20 Questions for Safaa Kagan
Safaa Kagan is a travel photographer based between Miami and Los Angeles. Born and raised in Morocco, She moved to the United States to pursue her dream of becoming a photographer.
Safaa studied art and earned a degree in commercial photography, then apprenticed under many National Geographic photographic masters such as Steve McCurry, Sissie Brimberg, and Nancy Brown, working in portraiture and travel photography. This training broadened her horizons to the massive diversity of cultures across the world, triggering her desire to immerse herself in other cultures and traditions.
Safaa has photographed many different tribes, communities and countries around the world. Her portraiture work has earned her international awards, as well as recognition from people such as National Geographic Editor-in-Chief Karen Gunn.
Hear from Safaa in episodes 69, 71, 124, and 125 of The Path to Authenticity.
If your life were a novel, what would be the title?
La Belle Vie
Where were you born?
Casablanca
Where is the place you call home?
Topanga Canyon
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
What do you mean I m still a kid:)
What is your profession?
A photographer by trade, a healer by heritage, a mother by nature
What profession, other than your own, would you like to attempt?
a botanist
What is your favorite quote?
"As long as the ties that binds us together are stronger than those that tear us apart, all shall be well."
What is your preferred form of creative expression?
anything that’s visual and hands on... I love creating spaces and photographs and trying new herbal blends. I like to share what I create with others especially. My main medium is photography and I have been trained to capture what i see in my mind in a way where the viewer can get the message across without words. It touches me tremendously when the person giving me feedback expresses how the photographs brings out emotions in them.
What is your favorite movie, song, and work of art?
Wow! So many I love the work of Davinci. I think he is a master alchemist who has experiences in many, many mediums. When I stand in front of any of his creations I cant help but wonder what vortex did he use to retreat to to get that kind of inspiration and those genius ideas. I love movies that talk about spirituality in a creative way. Hollywood has so creatives and the work they come out with always blows my mind. I will have to say the new animation Soul is one of my many favorites. I listen to a lot of mantra music and anything with cello and French lyrics will make me just wanna dance barefoot.
Who do you admire most?
My children have been my best teachers I have learned so much from watching them grow.
Over the course of your life, what is an issue with which you have repeatedly struggled?
I have struggled with depression that will come and knock me off my feet. I later on learned that if one lives by the cycles of nature, It is only a period that will come and go. Just like the winter months where the garden is dead, and the sun is not shinning. It is a necessity and its something we have to embrace. I call it the dark night of the soul because there is Always Always Always incredible growth and life lessons that are learned. We can’t expect to have la Dolce vita all year long that’s just not natural. We have to flow with the ups and downs of life and see the balance and harmony in it.
In childhood, who was your celebrity crush?
Leonardo DiCaprio. Hahahaha!
What historical figure would you most like to meet?
I actually have a list written down... Where do I start? I would love to meet Alexander Hamilton if I could time travel. I had a huge obsession with him after we watched the play in NY. I guess my second guess will be the playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda What a talented and creative individual!
What natural gift or ability would you most like to possess?
Time Travel
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Ability to travel and world-school my kids
What quality do you admire most in a person?
Their attention to details
What is something you would like to learn about?
Space, stars, planets, and the science of astronomy
What do you wish more people knew about you?
that I’m an introvert
What is your idea of success?
Sharing your knowledge and possessions to do good in the world
What would you like people to say about you when you’re gone?
That woman who lived on top of that mountain brought so much happiness to those she met.
Tom Gentry is an internationally certified alcohol and drug counselor (ICADC). He provides recovery coaching for individuals, family coaching for people with loved ones who suffer from substance use disorders, and transitional coaching for people amid significant life changes. He has spent more than 25 years working with people and families affected by addiction and related issues. Learn more about Tom and his work by visiting tomgentry.net.
