Please introduce yourself to our readers:

I love life! I’m living life in by going with the flow and being positive. I do everything that makes me happy and is productive. I started off with a bit of modeling which later turned into acting, which I really enjoyed. After joining architecture as my major in an art college, I started traveling which made me photograph my journeys and write about them. Since then, this hasn’t stopped. I love this journey of life that holds a productive
task every other day.

Tell us about your background -where you grew up, your education and family.

I was born and raised in Lahore, Pakistan. I have travelled a lot all over the country but Lahore is my favorite city
because of its richness in culture and such loving people.

I did my O & A levels from Beaconhouse School System and later joined the college of Art & Design, Punjab University Lahore where I am currently going through my thesis project in my bachelors degree of Architecture.

What made you select architecture as a career?

Interior spaces! Architecture is a living art. It’s not just a painting on a canvas. People live in these spaces, and their lives are influenced by it. I always wanted to create something and what could have been better than creating a ‘living’?!

You are also a photographer; tell us what inspired you to take on photography?

When it comes to traveling, I am a loner. I meet people, talk to them and observe things for hours. In all this time I observed the variation in moods of a place and what made it special. I figured out it is always the light. It portrays a single object differently as it changes; the variation influences the interest of the viewer.

In my opinion, light is a soul healer. It has the potential to captivate anyone and control the mood. Shadows hold an equal significance along, as they complement it. So basically, it is light and dark which interests me as a photographer.

What is your area of expertise?

In both Architecture and Photography, I work on light. It makes you see things and define spaces. It has a strong potential to control your psyche and relax you.
If used effectively, it can make you create wonders in any art form. Objects and spaces are defined by light. For me, it holds a lot of importance.
I work in a modern style of architecture influenced by Kahn and Tadao Ando.
In photography I’m really into fashion. Travel and conceptual pieces just come with the package. As an artist, I work and play with Light.

Tell us about your portfolio: what industry names have you worked with?
I started off with a lot of travel and conceptual photography. It has always been my thing. I’ve done a few action shots of horses for a stud farm, which made me cover polo matches as well. I always loved shooting this animal.
I’ve travelled through Pakistan and abroad to cover different places for different publications.
In fashion, I’ve majorly shot Overload (A music band), Chinyere (Bareeze), Sindoor (Boutique), a few music videos and many are lined up for publications and to be shot.

What shoot are you especially proud of and why?

Apart from fashion assignments, I loved my shoot at Noor Stud farm for horses. I didn’t have a long ranged lens then and I wanted an action shot that would depict ‘invasion’. So I got into the stable of wild horses and stood right in front of them while they came in running towards me as a herd. I had to click and jump aside to save my life. It worked, and I was so satisfied. It actually made me feel I’ve earned this shot.

Tell us what gear you shoot with, what equipment do you carry in your camera bag?

These days I have a Nikon D90 with an 18-105mm lens. I carry some filters and an SB 900 Nikon flash. I also keep my Canon 350D with a 19-35mm & 28-90mm lens; the first machine I bought.

Tell us who has inspired you the most and why?

Haha! No one actually! It’s not only a profession for me; it’s an experience which I keep on living. There’s only one inspiration and that is light!

In your opinion what is the future of photography in Pakistan? Would you encourage more people to take up this profession?

Don’t do it unless you are passionate about it; it’s not a business, it’s an art. Yes you can make your business out of art but don’t make this art a business! You won’t be doing justice to your work then.
However, if you are passionate about it, the future is always bright. Time and places don’t determine your future; only you are capable of doing that!

What tips or advice would you give to the budding photographers who struggle with getting that perfect shot?

Speaking in terms of art, there is always a margin of perfection. Everyone has their own distinctive frames and that’s where they differ from each other. The point is how you see things and what you make people see through your eyes. There can be thousands of opinions about any art work. It can be rated highly or very low. Thus, there is nothing like a perfect shot.

Technically, photo means light. You have to be very much sure about what exposure you want and what focus you require. Every shoot demands differently. Let me give you
a couple of examples, a clothing company will always want its clothes to be prominent with a nice model and ambiance. But ambiance is a secondary thing. The focus should be on the clothes rather than on the model; also there should be a balanced ambiance, which fits into your composition.
In case of capturing a sun set, exposure is very important. You have to be very much certain about the ‘time’ you are capturing. A sunset picture will only reflect its true beauty in an underexposed photograph.
Essentially, it’s you who has to determine what you want the viewers to see.

What are some common mistakes people make while taking pictures?

Poor balance (composition), significant focus and exposure are the only mistakes one can point out in a photograph. There should be a strong sense of aesthetics. This will help you a lot. I believe it comes naturally in you and has a lot of potential to grow if you keep on practicing. Keen observation is the key!

What message would you like to give to the readers of The Saturday Post?

Be positive and productive about life and it will bring out the best in you. Live your moments as they will accumulate and make a life for you.
Everyone and everything is beautiful, because life is just the way you perceive it!