ISLAMABAD, May 8: The preview of the landscape photographs of bureaucrat-cum-photographer Sheikh Ghazanfar Hussain was held at the World Bank auditorium. World Bank Country Director John Wall was the chief guest who appreciated the photography and splendid skills of the photographer.

“The viewers feel themselves in these valleys”, remarked Mr Wall, who also has visited Northern Areas.

He was very impressed by the cool colour contrasts, especially of the autumn season, and said these photographs represented and portrayed the beautiful valleys in the Himalayan, Karakuram and Hindukush regions in the best way.

The exhibition, entitled Northern Beauty, will open at the same venue on Sunday at 5pm.

It will provide a rare opportunity to nature lovers, art connoisseurs and the general public who want to see the ‘paradise on earth’ through this photo exhibition.

The vibrancy of the colours is fully revealed in the landscapes, which is the photographers’ passion.

Sheikh Ghazanfar Hussain, a senior district management group officer and member of Federal Land Commission, has captured scenes from all over the country, but has a penchant for Northern Areas. “The region has an irresistible appeal for tourists, adventure lovers, painters and the photographers”, he says.

He said the people of the country did not know the natural beauty of these unspoiled valleys. “I got the rare opportunity of seeing and enjoying the natural beauty of valleys and capturing it through my camera”, the soft-spoken Shiekh Ghazanfar Hussain, who served as Northern Areas chief secretary in 2003-04, said.

Replying to a question as to when and how did he develop the interest in photography, Shiekh Ghazanfar said: “It was in my family. I inherited it from my father and uncle during my student life when I was 18 years old”.

It is very painstaking to capture a good photograph, he said. For a good photograph, sunlight and its direction is very important. According to Shiekh Ghazanfar, for capturing a deep and cool landscape photograph, morning is the most suitable time, while afternoon is the best time for capturing a warmth photograph.

He lamented that the government did not encourage the artistic talent and creativity of officials to portray and highlight the cultural and soft image of the country in the world.

“I am doing this on my own without any help from the PID or any other department”, Mr Ghazanfar said.

The photographer has captured the rich beauty of the area through his camera and highlighted the rivers, mountains, pastures, and flora with exceptional artistry, portraying the rugged mountains with splashing seasonal colours.

The autumn colours dominate the photographs. The colours of the landscapes are vibrant and alluring.

Shiekh Ghazanfar will be the second artist after eminent landscape painter, Ghulam Rasool, who had rendered great service to the otherwise neglected region by portraying and highlighting the intriguing natural beauty of Gilgit-Baltistan.

The exhibition presents a vivid picture of the pristine natural environment of the region situated at the conjuncture of three great mountain ranges — Karakorum, Hindukush and Himalaya.

A photograph of Mashaburum peak in Skardu with golden trees in the foreground is simply awesome. The ruggedness of mountains in juxtaposition with seasonal colours is breathtaking. Coverage of Deosai plateau needs to be particularly mentioned. This idyllic landscape with its green pastures and blue skies will definitely mesmerize the art lovers of the capital city and compel them to see themselves the highest plateau of the world.

Equally compelling are the scenes from places as diverse as Shimshal and in the south east and Ghizer in the northwest. Shimshal had been inaccessible until 2003 when it was opened to outside world with the completion of a 45-mile jeep road. The photographer himself inaugurated the road.

The Indus meandering through the Baltistan, and Ghizer River through Ishkoman as seen in the picture leave one wondering at the exquisite beauty with which nature has endowed the country.

The images leave an impression hard to forget, echoing Keats’ words that a thing of beauty is a joy for ever.

His pictures exude serenity and create a style more akin to painting than photography. Hues blend into each other resulting in different tonalities. Conveyance of true mood of the landscape rather than its advertisement is the hallmark of his photographic impression.

The exhibition will continue till May 13 between 10am to 8pm.—Farman Ali