Omar

This photo was originally shot in 2017, August, of a Painted Lady Butterfly (no idea who comes up with these names lol) For several years I lost the original file, and stuck with quite a bad edit I made back when I was trying to figure out color grading and textures. Trust me, it was bad - I won't share it lol. Cleaning up my hard drive, I managed to find this photo again and made a new edit. It was shot around sunset, looking west as the butterfly was sipping from zinnia flowers • • • • • • • • #wanderlust #macro_secrets #fiftyshades_of_macro #macro_turkey #adventure #photooftheday #toronto #macroclique #macro_perfection #macro_highlight #macro_spotlight #macro_brilliance #9vaga_macro9 #macro_mood #macro_freaks #macro_vision #butterflies #sunset #macro_kings #macroworld_tr #macrophotography #macro #macro_x #tulips #naturephotography #nature_brilliance

Behind an enclosed fence line, a number of Long Eared Owls began to emerge from their sleep as the sun had completely set Several were flapping around and chasing each other before leaving the small wooded area and over a hill, preparing for a hunt. As other photographers and I had their eyes out for these owls within the tree line and behind us at dusk, this one was quietly hidden in plain sight, briefly perched on a fallen tree. I had around 20 seconds to take this photo. This image was cropped and shot at 1/15th with 16,000 iso -nearly pitch black, with detail recovered using Lightroom's native DeNoise feature. Quite impressive that tool has become. A reminder that this image was taken behind an existing fence line built to protect these owls from overly curious enthusiasts. Lovely eyes it has. • • • • • • • #nature #NaturePerfection #owls #longearedowl #snowyowl #ontariobirds #winter #adventure #bird_brilliance #Birdwatching #birdsofprey #wanderlust #toronto #moody #moodygrams #owlsofinstagram #sunset #BirdsOfInsta #birding #birdphotography

Cest devenu presque attendu de rencontrer des personnes venant de partout dans le monde lorsque je prends des portraits au centre ville. C’était la première fois que je rencontrais quelqu’un du Maroc - Casablanca en particulier, qui prennait un court voyage. Le rouge brillant qu’elle portait était spectaculaire, accompagné de sa confiance et de son regard, ce qui a rendu ce moment inoubliable lorsqu'on a pris des photos sur Yonge Je cherche souvent des vêtements ou des couleurs qui ressortent, et cette rencontre en était un excellent exemple, surtout avec les couleurs rouges vibrantes ressemblant au drapeau du Maroc. * * * * * #PortraitPhotography #Portraits #InstaPortraits #sunset #fallfashion #adventure #CreativePortraits #Portraiture #PortraitMoods #PhotographyLovers #PortraitOfTheDay #agameoftonnes #InstaPortrait #PortraitPhotographyLovers #sunset #MoodyPortraits #StreetPortraits #torontoportraitphotographer#PortraitsOfInstagram #moodygrams

This shoot started with someone I approached on a subway platform. See, there are people who seem very in tune with the environment around them. Something about them stands out. And it’s not about looks or clothing, but character. Over time I’ve learned to get a pretty good read on people, and this time it felt spot on- maybe even beyond what I expected. Read til the end to understand. See, I asked if I could shoot some portraits. Excited, yet composed, she agreed. Except this time, I wasn’t the one doing the directing. “Come with me, I know this cool place.” So for once, I followed someone else. Trekking through the downtown core - sirens, street vendors, performers - we suddenly found ourselves tucked away in this little oasis in the middle of nowhere....TMU’s hidden campus. Well, maybe not quite an oasis, especially as any university student will likely tell you campuses and GPA trauma causes these institutions to appear as anything but lol. However, when you see the chaos of Yonge and Dundas contrasted with nothing but greenery and these 1800s-type buildings, you really feel the difference. A wall, covered in vines, with flowers as a backdrop. Who would have thought? Oh, and she was a film director. I guess I was onto something. Fitting, isn't it? Shallow DOF chosen for this with two photos I couldn't decide between with slightly stronger fill in light * * * * * #PortraitPhotography #Portraits #streetportraits #toronto #nature

A different mood from my usual work. Every now and then, someone stands out in a crowd, while most people are on their phones, tired from the day, or rushing somewhere. But when you catch someone fully present, with the right light, a strong color palette, and a sense of intention in how they carry themselves, it creates something like this. Lighting from an office building acted as a soft reflector. An editorial type of shot setup and edit, with a warm, high contrast. Thoughts on this style? #PortraitPhotography #Portraits #StreetPortraits #Toronto #streetphotography

This shoot started with someone I approached on a subway platform. See, there are people who seem very in tune with the environment around them. Something about them stands out. And it’s not about looks or clothing, but character. Over time I’ve learned to get a pretty good read on people, and this time it felt spot on- maybe even beyond what I expected. Read til the end to understand. See, I asked if I could shoot some portraits. Excited, yet composed, she agreed. Except this time, I wasn’t the one doing the directing. “Come with me, I know this cool place.” So for once, I followed someone else. Trekking through the downtown core - sirens, street vendors, performers - we suddenly found ourselves tucked away in this little oasis in the middle of nowhere....TMU’s hidden campus. Well, maybe not quite an oasis, especially as any university student will likely tell you campuses and GPA trauma causes these institutions to appear as anything but lol. However, when you see the chaos of Yonge and Dundas contrasted with nothing but greenery and these 1800s-type buildings, you really feel the difference. A wall, covered in vines, with flowers as a backdrop. Who would have thought? Oh, and she was a film director. I guess I was onto something. Fitting, isn't it? Shallow DOF chosen for this with two photos I couldn't decide between with slightly stronger fill in light * * * * * #PortraitPhotography #Portraits #streetportraits #toronto #nature

Photo 2/ In addition to approaching strangers for portraits or capturing spontaneous moments, I often walk through parts of downtown and offer quick compliments—usually about someone’s clothing or their outfit color palette. It can be intimidating, especially since I grew up either very quiet, shy, mumbling, or on the opposite end, loud and outspoken, with little middle ground. Over time, I’ve learned that speaking with volume, firmness, and conviction can put people at ease. Still, many are caught off guard by a compliment in the middle of a crowded commute, surrounded by thousands of people moving like sardines. On top of that, it’s been a challenge for me to maintain that same confident tone consistently—especially on days when my mood or energy is up and down. People are trained to avoid strangers because solitlciting anything usually starts with an ice breaker (and then followed by a pyramid scheme offer lol - true story) One of my favorite examples of this approach began with a simple compliment about the coat that led to a short conversation and then a spontaneous ten-minute photoshoot. @ kzlahtic blue outfit echoed the Maple Leafs as Front Street filled with fans heading to watch the Leafs—if I remember right, they were playing the Senators that night. Coming up with poses on the spot is always nerve-wracking, especially while making sure the person feels comfortable. Communication is everything in these moments. Many people are excited to jump into a shoot but still carry visible anxiety. This time was the opposite - @kzlahtic was relaxed, present, and open—which made it one of my favorite shoots ever. All under 10 minutes More of this shoot and more portraits to come * * * * * #PortraitPhotography #Portraits #InstaPortraits #sunset #fallfashion #adventure #CreativePortraits #Portraiture #PortraitMoods #PhotographyLovers #PortraitOfTheDay #agameoftonnes #InstaPortrait #PortraitPhotographyLovers #sunset #MoodyPortraits #StreetPortraits #torontoportraitphotographer#PortraitsOfInstagram #moodygrams

I’ve been wanting to take on this new challenge for a while — photographing people at work. Not the ones on stage or in the spotlight, but the people who quietly keep things moving. The ones who open doors, greet guests, and set the tone the moment you walk in. Downtown has a few restaurants and hotels where you’ll find people like this, but I always hesitated. It’s tricky — you can’t just interrupt someone who’s on duty, especially in a place where professionalism and service are everything. Guests pay for an experience, and that greeting at the door is part of it. I can't interrupt that. So I approached @dibabadawit — no standout poses, no direction — just hoping I wouldn’t get in his way or get him in trouble. This was the next person I approached after the portrait inquiries my previous upload It worked out better than I could’ve planned. Not only did @dibabadawit give me a moment to shoot, but I later learned he’d recently received an award for his customer service at the hotel. The timing couldn’t have worked out any better. Sometimes the people I photograph get lost in the lens — they lose sense of space and direction when I pose them, and I have to remind them about passing cars or pedestrians. It makes things a bit challenging on the spot. But professionalism means switching gears instantly — pausing the pose, greeting a guest, and then seamlessly returning to the shoot. I’d like to do more of this. There’s something about professionalism — the pride people take in what they do — that really translates through the lens. * * * * * #PortraitPhotography #Portraits #InstaPortraits #sunset #fallfashion #adventure #CreativePortraits #Portraiture #PortraitMoods #PhotographyLovers #PortraitOfTheDay #agameoftonnes #InstaPortrait #PortraitPhotographyLovers #sunset #MoodyPortraits #StreetPortraits #torontoportraitphotographer#PortraitsOfInstagram #moodygrams

In addition to approaching strangers for portraits or capturing spontaneous moments, I often walk through parts of downtown and offer quick compliments—usually about someone’s clothing or their outfit color palette. It can be intimidating, especially since I grew up either very quiet, shy, mumbling, or on the opposite end, loud and outspoken, with little middle ground. Over time, I’ve learned that speaking with volume, firmness, and conviction can put people at ease. Still, many are caught off guard by a compliment in the middle of a crowded commute, surrounded by thousands of people moving like sardines. On top of that, it’s been a challenge for me to maintain that same confident tone consistently—especially on days when my mood or energy is up and down. People are trained to avoid strangers because solitlciting anything usually starts with an ice breaker (and then followed by a pyramid scheme offer lol - true story) One of my favorite examples of this approach began with a simple compliment about the coat that led to a short conversation and then a spontaneous ten-minute photoshoot. @kzlahtic blue outfit echoed the Maple Leafs as Front Street filled with fans heading to watch the Leafs—if I remember right, they were playing the Senators that night. Coming up with poses on the spot is always nerve-wracking, especially while making sure the person feels comfortable. Communication is everything in these moments. Many people are excited to jump into a shoot but still carry visible anxiety. This time was the opposite - @kzlahtic was relaxed, present, and open—which made it one of my favorite shoots ever. All under 10 minutes More of this shoot and more portraits to come * * * * * #PortraitPhotography #Portraits #InstaPortraits #sunset #fallfashion #adventure #CreativePortraits #Portraiture #PortraitMoods #PhotographyLovers #PortraitOfTheDay #agameoftonnes #InstaPortrait #PortraitPhotographyLovers #sunset #MoodyPortraits #StreetPortraits #torontoportraitphotographer#PortraitsOfInstagram #moodygrams

Fox cub is trying to argue his case like a lawyer, but mom’s face already says she knows the truth, the verdict, and the punishment—and she’s just letting him talk for her own entertainment 🦊 What a lovely moment of the two together ! Also that aura... damn Taken during the spring • • • • • • • #fox #foxes #foxlove #foxlife #foxesofinstagram #wildlife #wildlifephotography #wildlifelovers #nature #naturephotography #naturelovers #animal #animals #animalphotography #cuteanimals #furryfriends #forest #woodland #outdoors #natgeo

You’ve spent your whole life lurking in dumpsters and behind the local restaurant, the unsung hero of leftover lasagna, with “gluttony” practically stamped on your birth certificate. Then one day, you spot them — the raccoon of your dreams — and suddenly you’re emerging from the bushes like some nervous trash prince. Do you say hi? Do you play it cool? …Do you mention you still have that half-eaten pizza from yesterday tucked under your left arm like a love offering? Oh, to be a prince… but you’re not about that romance life, even though your heart low-key craves it. You’re not built for that half-baked love vulnerability. But nah. You’re from Toronto. So you just lean in like, “Ayo shawty, wagwan nyaaeh… you tryna post up by the green bin later? Man’s got bare leftovers still.” And her? She gives you that side-eye like, “Yo, you’re peak, but I ain’t mad.” Then she steps close and hits you and says “Aight blood, let’s run that green bin ting later. But real talk — if you try snatch my last slice, it’s bare beef, you get me?” So the vulnerability and love partner is lost, but you got a shordie... until the next raccoon lays eyes on her then she leaving your bandit ahh sooner than you can say Roncesvalles ... also this is based on semi true story of what the raccoon did after lool • • • • #Wildlife #NaturePhotography #AnimalPhotography #WildlifePerfection #NatureLovers #InstaNature #NatureShots #NatureBrilliance #WildlifePlanet #WildlifeSeekers #NatureGram #AnimalLovers #ExploreNature #PlanetEarth #DiscoverWildlife #NatureAddict #AnimalsInTheWild #Raccoon #TrashPanda #UrbanWildlife

The face you make when your crush gets too close 🙃 • • • • • • • #fox #foxes #foxlove #foxlife #foxesofinstagram #wildlife #wildlifephotography #wildlifelovers #nature #naturephotography #naturelovers #animal #animals #animalphotography #cuteanimals #furryfriends #forest #woodland #outdoors #natgeo