When I my initial filming in June 2007, I had brought the following camera equipment with me:

.5x Wide Angle Lens – Recommended for any type of shooting…except closeups.

Two D8 (Digital8/Hi8) Camcorders – One that belonged to me, and the other being my friend’s.

Generic RadioShack Microphone – After two years of much use and abuse, the mic was beginning to not work on me. I figured, this is its last trip.

Borrowed a Panasonic GS80 – Good camera for sub $300 range.

Since filming last time was mostly interviews and people, this setup wasn’t so bad. I did realize that when I shot the outdoor sequences I would need more appropriate equipment. This time around since most of my shooting will be outdoors I decided to purchase some new equipment.

I bought the following:

Zoom H4 Handy – Wav audio recording at 96Khz

Sennheiser MKE300 — I needed a shotgun mic, and according to people’s recommendations, this was the best one to get under $300.

Sony MDR-M150 Headphones – I had these last time I went, but my little sisters broke them. Bought the same exact pair. Excellent set of headphones. Don’t let your little siblings play with your equipment with out supervision.

Hoya Polarizing Filter — Without this, outdoor shots will appear washed out or extremely bright.

Panasonic GS80 – Its a good camera if you don’t want to spend more than $300. I bought this out of necessity. Some of the down sides to this camera is that there isn’t much manual control. One can adjust the iris, shutter, and focus, but only through the ‘joystick’ which isn’t very convenient. There is not mic jack or even a headphone jack. It’s one of the reasons why I bought the Zoom H4 Handy.

.38x Super Wide Angle Lens – Since I want to grab the imagery of the outdoors, I figured this would be appropriate.

Just to show you the difference with and w/o a wide angle lens:

Without the .38x Super Wide Angle Lens

With the .38x Super Wide Angle Lens

One of the challenges I found was mounting the z4 Handy with the camera and mic. I decided to detach the slate from my tripod and “MacGuyver” it the camera and H4 Handy. This is what I resulted with:

Pretty good if you ask me

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Filming Locations – places I want to film:

• French Corridor
• St. Bernard Parish Chalmette
• 9th Ward
• 17 St. Canal
• Food & Aid Distribution Centers
• More personal stories of individuals involved in Katrina…

Things aren’t always as they seem.

I had left New Jersey to film this documentary with the understanding that Katrina came and went, and I’m going to be collecting the personal stories of the people. After spending three days in Baton Rouge I came to New Orleans, only to discover that disaster is still there. It’s been two years, and the people outside of Louisiana have forgotten. The people are trying to survive.

I had the opportunity to talk with a few people. I got to interview four people, all of which gave their personal stories.

Imam Wali Abdel Raoof

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Hammam Ansari

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Abdullah Shakows

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Mohammad Siddiq

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Imam Wali Abdel Raoof was saying how people blame Allah (swt) for what happened. Muslims say that it was a punishment from Allah (swt) because New Orleans is a “sin city”. He brought the example of prophet Job (alayhis salaam). Allah tested Job not because he did anything wrong, rather because he was a good person and was close to Allah. He tested him so that his status may be raised…

…Allah (swt) is testing us so that our status may be raised

I spent only one day in New Orleans. I have to go back to capture the rest of the story and emotions this August inshaAllah.

As a human being, and as a Muslim, I strive not only to be thankful, but I also try to understand he wisdom in Allah’s decree. After having covered most of the key people in Baton Rouge, the reality of it dawned upon me.

Over the course of the past two days, these are the people whom I have interviewed:

Abu Abed Mubarak, Imam of Islamic Center of Baton Rouge

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Jane Whidbee Aslam, a ICNA Relief liaison and later FEMA coordinator during the Katrina crisis.

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Asif Hoda, a core volunteer in the Islamic Center of Baton Rouge

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Omar Suleiman, ICNA Relief Coordinator

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Abdul Qahhar, Islamic Relief Projects Coordinator

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Maqsood Ahmad, ICNA President, Louisiana

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Imam Abu Abed last night mentioned the five points of thankfulness:

1. humility
2. thanking the individual
3. loving the individual
4. recognizing that you don’t deserve it
5. not using it for bad

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Today we will be on the road to New Orleans inshaAllah…

When someone has an open wound, what is the best way to approach them?

I had heard about it, but I had never done it. This has been my first film project that I am doing away from home. I never realized how important it is to connect with the people, how important it is to touch their heart for them to open up and tell them your story.

Staying with the people as if you are part of the community has had an emotional effect on me. I’ve been here for about two days, and I feel like I am part of this community. I feel as if I have known these people my entire life. We have so much in common and so many levels we connect.

Talking with them, praying along side them, following along with their everyday lives is truly an honor. I have done three different interviews so far. With each interview my heart softens more and more. Hearing their stories, the moments that were moving in their lives, the ways they have grown, and changed, as well as the advice they have for myself and the people that will watch this is truly something that is a heart opener.

With each interview of the relief workers I am reminded of the Ansar of Madinah during the time of RasulAllah - sal Allahu alayhi wasalam, and it has only begun. We still have to meet with the survivors of the storm, and what they have to share with us.

The brothers and sisters have been more than hospitable to us since we have arrived. We had the opportunity to spend time with the youth, different brothers and sisters in the community. Had a chance to be part of a open house event with the neighboring places of worship. — One amazing this is how so many different Bihari (Bihar is a province in India, my birth place) people are here.

We have a long day ahead of us. Heading to New Orleans today inshaAllah.