#khalikallah

Khalik Allah

1.What type (genre) of photography does he make? 

The genre of photography that he makes is street photography, documentary photography, and portraiture. He focuses on capturing people's lives from different communities in a raw, honest, and intimate way. He is known for his candid and raw style of capturing people in their natural environment, often in the streets of New York City. He has a distinctive viewpoint and can capture the strength and beauty of the subjects he shoots in a way that is both personal and powerful.

2. Khalik said: “Purpose in life is to extend the light into peoples’ lives” What does he mean by this? Do you agree photography can do this? 

When he claims that his purpose in life is to "extend the light into people's lives," he really means that he wants to use photography to make a significant and good difference in people's lives. He uses his camera to document the lives of individuals in marginalized communities because he thinks that photography has the capacity to transform people's perspectives and provide them with a new way of looking at the world. Additionally, he believes that by documenting their experiences and spreading them to the public, he might assist in shedding light on their situations and draw attention to their difficulties. By the middle of the film, he stated that his "duty is to shine the light in the dark space to show people that there is nothing to fear," demonstrating once more that this is his ultimate goal in life, mainly through photography. I agree that photography may profoundly affect individuals because it gives them a new perspective on the world, which can lead to understanding and drive change.

3. Khalik also said: “To make knowledge born.” How does his photography do that? 

His photography makes knowledge born in that it presents a truthful and honest representation of reality. He brings attention to topics that are frequently ignored by mainstream media and offers an opportunity for individuals to share their opinions and stories by capturing the lives of people in neglected groups. He is able to raise awareness of significant social and cultural concerns through his work, which can lead to change and a better knowledge of the world.

4. How would describe the role of photography from his perspective? 

According to him, the purpose of photography is to capture significant social and cultural issues, raise public awareness about them, and promote change through a better knowledge of the world. He thinks that photography has the ability to inspire and educate people about significant societal concerns in addition to capturing and preserving precious moments.

5. Can his type of photography bring out understanding, as he claims? 

Yes, as he states, I do think that his style of photography may promote understanding. His work illuminates’ topics that are frequently ignored by mainstream media and provides a place for individuals to express their stories and viewpoints by giving a true and accurate portrayal of reality. He is able to raise awareness of significant social and cultural concerns via his work, which can lead to change and a better knowledge of the world. His work as a documentary photographer gives a distinct viewpoint on the world, and his dedication to recording the lives of people in underserved places is very remarkable. He is able to illuminate significant social and cultural concerns via the lives of others, which can spur change and result in a better knowledge of the world.

References:

YouTube . (2022). The Mind of Khalik Allah Khalik Allah Interview. YouTube. Retrieved February 11, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tD_JRkfq_M. 

Rapold, N. (2015, April 17). Khalik Allah's movie captures Harlem Faces and voices by Moonlight. The New York Times. Retrieved February 11, 2023, from https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/19/movies/khalik-allahs-movie-captures-harlem-faces-and-voices-by-moonlight.html 

Masih-Tehrani, M. (2019, July 18). How khalik allah bent the rules of street photography, and found his vision. PDN Online. Retrieved February 11, 2023, from https://pdnonline.com/features/photographer-interviews/how-khalik-allah-bent-the-rules-of-street-photography-and-found-his-vision/ 

Assignment 1: Khalik Allah’s beauty in photography is his ability to capture everyday life's raw and most vulnerable essence. He is most known and famous for his street photography, and most capture the streets of Harlem, New York. You can see the sociological pain, grief, and agony some people portray when their photos are being taken, and I believe it goes down to more than one element in his style. Khalik enjoys shedding light on the unseen of our society and what seems to be hidden from the media. This might be why he hints at “knowledge being born”, he spoon-feeds the unknown into society and shows what it is like to be African-American or of a minority on the streets of New York. When Khalik mentions that his photography can bring out understanding, I highly believe it can. When society and multiple individuals are able to see the perspectives of others, even through a camera lens, it widens yours to a whole different level.