Photo exhibition: Pakistan’s beauty, diversity through the lens

Three photographers showcase their work at Nomad Gallery.

ISLAMABAD: A group exhibition of exquisite photographs by three artists -- Nasreen Sultana, Azam Jamil, and M. Azhar Hafeez -- will open at Nomad Gallery on Monday, said a press release issued by Nomad gallery curator.

The show, titled An Ode for Pakistan -- “Titlee Ke Rang Hazaar” portraying the natural beauty of the country from lofty mountains to plains, will continue till May 21. In her statement, Sultana quotes the mystic poet Khalil Gibran, “I am a poet. I gather all that Nature spreads and I spread all that Nature gathers.” The same approach, she says, applies to her work.

Her work on display is a result of photographic adventures in remote areas like Skardu in Gilgit-Baltistan, Sargodha, Chiniot in Punjab and Islamabad. Sultana is a self-taught, amateur photographer. She took up digital photography in 2002.

“Photography has been my passion from very early age. Landscapes, twilight zones and macros are my favourite subjects,” she says. She honed her photography skills through reading up on the subject, attending workshops and trial and error. Her work has been published in the Photographic Society of America (journal and website) and the Asian Study Group.

Photograph of Islamabad’s landscape today. PHOTO: NEW DESK

Jamil has an eye and natural flair for capturing the precise, fleeting moments with his camera, embracing nature and expressions with a fine sense of aesthetics. The overall compositional structure of the 22 photographs included in the exhibition, is varied according to the mood of the surroundings and creates a sense of movement and sensitivity pervading the images.

The weather pattern and ecology of Hunza valley has dramatically changed after the Attabad disaster in January 2010. The formation of the 20km lake in Gojal, after the catastrophic landslide, has changed the ecology of the picturesque valley. Hunza, a predominantly dry valley has started experiencing extended days of overcast skies and gentle drizzles.

The photographs of the Baltit and Altit forts have been taken in the backdrop of these weather changes. A picture shows chilies being dried in a small village near Karimabad, Hunza Valley. The pictures of birds, flowers and lake depict Islamabad and its suburbs. The Rawal Lake photographed mostly at sunset and birds captured in the aviary at the park by the lake.

The lonely boy in deep thought has been captured in the F-11 Park where he was enviously watching other children playing cricket and so wanted to be a part of the action. The Margalla Road shot is again a sunset shot post a day of heavy rainfall.

The contrast of colors prompted the shot. The lone flame belongs to a spa in Islamabad.  Jamil has been working with Serena Hotel for 15 years.

Photograph of a bird that will go on display on today. PHOTO: NEW DESK

Hafeez’s work represents people and landscape. “These photographs portray my recent travels to various parts of my country; particularly Swat, Lahore and Islamabad. I had been to post-war Swat and to other places so this exhibition is also a visual update on the country’s present condition. All I have tried with my camera is to show Pakistan at its best and represent its people and landscape in harmony which is not tarnished by chaos and disorder. Probably these photographs convey utmost sincerity of my cause to the viewer. “

He learnt photography by studying nature. “I dedicate this exhibition to a progressive and secure Pakistan,” he says. Hafeez graduated with degrees in graphic designing and photography from National College of the Arts. He currently works with PTV Global UK/USA and has won several awards for his work.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 13^th, 2013.