1 - Valley of the Quest

I had watched a flock of birds for several minutes as they flew from one spot to another in the Aga Khan Park, eventually landing on the dome of the Aga Khan Museum. I’ve never seen birds gather in this spot before, or since.

This special scene made me think immediately of the Conference of the Birds, the famous tale written in the 12th century by Persian poet Farid ud-Din Attar. In it, birds of all shapes and sizes - a duck, a nightingale, a peacock, and others - set off in search for their King, led by their guide the Hoopoe bird.

It’s a story of longing and love, of community and congregation. Ultimately, it’s about the quest we each embark on in infinite different ways, through the mountains and valleys of life’s challenges, in search of the land of the Beloved.

I’ve always thought of the dome of the Museum as a crown, hexagonal in shape and sitting regally on its throne. So it’s fitting then that these birds gathered there, on this soaring crown, for a moment of reflection before setting off on their quest.

2 - Lunar Totality

A total lunar eclipse was visible in Toronto on March 14, 2025.

That night, in the silence of the Aga Khan Park, I took detailed close-up photos of the moon as it transitioned from partial eclipse to Blood Moon over the span of 2 hours.

But my real goal was to find a composition with the majestic architecture of the Ismaili Centre in frame. I wanted to create a conversation between the rare celestial event above, and the terrestrial beacon of spirituality below.

Then at 3am, just as the lights came on for morning prayers, I found this image.

3 - Baba

On Christmas Day in 2024, I was in Islamabad visiting a few of the popular sites, including here at the Faisal Mosque. Being in Pakistan, reconnecting with family, walking through a spiritual space like this - it was a lot for me to take in. I wondered how best to translate these emotions into a photograph; how to make the invisible visible.

Then, among the hundreds of people enjoying the beautiful day - parents with their young children, couples, friends having an outing - I noticed two men sitting on a ledge. There was a sense of peace about them. Cloaked in a chaddar and wearing traditional head coverings, they were deep in conversation. It was a moment of calm amidst the hustle & bustle of Pakistan.

The sun was setting and my cousins were waiting for me so we could head out. I had to act fast. I felt there was a decisive moment here - an opportunity to find that image I was searching for.

And then it occurred to me: can I find a way to bring together the contemplative man and the setting sun? The sun being rich with symbolism about life, wisdom, spirituality, and nur, concepts that can be difficult to articulate in words.

And so I found this image, clicked, and sped off towards my family. Now I look back and meditate on this moment, when light gave me words I could not find on my own.