Ecstatic Moments

2010 - on going

Music has always been an important source of inspiration for humans throughout history.

Many philosophers and musicians have written about music and its influence on human life. For example, the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche wrote: “God has given us music so that above all it can lead us upwards. Music unites all qualities: it can exalt us, divert us, cheer us up, or break the hardest of hearts with the softest of its melancholy tones. But its principal task is to lead our thoughts to higher things, to elevate, even to make us tremble… The musical art often speaks in sounds more penetrating than the words of poetry, and takes hold of the most hidden crevices of the heart… Song elevates our being and leads us to the good and the true. If, however, music serves only as a diversion or as a kind of vain ostentation it is sinful and harmful.”

Personally, music has been a daily companion throughout my life, with some of my earliest memories of music going as far back as my childhood. I have been especially mesmerized by music’s magical ability to heal the deepest wounds. In 2010, I attended my very first official music concert. During the concert, my friend who had joined me, offered me to use his camera. I couldn’t resist the offer, and immediately grabbed it and went on to take my first official concert photographs.

I realized that there’s a different language that music speaks in concerts, those special moments of live musical creation open up a unique conversation. My way of communicating was to capture those moments that spoke to me during the concert -  moments of magic and ecstasy. Since then, I’ve never attended a concert without a camera. Clicking the little button on my camera allows me to capture the connection that unfolds in that very moment where magic happens.

The Ecstatic Moments Project is a collection of those magical and ecstatic musical moments that have communicated with me, leaving me truly touched and inspired. The subjects of my photographs are artists that I  may already know, musicians whose work I personally admire, or of performers whom I got introduced to for the first time.

Hooverphonic at Dubai Opera House, Dubai, 2022

Armin van Buuren at Republic Square, Yerevan, 2019

Souad Massi during WASLA Music Festival, Dubai Media City Amphitheatre, Dubai 2017

Roger Waters at Olympic Stadium, Berlin, 2013

Björk during Berlin Festival at Tempelhof Airport, Berlin, 2013

Lake of Tears; Mikael Larsson and Daniel Brennare at Ratsky, Dubai, 2013

Madonna during MDNA World Tour at du Arena, Abu Dhabi, 2012

Benny Benassi opening Madonna’s MDNA World Tour concert at du Arena, Abu Dhabi, 2012

Megadeth; Dave Mustaine during Gulf Bike Festivalat Al Badia Golf Club, Dubai, 2012

Metallica; James Hetfiled and Lars Ulrich at Yas Arena, Abu Dhabi 2011

Gorillaz at Damascus Citadel, Damascus, 2010

More photographs are available from each concert, as well as other concerts

Editing and post production is a time consuming and a challenging job!

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Weather Systems series, The Burj Project