On flickr: Through the Eyes of Baha'is

"Baha'is" is an 134-member identified group on flickr, the photo-sharing phenom on the Internet, "open to Baha'is and those who wish to learn more about the Baha'i Faith." The following quote is used to further define the motivation behind the formation of the group:

"Although now is only the very beginning of Bahá'í art, yet the friends who feel they are gifted in such matters should endeavour to develop and cultivate their gifts and through their works to reflect, however inadequately, the Divine Spirit which Bahá'u'lláh [founder of the Baha'i Faith] has breathed into the world. (Shoghi Effendi, 4 November 1937)"

Brian Tribble's photo with the caption "Mrs. Sabet & Co. trying to decide on which earrings to buy in the shop of a Baha'i in Mwenge Market" is a reflection of the daily experience of this 22 year-old youth from Little Rock, Arkansas, doing his Baha'i year-of-service in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Africa. Other photo sets include "Dodoma," "Naw Ruz 2006," and "London," besides his Dar es Salaam set. He has a detailed blog, I Gave Up on Hate, that provides detail about this photo:

This afternoon, we went to Mwenge Market, which was my first trip to an African market. The shops at this particular market seem to specialize in wood items. In fact, some of the artisans were gathered under makeshift tents carving their wares right in front of us. You could find just about anything made out of wood that you wanted. Necklaces, earrings, eating utensils, bowls, small statues, fragile statues, massive statues, huge boxes, chess boards and pieces, etc. Most of the pieces were carved out of mpingo, which is African blackwood, and done in the style of the Makonde tribe in southern Tanzania and Mozambique. It's what mzungus like me are looking for. =P

Jay's "Bahai-men-SC4" shot of a Ruhi Study Circle in Austin, Texas, is one of his latest posted photos. Jay's work has been featured before on Baha'i Views. Jay has other artwork pictured at his flickr site. He has a Live Journal blog, too, which also carries this photo with explanation:

Sunday mornings I'm part of a 'mens' study circle. We spend about 90 minutes studying the Baha'i Writings, then go out and do something 'manly' (haha). So far this has meant hiking and a fairly new 'sport' called 'geocaching.' Future plans include mountain biking and camping. One guy is serious about wanting to go deer hunting, but that has turned into more of a running joke about machismo run amok.

I anticipate drawing more from the rich material of the Baha'is group on flickr.