Monday 27 October 2014

Survival!

After Masjid Wazir Khan, Lahore my next stop was the streets; adjacent area of Mosque offer many opportunities to the street photographer. Narrow and closed streets, people in the small kiosks, street vendors, porters, beggars and what not.

I made mistake arriving at the scene in the middle of very hot day. I was fatigued from unbearable heat of Lahore's summer and had to leave the place too soon, I hope to go back in lower temperatures to wander around with only aim to shoot.

I love getting close to people and have few words before shooting them; but, I planned for the environmental and street shooting that day. For the job I picked Fujifilm X-T1, Fujifilm XF10-24mm F/4 OIS, Fujifilm XF35mm F/1.4 and picked Canon 580 EXII speed light with remote trigger.

As I walked across "Khalifa Naan Shop", where bread (naan) is baked in "tandoor", usually four to six feet deep hole in the ground heated with natural gas where available. Unfortunately I missed the chance to taste the Naan, aroma made the temptation strong and irresistible though. They offer Plain, Roghni and Minced Meat filled Naan prepared with Butter Ghee.

Camera Fujifilm X-T1 | Lens Fujifilm XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS @ 10mm
Exposure f/4.5 | 1/125 Sec. | ISO-200


The back room behind the Khalif Naan Shop was much darker then the shadowy and narrow alleys of Delhi Gate, to keep nasty flies away or perhaps it was the hour of load shedding. In this room wheat flour is kneaded and sometimes filled with minced meat and rolled to be baked outside. The man kneading and filling Naan looked deeply saddened and was working like robot; working for survival. He did not say a single word while I tried auto focus for a while in the complete absence of light; this was the only decently focused out of dozen shots I clicked.

Camera Fujifilm X-T1 | Lens Fujifilm XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS @ 10mm
Exposure f/5 | 1/60 Sec. | ISO-200
Remotely triggered handheld Canon 580 EX II speed light @ 90mm Zoom | Power 1/16


Outside the room the light was bright and contrasty. In the retractable shades the steel workshops workers were waiting for the electricity. They welcomed me with smiles, we had a little chat, everyone wanted to be shot.

Camera Fujifilm X-T1 | Lens Fujifilm XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS @ 24mm
Exposure f/5.6 | 1/30 Sec. | ISO-200


Camera Fujifilm X-T1 | Lens Fujifilm XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS @ 10mm
Exposure f/4.5 | 1/60 Sec. | ISO-200


Shot him while on moving bike, color of his beard did not look natural. He was selling some sort of cooling drink, which looked completely unhygienic.

Camera Fujifilm X-T1 | Lens Fujifilm XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS @ 10mm
Exposure f/4 | 1/100 Sec. | ISO-400 (Cropped)


While I was composing for something else, this curious old beggar with troubled look came out of nowhere, I immediately pressed shutter button; he looked at me for a second and moved on and kept moving and did not let me shoot him.

Camera Fujifilm X-T1 | Lens Fujifilm XF 35mm F1.4
Exposure f/4 | 1/125 Sec. | ISO-200


This is also shot from moving bike, reminds me of spice shops in Dubai; however, his merchandise was blocking half of the road.

Camera Fujifilm X-T1 | Lens Fujifilm XF 35mm F1.4
Exposure f/5.6 | 1/60 Sec. | ISO-200


To beat the heat, father kept giving bath to his son while mom and sisters watched. This shot was captured without them noticing. It was over exposed by a stop, by the time I noticed the kid was gone.

Camera Fujifilm X-T1 | Lens Fujifilm XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS @ 24mm
Exposure f/4.5 | 1/180 Sec. | ISO-200


I regret that I could not spend enough time in the Mohalla Buzurg Shah in particular and the Lahore in general. Mohalla Buzurg Shah has many bazaars which is dream to the street photographer.

Fujifilm X-T1 with the Fujifilm XF 10-24mm impressed me on the streets as well; however, in the poorly lit room it struggled to focus and I came back with many out of focus images. I had Canon speed light 580 EX II in left hand which stopped me from manual focusing.

Tuesday 21 October 2014

Masjid Wazir Khan

During my trip to Lahore, Pakistan June, 2014, I planned a visit to Masjid Wazir Khan. It was hot and bright sunny day, not a particularly favorable light for landscape or architectural photography. Scarcity of time didn't allow me to schedule for golden or blue hour. I had company of my nephew; though, he do not have much love for photography nor for historical sites.

To be discreet for obvious reasons I preferred using light weight Fuji and smallest Canon DSLR, all gear was easily accommodated in small Kata messenger bag:
  • Fujifilm X-T1
  • Fujifilm XF10-24mm F/4 OIS
  • Fujifilm XF35mm F/1.4
  • Canon EOS100D
  • Canon 40mm F/2.8 STM
  • Canon 580EXII Speed light

Masjid Wazir Khan, located near Kotwali Chowk on Shahi Guzargah. Famous historical Mosque was build during the reign of Mughal Emperor Shahjehan. Outside 400 year old spectacular Mosque are mostly metal workshops. Kingly passages around the mosque have turned into black broken roads; whereas, adjacent Delhi Gate (historical site) entrance is rebuild many times to keep the Mughal architecture attractive. Renovation work was under progress in the Mosque as well. Lahore city may have developed and changed its face; however, this block reflects the true flavor of Lahore.

Camera Fujifilm X-T1 | Lens Fujifilm XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS @ 10mm
3 Exposure Blend f/9 | 1/80, 1/180, 1/320 Sec. | ISO-200

Beggars would welcome you outside many of the mosques in Pakistan, this mosque was no exception; surprisingly, instead of money they asked me to shoot them, which, gladly I did. I find it very comfortable that people in Pakistan generally and Lahore particularly were very welcoming to photographers.

Camera Canon EOS 100D | Lens Canon EF 40mm f/4.0 STM
Exposure f/4 | 1/160 | ISO-100

Main entrance leads to three different areas of mosque, left and right sides to small rooms, stores and stairs to roof, while centre arch takes to the mosque hall through courtyard. 

Camera Fujifilm X-T1 | Lens Fujifilm XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS @ 10mm
3 Exposure Blend f/5 | 1/30, 1/60, 1/125 Sec. | ISO-200

Beyond the main entrance of the mosque footwear are not allowed; floor of courtyard was very hot, I burned my feet after taking few steps trying to compose a shot from the centre. To facilitate visitors a thick jute carpet is laid from the entrance to the main hall of the mosque. A small pool in the middle of the courtyard provides wudu facility to worshippers; ironically, the water inside the pool was not very clean.

Camera Fujifilm X-T1 | Lens Fujifilm XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS @ 10mm
Exposure f/8 | 1/250 Sec. | ISO-200

Undoubtedly the architecture was beautiful, patterns or what remaining of it on the arches, walls and roof were mesmerising.

Camera Fujifilm X-T1 | Lens Fujifilm XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS @ 10mm
Exposure f/4.5 | 1/30 Sec. | ISO-500

On our way out, the watchman told we can view the locked portion of the mosque, if we "co-operate" and we "co-operated". The top of the "unlocked" minaret was the highest place in the mosque which provided view to the whole block.

Camera Fujifilm X-T1 | Lens Fujifilm XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS @ 10mm
3 Exposure Blend f/9 | 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000 Sec. | ISO-200

The visit was to document historical site; it also gave me insights on rich cultural and historical background of Lahore. Speaking as a photographer, it was a great opportunity and I wish to go back in lower temperature at dusk hour; that day intensity of light forced me to bracket and blend digitally which I usually avoid. However, the neighbouring areas interest me more as a photographer. Fujifilm X-T1 worked really well for me coupled with XF 10-24mm F/4. It is much lighter and smaller than Canon 5D MkII with EF17-40 F/4 setup. Fujifilm X-T1 grabs very little or no attention at all on the streets, fewer people thinks that I am a "journalist"; and the result is not inferior compared to Canon's 5D MkII.