We are devastated by the loss of our friend and colleague Ahmed Razeen who passed away yesterday.
Ammaday was a gifted photographer who ran his own, vastly successful publication in the late 2000s and, though he lacked a social media presence, was well-known to people in the trade.
He enjoyed travel, every aspect of it, and we braved some of the wildest seas together. By all means, he was a modest man who was at home whether sharing a bunk-bed or a two-bedroom suite.
He was particularly interested in the ‘Back of the Haus’ photo features – exploring what takes place behind the scenes at resorts. He enlivened these photo-stories with his exceptional skill and direction.
The last we spoke to Ammaday, at the end of May, he was hopeful and wanting to start travelling again.
Ammaday’s lens cannot be replicated – it is a heavy loss for his family, team Hotel Insider, and the community at large.
As he despised being the subject of cameras, we thought we’d share some of his unpublished photos.
Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.
You will always be missed, Ammaday.
Here’s a look at some of his unpublished works:
Eco Centro, the eco-hub at Soneva Fushi, from our last trip together. Ammaday liked the symmetry of the can stacks. The cans are melted and made into door handles and such.
So many coconuts at Eco Centro! They’re husked and pressed for their oil, or made into fibre and peat for Soneva Fushi’s gardens. Ammaday captures the plenitude of coconuts here quite well.
From our trip to LUX* South Ari, who’d teamed up with SwimSol and deployed the world’s largest sea-based solar PV system at the time.
Ammaday had a passion for underwater photography – a diver himself, he wanted to start work on a magazine dedicated to life beneath the waves. Here, though, he’s doing the next best thing, snapping photos of dolphins from the comfort of a boat.
The Kukulhu Village at Six Senses Laamu where they are experimenting with chicken farming. Ammaday loved their farm-fresh eggs and meat.
Behind the scenes at Park Hyatt Hadahaa, in their generator room. Ammaday was in his element here.
All right, we loved this photo so much we put it on the cover of our third issue. It’s the spa complex at Nika, a great capture by Ammaday.
From the unveiling of the bubble room at Finolhu, (now Seaside Finolhu). The sunset was extraordinary.
A chef applies finishing touches to a salad at Amari Havodda Maldives – Ammaday was a big fan of salads. By the way, he did some excellent food photography for Ratatouille restaurant in Hulhumale. Check out their menu once the lockdown lifts.
From the Sommeliers’ Themed Lunch at Huvafen Fushi. It was the first of its kind in the Maldives and the location, Vinum, Huvafen Fushi’s underground wine cellar, couldn’t have been more perfect. Ammaday captures this very well.
Rest in peace, brother. You were a treasure.