I was with these pros Dr. Adnan Qureshi and Wildlife Kosmos to visit head Balooki for shooting birds. These pros are excellent to say the least, wonderful in their work and committed to excellence. May some day I can work like them.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Tourism Scenario Mag Cover
Happy and proud moments for me.
My shot of Hiran MInar chosen to be on the cover of Toursim Scenario Int' Magazine.
My shot of Hiran MInar chosen to be on the cover of Toursim Scenario Int' Magazine.
Banjosa Lake, AJK
The early morning view of Banjosa Lake, AJK with my signatures.
Comments/Critics welcome
Comments/Critics welcome
Lahore Fort, Lahore, Pakistan
Another option For the cover of what is known to be my yet unnamed, untitled, un-arranged book on Pakistan.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Tolipir
Tolipir is a very beautiful place in AJK ahead of Rawalakot. It is around 30 kms from Rawalakot and takes around one and half hour to reach there. The views on both sides of the road are breathtaking during the whole journey and one enjoys looking at the beautiful scenery. There are some rough tracks on the way as well which you can only pass if you have the courage and your car has the mettle to undergo from.
This particular view was shot from the top of a neighboring peak which was on our way before the Tolipir.
This particular view was shot from the top of a neighboring peak which was on our way before the Tolipir.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Channan Peer Mela
EVERY year, in the month of Feb and March Channan Peer Festival or Mela Channan Peer is held in Cholistan desert for six consecutive weeks. The fifth week is considered to be the most popular and most honored one. It attracts people from far and wide, who pray for welath and sons at the dune, just as they have done for thousands of years. Today thousands of Pilgrims come to Channan Peer to worship at the dune either by using Camels, horses or modern mode of transportation like tractors, trollies, jeeps and cars. It is a carnival season for all the pilgrims, who stay there for at least a night and camp, cook and eat together and sleep in the open sky as part of the traditions and ritual of the Channan Peer. The sacrifice of different animals is done in order to win the favors of Channan Peer in order to get the son and wealth.
It is one of the most celebrated occassion and people wait for it all the year, the whole desert takes a festive mood and happenings happen all over the desert. Other than pilgrims, visitors also come to visit the mela and enjoy the celebrations. This year the event was further supported by the district government of Behawalpur who gave a local holiday on the 5th Thursday of the festival so as to let people participate in it in a complete manner.
It is one of the most celebrated occassion and people wait for it all the year, the whole desert takes a festive mood and happenings happen all over the desert. Other than pilgrims, visitors also come to visit the mela and enjoy the celebrations. This year the event was further supported by the district government of Behawalpur who gave a local holiday on the 5th Thursday of the festival so as to let people participate in it in a complete manner.
Do you scare me?
HE was working in his field when i spot him from my car during my visit at Chakwal, Salt Range area. I picked up my camera and started taking his shots from my 400 mm f5.6 telelens. He was scared, he never knew what is gonna happen, He thought that I am gonna kill him with my telelens hidden in my car and pointing towards him.
Innocence
Taking potraits of children and people on street is most difficult as you don't know what waits ahead. It is difficult because you have less time to think and act, no time to change the lenses but all what you have to do is to catch the moment. This portarit of a young Kashmiri girl was shot on my recent tour to Banjosa Lake, AJK. We were on our car waiting for finding some good spot to do the sunset when we found a few children playing besides the road. We immediately stopped, asked the children to look at us and captured a few images from the car. I asked this beautiful girl to come at my side and stand, she was holding his brother in his hands and she gave me some good gestures. Thanks to my 28-105 f2.8 lens that was mounted at that time on my camera that I got a good DOF.
Common Stonechat
Stonechats:
The genus Saxicola, the stonechats or chats, is a genus of 14 species of small passerine birds restricted to the Old World. They are insectivores of open scrubland and grassland with scattered small shrubs.
Due to confusion of subspecies allocation, the name S. torquata was briefly used for the European species, the African Stonechat being S. axillaris.
Species list:
Whinchat, Saxicola rubetra
Stoliczka's Bushchat or White-browed Bushchat, Saxicola macrorhyncha
Hodgson's Bushchat or White-throated Bushchat, Saxicola insignis
Fuerteventura Chat or Canary Island Stonechat, Saxicola dacotiae
Chinijo Chat, Saxicola dacotiae murielae - extinct (early 20th century)
European Stonechat, Saxicola rubicola (previously S. torquata rubicola)
Siberian Stonechat or Asian Stonechat, Saxicola maura (previously S. torquata maura)
African Stonechat, Saxicola torquata
Reunion Stonechat, Saxicola tectes
White-tailed Stonechat, Saxicola leucura
Pied Bushchat, Saxicola caprata
Jerdon's Bushchat, Saxicola jerdoni
Grey Bushchat, Saxicola ferrea
White-bellied Bushchat or Timor Bushchat, Saxicola gutturalis
Buff-streaked Bushchat, Saxicola bifasciata
Scientific Classification:
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Passeriformes
Family:Muscicapidae
Genus:Saxicola (Bechstein, 1802)
References
Urquhart, Ewan & Bowley, Adam (2002): Stonechats. A Guide to the Genus Saxicola. Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 0-7136-6024-4
Wink, M.; Sauer-Gürth, H. & Gwinner, E. (2002): Evolutionary relationships of stonechats and related species inferred from mitochondrial-DNA sequences and genomic fingerprinting. British Birds 95: 349-355. PDF fulltext
The genus Saxicola, the stonechats or chats, is a genus of 14 species of small passerine birds restricted to the Old World. They are insectivores of open scrubland and grassland with scattered small shrubs.
Due to confusion of subspecies allocation, the name S. torquata was briefly used for the European species, the African Stonechat being S. axillaris.
Species list:
Whinchat, Saxicola rubetra
Stoliczka's Bushchat or White-browed Bushchat, Saxicola macrorhyncha
Hodgson's Bushchat or White-throated Bushchat, Saxicola insignis
Fuerteventura Chat or Canary Island Stonechat, Saxicola dacotiae
Chinijo Chat, Saxicola dacotiae murielae - extinct (early 20th century)
European Stonechat, Saxicola rubicola (previously S. torquata rubicola)
Siberian Stonechat or Asian Stonechat, Saxicola maura (previously S. torquata maura)
African Stonechat, Saxicola torquata
Reunion Stonechat, Saxicola tectes
White-tailed Stonechat, Saxicola leucura
Pied Bushchat, Saxicola caprata
Jerdon's Bushchat, Saxicola jerdoni
Grey Bushchat, Saxicola ferrea
White-bellied Bushchat or Timor Bushchat, Saxicola gutturalis
Buff-streaked Bushchat, Saxicola bifasciata
Scientific Classification:
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Passeriformes
Family:Muscicapidae
Genus:Saxicola (Bechstein, 1802)
References
Urquhart, Ewan & Bowley, Adam (2002): Stonechats. A Guide to the Genus Saxicola. Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 0-7136-6024-4
Wink, M.; Sauer-Gürth, H. & Gwinner, E. (2002): Evolutionary relationships of stonechats and related species inferred from mitochondrial-DNA sequences and genomic fingerprinting. British Birds 95: 349-355. PDF fulltext
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Bird @ Chakwal, Pakistan
Finally back to basics i.e. Bird Photography. Shot during my visit to Salt Range areas.
Equipment:
Canon 20D, Sigma 400 mm f5.6 Handheld
Equipment:
Canon 20D, Sigma 400 mm f5.6 Handheld
Katas Raj Temples, Chakwal, Pakistan
Katasraj temple is a Hindu temple situated in Chakwal district of Punjab in Pakistan. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the temple has existed since the days of Mahabharata and the Pandava brothers spent a substantial part of their exile at the site. Pakistan Government is considering nominating the temple complex for World Heritage Site status. It also proposes to spend about Rs 20 million in three phases for the restoration of the complex.
Another day draws to an end
The last pic of the tour at Chakwal when finally another day of my life draw to an end.
Mallot temples, pakistan
The Malot temples, built of local red sand stones of salt range mountains, are located located on the road leading to Malot village near Choi village. The road is linked with main Kalar kahar road from where it turns from Karuli Chawk towards Malot via Pakistan cement factory and Choi village along with coal mines. It is nine miles away in the south of Katas and same distance from Kalar kahar in the east. It is at the height of 3000 feet and the original spread of the fort was 2000 feet from east to west and 1500 feet from north to south. The inner most spread is 1000 by 500 feet. Gen Cunningham estimated the radius of 2.5 miles.
The Malot was also called Namrod and Ramrod. Gen Abbot has mentioned its name as Shah Garh or Shai Garh but Janjuas name d it Raj Garh. The name is after the King of MalDev or Malu. The Rajput history claims its name Malot from the word Malik-Kot as they believed that the title of Malik was given to the one who accepted annexation to the Muslim King of Delhi although in reward the Malik enjoyed the autonomous status with full sovereignty in the assigned area. The Mughal King Babur’s travelogue “Tuzkai-Babree” attests to the corollary of Malik-Kot, Mal-Kot and then Malot. According to Ghadholak Rajput archives the city of Delhi was built around 994 AD and Malot was built around 980 AD. Gen Cunningham found the Malot Fort and Temples in a very bad shape even in 1848.
The two present temples were looked after by the Brahman Bali Hindus till 1947. The Guru of Bali Hindus, Guru Tarlok Nath shrines were frequently visited by them. In the year 1527 Daulat khan Lodhi was forced by the royal forces of Mughal king Babur, to surrender. Mahan Singh, father of Maharaja Rangeet singh, also built a small fort here at Malot in early 19th century.
The access to Salt Range Mallot Temples Distt Chakwal is as follows,
Coming from Lahore / south-western parts of Pakistan or from Islamabad / Rawalpindi we will travel on motorway till Kallar Kahar interchange. From Kallar Kahar interchange toll plaza we will be taking turn going towards Choa Saidan Shah Distt Chakwal, leaving the other turn going towards “Soon-Sakeisar valley. From there about 2km away there is a right turning called “Karuli chowk” from here the road will lead us to Choi village after passing near by newly established Pakistan Cement Factory. After Choi village we will reach Mallot village where Mallot Temples are located which were built circa 900-1000 years ago. The total distance will be around 35-40 minutes from “Karuli chowk” to Mallot village.
The Malot was also called Namrod and Ramrod. Gen Abbot has mentioned its name as Shah Garh or Shai Garh but Janjuas name d it Raj Garh. The name is after the King of MalDev or Malu. The Rajput history claims its name Malot from the word Malik-Kot as they believed that the title of Malik was given to the one who accepted annexation to the Muslim King of Delhi although in reward the Malik enjoyed the autonomous status with full sovereignty in the assigned area. The Mughal King Babur’s travelogue “Tuzkai-Babree” attests to the corollary of Malik-Kot, Mal-Kot and then Malot. According to Ghadholak Rajput archives the city of Delhi was built around 994 AD and Malot was built around 980 AD. Gen Cunningham found the Malot Fort and Temples in a very bad shape even in 1848.
The two present temples were looked after by the Brahman Bali Hindus till 1947. The Guru of Bali Hindus, Guru Tarlok Nath shrines were frequently visited by them. In the year 1527 Daulat khan Lodhi was forced by the royal forces of Mughal king Babur, to surrender. Mahan Singh, father of Maharaja Rangeet singh, also built a small fort here at Malot in early 19th century.
The access to Salt Range Mallot Temples Distt Chakwal is as follows,
Coming from Lahore / south-western parts of Pakistan or from Islamabad / Rawalpindi we will travel on motorway till Kallar Kahar interchange. From Kallar Kahar interchange toll plaza we will be taking turn going towards Choa Saidan Shah Distt Chakwal, leaving the other turn going towards “Soon-Sakeisar valley. From there about 2km away there is a right turning called “Karuli chowk” from here the road will lead us to Choi village after passing near by newly established Pakistan Cement Factory. After Choi village we will reach Mallot village where Mallot Temples are located which were built circa 900-1000 years ago. The total distance will be around 35-40 minutes from “Karuli chowk” to Mallot village.
Dark Periods
From Darkness to light
A trance of one's life in which when all doors are closed and one is left in darkness, it is light that gives one direction, a moment to live and a meaning of life.
To all those dark moments of my life which have eventually been lightened in one way or the others. To All those people in my people who have inspired me, left me all alone and have given meanings to my life thus making my life more meaningless, To all those dreams in my life that have been left uncomplete!!! I dedicate this shot.
A trance of one's life in which when all doors are closed and one is left in darkness, it is light that gives one direction, a moment to live and a meaning of life.
To all those dark moments of my life which have eventually been lightened in one way or the others. To All those people in my people who have inspired me, left me all alone and have given meanings to my life thus making my life more meaningless, To all those dreams in my life that have been left uncomplete!!! I dedicate this shot.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Masjid Wazir Khan
My first visit to Masjid Wazir, an architectural wonder of Muslim times in Lahore near Dehli Gate grabbed my attention due to its beautiful architecture.
I spot this beautiful, calm and historical place and decided to spend sometime looking at the architecture and the way Mughals worked over it. This particular image was shot by Sony Cybershoot.
After the advent of Islam in sixth century AD a new style of construction came into being which was later known as Islamic Architecture. It has its won significance and a powerful influence all over the world. In Asia we see many such buildings in Indo-Pak, Iran, Turkey, China, Arabian countries and Central Asian States.
In our region the Mughal period can be said as the golden era which apart from other important events, the art of construction and architecture reached its climax especially in the regime of Shah Jehan.
There are several forts, castles, palaces, gardens, tombs and mosques, which portray this art. In this context, Taj Mahal at Agra is an example of no match, mosques are also one of the most interesting buildings in Islamic World. Among several famous mosques like, Badshahi Masjid, Moti Masjid, Sunehri Masjid at Lahore, Shahi Masjid at Chiniot, Masjid Mohabat Khan at Peshawar Shahi Masjid at Delhi. Masjid Wazir Khan at Lahore is one such glorious buildings of the Mughal Era, constructed by Ilam-ud-Deen Ansari, the Governor of Punjab under Shah Jehan, the successor of Jahangir.
The Construction of this mosque started in 1934 and took 7 years for completion. The glorious mosque is made of bricks and faced with gaily-coloured glazed mosaic tiles. It is justifiably famous for the colourful fresco and tile decorations, which adorn both interior and exterior of the building. The use of inlaid pottery decoration in the wall panelling is remarkable. Watching closely, it reveals that each section is a separate piece of tile and the work in strictly inlay and not painted; small bricks laid in Kankar time with a sprinkling of red sandstone. The grills of the mosque are in terra cotta.
The mosque is not a huge as the Shahi Mosque of Lahore. The total area of the mosque is 279.5' x 159', while the hall is 131.3' x 42'. On the corners of the building three are elegantly erected octagonal minarets measuring 107' in height. These minarets are decorated with mosaic tiles and are an outstanding features of art. On request one may get the permission to climb 69 steps of a minaret to the place of muezzin. The gallery offers a superb panorama of the old city.
This living legacy is an intricate masterpiece of work, which portrays great devotion and sincerity of its builders and designers. To keep this heritage in its pristine beauty is the need of time.
I spot this beautiful, calm and historical place and decided to spend sometime looking at the architecture and the way Mughals worked over it. This particular image was shot by Sony Cybershoot.
After the advent of Islam in sixth century AD a new style of construction came into being which was later known as Islamic Architecture. It has its won significance and a powerful influence all over the world. In Asia we see many such buildings in Indo-Pak, Iran, Turkey, China, Arabian countries and Central Asian States.
In our region the Mughal period can be said as the golden era which apart from other important events, the art of construction and architecture reached its climax especially in the regime of Shah Jehan.
There are several forts, castles, palaces, gardens, tombs and mosques, which portray this art. In this context, Taj Mahal at Agra is an example of no match, mosques are also one of the most interesting buildings in Islamic World. Among several famous mosques like, Badshahi Masjid, Moti Masjid, Sunehri Masjid at Lahore, Shahi Masjid at Chiniot, Masjid Mohabat Khan at Peshawar Shahi Masjid at Delhi. Masjid Wazir Khan at Lahore is one such glorious buildings of the Mughal Era, constructed by Ilam-ud-Deen Ansari, the Governor of Punjab under Shah Jehan, the successor of Jahangir.
The Construction of this mosque started in 1934 and took 7 years for completion. The glorious mosque is made of bricks and faced with gaily-coloured glazed mosaic tiles. It is justifiably famous for the colourful fresco and tile decorations, which adorn both interior and exterior of the building. The use of inlaid pottery decoration in the wall panelling is remarkable. Watching closely, it reveals that each section is a separate piece of tile and the work in strictly inlay and not painted; small bricks laid in Kankar time with a sprinkling of red sandstone. The grills of the mosque are in terra cotta.
The mosque is not a huge as the Shahi Mosque of Lahore. The total area of the mosque is 279.5' x 159', while the hall is 131.3' x 42'. On the corners of the building three are elegantly erected octagonal minarets measuring 107' in height. These minarets are decorated with mosaic tiles and are an outstanding features of art. On request one may get the permission to climb 69 steps of a minaret to the place of muezzin. The gallery offers a superb panorama of the old city.
This living legacy is an intricate masterpiece of work, which portrays great devotion and sincerity of its builders and designers. To keep this heritage in its pristine beauty is the need of time.
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