For this week's photo, I was bouncing around ideas to have a shot that somehow showcased ancestry as an ode to Indian Immigration or Indian Arrival Day in Guyana. May 5, 2013 marks the 175th year since East Indians first set foot on Amazonian land, far west of their homeland.

        I wasn't sure what my photo would be, and to be quite honest... I hardly had time to do anything this week, as I'm swamped between finals and some other deadlines. However, I got my shot last night from a wedding shoot I did for a friend. Here's the photo.

           The theme of this week's photo is Heritage. I decided on "heritage" as the title because I think the intricacies of the photo is evidence of ancestry. It was a Somali wedding, and the bride wore a traditional outfit for the first hour of the event. On our way to the hall, we talked about the similarities and differences between our cultures. Particularly, the henna and jewelry that she wore for the ceremony. Islamic African ceremonies are not unlike the Islamic ceremonies present in Guyana and Pakistan. The henna designs are quite similar and the desire to decorate one's self with jewelry and shiny ornaments still persist. I guess it has to do with another aspect of beauty. Like the one that doesn't involve makeup...

           All in all, the ceremony was great. The bride and groom looked splendid and I had a fun time shooting another special event for them (I previously shot their engagement ceremony). 

           I particularly like the darkness and contrast to the photo because it adds more depth to the image. Mind you, this shot was taken in a moving limo, with the help of a flash and umbrella reflector to compensate for lighting. I also love the way the henna is somewhat hidden behind the sparkle of the gold bangles. No editing was done to this photo.

           Can't believe it's Week 15! No idea what Week 16 will be, but I always love a challenge :) I appreciate you following me throughout this journey...

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