Khalik Allah facts for kids
Khalik Allah (born in 1985) is an American filmmaker and photographer. He is known for his unique way of showing people's lives.
His 2015 documentary film Field ... and his 2017 book Souls Against the Concrete show people living near the busy Harlem corner of 125th Street and Lexington Avenue in New York City. His film Black Mother (2018) focuses on people in Jamaica.
Khalik likes to film people's faces on the street. He captures them for several seconds, almost like they are posing for a photo. He lives in Long Island and is a Nominee member of Magnum Photos, a famous group of photographers.
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About Khalik Allah
Khalik was born in Brookhaven, New York. His mother is from Jamaica, and his father is from Iran. He grew up in Suffolk, Long Island, New York. During his childhood, he often moved between Queens and Harlem. His parents met while studying at university in Bristol, England. Khalik is a citizen of both Jamaica and the United States.
Starting His Creative Journey
Khalik began making movies when he was 19 years old. He used a Hi-8 video camera for his first projects. His first full-length film was Popa Wu: A 5% Story (2010). This film was a "normal" documentary with people talking. It was about Popa Wu, who was like a spiritual guide for the music group Wu-Tang Clan. It took Khalik four years to finish this film.
In 2010, Khalik also started taking still photographs. In June 2020, he became a Nominee member of Magnum Photos. This is a big step for photographers.
Souls Against the Concrete Book
Souls Against the Concrete is a book filled with Khalik's photographs. These pictures show people at night around the intersection of 125th Street and Lexington Avenue in New York City. He took these photos between 2012 and 2016.
Khalik used special film for his photos. He used slow-speed color film, which is usually for daylight. He chose it because it creates a strong contrast in the pictures. He used an old 35 mm SLR camera from 1971. Because he was shooting at night with only the light available, he used a fast lens. This helped him get clear pictures even in low light.
Black Mother Film
Khalik's film Black Mother (2018) explores the lives of people in Jamaica. He used different types of cameras for this film. He used a Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 digital camera. He also used older film cameras like Super 8, Super 16, and Bolex film cameras. This mix of cameras gives the film a unique look.
Khalik Allah's Films
Documentary Films
- Popa Wu: A 5% Story (2010) – 1 hour long
- Antonyms of Beauty (2013) – 27 minutes long
- Black Mother (2018) – 1 hour 17 minutes long
- IWOW: I Walk On Water (2020) – 3 hours 20 minutes long
Short Films
- Urban Rashomon
- Khamaica
Music Videos
- The Razah Code Underground Hip-Hop Chapter 1
