Photography exhibition: Riveting scenes of nature, nomadic life on display

Pictures capture seldom seen lanscapes, people.

ISLAMABAD:

There must be some unfathomable charm that compels nature enthusiasts to venture out of their comfort zone and into the great beyond.

In their first-ever showcase, Walkabout Films, a production house, revealed riveting scenes of natural history, landscape and nomadic life in a photography exhibition titled, “Forgotten Frontiers,” that opened at the Satrang Gallery on Thursday.

Whether it is the promise of exploration or the delight of taking in the sights, sounds and subtle nuances, these people inevitably return armed with stories to tell and experiences to share.

“Upholding its tradition of bringing diverse and cutting-edge shows, Satrang Gallery is proud to host the first photographic exhibition by the award-winning wildlife documentary filmmaker Walkabout Films,” said Satrang Director Asma Khan.

The set of 30 enlarged photographs documents the team’s journey to various parts of the country on their filmmaking projects. The team has been filming in remote and exotic locations throughout the country for the last decade.

From mangroves of coastal Sindh to the deserts, the plains of the lowlands, to the highest glaciers and peaks in the world, they have captured scenery, animals and people. They also have lived with communities where trekkers don’t venture and whose names are alien to our ears.

The photographs take one on a virtual spree to the Thar Desert and its vibrant people, the ethereal patchwork of the Potohar plateau, the remote Yarkhun and Broghil valleys that border the mystical Wakhan corridor of Afghanistan, and the contrasting landscapes of Skardu, the Indus and the icy breathless glaciers and peaks around K2.

The postcard-esque images come alive, lending smooth textures and light to the subjects. The variation in colour, from the blue-green glacial pools or the snow-capped mountains and the neon in truck art make for a visually-engaging experience as one browses from one shot to the next.

US Ambassador Richard Olson, who inaugurated the show, said, “I’ve really enjoyed this portrayal of Pakistan. The pictures show parts of the country that not all of us have seen. It’s very important to highlight this side of the country.”

Zainab Omar, director of an online art gallery and guest at the exhibition, also commented on the photographs. “The photo quality is spectacular and the photos show the natural beauty of our country. It is also the angles at which they have been shot which lend some interesting perspectives to the photographs.”

Headed by Nisar Malik, the team has in recent years completed projects for National Geographic, BBC Discovery Channel, as well as other organisations.

Malik said that most of the aerial pictures were part of documentary programmes that the team has made over the last decade and some were shot separately.

The production house aims to help conserve and protect highly endangered wildlife, natural habitats and indigenous communities in some of the most remote regions of the world.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 22^nd, 2014.