Exploring Kashmir

Exploring Kashmir

India | Tuesday, September 28, 2010 | 4 photos

I got hooked to photography about two years back and have looked to capture mundane things in an interesting manner. I enjoy walking down unknown streets as I believe that it is the best way to get a true sense of the spirit of a place.

One such trip I took was to Kashmir, a place which I feel needs to be saved from the political turmoil it is facing and a place that must be visited in every season. The natural beauty of Kashmir is at par with the radiance and exuberance of any other even today, despite being surrounded by heavy security.. one can get glimpse of how beautiful it must have been at one point of time. These rare moments of beauty are slightly shielded, as the state is blanketed by armed forces and religious, political and terror threats constantly overshadow daily life. This is my small attempt to preserve some of the positive moments I witnessed in the state.

The boat in the picture is locally called "shikara." Living in modern cities, one does not realize how truly enchanting and larger than life lakes can be. These shikaras are situated on the Dal Lake, against towering mountains, which almost seem to be protecting the Lake without being intrusive.

The picture of the little girl was shot while on a late afternoon walk around parks in Pahalgam, Kashmir. She was accompanying a group of ladies who were going to cut grass. While I was hesitant to approach them, this little girl's mother prodded her to smile when I aimed my camera towards her. She made my day.

The man sitting on rocks makes a living by taking tourists on horseback rides. This was captured when he took a moment to rest.

The shot of a man walking while on the phone is my attempt to capture a hint of modernism that has hit Kashmir.

Still an amateur, I would be delighted to have a passionate guide help hone my photography skills and to let me accompany him in exploring a country in ways that are still unknown to me.