An Ode to Pakistan: Photography Exhibition
An exquisite exhibition of photographs by Azam Jamil, Nasreen Sultana and M Azhar Hafeez opens at Nomad today (Monday). The show is titled ‘An Ode to Pakistan: Titlee Kay Rang Hazaar.’ Azam Jamil, corporate director for training and development at Serena, has a natural flair for capturing fleeting moments as he embraces 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.
Azam has captured the Baltit and Altit forts in the backdrop of the dramatic weather changes that occurred after the formation of the Attabad Lake, which resulted from a catastrophic landslide. Hunza, a predominantly dry valley, started experiencing extended days of overcast skies and gentle drizzles.
Azam’s photographs of birds, flowers, and lakes depict Islamabad and its surrounding areas. The Rawal Lake has been photographed mostly at sunset and birds captured in the Aviary at the park by the lake. He has also captured a lonely boy in deep thought in the Fatima Jinnah Park where he was enviously watching other children playing cricket and wanted to be a part of the action.
The Margalla Road shot is again a sunset shot after a day of heavy rainfall. The chillies being dried on the door belong to a small village near Karimabad, Hunza Valley. The shot was prompted by the contrast of colours. The lone flame, which Azam perceived as reflecting a lot of peace, belongs to a spa in Islamabad.
Coming to Nasreen’s skill as a photographer, her collection is a result of her photographic adventures in remote areas of Skardu, Sargodha, Chiniot and Islamabad. “Defining a poet, renowned thinker Khalil Gibran once wrote: ‘I am a poet. I gather all that nature spreads and I spread all that nature gathers.’ The same is true for a passionate photographer like me,” Nasreen says.
Photography has been a passion for Nasreen right from a very early age. She started digital photography in 2002. Landscapes, twilight zones and macros are her favourite subjects. “I am a self-taught, amateur photographer. I developed most of the photographic skills through extensive reading on the subject, photography workshops, and most importantly, through regular practice and trial-and-error process,” she said.
Azhar Hafeez’s collection is a continuation of his work representing the land and people of Pakistan. These photographs portray select shots of his recent travels to various parts of Pakistan, particularly Swat, Lahore and Islamabad. “I had been to post-war Swat region and to other places so this exhibition is also a visual update on Pakistan’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. The photographs convey the utmost sincerity of my cause to the viewer,” he said. Azhar has dedicated the exhibition to a progressive and secure Pakistan.
The exhibition will remain open till May 21.
(TheNews)
