“The heart and mind are the true lens of the camera.”
Perhaps when Yousuf Karsh – one of the most influential portrait photographers of his generation – made this statement, he understood that still images reflect a depth of purpose and inspiration conceived by the image taker.
“Love” – Mumbai, India. ISMGlobalPhotos.com / Nazim, LokhandwalaShowcasing visionaries behind the lens and the diversity of moods and expressions within the Ismaili Muslim community, Ashifa Asaria-Lalani embarked on a creative journey that ultimately resulted in the publication, Ismailis, A Celebration of Diversity.
A richly depicted coffee table book, the publication is a labour of love for Asaria-Lalani, an avid photographer who was searching for a way to combine her passion for the arts with her desire to contribute to the community. She realised that a collection of still images created by talented Ismaili photographers, reflecting the diverse peoples that make up the community had yet to be catalogued and produced.
“I knew there were many photography books that showcased cultures and countries,” she says, “but I didn't know of one that focused only on Ismailis and that celebrated their diversity.”
Three years ago, Asaria-Lalani launched a photography competition and received more than 1,000 entries in just over a year. A panel of judges from various creative fields selected four prize winners, numerous honourable mentions and many more for publication. Entries were judged on creativity, quality, and relevance to the theme.
“Citadel at Masyaf” – Masyaf, Syria. ISMGlobalPhotos.com / Muslim HarjiZahid Wissanji of Uganda earned the competition's grand prize. His photo of an elderly Tajik woman hiding her face graces the book's cover. “Experiencing diversity within Tajikistan itself is really interesting,” he says. “The people hail from places as diverse as Iran, Russia, Ancient Greece, and China.”
For Muslim Harji, the eldest entrant, the competition was a way “to challenge myself and my photography.” Harji lives in Canada, but has had opportunities to travel and experiment with photography in other countries, including Syria.
“Friendship” – Shugnan, Afghanistan. ISMGlobalPhotos.com / Nabila Wissanji“We visited Masyaf, where this beautiful castle sits high atop the city,” recounts Harji. “To me, this represents the glorious and long-standing history of Ismailis and shows a centuries-old civilisation that forms such an important part of the Ismaili heritage.”
Another participant, Faheema Chaudry, says she approached the competition “in a professional way with a fashion twist.” Her submission, titled You and Your Faith. Nothing Else Matters, seeks to capture a sense of peace that she says is common to everyone “no matter what their religious or personal belief.”
“Stunning,” was Carmen Ryujin's reaction to the book. Ryujin is a senior manager at Cultural and Community Markets for RBC Royal Bank in Canada, the publication's primary sponsor. “Ashifa's attention to quality and detail is evident in every page of the book,” she says. “The book has inspired all to learn more about the Ismaili community, and to appreciate the beauty of the photographs.”
Ismailis, A Celebration of Diversity has impacted people in different ways. “To me it showed that, as diverse as we are, there are so many things we have in common,” says Rishma Shariff, a Calgary lawyer, says about the book. “The faces of little boys outside Jamatkhana in Central Asia are the same as the looks on faces of little boys in Canada. Or the love in a mother's eyes for her child is a universal emotion that can be seen anywhere and everywhere.”
The photography book “Ismailis, A Celebration of Diversity” portrays the rich plurality of the global Ismaili community. It is the result of a lot of hard work by Ashifa Asaria-Lalani. ISMGlobalPhotos.com / Ashifa Asaria-LalaniThe book's appeal reaches beyond the Ismaili community. Neil Wilson of the Ottawa International Writers' Festival struggled to choose a favourite photo. “Selecting one photograph out of so many remarkable images is very difficult,” he says. “One that stays with me, however, is Friendship, by Nabila Wissanji.”
“The purity and innocence of the two young children becomes even more heartfelt when you realise they live in Afghanistan,” remarks Wilson. Antonio Bos, an interior decorator from Ottawa says, “these are the faces of the people we grew up with, and of those who now share our lives. The houses, clothing, games, and trees might look different in some of the photographs, but the people are the same. To me, this is the real celebration of this beautiful book.”
Ismailis, A Celebration of Diversity provides a rich glimpse into the plurality of the global Ismaili Muslim community through vivid, still images. The photographs showcase Ismaili creative talent and to tell a visual story of the diversity reflected by Ismailis today.
