People to Know: Imani Khayyam
"I like simple things," says Imani Khayyam, Photographer for Communications Department for the City of Jackson.
![](https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Imani-khayyam.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=710da6f2595fb3e39df878c890f9abbd 320w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Imani-khayyam.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=deb1545390ccfc99fc87e85ab38fe313 540w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Imani-khayyam.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=b845a334a54739cdc9cd26e1863d09d2 768w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Imani-khayyam.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=22976b5d36df10af63ea10e36217c8a6 1024w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Imani-khayyam.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=018948d29da1b44dd83b4a08268c61f1 1200w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Imani-khayyam.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=b4045efc39a3316b2f4a49cd8e6b3305 1440w, https://visit-jackson.imgix.net/images/Imani-khayyam.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=a63fb2a9e3aebd0289ba1972a65575bb 1920w)
"Just seeing different places, houses. Going around the city exploring different things I haven't seen before. Photographing things I haven't seen before."
Jackson is like his foundation, Khayyam says. "You know how people say, 'If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere?' I truly believe that I believe that about Jackson."
Khayyam sees his role as seeking out the hidden jewels in the city and taking time to nurture them. "[Jackson is] a melting pot of hidden jewels, but it's also a foundation. Where people can be groomed and go and take over the world."
See his work at ImaniKhayyam.com.
Presented in support of the JXN Bicentennial's 200 Souls campaign