ma•jed (må’ jeed) n. 1. fine art photographer 2. all around good guy 3. creative, imaginative, prolific Our world can be both familiar and strange at the same time. As a photographic fine artist, I create imagery that depicts common objects or scenes in an unfamiliar or unusual way. This concept of "defamiliarization" (derived from the Russian word, ostranenie) in art and literature is one that I strive to emphasize in my work in order to convey a fresh perspective. The artistic process, similar to the scientific one, is a form of inquiry essential to learning—a continuous journey of exploration, speculation, experimentation, and imagination. My goal is to discover the world around me and connect and provoke people with the idea of defamiliarization or "making strange" by using various photographic techniques and design principles such as lighting, layering, textures, patterns, harmony, balance, and movement. My challenge as an artist is to demonstrate to viewers that an apparent departure from the norm can help us better see and appreciate reality in a different context. I am constantly learning new techniques and relying on my sense of play and wonder to create and grow in my art. I hope you enjoy the work as much as I did creating it.