratulations Reem. Fascinating photographs, the best I’ve ever seen of this event.

I think there are still too many photos here. #1, 2, 6, 7. What a great start.

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By: pomara https://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2014/05/reem-al-faisal-hajj/#comment-332035 Tue, 06 May 2014 23:33:33 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=22183#comment-332035 The enormity and scale of this pilgrimage is clear. The soul of the Hajj must be difficult to convey for many reasons. David I’m so pleased that you have given Reem a platform, but I hope she will take the input received here to expand her experience.

It’s nothing short of amazing that you have found these visual voices around the world that add so much to our understanding.

Paul O

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By: Frostfrog https://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2014/05/reem-al-faisal-hajj/#comment-329767 Sun, 04 May 2014 19:49:05 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=22183#comment-329767 Had this appeared in the old Life Magazine, I believe it would done so to significant praise and kudos for the rarity of such a work being done by a Muslim woman. Given the difficulties of shooting the Hajj and the fact this was done by a Muslin woman I find it quite special. The images are all strong and good, even if they do not explore all the aspects of Hajj many would like to see. Keep it up, Reem. Maybe you will one day show us a Saudi Arabia none of us have yet seen.

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By: david alan harvey https://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2014/05/reem-al-faisal-hajj/#comment-329667 Sun, 04 May 2014 18:15:21 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=22183#comment-329667 SKIWAVES

hi Mike….basically you cannot shoot the way we like shoot in Saudia Arabia…almost everything regarding shooting people is off limits…it is odd…it is not about the Saudis themselves who seem to love being photographed …at least when they are not in Saudia Arabia…they are a very warm and open people, yet it remains a very conservative culture inside the country…if you do go to Saudia Arabia (which actually you can recently now do as a tourist), best to stick to the scenery, which is indeed spectacular.

i am at home…come on up…love to see Denise and you…..

cheers, david

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By: Mike R https://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2014/05/reem-al-faisal-hajj/#comment-328853 Sun, 04 May 2014 08:11:01 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=22183#comment-328853 The essay looks a lot better for the edit and the issue of taking photos at Hajj shouldn’t be underestimated. Islam, like other religions, tells it’s followers not to make false idols. Some take this to include any representation of anything created – animal or human – including photographs. Of course many do not take such an extreme view and are quite relaxed about photography. I like the essay but I would have liked to see captions too to explain the significance of what is being portrayed. Congratulations Reem on being published here.

Mike.

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By: skiwaves https://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2014/05/reem-al-faisal-hajj/#comment-327103 Sat, 03 May 2014 15:43:34 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=22183#comment-327103 What are the restrictions on photography there?
I would think that many attendees don’t want to have their photos taken.
An amazing assemblage of humanity nonetheless.

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By: david alan harvey https://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2014/05/reem-al-faisal-hajj/#comment-326582 Sat, 03 May 2014 10:05:54 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=22183#comment-326582 In reply to john gladdy.

JOHN GLADDY … HARRY

i just cut the essay way back…there were too many pictures….i think the near impossibility of shooting pictures at all at the Hajj, especially by a Muslim woman, made us take a look at this essay….

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By: hharry https://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2014/05/reem-al-faisal-hajj/#comment-326519 Sat, 03 May 2014 09:26:21 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=22183#comment-326519 I think this would benefit from editing down a lot but that said some really strong pictures here.

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By: john gladdy https://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2014/05/reem-al-faisal-hajj/#comment-326335 Sat, 03 May 2014 07:28:44 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=22183#comment-326335 While this no doubt conveys visual information about both the event itself, and the scale of the event, I do not find in repeated viewings a single image that rises above ordinary. I find it hard to believe that in its journey through a sea of critical eyes on the way to being published, that I am the only person voicing that fact. Is the story so important that the Images are secondary? (on a photo blog?)
Is it tied up in the traditions of the religious event being portrayed? Or that of the photographer?
Is it a unique photographic document? (a very quick Google shows that not to be so)

Note.
I do understand that this is a very important event for many millions of people worldwide.
And also that there are certain restrictions concerning the making/use/viewing of imagery which could be viewed for its own sake. But I am still baffled what I am meant to ‘get’ from this essay.

PAX

John

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