photography by wasim.

Tag: santa monica mountains

My Homage To The Mountains That Made Me ‘Me.’ In All Its 360 Video Virtual Reality Glory!

This one is very very dear to my heart. When I made the choice to move up to the Pacific Northwest a few months ago, I knew that I had to pay homage to the Santa Monica Mountains – the mountains that made me ‘me.’

So I figured during my final weeks living in the Santa Monica Mountains, I’d take along a 360˚ VR video camera on the remainder of my hikes and excursions and cut together my gift back to the mountains…hoping it’ll get at least a few more people to discover the magic of those hills, and a conscious relationship with nature in general. Because if there’s one thing I’m 100% sure of, it’s that no one would regret a single second of it.

No question about it, that range played one of the most pivotal roles in the development from one version of me to another. From living in the city all my life, the transition from a destructive reactionary existence to one where I suddenly found myself with the luxury to process my thoughts and existence and directions was the greatest gift life could have given me at that stage. I learned more about who I was and the relationship I wanted to have with myself, my environment, and the people that I choose to surround myself with, that at any point in my life, and I attribute it all to being in those mountains. Furthermore, it was being up there that re-kindled my love for photography as a means of capturing, savoring, and sharing the ‘special,’ and that has essentially guided my path since.

Anyhow, you can watch the video below in YouTube and drag around to see everything in all directions at all times, but the best way to enjoy it is definitely in a Virtual Reality headset for a fully immersive experience (just make sure to sit in a swivel chair…). If you’ve got a Google Cardboard, hit the little headset icon in the bottom right of the screen on your mobile device, if you’ve got a Samsung Gear VR, use this link: https://samsungvr.com/view/r_kopT9C4iE

Thank you Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area, Santa Monica Mountains Trails Council, National Park Service, California State Parks, Malibu Creek State Park Docents and all those who contributed to my journey, inside and out.

Humbly,

me.

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For more of the jibber jabbers and wabber wibbers, catch me at:
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August 7, 2017
That First 1st Led To My 1st Cover! Thank You National Park Service!

Wasim Muklashy Photography_Samsung NX1_18-200mm_111614_ National Park Service Outdoors Magazine Santa Monica Mountains

My first cover came from my 1st first! Huh? So I wrote a bit about my image Pole Position taking 1st in this year’s challenge category in the National Park Service ‘Spirit of the Mountains’ photo contest. Well, apparently they’ve decided to use that image for the cover of the new Winter edition of “Outdoors” magazine, the National Park Service’s quarterly publication covering events and hikes and news for Southern California’s Santa Monica Mountains. I could not be more humbled to be on a cover donning the NPS badge. Anyhow, thought I’d share that with you. You can download a PDF version here, or, better yet, sometime over the next 3 months, make sure to visit the Santa Monica Mountains for a hike, a bike, a swim, a jog, a picnic, a presentation, camping, rock climbing, star gazing, mountain biking, nature walking, photographing, playing, frolicking, and all-around marinating in our great outdoors…and pick up a physical copy yourself. It’s jam packed with a myriad of events covering the next 3 months. These hills are truly a magical place and the fact that they’re less than 30 minutes from the hustle and bustle of the city continues to blow my mind, even after calling the Santa Monica Mountains home for almost 6 years.
Plus, the chaparral’s vibrantly rejoicing after the much needed recent rains! Get up here and get at me!

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December 17, 2014
My First 1st – ‘Pole Position’ Takes Top Spot In National Park Service Photo Contest!

So this is a quick one, but wanted to post an update to the National Park Service’s annual “Spirit Of The Mountains” photo contest I threw a couple entries into last month. Well, on November 2, they announced the winners. There were 4 categories, and my image “Pole Position” tied for 1st place in this year’s challenge category, “Variations On Light.” It was quite thrilling to see that ribbon and hear renowned photographer Tom Gamache’s positive critiques. Thank you to all who showed up and all those who supported me in this thing. I can’t express how happy I was to get my first 1st place ribbon in a photo contest. (And special thanks to my Arcanum cohort for convincing me on the portrait version of the image…that was key!). Also, if you’d like a limited edition 36″x24″ landscape version print of this image, 100 of them are currently available through AngelenoArtistry. Click here to check it out.

And congratulations to Mike Shaw, my 1st place tie mate!

For more of my madness, take your pick: Instagram: @wasimofnazareth Ello: @wasimofnazareth Google+: www.Google.com/+WasimMuklashy

November 18, 2014
The Spirit Of The Mountain Calls Again – Here’re This Year’s Entries!

I can’t believe it’s been a full year since the last one. That photo contest that I was honored to place 2nd and 3rd in last year, the National Park Service sponsored “Spirit Of The Mountain” photo contest? Well, it’s back. I just submitted my two entries, the two you see above, “Family Time” and “Pole Position,” two images taken within the past 12 months in the Santa Monica Mountain Range.

If you happen to find yourself in the area between November 2 and November 23, stop by the Interagency Visitor Center at the King Gillette Ranch. It’s right across the road from Malibu Creek State Park, so make a day of it…trust me, it’s absolutely gorgeous. Oak groves and rock pools and lakes and streams…hard to believe it’s only 35 minutes from Santa Monica and Los Angeles’ Westside.

Anyhow, if you happen to make it on November 2, that’s the opening reception, and renown photographer Tom Gamache, the man behind the beautiful images in Matthew Jaffe’s “The Santa Monica Mountains – Range On The Edge,” will be there to critique the entries. Also, Gamache has his images currently on exhibition at the same visitor center. That there is worth it alone.

The images above were taken on Samsung NX300 and NX30 cameras.

For more of my madness, take your pick:
Instagram: @wasimofnazareth
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October 14, 2014
A Monday Motivational Kick In The Yahoo – July 21, 2014

Wasim Muklashy Photography__Samsung NX30_Topanga Beach_Monday Motivational_July 21

“Instead Of Trying To Be The Mountain,

Be The Valley Of The Universe.

All Things Will Come To You.”

-Tao Te Ching

**

From me to you,
There’s This Week’s

Monday Kick In The Yahoo!

**

Be Inspired!

July 21, 2014
A Few More Summer Solstice Gifts From The Hills – A Phone And A Desktop Background

Here are a couple more images from the Summer Solstice sunset in the Santa Monica Mountains last weekend. Perfect for your mobile phone, tablets, and desktop computer wallpaper. Figured I’d throw ’em your way!
Just right-click on the image, and choose ‘Save Link As’ for the 2400px version.

Happy Summer 2014 everyone!

Click past the break for the desktop image.

And to learn how to get images like this, visit How To Photograph Sunsets, Silhouettes And Starbursts For Your Summer Snaps!

For more of my madness:
Instagram: @wasimofnazareth
Twitter: @wasimofnazareth
Google+: www.Google.com/+WasimMuklashy
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/WasimOfNazareth

June 26, 2014
A Santa Monica Mountains Summer Solstice Sun Sets

Just wanted to share a couple of images of this year’s Summer Solstice sunset from the Santa Monica Mountains and wish everyone (in the Northern Hemisphere…) a happy wonderful Summer 2014. Thank you all so much for joining me on this online photographic journey over the past 18 months. I am forever grateful. To learn how to get shots like these, check out my post How To Photograph Sunsets, Silhouettes And Starbursts For Your Summer Snaps!

For more of my madness: Instagram: @wasimofnazareth Twitter: @wasimofnazareth Google+: www.Google.com/+WasimMuklashy Facebook: www.Facebook.com/WasimOfNazareth

June 22, 2014
Pole Position On The Pacific Coast Highway.

So this one is not a big story or intricate post, just a quick and simple one with an image I thought was pretty neat. A friend and fellow photographer was over this weekend and we figured to take a little drive through the hills above Pacific Coast Highway in the late afternoon to see what we might find. I’ve lived in and explored these mountains for half a decade, yet, somehow, have never run across this vantage point. This is overlooking a small portion of PCH just south of Point Dume State Beach, California. We got there just in time for dusk and managed to snap a few images. The above image is a 30 second exposures taken on my now trusty Samsung NX30. I likey. I hope you likey. Bye.

May 21, 2014
Bluegrass And Treetops On The Topanga Trails

Topanga Canyon Hiking Trail_Sunburst Through Oak Tree

T’was a perfect day in Topanga Canyon, and to stay inside would have been a crime, so I grabbed one of my cameras, the Samsung NX300, threw on the ‘summer’ outfit, and headed out into the hills. As I was hiking through this, live bluegrass echoing through the canyon in the distant background served as my soundtrack. Don’t know where it was coming from or what it was, but it was perfect.

Perfect.

Click past the break for a few images from that Topanga Canyon hike.

February 18, 2014
It’s Official! I’ve Been Labeled! And I’m Totally OK With It!

So this is kinda neat! Remember that beef jerky company from last year that licensed one of my images for their label? Well, they’re now at market!!!

If you’re a beef jerky fan (as I most certainly am), you’ll love this stuff. I’ve had several batches of it and it’s the perfect consistency and toughness. None of that soft madness, and not so tough it’s like biting through leather, it’s right in between.

And tasty.

And juicy.

And spicy.

And gluten-free.

And you even get a free flosser with each pack (clever…).

If you’re around Los Angeles, you can pick it up at Topanga Fresh in Topanga Canyon and a few more stores that I’ll list here soon.

If you’re not in the area here in Los Angeles, you can order directly from the website, www.TopangasFinest.com, where you can also see the image on the label!!

Can you tell I’m sorta excited about this…

January 23, 2014