Mount Everest to the moon: Picture perfect in Quetta

Danial Shah Published July 4, 2014

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The Quetta we know through the mainstream media is mostly negative. Despite all that, what we tend to ignore is that everyday life does exist on normal basis and people struggle in the same way as people do in any other city to earn their living.

Taqi Hazara owns a small yet colourful photo-studio in Meezan Chowk, in the centre of Quetta city. The walls inside the studio are full of frames of colour photo-samples, a huge collection to choose from.

Taqi is an expert in photoshop and uses it for photo manipulation for his customers. His computer is full of soft copies of designs that are displayed on the wall. The customer sits with him and guides him on their desired style that they want to be in their photographs.

Read full story here.

Pakistan

Danial Shah is an adventure seeker and a travel and documentary photographer with an interest in anthropology. He loves trekking, climbing, deep sea diving and chai.

He tweets at @Danialshah_ and you can follow him on instagram here.

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jiyala

Jul 04, 2014 06:46pm

He uses a CRT monitor and runs Windows XP for god's sake. For all we know he knows nothing beyond what his 'ustaad' taught him 15 years ago. I appreciate you trying to find and highlight talent in Pakistan, but sorry I don't see talent in there.

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kashif

Jul 04, 2014 09:25pm

Bad photoshopped pics. but hey if people are paying for that then why not!

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Danial Shah

Jul 04, 2014 09:26pm

@jiyala: ok

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Ali Khan

Jul 05, 2014 01:33am

I appreciate his talent. Very nice work from someone who has learnt without any formal training. PS finally we've found the murderer of Photoshop. Photoshop hum sharminda hain Tere qatil zinda hain

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Waqar Hussain

Jul 05, 2014 02:36am

Hahahha ! RIP Photoshop...... There is far more greater work developed here in Quetta.

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Jul 05, 2014 10:10am

Yes he is not the best photoshop user in the city, yes his pictures are not perfect but these are the colors of a small city such as Quetta. Drop the perfectionist crap, this is just one of the guys trying to make a living. Where as most of us would call such pictures as "Paindoo", for certain it is the best. Stop looking down on others. Great photo article, do more on life in smaller cities of Pakistan. Thank you Dawn.

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Jul 05, 2014 03:03pm

This is real Pakistan.. Thanks Danial Shah, nice article. There are many more trades like this which should aslo be shown.i.e. Tangay walas, Roadside labourers, kite shops... this is our heritage, nothing to feel paindoo about. Most foriegners used to line up at such shops a few decades ago.

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dhk

Jul 05, 2014 03:43pm

I couldn't help but notice many pictures with guns. otherwise not sure why it is such a newsworthy story.

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Human

Jul 05, 2014 06:41pm

@jiyala This is criticism for the sake of criticism. How would an LCD display increase your artistic abilities? As far I know, XP runs the needed Photoshop versions just fine. Besides, you can buy a window 8, made in China, for a couple hundred rupee in Pakistan. Please Jiyala, if you have nothing positive to contribute, at least do not discourage people who are trying to make a go of it.

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blahistani

Jul 06, 2014 02:58am

@jiyala, CRTs produce richer colours compared to common LCD/LEDs. I doubt he can afford high-end ones. He doesn't need it anyway. Either way, I agree with @AY. Stop hating.

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daniel shiger

Jul 06, 2014 03:54am

many positive and negative comments but at least he is someone who works hard and make his livelihood. Much better than the politicians who loot Pakistan's wealth

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weq

Jul 06, 2014 12:33pm

This man is skilled Masha'Allah.

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Shubs

Jul 06, 2014 01:23pm

@jiyala: C'mon man...the guy's just trying to make a living with limited resources and whatever he knows. And apart from the open display of guns, I don't think it would be very different in small-town India as well. I think it's a beautiful human interest story, not a showcase for "talent" as you're trying to portray it.

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atif

Jul 06, 2014 01:57pm

salutes to all who earns money through hard work

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Rishi

Jul 07, 2014 11:34am

Totally concur with Shubs and Atif, at least he is making people's lives colorful (except the vulgar display of arms which might be usual in Quetta) through honest means. It's his job and he is earning it. Best Regards Rishi

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Mateen

Jul 07, 2014 02:30pm

Any 12 year old kid could easily do this.

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Agha Ata

Jul 08, 2014 08:47am

I don't understand. What poor moon and poor Mount Everest has to do with his talents as a photographer, in Queta?

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weq

Jul 08, 2014 01:05pm

@Mateen True techbically, but considering the place he is at, his financial conditions by merely looking at his jumbo monitor, and probably the academic deficiencies, this is an achievement.

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weq

Jul 08, 2014 01:09pm

@dhk I am sure his skills are used for forging original documents and the like, this is the only country on planet earth wherr his photoshop software license is not of concern, a Water Engine nation.

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oldboy

Jul 08, 2014 05:59pm

I guess the photoshop software is pirated and so is MS Windows and office .

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Jul 08, 2014 10:04pm

The highlight of the story is the Afridi pic.. LoL!

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AShher

Jul 09, 2014 02:48am

Good on you Taqi, I am loving the pitcures , yes they are not the best, he may be using old apparatu but he is making a living for him and proud of it, Thats what count. The key to happy like is to be yourself because everyone else is already taken, To all perfectionist and people looking down on Taqi....get stuffed.

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siddharth

Jul 09, 2014 10:34am

He is selling his skill and there is a market for it. People who criticize should try selling high end pictures in triple the price and I can assure them that their shops would close. For eg. some of the most sensible Bollywood movies are a disaster at box office but "Dabang 2" mints money. People dole out products that market demands. With everyone trying to put digital pictures on their profile pages, I think there would be brisk business for the "moon shots".

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Bilal

Jul 09, 2014 11:45am

@jiyala dude these ppl learned improvisation and above all its the will to earn a living out of sth.. you'll find talented ppl like him across the rural masses living in balochistan, sindh, kpk and punjab who would in the end make sth out of nothing.. for you and me CRT monitor is nothing indeed, but a scrap. In pakistan, talent is a prerequisite to survival for masses who really have no other way to live a decent life

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