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Visual Stories

Through my lens, I capture moments that tell stories of culture, identity, and urban life.

Lindsay Joy Portrait
Greenbelt, MD
2018
Canon EOS R5

A portrait capturing disconnection.

© 2024 Ilyas O. Abukar. All rights reserved.
Gambian woman in Bosotn
Boston/Cambridge, MA
2017
Sony A7

a quiet afternoon.

© 2024 Ilyas O. Abukar. All rights reserved.
Protest in Boston
Boston/Cambridge, MA
2017
Sony A7

Queer and Trans protest against Trump.

© 2024 Ilyas O. Abukar. All rights reserved.
Synthia Issah Portrait
Boston, MA
2017
Canon EOS R5

A portrait capturing possibility.

© 2024 Ilyas O. Abukar. All rights reserved.
Italian street fashion
Turin, Italy
2018
Sony A7

An Italin couple out on a walk.

© 2024 Ilyas O. Abukar. All rights reserved.
Portrait of Lia, an artist
Cambridge, MA
2017
Sony A7

Lia Coleman taming the sun.

© 2024 Ilyas O. Abukar. All rights reserved.
Summertime Portrait
Washington, DC/Colada Shop on U Street
2018
Canon EOS R5

Exploring guerrilla-style urban portraiture.

© 2024 Ilyas O. Abukar. All rights reserved.
A Potrait of a Friend in Holland
Rotterdam, Holland
2018
Sony A7

A Portrait of a Woman By the Window.

© 2024 Ilyas O. Abukar. All rights reserved.
Portuguese Landscape
Portugal/St. Miguel Island
2018
Sony A7

Exploring guerrilla-style landscape photography.

© 2024 Ilyas O. Abukar. All rights reserved.
Graffitti Artist
Washington, DC
2018
Sony A7

Graffitti artist.

© 2024 Ilyas O. Abukar. All rights reserved.
a smile in France
Bordeaux, France
2018
Sony A7

Capturing the natural beauty of a smile.

© 2024 Ilyas O. Abukar. All rights reserved.
Berlin Street Scene
Berlin, Germany
2019
Canon EOS R5

Street photography capturing the unique urban culture of Berlin.

© 2024 Ilyas O. Abukar. All rights reserved.
Modern Gambian Woman
Cambridge, MA
2016
Canon EOS R5

Transient friendships.

© 2024 Ilyas O. Abukar. All rights reserved.
Wholesome night in Brussels
Brussels, Belgium
2018
Canon EOS R5

Love and passion.

© 2024 Ilyas O. Abukar. All rights reserved.
Dorchester, Boston
Boston, MA
2017
Canon EOS R5

Summer afternoon.

© 2024 Ilyas O. Abukar. All rights reserved.
Depression as Self-Portrait
Cambridge, MA
2016
Canon EOS R5

Capturing the energy of depression.

© 2024 Ilyas O. Abukar. All rights reserved.
Brooklyn AfroPUNK
Brooklyn, NY
2015
Canon EOS R5

A moment captured at AfroPUNK.

© 2024 Ilyas O. Abukar. All rights reserved.
Portrait of Love Lost
Greenbelt, MD
2018
Canon EOS R5

Documenting the spirit of self-destruction.

© 2024 Ilyas O. Abukar. All rights reserved.
Portrait of Diasporic Connections
Laurel, MD
2015
Canon EOS R5

Documenting the spirit of joy.

© 2024 Ilyas O. Abukar. All rights reserved.
Portrait of Men on Stilts
Boston, MA
2018
Canon EOS R5

The vibrant street life of art.

© 2024 Ilyas O. Abukar. All rights reserved.
People on boat
Erie, Pa
2024
IPhone 11

Nightime on the water in Erie PA.

© 2024 Ilyas O. Abukar. All rights reserved.
Portrait of Love Gained
Portugal/St. Miguel Island
2018
Sony A7

Carina and Pedro kiss.

© 2024 Ilyas O. Abukar. All rights reserved.
Hyattsville, MD
2023
Canon EOS R5

Broke in the suburbs.

© 2024 Ilyas O. Abukar. All rights reserved.
Maryland Landscape
Laurel, Maryland
2014
Canon EOS R5

The natural beauty of Maryland's landscapes.

© 2024 Ilyas O. Abukar. All rights reserved.
Studio Portrait in my shared MIT Dorm Living Room
Studio
2017
Canon EOS R5

Studio portraiture.

© 2024 Ilyas O. Abukar. All rights reserved.
Paris Street Scene
Paris, France/Gare Du Nord
2019
Canon EOS R5

The timeless charm of Parisian streets.

© 2024 Ilyas O. Abukar. All rights reserved.
Paris Architecture
Paris, France
2018
Canon EOS R5

Classical Parisian architecture and urban design.

© 2024 Ilyas O. Abukar. All rights reserved.
A portrait of a friend
Cambridge, MA
2018
Canon EOS R5

A Gambian woman.

© 2024 Ilyas O. Abukar. All rights reserved.
Self Portrait in Berlin
Studio
2024
Canon EOS R5

Self-experimentation in Germany.

© 2024 Ilyas O. Abukar. All rights reserved.
I Love You
Laurel, Maryland
2014
Canon EOS R5

Someone I love.

© 2024 Ilyas O. Abukar. All rights reserved.
Studio Portrait Session
Studio
2016
Canon EOS R5

Random shot captured in MIT's Photography Club Studio.

© 2024 Ilyas O. Abukar. All rights reserved.
© 2025 Ilyas O. Abukar. All photographs are protected by copyright.
No images may be reproduced without express written permission.