A pile of fish, an empty chair by the river, workers unloading wheat from a cargo vessel. At first glance, these are unremarkable scenes from everyday life. But look a little closer, and there is more to each frame than its subject.
In 'Listening Beyond Sight', photographer Arif Abdullah finds poetry in these ordinary moments, drawing attention to details, textures and fleeting scenes that might otherwise go unnoticed.
On display at La Galerie, Alliance Française de Dhaka, the solo exhibition features photographs capturing everyday life, particularly around the Karnaphuli River in Chattogram, where Abdullah grew up.
From workers going about their jobs to quieter moments by the water, the photographs capture the rhythms of everyday life through light, shadows, movement and composition.
"I have tried to draw out the poetry or drama hidden within the ordinary scenes around me, in the things I see and the things I enjoy looking at," Abdullah says.
Rather than simply documenting events, he is more interested in the emotions and impressions an image can convey.
"When I first started out, I was also interested in photojournalism. However, it did not take me long to realise that factual information was not what mattered most to me. I was much more drawn to graphic poetry, emotion, impressions and moments," he says.
One photograph that caught my attention featured wheat falling from a cargo vessel. The grain forms an unexpected silhouette resembling a giant fish leaping towards the sky. Some viewers have also interpreted the shape as a flock of birds.
Abdullah took the photograph from inside a lighterage vessel loaded with wheat. Workers on the upper deck were filling buckets with grain and throwing it down into the hold. He took three or four consecutive shots from below to capture the falling wheat.
It was only when he reviewed the images that he noticed the unusual shape.
The photograph is a striking example of how an ordinary scene can produce an unexpected image, depending on how it is seen.
For Abdullah, photography has also been a way of navigating changes in his own life. In 2011, he received confirmation of his eye condition. He eventually sold his cameras and lenses but continued taking photographs with mobile phones. Four or five such images are also included in the exhibition.
The experience of losing his sight inspired Listening Beyond Sight, which grew out of his desire to share the thoughts and realisations that emerged as his vision began to deteriorate.
"Today, I have come to realise that survival itself is the greatest, most profound and perhaps most essential creative act in this world," he says.
The exhibition's title reflects his journey from visual art towards music and sound. Although photography remains at its centre, music is an important part of the experience. Abdullah opens the exhibition by playing a flute he made himself, which he identifies as a Quena.
On 20 October, the final day of the exhibition, his new band, Project BootLeg, will perform for the first time at a solo concert featuring songs he has written and composed.
But at the heart of Listening Beyond Sight are the photographs themselves, capturing everyday scenes that might seem ordinary at first but reveal something unexpected on closer inspection. The exhibition invites visitors to slow down and look at these familiar moments a little differently.
And what does Abdullah hope visitors take away from the exhibition?
"Hope!"