Getting back the inspiration to shoot!

There comes a time when any work one does feels repetitive and uninspiring. It was precisely this need and hunger for inspiration that led me to pursue photography in the first place. Over the years I have done a wide array of photo shoots and in the last few months I had been stuck in a creative rut.

Recently, taking photographs felt like routine work and I was not “feeling” my camera like I did in the past. Even though my gear has grown substantially and our studio members have increased, but I felt an unexplainable emptiness inside me. I had grown technically, but I felt that I had morphed spiritually inside.

On one such dark day I got a call from a client to shoot a family portrait. So I booked the shoot for a Saturday and set off to their house with Shumail, our Pi Studio member. I only took one continuous light, one external flash, one camera body and a couple of lenses. This was a very trimmed down version of gear we usually use for our routine shoots such as weddings which usually involve a lot of equipment and manpower.

The shoot was planned to be shot in the afternoon inside my client’s house and in its outer courtyard. The house was beautifully constructed by the Pakistani architect Mr. Ali Alam. When I reached there and started searching for frames, I felt the inspiration return back to me. The patterns of light and the beautiful architecture gave me ideas to photograph the family. The father of the children shared a great idea, thus we ended up photographing the family on the roof as well.

The family kitten "Buffon"  playing with the son's shoelaces

As I started shooting, my heart started to melt at the love and affection the family had for each other. The way their children were playfully laughing and the love the parents had for them was profoundly heartwarming. The love and laughter shared by the family melted my heart and brought back the photographer in me.

I got reminded that what photography was really about and why I had started shooting in the first place. The love which we share with other human beings as a photographer is what shooting is really about for me. Moreover, the joy of capturing the most intimate moments of humans and preserving them for future generations is the ultimate joy in shooting.

Protest against the deaths of victims in Cold Storage in Airport

We attended a protest on Saturday at the Karachi Press Club. The protest was organized by the eminent anchor Jibran Nasir and it called for the resignation of the CM and all the officials responsible for the brutal deaths of the people in the Cold Storage in the Karachi Airport amid the terror attacks there.

When we reached there, we were sad to see the actual turnout in comparison with the so called social media warriors who had claimed that they will attend the protests. But sadly we all know that historically the path of truth is walked by a minority only and that trend was evident in the protest. Out of the staggering number of 3600 people who said they will attend the protest I guess there were only around a hundred or more people who actually attended in the sweltering heat of Karachi.

A screenshot of the number of attendees who had claimed that they will attend the protest

This is a sad reality, that even though you might like the cause while sitting in your comfortable home and commenting it on social media, but you are so desensitized and inhuman that you still prefer the comfort of your own home. 

 Protesters at the Karachi Press Club

Then, we blame our government and everyone that this country is in doldrums. You have no right to complain if you choose the side of silence and do not act on your words. Yes I am angry at your silence and the love of comfort. I hope none of you ever see the stark realities which were told by the victim’s families.

To view the collage of the protest please click here.

My Love Affair with Truth

The manifestation of truth to oneself comes in different forms. These forms depend upon the perception and the environment in which the truth seeker has been brought up and which he or she intends to change.

My manifestation of truth and the realization of my soul came in the form of my arch enemy: money. I have always had an attachment to money, even though I was brought up in a middle class background, where my parents worked very hard to get me a good education.

However, the attachment to material things built up as I compared myself to more affluent classes, rather than being thankful for what I have. This usual comparison has been embedded in my subconscious for so long that it now feels a part of me.

Should I embrace this part or let it go, for the contradiction of letting oneself go may also be tantamount to suppression of my animal instinct of acquisition and power. Will I really let myself go or will I grow as a person when I embrace other parts of me?

This is the battle in my heart which I want to win. For it is only when I cleanse the soul, that I can see my true inner self. The self that hides beneath layers and layers of tyranny, hatred and oppression. I guess it is only through photographs that I can help gain a better understanding of myself, for I have learnt one thing that photos help me keep my equilibrium in my constant struggle between satisfying my soul and the accumulation of wealth.

Remembering Hazrat Ali on 13 Rajab

On this 13^th Rajab 1435 A.H, we remember Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib who was born on 13^th of Rajab 23 B.H, around 1458 years ago; he was the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H), ruling over the Islamic Caliphate from 656 to 661. A son of Abu Talib, Ali was also the first person who accepted Islam.

Except for Hazrat Muhammad (P.B.U.H), there is no one in Islamic history about who as much has been written in Islamic languages as Hazrat Ali. He is respected for his courage, knowledge, belief, honesty, unbending devotion to Islam, deep loyalty to Muhammad, equal treatment of all Muslims and generosity in forgiving his defeated enemies, and therefore is central to mystical traditions in Islam such as Sufism.

He retains his stature as an authority on Quranic exegesis, Islamic jurisprudence and religious thought. Hazrat Ali holds a high position in almost all Sufi orders which trace their lineage through him to Muhammad. Hazrat Ali's influence has been important throughout Islamic history.

As Hazrat Muhammad (P.B.U.H) was returning from his last pilgrimage in 632 AD he halted the caravan at Ghadir Khumm, gathered the returning pilgrims for communal prayer and began to address them.

Taking Ali by the hand, he asked of his faithful followers whether he, Muhammad (P.B.U.H), was not closer (awlā) to the Believers than they were to themselves; the crowd cried out:

“It is so, O Apostle of God!” he then declared: “He of whom I am the mawla, of him Ali is also the mawla (man kuntu mawlāhu fa-ʿAlī mawlāhu)”.

The Sufis interpret the episode as the transfer of Muhammad's spiritual power and authority to Ali, whom they regard as the wali par excellence.

Almost all Sufi orders trace their lineage to Muhammad through Ali, an exception being Naqshbandi, who go through Hazrat Abu Bakr. Even in this order, there is Ja'far al-Sadiq, the great grandson of Hazrat Ali. Sufis believe that Hazrat Ali inherited from Muhammad the saintly power wilayah that makes the spiritual journey to God possible.

Eminent Sufi's such as Ali Hujwiri claim that the tradition began with Ali and Junayd of Baghdad regarded Ali as the Sheikh of the principals and practices of Sufism.

Sufi's recite Manqabat Ali in the praise of Hazrat Ali.

The compilation of sermons, lectures and quotations attributed to Hazrat Ali are compiled in the form of several books.

·         Nahj al-Balagha (Peak of Eloquence) contains eloquent sermons, letters and quotations attributed to Hazrat Ali. This book has a prominent position in Arabic literature. It is also considered an important intellectual, political and religious work in Islam.

·         Supplications (Du'a), translated by William Chittick.

·         Ghurar al-Hikam wa Durar al-Kalim (Exalted aphorisms and Pearls of Speech) which is compiled by Abd al-Wahid Amidi. Consists of over ten thousands short sayings of Hazrat Ali.

·         Nuzhat al-Absar va Mahasin al-Asar, Hazrat Ali's sermons which have compiled by Ali ibn Muhammad Tabari Mamtiri.

·         Divan-i Ali ibn Abu Talib (poems which are attributed to Hazrat Ali ibn Abu Talib)

The following are the appreciatory words by many eminent non-Muslim thinkers about Hazrat Ali:

Person	Quote
Edward Gibbon (British 18th century historian)	The zeal and virtue of Ali were never outstripped by any recent proselyte. He united the qualifications of a poet, a soldier, and a saint; his wisdom still breathes in a collection of moral and religious sayings; and every antagonist, in the combats of the tongue or of the sword, was subdued by his eloquence and valor. From the first hour of his mission to the last rites of his funeral, the apostle was never forsaken by a generous friend, whom he delighted to name his brother, his vicegerent, and the faithful Aaron of a second Moses.
Thomas Carlyle (Scottish historian, critic, and sociological writer)	As for this young Ali, one cannot but like him. A noble-minded creature, as he shows himself, now and always afterwards; full of affection, of fiery daring. Something chivalrous in him; brave as a lion; yet with a grace, a truth and affection worthy of Christian knighthood.
Dr. Henry Stubbe (Classicist, polemicist, physician, and philosopher)	He had a contempt of the world, its glory and pomp, he feared God much, gave many alms, was just in all his actions, humble and affable; of an exceeding quick wit and of an ingenuity that was not common, he was exceedingly learned, not in those sciences that terminate in speculations but those which extend to practice.
Khalil Gibran(poet)	In my view, Alī was the first Arab to have contact with and converse with the universal soul. He died a martyr of his greatness; he died while prayer was between his two lips. The Arabs did not realize his value until appeared among their Persian neighbors some who knew the difference between gems and gravels.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali

“DEATH OF THE SOUL” FORCED US TO “THINK ALTERNATIVELY”

Hello everyone! We have recently been busy with a lot of different projects ranging from documentaries to weddings. Thus, I was unable to update the blog due to time constraints. In the midst of so much work, I pondered over the importance of work life balance.

The irony is that we study through our entire lives to be able to have a good life. When we have studied, the definition of what is a good life becomes muddled. Can we only identify ourselves through our work? Is there anything else beyond this temporary illusion termed as a “career”? All of these questions got me thinking and I decided to delve into the intricacies and mysteries of the most difficult quest for any human, the quest for truth.

As I have evolved into a photographer in my journey with Pi Studio, I have met different people from diverse backgrounds, which have considerably opened my vision and understanding. However, there is one observation in most of the people I have met, that they do not know their purpose in life and most of them simplify their lives into the humdrum of waking up, earning, sleeping and retiring. It is as if most of them do not want to get out of the box they have confined themselves into.

However, Pi Studio always aims to diverge and go onto the road less travelled. Thus we began a series of shoots on the theme titled “Think Alternatively”. The series of this shoots is called “Death of the soul”. The basic concept of this series is that how we humans tend to kill the inner child within with the excuse of life stress due to family and work pressures.

A dedication to Mansoor Al-Hallaj's famous quote أنا الحق Anā l-Ḥaqq meaning "I am The Truth"

Thus, Pi Studio shot a series of images dedicated to the quest for truth. Some images are interpretations of the various ways in which truth has been revealed in the society. We were also amazed at how great people had sacrificed their lives for the quest of truth.

As the name implies the album “Death of the Soul” is still an ongoing project, as a lot of introspection is pending in the quest for understanding one self and the search for the ultimate Truth. We hope all of us start to think in a divergent manner so that new ideas can add fuel to our nation and the society’s growth.

For the album please click here

The Poor Little Rich Boy

There was once a clichéd poor little rich boy in the city of Karachi. The poor little rich boy had all the candies in the world.  One can safely say that he was he was raised as a staunch hedonist. Yet the poor little rich boy was forlorn and ignored. Everywhere he went, he was treated as either poor or rich as a little boy.

He was not accepted in his entirety at all, the core of his identity being that he was a paradox of different economic subcultures and familial influences. He delved into the intricacies of business and also into the intricacies of the world of art at the same time. But the poor little rich boy could never comprehend that like him, art and business do not go hand in hand.

So the poor little rich boy wandered around the concrete jungle of Karachi in search of acceptance and love. But the poor little rich boy had one more problem, he could not feel anything. No matter what perils of the world hit him, he thought that by not feeling he would become stronger. This error of perception had turned him into someone akin to a zombie.

While the poor little rich boy was wandering around he stepped into a puddle. The puddle was coming from a dripping pipe of a house of a female banker. The puddle was hazy and his steps had created a gentle ripple in it. When the poor little rich boy stared in the puddle he saw a hazy reflection of a good looking man.

He was awe struck and continued staring at the unfamiliar persona in the murky reflection of the puddle. He continuously stared at it till his mind conjured all sorts of names for the person in the reflection, but he could not find any. The poor little rich boy now still wanders the streets in search of similar puddles, which tease his brain and heart, but eventually dry up. But who is to explain to the poor little rich boy that the search for puddles must also stop for him to reach the next level of consciousness.

Alif Ailaan All Parties Educational Conference on Key Issues of Education in Sindh

Hello everyone! It’s been a while since we have posted on the blog due to the crazy busy wedding season. The team at Pi Studio is in full swing and is working day and night to give you the best content that enhances your thought spectrum.

Yesterday we visited Hyderabad to attend and photograph the All Parties Educational Conference organized the NGO Alif Ailaan. It was conducted in the Mumtaz Mirza Auditorium of the Sindh Museum and was attended by students and notable dignitaries.

We did not know before this conference that how alarming the educational situation is in Sindh. The facts we learnt from the conference, has made us realize that this situation needs immediate work so that the future of the children of Sindh can be secured. The following is a brief listing of the facts in the brochure provided by Alif Ailaan:

-    Half of all children in Sindh are not in school (i.e. 6.1 million children out of 12 million children).

-        More than half (3.4 million or 56%)of the children out of school are girls.

-       The government supply of education is inadequate (47,934 government schools are in Sindh, of which 91% are primary schools and 1% are higher secondary schools).

-   There are too many children dropping out of school (approximately 0.5 million children out of 0.72 million children enrolled in Class 1 drop out by class 6).

-   The attendance is low i.e. 67% compared to other areas in the country whose attendance is about 80%.

-         Learning outcomes are poor i.e.

·        59% of class 5 students cannot read a story fluently in Urdu or Sindhi, 

·        75% of class 5 students cannot read a sentence fluently in English and

·        71% of class 5 students cannot do simple two-digit division.

-   Educational spending is not rationalized i.e. Tharparkar contains 0.8% of the total children in Pakistan but has the largest number of government schools in the country (around  3% of all the government schools).

-     Where schools exist there condition is abysmal. Across Sindh, 77% of government school buildings are in an unsatisfactory condition, according to the Education Department, whereas elsewhere in the country this figure does not exceed 50%. The following are some details:

·      Almost half of all government schools in Sindh are missing the basic facility of a toilet,

·        Three in five government schools in Sindh have no drinking water,

·        One of every three government schools in Sindh is without electricity and

·        Only one in seven government schools in Sindh has a boundary wall.

-      There is a serious problem of ghost schools. According to the recent survey of non-functional and ghost schools by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, there are at least 6,152 non-functional and ghost schools in Sindh. Thus, every 7^th school in Sindh is either a ghost school or non- functional.

Moreover, 3 out of every 4 non-functional or ghost schools in Pakistan are in Sindh / Thatta and Tharparkar have the highest number of non-functional and ghost schools in Pakistan (897 and 858 respectively.)

A famous teacher addresses the conference

The above facts are a slap on all our faces my friends! We all are to blame for this state of education and we all must work to resolve this. Let us all make a pledge that we all will contribute to the betterment of education in our country!

Pakistan Zindabad!

For the pictures please click here