8-Year Old Qamar Hashim Is Youngest Iraqi Photographer (WATCH)

Just try and watch the following video without smiling. Seeing 8-year old Qamar Hashim handle a camera the size of his face and hearing his remarkably eloquent remarks on the importance of photography could make anyone reach for the Kleenex.

Hashim got his start taking pictures when he was 4-years old, when he would capture US troops invading outside his window. His father, a photojournalist, sparked Hashim's curiosity and supplied him with the means to explore it. He is the youngest photographer to win a variety of local Iraqi photography awards, including the Iraqi Society Photographic (ISP). He hopes to be included in the Guinness Book of World Records.

In an interview Hashim described his favorite picture he had ever taken: "My favorite picture is of a man sleeping who sells books at al-Mutanabi street. Also a picture of a bee on a rose, I ran a lot to follow the bee until I got this picture."

What does the future have in store for such an accomplished and creative spirit? Apparently photography is not Hashim's only passion. He said in an interview: "I like to act and I would like to be a child-activist." Whatever avenue Hashim chooses to pursue, he is off to a wonderful start.

You can watch another look at Hashim's vision in this Al-Jazeera video.

Comments

[MajorityLeft]

10:21 AM on 01/03/2012

Thankfully he and his father didn't get murdered and tortured by bushcheney and their henchmen.

[Henry Spencer]

09:10 AM on 01/03/2012

162,000 civilian de/aths in Iraq since the invasion...

[excellent chef]

07:57 AM on 01/03/2012

His size and demeanour does lend to stealth spontaneous photography but where are the results?

[The Bastidge]

07:44 AM on 01/03/2012

Since HP didn't post any examples of his work, I guess we'll have to take their word that he is a great photographer.

[MajorityLeft]

10:23 AM on 01/03/2012

or...you could 'google him' and see his work.. duh

[The Bastidge]

01:34 PM on 01/03/2012

Ok. I "google image" searched "Qamar Hashim". Most of the images were pictures of him.

Stop acting like he did something great.

[warloch2]

06:35 AM on 01/03/2012

I appreciate the HP showing what hypocrites liberals are. If this boy and his family were living in the U.S. liberals would have the parents arrested for child abuse for putting their child to work. Since they live in another country and do not compete against liberals for a job in the U.S. liberals have no concern. Liberals enacted child labor laws to prevent children from competing for jobs period. Liberals could not care less about children working or anything else that happens to children especially pre-born ones.
:-)

[Odojas]

06:55 AM on 01/03/2012

I always said that I disagreed with the premise to the Iraq war. But once we were there, I hoped for the best result. Here is a rose risen from the crack in the sidewalk (a tupac reference)

Who knows what this child would be like under Sadam. We will never know.

As far as child labor laws. I don't see how a child wielding a camera fits into the criteria of sweatshops and textile factories. The law envisioned protecting children from harsh conditions and a lack of education. I will strongly argue that this child will easily be able to attend school while mastering his craft.

[warloch2]

11:08 AM on 01/03/2012

Odo,
Here is your free education:
Labor laws already existed that outlawed sweat shops. What about numerous children who WANTED and NEEDED to work ie orphans and run aways? I will strongly argue that you are a typical dishonest liberal.
:-)

[peebo]

07:06 AM on 01/03/2012

I'm a photographer and a liberal. If the parents were sending him off to capture the war (not from his window) or worse, shoot weddings, that would be work. What he's doing now is an enjoyable art form. FYI, it's not work if you love doing it!

[JoannainPA]

08:53 AM on 01/03/2012

I guess by there reason painting in water colors is also 'work' ? God help us all! Remember when
People had sense?

[warloch2]

11:10 AM on 01/03/2012

peebo,
What if he loved filming war in action from a fox hole?
:-)

[rksingh2002]

05:22 AM on 01/03/2012

good. as long as he is using only camera to "shoot". He has lot of options.

[CharlesD]

10:05 AM on 01/03/2012

Right, he can even shoot first this time!

[shutterbabe]

11:04 PM on 01/02/2012

Qamar Hashim is a remarkable young man with a vision that extends beyond his love for photography. This article gave me a tremendous sense of hope for the future, through Hashim's gifted eyes, keen awareness and beautifully open heart.
------------------
** Art Saves Lives**

[lillahhassan]

08:29 PM on 01/02/2012

Amazing he s not bombed to death.