Frames of Perspective on display

Work of 29 photographers on display

ISLAMABAD: Photographs showcasing the heritage, culture and nature of Pakistan, taken by photographers of the twin cities went on display at the Pakistan National Council of Arts on Saturday.

The exhibition, “Frames of Perspective”, organised by Instameet Islamabad in collaboration with Canon Pakistan, has 87 diverse and distinct photographs taken by 29 talented photographers.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Sidratul Noor, the mastermind behind Instameet Islamabad said that this online community is a small way to bring the photography community of the twin cities together. “We organise photo walks and get-togethers to inspire and encourage each other to follow the passion of photography,” she said.

She further said that the exhibition aims to bring the young talented photographers in the limelight. “This exhibition gives photographers a chance to showcase their creativity and magic that has been limited to social networking sites. This exhibition is the first of its kind to showcase the photographs of the young talent of Pakistan. It is also a great way to see them use the power of their camera to depict the culture, heritage and nature of Pakistan,” she said.

Syed Mehdi Bukhari, an eminent professional photographer and a writer who started photographing with an SLR back in 2004, inaugurated the exhibition.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Marvi Soomro, a talented young photographer said the exhibition has been a great opportunity for budding photographers to showcase their work. “It is unfortunate that there aren’t many opportunities for our creative youth to showcase their talent and therefore such exhibitions should be promoted for they give us a chance to show our work to the masses. These exhibitions are also important because they inspire budding photographers and allow us to meet with fellow photographers and gain knowledge and inspiration,” she said. Soomro’s photographs taken primarily in Chitral and other northern areas of Pakistan showcased nature in its simplest and most picturesque form.

Sher Ali, another photographer from the twin cities said that he loves travel and street photography. “I am a graphic designer and an animator by profession but photography is my passion and I travel often to photograph. My photographs exhibited here are primarily portraits taken in Hunza, Malamjabba, Naran and Kaghan,” he said.

Muhammad Usman, a full time professional photographer said such a diverse exhibition also helps photographers witness the work others are doing. “This gives us a chance to improve and unleash our inspiration. I get really inspired by the nature and that is what I have used my camera to capture in this specific display,” he said.

Two prizes— best male and female photographer—were given to Mustafa Ali and Sidratul Noor. Both the winners received a Rs50,000 gift voucher from Canon. However, it was rather disappointing to see the organiser win a prize when other budding photographers should have been given a chance. All the participants received certificates of participation.

The exhibition is to continue till March 13, 2016.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 13^th, 2016.