Friends were shocked and surprised by the passing of popular Bermudian photographer Ibrahim “Abes” Muhammad.

Mr Muhammad, whose photographs of the Island’s nightlife frequently appeared in The Royal Gazette and the Vybez Alliance website among others, died suddenly at the age of 51. Qian Dickinson of Vybez Alliance last night described Mr Muhammad as a popular and talented photographer who set out to make the world a better place.

“Abes was such a people-person and loved to capture happy moments through his lens,” Mr Dickinson said. “I can’t remember seeing him a single time without his camera and he used his craft to touch so many lives.

“Everyone knew Abes. If you didn’t know him by name, you’d recognise him as the guy who’d just walk up to you, make you laugh and take your picture.

“He had a gift of not only showing the world around him, but making the world around him a better place.

“Over decades, he’s blessed us with literally millions of photos, forever frozen in time to remember him by, yet he’ll still be a huge miss to many.”

Meanwhile, Miss Bermuda Alyssa Rose said of Mr Muhammad: “He has been involved in more people’s lives that I’m sure he even knows He’s watched people grow up and he’s been a positive addition to all if not most events that take place here on the island.

“He touched so many people in such a short amount of time, he will never be forgotten.”