You have seen Yasir Nisar's brilliant photography in a feature we recently ran on tent pegging.  Now meet the man behind the photographs.

A self-taught professional, Yasir is not into photography just as a business.  Sure, he will do a photo shoot for you but his prime goal is to capture the beauty of Pakistan, including its history, architecture and culture, in all its glory and to present those images for the world to see - today and for generations ahead.  He has vowed to build a positive and beautiful image of Pakistan and is dedicating his professional life to this aim.

Yasir is also a writer and loves to travel.  Read on to feel this young man's inspiration and maybe he will inspire you as much as he inspired us!

1. How would you introduce yourself to our readers?

I am an amateur photographer who loves to capture the beauty of the world through the lens. Nature attracts me and that is what I like to capture the most, in its own mood.

2. Tell us when and how you got into the photography business?

Although I've taken pictures and enjoyed it since I was a teenager, it was in late 2005 when I stumbled upon the digital camera and started photography once again. I visited the northern areas and shot some pics, and from then on my interest in photography started again. In 2006, I took up photography seriously and started working towards a cause, which was to negate the negative image of Pakistan in front of the whole world. Now, photography is a serious passion and obsession for me and I am doing so for an aim. I love traveling and have done a lot of trekking and traveling in pursuit of this aim. By the grace of Allah Almighty, I formed a group by the name of “Pakistani Photographers” on Flickr.com and worked on a website www.towardspakistan.com to achieve my aim. In August 2006, I did an exhibition in Nairang Art Gallery, Lahore which was appreciated by the media and the audience for its unique theme. So that is how I entered the photography business!

3. Did you get any formal training or is this a natural talent/hobby?

I never went to school to learn photography, but I experienced life and learnt from it. I shot tons of film and digital media and spent countless hours on the internet. I learned from books, people, the internet and foreign magazines. I’ve been influenced by all those amateurs who are working all over the world and doing some excellent work promoting their parts of the world. I am totally infatuated and impressed with their efforts and hence trying to do the same in Pakistan.

4. What would you say are your unique traits as a photographer or what sets you apart from other professional photographers?

My determination and ability to work in extreme environments plus experimentation! I am basically a writer and hence whatever I shoot, I can describe that in my words. I am working over the vanishing culture in Pakistan along with Muslim architecture that is dying very rapidly. The vanishing culture is not easy to shoot; you have to travel to far off areas to shoot it. I am traveling all over Pakistan to shoot different local festivals, folk games and cultural events that are slowly vanishing. I am doing all this for a cause without any monetary benefit and I think that is what sets me apart from other professional photographers. I am planning to publish all this work in the form of a book for generations to see and read.

5. What photo shoots do you consider your personal favorites? Tell us where you took them and what is the subject matter in the photographs?

My work for folk games and cultural festivals has been my personal favorite. I spent three days last year, in the extremely hot summer season in late June, shooting tent Pegging, a folk game, in a village near Rawalpindi. That turned out to be the best work that I have ever done. Recently, one of the shots from that tour got the first prize in a national level competition held in Islamabad. Similarly my work on different folk festivals has been my personal favorite as well because for that you have to travel, mingle with people, find the unique characters and shoot them, which is the most difficult task.

6. What is the future of photography and photographers in Pakistan? Do you think this is a promising career?

With the invention and mass commercialization of digital cameras, photography is growing by leaps and bounds in Pakistan. Now, youngsters want to step into photography and want to do some serious work in it because the running cost is equal to zero and hence it gives them the liberty and freedom to work. Fashion photography has also opened many avenues for the youngsters to work in this field and make a career of it. Besides that we still need institutes that can impart knowledge and provide formal training to youngsters about photography so that we can compete at an international level. .

7. Besides photography, do you have any other hobbies or interests?

I am basically a writer and love to write. I have been contributing articles for different newspapers and magazines for the last 12 years. Besides that I love to read and travel.

8. For all our readers who love photography what tips and advice would you like to share?

You must learn and experiment if you love photography. Learning can be done in any way, either by asking someone or by reading articles and tutorials. Photography is an art form in which one learns with every passing day. If you want to enjoy it you must be ready to take up the challenge of experimenting with new things and learning them.

9. How would you describe the experience of living and working in today’s Pakistan for people who are living abroad?

Today’s Pakistan has a lot of opportunities for all those people who are creative and want to do something dynamic. With the influx of fresh minds and educated people, the situation is a lot better than what it used to be. I enjoy working in Pakistan and think the situation will improve further in the coming years.

10. How can one contact you for a photo shoot?

They can call me at (92) 0321-4422998 (+92-321-4422998 if calling from abroad) and make an appointment. They can also email me at yasirnisar@gmail.com or contact me via my Flickr! profile which is www.flickr.com/photos/yasirnisar.