Chiiz Volume 13: Landscape

The Human Knots

Howard Schatz

Spotlight on Wildlife

Richard Peters

Hanami

Rohan Shrestha

The Ochre

Paradise

Arturo Lopez Illana

Offroading Affair

with Spiti Priyashi Negi

Chiiz Gallery Best of chiiz.com

Tips & Tricks

Drone Photography

THOSE WHO MADE IT POSSIBLE

DISCLAIMER: ALL PHOTOGRAPHS PUBLISHED BY CHIIZ MAGAZINE HAVE BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE RESPECTIVE ARTISTS AND ARE PROTECTED UNDER THE COPYRIGHT LAWS. IT IS FORBIDDEN TO COPY THE MATERIAL OR RESELL IN ANY FORM WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE ARTIST. ALL PRODUCT NAMES, TRADEMARKS, LOGOS, BRANDS AND OTHER DATA PUBLISHED IN THE MAGAZINE ARE THE PROPERTY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS. EDITORS ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY CONTENT IN THE ADVERTISEMENTS. CHIIZ BELIEVES IN PROMOTING THE BEAUTY OF HUMAN FORM AND BODY. WE, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES, PROMOTE VULGARITY OR OBSCENITY IN ANY FORM. READER'S DISCRETION IS ADVISED. FOR ANY FURTHER DETAILS VISIT US CHIIZ.COM OR WRITE TO MAGAZINE@CHIIZ.COM. PUBLISHED BY MANSA INC. CONTENT PROVIDED BY CHIIZ.COM.

Editorial

Jassi Oberai Prakhar Garg Priyashi Negi Ankit Tyagi Chief Visualiser

Sheetal Mann Design

Bhavyaa Parashar Abhishek Gangwar Analysis

Prateek Kashyap Writers

Rahul Batra Shrey Malik Vishakha Jha Aditi Puranik Meenal Singh Technology

Sachin Arora Rishabh Jain Bharat Bhushan Aditya Baghel Business Development

Rajesh Basu Amit Ghosh Dimas Fajar Sales

Krishna Srinivas Amit Gupta Marketing

Sahil Gupta Anurag Khaneja Public Relations

Barkha Chandra Staff Photographers

Surbhi Sharma Susana Gomez Tarundeep Singh Urshita Saini Finance

Neelu Singh Consultant

Editorial A good photograph, they say, is one which takes you back to a moment otherwise gone. A great photograph, however, does more. It brings the viewers to the scene as if they’re living the moment, as if they’re somehow in the scene, watching it as one with the visionary that is the photographer. With this aim, Chiiz brings to you its Landscape Edition that is bound to take you to places that you might have seen but not quite this way.

With the advent of spring, Rohan Shrestha takes us to witness the ‘Hanami’ (the cherry blossoms festival) in Japan and recreates the beauty of the breathtaking pastel pink blooms. Landscape photography may be a popular subject among the photographers but it takes a lot of mastery, patience, and a certain frame of mind to capture imagery that will really stir the viewers. Follow the journey of Arturo Lopez Illana to the “Ochre Paradise” that is the Leh-Zanskar Valley and witness how the valley unfolds between these pages.

From grand landscapes to intimate details, the best photos demonstrate the photographer’s own connection to nature and capture the essence of the world around them. Wildlife photographer and Nikon UK Brand Ambassador, Richard Peters gives us a glimpse of his connection with nature and takes the art of photographing wildlife and landscapes a notch above the rest with his amazing work in “Spotlight on Wildlife”. Mandira Bahl captures the “Tough Beauties” of New York City as they ride out the stereotypes and redefine strength, determination, dedication and fervor.

Chiiz showcases brilliant photographers from chiiz.com and features amazing content that will leave you enthralled in the “Chiiz Gallery”.

The food photography by Subhadip Malakar will have you drooling over the pages as you wish for those delicious dishes to magically appear in front of you. Also, keep an eye on how the ophthalmologist-turned-photographer, Howard Schatz, came up with the amazingly creative concept of “The Human Knots”.

Landscape photography evokes a sense of belonging to the place that has been photographed. It makes your heart jump and elicits a whole spectrum of emotions. Join in on this 100-page journey and align yourself with the sense of the world that these amazing photographers saw and captured.

Apratim Saha Mansa Inc. CEO

Mukesh Kumar Cover Photo

Leyla Emektar

Regards, Jassi Oberai

Contents

Tools Tips and Tricks Drone Photography Devang Sethi

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74

Feature Spotlight on Wildlife Richard Peters

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The Ochre Paradise Arturo Lopez Illana

App of the Month Adobe Photoshop Lightroom CC

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Offroading Affair with Spiti

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Priyashi Negi

Chiiz Gallery

Hanami: A Walk through the Cherry Blossoms

Best of chiiz.com

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Rohan Shrestha The Human Knots Howard Schatz

Triggers

Classics

Nuswanto Lobbu

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Movie Review Manufactured Landscapes Edward Burtynsky

Stanislav Malykh

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Subhadip Malakar

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Old is Gold Ansel Easton Adams

Mandira Bahl

38

Kanwar Pal Singh

42

Hall of Fame

Anton Agarkov

46

Jassi Oberai

56

Karthik Ravindran

58

Fedor Lashkov

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Safar Bakhyshev

Model of the Month GL Sanjana Make Up Artist of the Month Diane Martin

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90

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Spotlight on Wildlife Richard Peters talks about the challenges in wildlife photography, being a Nikon ambassador and how he handles competition.

Family Portrait Nikon D810 170mm F/5.6 1/2500 ISO110

Richard Peters is a Nikon ambassador with a style that often favours dramatic light and contrast. He has won multiple international awards including two Wildlife Photographer of the Year titles and is one of the few British photographers to have received the accolade of European Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

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FEATURE

Q. What was the reason that you chose wildlife photography and how have you kept your work unique from the other wildlife photographers?

A. I have always been more creative than academic. I also grew up enjoying natural history documentaries. And so I think it was always going to happen that when I found photography, I drifted towards photographing wildlife. I like that doing so allows me to see the beauty in the natural world, both close to home and further afield, that is often missed or overlooked by the vast majority of people. There is also something incredibly calming about sitting quietly and watching a wild animal living out it’s life right in front of you. However, keeping work

unique is the big challenge. For me, it’s not so much a question of what I can do to make my work stand out but more of what I can do to keep myself from getting bored. I like to challenge myself to look at things from a different angle and concentrate on the light more than the subject within it. Of course that doesn’t always produce unique images but I find working in that way gives me a better chance, than if I concentrated on the subject first.

Q. Being a Nikon Ambassador has given you an extreme exposure. What changes do you see from then onwards?

A. I’ve been asked this question many times before and it’s difficult

to answer. There is no doubt at all that being invited into such a prestigious line-up of photographers has helped put my name in front of many people but it’s impossible to know the long term impact because I don’t know how my career would have advanced had that not happened. What I can say is that I am forever grateful to Nikon for seeing something in my work that caught their eye, and that it has been a career highlight to work so closely with them. I was involved in the D850 press launch, was lucky enough to start shooting with the camera ahead of it’s worldwide release and was the first wildlife photographer in the world to shoot with the brand new 180-400 1.4 TC lens, shooting the wildlife images for the worldwide advertising of the lens. Being given such big responsibilities to represent a company and its products certainly can’t hurt a photographer’s career!

Q. How competitive is wildlife photography? What different do you do to make your work out of the box?

A. Very. These days there are a lot of people who call themselves a wildlife photographers, whilst secretly having real jobs on the side, but who are every bit as

capable at taking striking pictures as us full time professionals. The problem is that if it’s not your main source of income, you can afford to work cheap or sell your images for cheap, and that makes it difficult for the rest of us. That means to stand out from the crowd your work has to be that much better. I try not to stick to the same formula all the time to keep things fresh whenever I can. So, I’ve got some great images from Africa and other countries but also, I’ve got some great photos taken in my garden at home. And I mix up telephoto work with wide angle work, and ambient light images with artificial light. The more variety I have in my portfolio the more interesting it is for me to look at, let alone anyone else. When it comes to sharing work I follow the rule of ‘less is more’. I take a lot of photos each year but I don’t push them out on social media and various other platforms day after day. Instead, I think very carefully about what I share and try to put out only images that please me. Being my own worst critic, means that I share fewer images but that keeps the standard higher. Even my own website has only 12 images per gallery. It’s an approach that seems to work or at least, has done so far!

Q. What are the difficulties you face while running a wildlife photography business?

A. Any job which requires you to be self employed is a challenge.

Unless you’re lucky enough to be one of the few photographers who is sent on assignments on a regular basis, you need to be multi-skilled.

I was having this conversation with someone recently and telling them that, the reality is, to be a full-time wildlife photographer you also need to have good people skills, be a good teacher, be a good writer, be a good speaker and also be motivated. Being able to take a good photo isn’t enough; although it’s your photos that will help you sell yourself and your other skills.

Plus, most people forget to mention that, you need to be organised with your paperwork because filling out tax returns is by far the least enjoyable aspect! I’m sure we’ve all seen the infographic that shows how a photographer spends their time and it’s true. My friends think I fly around the world ‘on holiday’ without a care in the world, photographing animals at leisure.

However when I am travelling, I’m mentally and physically on call for my clients 24/7 to ensure they are getting the most value out of me and learning something.

Ostrich Nikon D500 F/2.8 1/2000 ISO100

Travel aside, I spend far more time emailing, advertising, organising talks, writing articles (and interviews!), processing images and trying to find new clients because without them there’s no business.

No matter how good the photos!

Thankfully, I really enjoy meeting new people and teaching others; so I enjoy private and group workshops as much for the education I pass on, as I do taking photos for myself!

For my business, I feel that is key.

Q. According to you which animal is difficult to photograph?

What tricks do you use while photographing them?

A. I would actually say all wildlife can be difficult to photograph in a way that captures the viewers imagination. For example, I recently had success in the European Wildlife Photographer of the Year with a photo of a pigeon taken in my garden at home. This is a

10 FEATURE

subject that is incredible easy to photograph, even though they are often overlooked, but that doesn’t mean they are easy to photograph well. I’d even go as far as to say it’s harder to capture a striking image of one of these birds than it is a lion, even though most people see them every day.

Q. What lighting techniques do you use while doing wildlife photography? What suggestions can you give to our readers who are into wildlife photography?

A. Regardless of whether or not I have my camera in hand, I’m mentally aware at all times of what the light is doing. Be it golden sunrise or overcast; I’m looking at how light and shade interact with the subject and trying to work out how I can use that to my advantage.

Sometimes it’s as easy as dialing in some under exposure on the camera, other times it would be a complete

repositioning of myself relative to the subject and sometimes it could mean the introduction of artificial light to balance and emphasise the ambiance. My number one piece of advice for photographers wanting to elevate their work is the cliche that you need to learn to ‘see the light’. Once you start doing that, it really transforms your image. Learning how your camera’s metering and sensor interpret light is a great start, because it will see and expose for lighting in a vastly different way to how the human eye sees it, especially when lots of contrast is involved.

If you understand that process and know how to bias exposures with exposure compensation, that’s when you can start creating far more dramatic images than you would have thought possible, based on how your naked eye is viewing the scene.

White Pelican Nikon D810 170mm F/5.6 1/4000 ISO64

Shadow Walker Nikon D810 31mm F/8 30s ISO1250

Beautiful Chaos Nikon D810 F/18 1/6 ISO64

Light Shafts Nikon D5500 16mm F/8 1/200 ISO200

Sentinel Nikon D500 F/2.8 1/2000 ISO100

“Any job which requires you to be self employed is a challenge. Unless you’re lucky enough to be one of the few photographers who is sent on assignments on a regular basis, you need to be multi-skilled.”

Sheetal Mann sheetal@chiiz.com

Skomer Sundowner Nikon D810 14mm F/9 1/160 ISO200

A silent tigress working up her way against the societal norms. One hell of an interior designer for your beautiful homes and thoughts, she is quite an introvert and serenity drips from her face.

Undivided Attention Nikon D810 600mm F/4 1/500 ISO360

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Innocence of Youth Nikon D850 550mm F/5 1/1600 ISO320

Nuswanto Lobbu, known as Nus in short, is native to Indonesia. He was born and raised on the small island of Talaud, Northern Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Nus was amongst a very privileged few who began their underwater adventure under the supervision and training of Larry Smith, one of the pioneers of diving, in Lembeh Strait. Throughout his career, Nus met and worked with many professional underwater photographers, marine biologists and scientists. When not on dry land managing Maluku Divers Resort and assisting with dive and travel logistics for trips around Indonesia, Nus still finds time to dive. After many years of guiding professional photographers, Nus now takes great pleasure in taking his own photos too. Nus’s photography has been featured in several dive magazines include Scuba Diver Indonesia, E-Zine underwater macro photography, Korean Scuba diver and inflight magazines for local airlines!

Blanket Octopus Canon 5DS R 100mm F/22 1/250 ISO640

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TRIGGERS

Psychedelic Ambon Frogfish Nikon D300 60mm F/11 1/250 ISO200

Hairy Squat Lobster in a tube sponge Nikon D300 105mm F/18 1/250 ISO200

Flasher Wrasse with Cleaner Wrasse Nikon D300 105mm F/22 1/250 ISO400

Waspfish Canon 5DS R 100mm F/22 1/200 ISO100

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TRIGGERS

Phyllodesmium sp nudibranch Canon 5DS R 100mm F/11 1/200 ISO100

Southern Flying Lizard Santhosh Krishnamoorthy

Draco Dussemeri Southern Flying Lizard Nikon D800 300mm F/8 1/400 ISO640

Southern Flying Lizards, more commonly known as the Draco, are amazing reptiles found across the Western Ghats and other hill forests of southern India. They have this unique ability to glide from tree to tree, something akin to flying, thus getting their name. They are most commonly seen climbing up on tree trunks amidst the areca-nut plantations. A Draco’s day begins just as the light of morning sun starts streaming in through the canopy. Starting at about the lower middle of the tree trunk, the Draco makes its way up the tree, en-route, gorging on the numerous ants that keep crawling up and down the trunk. Once it makes it to the top of the tree, it glides on to another tree nearby and repeats this process. While on the tree, that tree’s trunk becomes the Draco’s bastion and it defends the same, quite aggressively. It extends the gular sac, the membrane on its throat, as a means of communicating its threat or a courtship intent.

Normal, was how the day started, one fine morning in Agumbe, for a male Draco, the star of this story. However, things weren’t to be quite so normal. It was to be one really hard day for him.

As always, he starts climbing up the trunk of a tree, happily feeding on the crawling ants. As he is about 3/4th’s up, he notices that another Draco has come on to the same tree and is feasting on

Draco glider display Nikon D800 300mm F/8 1/1250 ISO640

Draco climbs down to threaten intruder Nikon D800 300mm F/8 1/400 ISO640

the ants out there. He doesn’t feel good about this and decides to defend his territory. So, he darts down the tree trunk, with his gular sac stretched, as a way of indicating threat.

He even runs around the intruder, in a circle, trying his best to intimidate that fellow. He goes about this a couple of times. But, the intruder doesn’t seem to be affected in the least. On the contrary, he seems quite relaxed and goes about munching on the ants.

After a few more valiant attempts to scare the intruder off go in vain, our hero gives up and glides off to another tree close by.

Things weren’t going to be fine just as yet, because another surprise was in store for our hero. The tree on which he just arrived, seems to have an occupant, already and it looks like a female.

Our hero, now, gets into a different mood and tries his hand at impressing the female, by stretching his gular sac and displaying it to her, as a hint of courtship. Alas, it was to be a disappointment for our hero, as the female brings about a display, stretching her patagial membrane ( the wings ), something that seemed like total disapproval.

He attempts to entice her a few more times, but she wouldn’t budge. She didn’t seem to be interested and makes her thoughts loud and clear. After this, there seemed to be no other

Draco climbs down to threaten intruder 2 Nikon D800 300mm F/8 1/320 ISO640

Draco Male territorial display Nikon D800 420mm F/5.6 1/6400 ISO1250

Draco Female threat display to male Nikon D800 300mm F/8 1/500 ISO640

option for our hero, but to abandon that tree as well. So, he decides that he has had enough and glides off to a tree far away from here.

It was wonderful to observe the behavior of these Dracos and this article is an attempt at sharing that experience of mine through a photo story.

Santhosh Krishnamoorthy He is a passionate naturalist and an award winning nature photographer.

He likes to observe and document the interesting aspects of nature and its inhabitants using photography as a medium. He runs Birdwing Travel & Photography where he mentors budding and amateur nature photographers. Visit www.birdwing.in to know more about the various photography tours and workshops that he runs. He also posts as @ santhosh.kris on Instagram and blogs @www.framesofnature.com

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TRIGGERS

Trakai Nikon D300 35mm F/6.3 1/200 ISO200

Russian Fields Nikon D300 12mm F/8 1/80 ISO200

Stanislav Malykh is a 40-year-old travel photographer from St. Petersburg, Russia.

He has been taking pictures for more than 7 years and primarily shoots landscapes. He travels and takes pictures mostly in the eastern Europe and western Russia. Usually, he uses a Nikon D600 with a 28-300 lens, and also a Canon 5D Mark III with a wide-angle lens in order to not change the lenses on the run. In his photos, he tries to convey the mood and emotions, which he experiences during the expeditions, because for him the most important thing is not merely taking pictures but the adventure behind the photos.

Evening Shadows Nikon D600 200mm F/8 1/320 ISO800

Moravian Waves Nikon D300 92mm F/16 1/20 ISO200

Tranqullity Nikon D80 80mm F/25 15s ISO100

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TRIGGERS

Cold Trap Nikon D300 12mm F/6.3 1/60 ISO800

DCP Expeditions LLP today, is one of the fastest growing Wildlife and Travel Photography Training Academies in India, with a strong team comprising of highly skilled and established photographers of the country and veterans in the field of digital photography. We boast of one of the best panel of experts comprising of renowned wildlife photographers, travel photographers, digital artists, travelers, writers, divers, explorers, naturalists, conservationists, taxonomists, microbiologists, scientists, environmental biologists and digital imaging specialists. We are also the first in the country to

Rajesh Jyothiswaran Texas, USA

have created a nationwide community platform involving wildlife, nature and travel photographers together ranging from amateurs to professionals, to build a very unique ecosystem.

Our vision is to make Wildlife and Travel Photography a full time career opportunity for thousands of wildlife and travel enthusiasts of the country. Our team of experts handhold and facilitate personalized knowledge sharing to help one sharpen the skills fast and eventually join the crew. We educate, recruit, train, empower and create entrepreneurs who in turn, take the mission ahead.

Alluring Olaf Sony a7RII 18mm F/2.8 20s ISO5000

Rajesh Jyothiswaran Texas, USA

For every workshop we conduct and every expedition or photo tour we lead, in addition to the development of photographic skill sets, conservation photography remains one of the key learning element. We help people to learn how to make better images and how to use photography as a tool to depict the untold and unseen beauties of nature. We work in association with environmentalists, conservation activists, naturalists, scientists and researchers in an attempt to impart knowledge and generate awareness amongst common man about the earth’s natural history.

Stars Glowing on Trees Sony a7II 18mm F/2.8 25s ISO5000

Rajesh Khatri Maharashtra, India

Aurora Borealis at Ondverdarnes lighthouse, Iceland Nikon D810 16mm F/4 30s ISO3200

Ravin Jadhav Maharashtra, India

Sunset at Hellnar Canon 5D Mark IV 20mm F/16 1/25 ISO50

Ravin Jadhav Maharashtra, India

Blue Waters of Bruafoss Canon 5D Mark IV 16mm F/16 1/15 ISO200

Swaroop Patil Maharashtra, India

Karvi Bloom at Chalkewadi Platue Nikon D4S 24mm F/16 1/13 ISO100

Dr Rajesh Jadhav Maharashtra, India

Skogafoss Waterfall, Iceland Sony A7R 18mm F/11 10s ISO100

Dr Rajesh Jadhav Maharashtra, India

Kirkjufell Waterfall, Iceland Sony A7R 18mm F/13 4s ISO100

Amit Rane Maharashtra, India

Kirkjufell Waterfall, Iceland Nikon D800 16mm F/16 2.5s ISO64

Great American Eclipse Two cameras and two lenses were used for this composite image. All images were shot on location and during the event at the exact spot.

For the Landscape: Camera: Sony a7II Lens: Sony Zeiss 16-35 f/4 EXIF: 16 vertical shot panorama each exposure ISO 50, 17mm, 1/ 40s at f/22 Eclipse Shots: Camera: Sony a7RII Lens: Sony SAL 70-400 G2 with LA-EA3 adapter and 1.4x Teleconverter in APS-C mode EXIF: 16 shots of the eclipse phases at 840mm equivalent. Camera settings varied according to changing light conditions. The corona image was shot at ISO 200, 1/10s at f/8

Rajesh Jyothiswaran Texas, USA

Prashant Shewade Maharashtra, India

Aurora at Kirkjufell Waterfall, Iceland Nikon D810 16mm F/4 20s ISO3200

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TOOLS

Anjuna Beach, Goa DJI Mavic Pro

Tips and Tricks Drone Photography

DJI Mavic Pro Nikon D5300 35mm f/2.8 1/2000 ISO200

Drone photography is picking up in India and especially with the entry of new and improved drones which are smaller and much cheaper. It is set to be more and more popular because drone photography takes it to the whole new level and this is really helping photographers in some major breakthrough ideas.

It attracts people because with the help of a drone, they see what is otherwise impossible to see or very difficult to capture. The view of fields from the top, boats floating in a sea, following a car on a mountain, such scenarios are not easily perceived through a normal camera or without aerial assistance.

I bought my DJI Mavic Pro last year and it has taken my work to whole new level. My travel videos were very much improved and I got a lot of projects because of the drone only.

Tips for better drone videos: - Visualize the shot first. Because the battery of any average drone lasts for about 20 minutes and you would not want to spend 15 minutes in finding the perfect shot and then left with no battery to shoot it.

- The shot that you plan to take should show the scale of the landscape for example height, width far reach of the lens etc.

- There should be a moving object within the landscape, like a person or a car. It makes a good impression if it is slow motion video and also, it gives an edge by showing the grand scale of your shot as compared to a slow and small moving object.

- Element of surprise: Try to add an element in your video. For example, the shot might reveal a person or a hut while moving backwards at the very end showing a perspective.

- Add more motions to your videos and not just the drone flying away from you. Treat your drone as paintbrush and the sky as your canvas.

- Keep the camera in Manual settings mode. Sometimes while the drone is up in the air, the light can be too bright or too dull, you need to adjust the aperture and shutter speed to get a nice detailed shot during such time.

- Keep spare batteries with you. For DJI Mavic and Air, always buy the combo kit which lets you have 2 spare batteries and carry them with you all the time.

- Use of ND filters. Just like any other camera, your drone camera also needs ND filters on it to filter that extra light. It will help you in adjusting the light with a finer margin.

- You can use the drone camera without flying it as well. It has a gimbal and a good camera, so you can just switch it on and shoot while holding it in your hands.

- Currently there are no documented rules in India regarding the flying restrictions, which is why most people are confused about where to fly a drone and where not to. Even the police are not sure about it. So, to be on a safer side, don’t fly it in cities, near government buildings and especially not near airports. If you want to, do take permissions from local administration first.

- Don’t expect anything from the weather. Weather can be a nuisance sometimes. The best way to prevent bad luck is not to expect anything from the weather. Keep ready for the worst case scenarios.

Pack anything necessary to cope up with the bad weather and you will be good. Always keep camera protection gear which can protect it from water, ice, fire, wind and other detrimental things.

TOOLS

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TOOLS

Kazakhstan DJI Mavic Pro 5mm f/2.2 1/3200 ISO100

One of the most prevalent myths regarding the drones is that they are difficult to fly. Well, it’s not. It just takes you a couple of flights to get hold of the controls and as long as you have steady hands, you’ll be doing great.

And moreover the drones nowadays have smart functions and they come with various smart modes like follow me, follow subject, stationary point and return to start point etc.

Last but not the least, fly safe whether you are flying a drone or flying in a plane. Always stay authorized and use safety precautions.

Narkanda DJI Mavic Pro 5mm f/2.2 1/320 ISO200

Devang Sethi likes to describe himself as a full time techie but a part time hippie. From the heights of Himalayas in the north to the shores of Andaman in the south, from the white Rann of Kutch in the west to the Living Root Bridges in the east, he has lived his Indian dream. The world is too big and he wants to see the most of it. A solo euro trip was the first step towards this goal.

After europe, trips to Kazakhstan, Kerala, Goa, Spiti followed. He’s now planning his next trip to Sri Lanka. You can follow his journey on his website (thepunjabiwanderer.com) and YouTube channel where he documents all his travels.

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Charyn Canyon DJI Mavic Pro 5mm f/2.2 1/560 ISO100

Tofu and Keema Fried Rice Canon 70D 50mm F/7.1 1/60 ISO800

Mutton Kosha and Pulao Canon 70D 50mm F/4.5 1/160 ISO200

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Lemon Butter Baked Tuna Canon 70D 50mm F/2 1/100 ISO400

Apple Cake Canon 70D 50mm F/7.1 1/50 ISO800

Subhadip Malakar was born and raised in Kolkata and moved to Mumbai in 2007 to pursue his love and interest for VFX. He is a VFX compositor by profession and a passionate photographer, currently working with Red Chillies VFX, Mumbai.

Being an artist at heart, he loves his job as it entails creativity. He had the privilege to work with leading VFX post production and animation studios like Prana Studios and Prime Focus as well on various projects by renowned houses like Disney, Warner Bros and Marvel among others. Although he is more inclined towards food, portrait, fashion, product and bodyscape photography, he likes shooting anything that catches his fancy.

Som Tam Canon 70D 50mm F/7.1 1/25 ISO400

Movie Review Manufactured Landscapes Duration: 86 minutes IMDB Rating: 7.3/10 Released: 2006 Starring: Edward Burtynsky Directed: Jennifer Baichwal Genre: Documentary

Photographer Edward Burtynsky travels the world observing changes in landscapes due to industrial work and manufacturing.

There was a time when the word “documentary” was associated with a very factual, neutral and to-the-point style of narrative in motion picture but this notion is changing, mainly because of the change in the format.

You can see documentaries gaining a lot of popularity; you can also see filmmakers being more experimental with their subjects. Documentaries have become highly stylised and this stylisation comes with a possibility of abstraction of context but hey, no one is complaining.

One example of this kind can be found in the 2006 documentary, Manufactured Landscapes.

Director Jennifer Baichwal travels with and documents the photographer, Edward Burtynsky as he attempts to capture the industrial landscapes of the world. Based majorly in China (the obvious industrial capital of the

world) with a quick trip to Bangladesh, the film stands somewhere between being about Burtynsky as a photographer and the impact of industrialisation. Burtynsky has been shooting industrial landscapes for the major part of his career; he prefers to shoot massive construction sites, factory operations and industrial litter, insisting that he isn’t trying to glorify the scars that industrialisation leaves on the planet, or trying to condemn it. He just wants to show it “how it is”. Baichwal doesn’t seem to follow this line of neutrality though, which is visible right from the beginning with an eight minute long opening shot showing factory workers in China assembling products as the camera pans from one stage of assembly to another. The director’s cinematography is simple and impactful, she edits her shots of the landscape with cuts to Burtynsky’s photography, often zooming and panning on his photographs, revealing the 36 CLASSICS

photo at a steady, slow pace and letting us see what she sees. It’s clear after watching the film that people play a much bigger role in Baichwal’s narrative than that of Burtynsky. While Burtynsky’s photography shows how miniscule people are in front of these giant landscapes, all of which are ironically man made, Baichwal’s shots reveal the impact that these industralisation processes have on the people that live there.

What’s great about Manufactured Landscapes is how it puts you right in the middle of the narrative, you feel like a part of the story and not just a bystander. Every location that they visit, so do you. The sheer scale of these landscapes are indeed a sight to behold, even if they trigger more sense of an impending apocalypse and awe. There is a part in the film where the photographer points out how he uses all the materials and devices that are a result of the same industrialisation that has led to these sites and visuals of our planet. While he talks about this, you can’t help but think how the exact same logic applies to us, the viewers. This is where the film succeeds, making a clear statement of how it’s clearly our demands that have led to this. But this is something we’ve known for a while. Despite all of this the film lacks in a true examination of the subject, leaving a lot of blanks in the statements. It feels true enough as an observation of a spectacle, an art piece in a gallery, much like Burtynsky’s photos. Beautiful, yet somewhat vague.But a documentaries job is to document, to record the events or sights, to offer your perspective so that other people can see through your eyes and if possible engage in a discussion of the subject and for that very reason I would definitely recommend watching this film at least once. It deserves that much attention.

Shrey Malik shrey@chiiz.com Self proclaimed intellectual, reluctant nihilist and a wannabe comedian. He is a graphic designer with impressive problem solving skills.

End of a day in a Garage Nikon D810 50mm F/1.4 1/80 ISO500

The Biker’s Tools Nikon D810 50mm F/1.4 1/80 ISO500

Tough Beauties When one thinks of motorcycles, racetracks and the sport of riding, the image that instantly pops up is that of rough and tough men wearing leather boots and flaunting around their biker persona. Ever wondered what would happen if women replace the men? Watching women decked up in that same shining leather, pressing the accelerator of heavy motorcycles, leaving a cloud of dust when they ride by and letting the wind blend in with her hair can be quite intimidating. Tough Beauties is inspired by Marilyn Monroe’s quote “I don’t mind living in a man’s world, as long as I can be a woman in it”.

The project is about women who share a common passion for motorcycles and the sport of riding. Hobbies/activities/ professions that have majorly been perceived as ‘male’ now taken up by these women is the plot, as they seek to break the stereotypes of the female gender. By these choices, they have redefined strength, dedication, determination and fervor. As times are changing, women are getting out of the roles society has stated for them and challenging and changing stereotypes. Stereotypes of the female gender that in itself is too much for people to take. The Sirens is New York City’s oldest and largest only women’s motorcycle group with KT Ballantine as President is a group that is sure to question and influence. Founded in 1986, the group has only grown in numbers since. Bonding over a common love for riding, they have not only brought new meaning to the idea of toughness but have also outshined their male counterparts. The Sirens not 38

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just call themselves sisters but have lived up to that for years, as they always stand by and continuously uplift each other, making the group stronger. The love that they share and the fuel that drives them is a thread that binds the characters of my story. This same passion for motorbikes and riding merged both worlds of a photographer and of professional riders that only developed into a long-term project; with the group progressing from being subjects to family. The Sirens welcomed me with warm arms and helped contribute to this documentation through interviews, photoshoots and candid moments at every step. Every group member has a different story, which only inspired and collectively motivates any woman who wants to chase her dreams. Apart from ruling the roads, the Sirens also actively participate in the Pride March and in transporting breast milk to children in need. With this motherly instinct and their act of kindness, several children have nurtured to be healthy and talented. The sisters do have other primary professions but riding is the fuel that brings them back on the track. Tough beauties aims at inspiring women all around to break stereotypes and follow what their heart desires. The project celebrates the spirit and strength of these iron ladies.

The approach and choice of story is very apt today, as several questions about women’s security are being raised. By exploring these various roles, we get a well rounded, balanced and a factual aura of what it is to be a woman in a man’s world. After all it is just one life that should be lived to the fullest.

Mandira Bahl is an Indian photojournalist based in NYC. Having graduated from the International Center of Photography (ICP), her work is a blend of documentation, research, abstract and commercial.

She has also shot for a few emerging designers at the NYFW’17 and JCFW’17; and will be covering the ACFW, NYFW and NYPFW in 2018. Her work has been published in Art India, Peta (India), Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Mora Modeling Magazine, Magnificent Woman Magazine, Shutterbug, Downtown Magazine, India Abroad and India New England.

Spirit of Freedom Nikon D810 35mm F/4 1/400 ISO160

The Siren Sisters Nikon D810 18mm F/4 1/400 ISO250

Biker Enjoying Time Nikon D810 35mm F/1.4 1/400 ISO125

Training at Floyd Benett base Nikon D810 35mm F/4.5 1/400 ISO125

Core Member of the Sirens MC Nikon D810 50mm F/1.6 1/160 ISO200

Hands that ride also repair Nikon D810 50mm F/1.4 1/10 ISO500

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Bikers in a Formation Nikon D810 35mm F/4.5 1/400 ISO125

The Garage Nikon D810 50mm F/1.6 1/160 ISO200

Kanwar Pal wants to make best of the life that god has blessed him with and each time he wants to learn something new and try to have a different perception.

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A Barren Romance DJI FC220 5mm F/2.2 1/440 ISO100

Colours of Fall DJI FC220 5mm F/2.2 1/120 ISO100

Born and brought up in the 1000-year-old town of Chamba in Himachal Pradesh, Kanwar Pal Singh grew up admiring the culture and beauty of his hometown which made him want to capture it all. The most inspiring person in his life has been his father who used to click pictures in 80’s and developed them himself. He believes it is his art that he naturally inherited.

He discovered his passion for photography during his many travels and later enrolled in the veteran Raghu Rai School of photography in Delhi. Now, with an experience of 4 years, he has finally opened up his own production house in Chamba where we also provide wedding services, commercial videos and shoots. For the better and more advanced creatives, he also has a Drone which has widened his creative horizons.

Together in Green DJI FC220 5mm F/2.2 1/170 ISO100

Curvy Terrain DJI FC220 5mm F/2.2 1/1800 ISO100

Touch of Divine DJI FC220 5mm F/2.2 1/2900 ISO100

Photography for him is not merely clicking pictures. Rather, it is something that he is truly passionate about. Photography for him is an art. An art that defines life. He loves the way he captures those little precious moments and is able to revisit and relive them time and again.

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The Colour White DJI FC220 5mm F/2.2 1/480 ISO100

exodia.in

exodia.chiiz.com

City of the Dead Nikon D800 31mm F/9 1/100 ISO100

Anton Agarkov is a professional travel and landscape photographer with more than 10 years of travel photography experience. Nowadays, Anton spends more than 200 days a year travelling in distant and hardto-get regions of Russia and Central Asia with special stress on natural reserves. Anton organises workshops and lectures on landscape and travel photography and works with huge brands like Nikon, WWF, Gitzo, Manfrotto, The North Face, and more. He is a Tamron ambassador as well as finalist and winner of multiple photography awards such as Landscape Photographer of the Year and Global Arctic Awards. During his work at one of the most distinguished internet-portals on tourism in Russia, he travelled all around the country and became one of the most renowned landscape and travel-photographers in Russia. He has travelled and photographed in Russia, central and south-eastern Asia and Southern America.

Anton takes credit for single-handedly starting the ethnographic multicultural project on Central Asia called “Successors of the Steppe”.

During the first expedition season of this project, he spent over three months in multiple countries of Central Asia.

He also has vast experience of working in extreme weather conditions such as rain, snow, blizzard, extremely cold weather (-40 degree C and below) and has experience of night photography.

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Winter as It’s meant to be Nikon D700 13mm F/14 1/100 ISO640

Cold Veins of Altai Nikon D700 14mm F/11 1/320 ISO400

Reflection on Ice Nikon D810 14mm F/22 1/80 ISO160

Anton single-handedly started ethnographic multicultural project on Central Asia “Successors of the Steppe�. During the first expedition season of this project, he spent over three months in multiple countries of Central Asia.

Explorer Nikon D810 14mm F/6.3 30s ISO1250

Forgotten by the Endless Sky Nikon D850 F/2.8 30s ISO6400

Blossom of the Summer Pastures Nikon D810 14mm F/13 1/125 ISO400

Streams of Tien-Shan Nikon D700 F/13 1/10 ISO200

Light of the Inner World Nikon D700 14mm F/5 20s ISO1600

Fossils of Aral Sea Nikon D700 14mm F/4 30s ISO640

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Light of the Inner World Fujifilm X-T1 10mm F/5 30s ISO1250

Sleeping Giant Nikon D810 24mm F/14 1.3s ISO200

Semi Deserts of Leh Nikon D300 200mm F/18 1/200 ISO200

Inhabitants Unprepared Nikon D300 200mm F/9 1/400 ISO200

The Ochre

Paradise

Arturo tells us in an exclusive interview what all a good photographer needs to possess, how he fell in love with Asian countries and what makes him keep coming back Q. It’s been over 30 years since you started your travel adventure carrying your camera along to capture one of the rawest forms of your surroundings and customs.

What motivates you to pursue this lifestyle?

A. I still hope to prepare a baggage and go to the airport. If I am not traveling, I am preparing for the next destination or, simply, dreaming about wonderful destinations. Being able to get so many sensations with a simple click, makes you addicted to this lifestyle. I always thought that as I grow older, the excitement of traveling would wane and that I would focus on other more comfortable photographic fields, but today, I still think that I have many images to capture, many countries to travel and much to learn from other cultures.

Q. You have traced your path along the Asian land majorly covering parts of India, Nepal and Indonesia. What was the inspiration leading you while travelling to these countries?

A. Thirty years ago, Asia was like a

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distant and almost extraterrestrial paradise, so different from what surrounded me. A friend of mine who had already visited Nepal, told me about the people, the landscapes, the light. I had always wanted to go until finally, I decided to buy a plane ticket and embark on the adventure in the early 80’s. That first visit to Nepal was a change in my life: so intense, so colorful, so spiritual. Since then, I have returned whenever I have had the occasion. Now, when I see other visitors, there are times when I stop to think, looking at them carefully, trying to guess whose is the first time in Nepal and what impact that first time will have on their lives. For me, the most intense memory I have is when I first descended the ladders of the plane in Kathmandu, with the Himalayas in the background; I felt that I was about to start a life adventure at the end of the world.

Q. In the ‘Transversalidades’ contest entitled ‘Photography without Borders’, you have been called an absolute winner for

Beauty in the Textures Nikon D300 70mm F/9 1/320 ISO200

your Ethiopian portfolio. What were the intricate details that you focussed on?

A. I feel very lucky because the jury valued my work and named it as the winner. These recognitions always encourage you to continue working and to seek excellence and new ways of capturing the essence of the subject of the images. It is gratifying to see how your work, which is sometimes very hard and heavy and in which you put a lot of enthusiasm and energy, is recognized.

I made the report in Lalibela, Ethiopia.

This place fascinated me to no end; every day, at dawn, I would take the camera and go, explore the streets in the dark, and observe how the pilgrims and parishioners come to the churches. Their devotion moved me and inspired me to reflect the mysticism that is breathed there it is overwhelming. I put all my effort in not occupying their space, and not invading their privacy. I tried to become invisible so as not to interrupt their rituals. Another key point was to choose carefully the places where

Tsetan Guest House Nikon D300 200mm F/18 1/200 ISO200

I stood and waited with infinite patience so that I could capture the light seeping through the gaps and reveal the magic of the place.

Q. Talking about your Ethiopian portfolio which had the most exquisite still pictures covering your holiday of Saint George, what would be your best memory or

lesson that you took home when you left the land of Ethiopia?

A. The trip to Ethiopia was a very enriching experience. It has been one of the most interesting trips I’ve made in Africa, this country has real gems to know. It is a country so different, from north to south and from east to west, that when your trip ends, you have the feeling that

you have left a lot to see.

One of the moments I remember most fondly was being able to visit Lalibela during the celebration of Saint George where thousands of pilgrims filled the churches, sang, and prayed together. What I take away from that trip is having been able to observe all those incredible moments without having interfered,

“The worst enemy of a photographer is laziness, you have to leave the comfort of your sofa and go for many photographs. The beginnings are hard and you never see a good shot no matter how hard you try.

It is very important to be objective and honest with your own work since you have to recognize why you have failed.”

Zanskar River Nikon D300 35mm F/16 1/125 ISO200

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Kingdom of Guge Nikon D300 200mm F/4.5 1/640 ISO200

making the pilgrims live their faith and I could capture those spiritual moments with my camera.

Shadow Play Nikon D300 70mm F/11 1/320 ISO200

Arturo Lopez Illana is a spanish photographer and freelance traveler living in Madrid. These two activities are united for him, he can not do one without the other. Going around the world with his camera is a way of life. Since childhood he was interested in photography and he was forming gradually, year after year, until in 2005 begin to publish stories about his travels and to consider photography as something more than a hobby. He has published and collaborated in different media, both magazines and travel books and specialized publications in photography. In addition, he had the honor of seeing his work rewarded in several photographic competitions, both national and international.

Q. According to you what details a photographer should emphasis on while capturing critical details of landscapes inside a frame?

A. There are people who believe that landscape photography is the easiest to get, because you have all the time in the world and the landscape is there, immutable; sooner or later, you will get a good shot. For me it is a complicated discipline since you have to take into account many factors. Light, in each photograph, is the main axis, so you have to study the characteristics in advance of each place to be able to choose the right moment that goes to contain what you want to show with your shot, because in addition to the composition and sharpness, as a professional, you want to transmit the sensations. There is no secret formula to get a spectacular landscape photograph, but I always follow this rule: you do not have to be lazy and you have to plan your adventure while searching for the places you like and the best hours of light for each one.

Q. Zeal to learn new things and the boundless amount of hard work must have been the reason that has led you to expand your horizon and accomplish a great level of success. What advice would you like to share with the amateur photographers?

A. This is undoubtedly the most complicated question. As I said, the worst enemy of a photographer is laziness, you have to leave the comfort of your sofa and go for many photographs. The beginnings are hard and you never see a good shot no matter how hard you try. It is very important to be objective and honest with your own work since you have to recognize why you have failed. Self-knowledge is the only thing that will help you improve and grow as a photographer.

Controlling light is the technique that takes longer to master, but nothing important will be achieved until you can use the light for the benefit of your work. Finally, you have to enjoy, make it fun, creative, and different. This applies both for taking photos and for living life; if not, we will not get very far.

The Copper Valley Nikon D300 200mm F/9 1/200 ISO200

Vishakha Jha vishakha@chiiz.com She is 3/4 engineer, a dedicated learner and believer in magic of words and power of pronoia. She is bibliophilic and an explorer to a new Utopian world.

Old is Gold “When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.”

Born in San Francisco, February 20, 1902, to Charles Hitchcock and Olive Bray, Ansel Easton Adams was an American photographer and an environmental activist.

He came into spotlight after his iconic pictures on Yosemite National Park, especially the black and white ones which proved it to everyone that photography is another kind of an art where words don’t speak but visuals do.

In the San Francisco earthquake of 1906, when Adams was only four, a powerful aftershock threw him against the hard ground leaving a mark of injury on his nose forever. Young Adams’ soft nasal bones were badly affected and couldn’t be cured. Having undergone a financial crisis in 1907, Adams always understood the importance of money. In his early days, he lived under the pressure of sustaining a family and his mother was utterly disappointed as Adams’ academic results weren’t satisfactory. However, his father had enough faith in him.

Adams was a hyperactive child with only a few friends.

He frequently got sick and was diagnosed with hypochondria as well. He was allegedly a dyslexic kid.

Even after trying hard, Adams’ poor behavior in different schools compelled his parents to withdraw him from formal educational system. Thus, he was tutored at home by his family members and private tutors. Adams developed a passion for piano at the age of twelve and started teaching himself. It was in 1916, on his family trip to Yosemite National Park, that he discovered his talent of photography. In his own words, “the splendor of Yosemite burst upon us (him and his family) and it was glorious… One wonder after another descended upon us… There was light everywhere… A new era began for me (Adams).” Indeed, a new era began for Adams. Before figuring out that one could build a career in photography, he worked as a pianist and was almost certain to pursue it as his career. This sudden shift of passion was, probably, a necessity for the world of photographers. He started reading photography magazines and began experimenting with different photography techniques. He had been in touch with the Bests when in Yosemite as they allowed him to practice piano on their old instrument. In 1928, Adams married the daughter of Bests- Virginia Best. Her father was a photography studio proprietor. After the death of his father-in-law in 1935, he became the owner of Best’s Studios. At 27, he joined Sierra Club. The club was dedicated to the protection of wilderness and 54 CLASSICS

Adams was hired as a caretaker of the Sierra Club branch located in Yosemite Park. He swore a lifetime allegiance to the club and served it as a director since 1934 to 1971- 37 years of his life. He once said, “It is horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save the environment.” Adams’ work gained a professional touch between 1929 and 1942 and he prospered as a photographer. 1930 was a fortunate year for him. Not just his clicks, but his narrative also brought him fame. His first book- “Taos Pubelo”- was published in the 1930s. His first solo museum exhibition was held in 1931 at the Smithsonian Institution. In 1932, Adams, along with a group of friends, laid foundation to the Group f/64. The manifesto of the group was- “Pure photography is defined as possessing no qualities of technique, composition or idea, derivative of any other art form.” In 1945, Adams was asked to form a fine arts photography department at the San Francisco Art Institute- a department which later on produced wonderful photographers like Benjamin Chinn and C. Cameron Macaulay. In 1952, he became one of the founders of a photography-based magazine- Aperture. With hikes in his career, Adams became a successful photographer known worldwide for his astounding work and breathtaking clicks.

In 1984, this great personality’s demise occurred due to a cardiovascular disease. Apart from receiving numerous awards in his field of excellence, Adams gave name to many awards and established himself as an epitome of photography. He proved it to the world what wonders the power of a lens could do. Indeed, his works stand true to his words: “You don’t take a photograph, you make it.”

Meenal Singh meenal@chiiz.com She aspires to be a lecturer in English Literature. Meenal wishes to fight for the equality of women worldwide through the power of her words.

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Celestial Dance Canon 5D Mark IV 16mm F/2.8 20s ISO100

Canon photo mentor, founder of Light Chasers Photography, and a Delhi based photographer, Jassi Oberai has captivated many with his work. Versatility being his key, he loves the challenge of shooting wildlife on one day and fashion the other. His company, Light Chasers Photography Private Limited, thinks nothing beyond its core competence that is photography. It believes in delivering value in whatever it has to do, and as mentioned above, it has got everything to do with photography; be it conducting photo workshops, organizing photo tours or model shoots, or being more adventurous and combining all three. He believes patience, practice and the courage to be different is the key to better photography.

Spotlight Canon 5D Mark III 227mm F/10 1/800 ISO200

Brand Ambassador: Nisi Filters India Godox India BlackRapid Fotopro

Supported by: MindShift Gear Think Tank Photo

Frozen Dreams Canon 5D Mark III 15mm F/14 1/500 ISO100

Cinque Terre, Italy Nikon D600 24mm F/8 1/320 ISO100

Karthik Ravindran is a software engineer living and working in California. He always had the travel and photography bug in him but never really did anything about it until he got married to his wife, Anu. She inspired, motivated and pushed him to venture out to explore, experience and capture the wonders in our amazing planet. Both of them have had many adventures together and those adventures eventually became their escapades!

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Paradise Bay, Antarctica Nikon D600 35mm F/11 1/250 ISO100

Sunrise at Golden Gate, San Francisco Nikon D750 16mm F/11 1s ISO100

Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe Nikon D600 24mm F/11 1/2 ISO100

Sunset at Gate of Valley View Yosemite Nikon D750 16mm F/11 7.8s ISO100

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Sunset at Santa Cruz Nikon D600 85mm F/4.5 1/1000 ISO100

Offroading Affair with Spiti “Call it one of the mercies of the road: that we see it only by stages as it opens before us, as it comes into our keeping, step by single step. There is nothing for it but to go, and by our going take the vows the pilgrim takes: to be faithful to the next step; to rely on more than the map; to heed the signposts of intuition and dream; to follow the star that only you will recognize; to keep an open eye for the wonders that attend the path; to press on beyond distractions, beyond fatigue, beyond what would tempt you from the way. There are vows that only you will know: the secret promises for your particular path and the new ones you will need to make when the road is revealed by turns you could not have foreseen.” I recalled these words by Jan Richardson as I, along with a colleague, joined the Xtreme Offroaders, a cavalcade of 4X4 vehicles, as they set out to the cold desert terrain of Spiti Valley for their eighth edition of Snow Drive Expedition. The Drive was powered

by Krishna Motors and Isuzu while Tethys and Adventure People were the hospitality partners.

Spiti, I had heard, is a traveler’s muse- a cold desert mountain valley with barren hills, long winding roads, colorful prayer flags fluttering in the wind, pristine lakes, quaint little hamlets and beautiful monasteries perched dramatically over it’s 62 FEATURE

landscape. A “middle land” where India and Tibet blend graciously and a place that was cut off from the outer civilization for thirty years has now become the Mecca of travelers from across the world. We were about to find out why.

As this was a winter drive, we had to opt for the Shimla-Kinnaur route to Spiti which is longer and for the brave heart intrepid travelers wanting to experience the harsh lifestyle of locals during the snowed out winter months. Various modifications were made to the vehicles according to the various terrains that we might encounter in our off-roading adventure; big tyres and lift kits for more ground clearance to name a few. We began our journey from Delhi to Narkanda where we were to meet the other member of the club.

The drive up to Shimla was uneventful with a few pit stops here and there. It was after Shimla that it had started to get cold, and we had to put on an extra layer of clothes.

We drove through the remnants of the snowfall that had occurred a few days back and checked in at Narkanda by sundown. There, we received a warm welcome in the form of a bonfire where we got better acquainted with our fellow travelers over music, food and laughter.

I woke up to the mesmerizing view of the sun paying its respect to the Hatu peak, atop which lies the

famous temple of the Goddess Hatu. After stuffing ourselves with a savory breakfast, all the Offroaders assembled for a briefing where important driving guidelines were given as the terrains were expected to change. With the flag off, three Isuzu V-MAX D-Crosses, one Toyota Fortuner, and one Mahindra Thar set off for Dharan Ghati, with the local deity overlooking from her mountain-top throne.

The terrains changed from smooth tarmac to rough roads and the vehicle density lessened as we advanced further into our journey.

Lunch was another traveler’s experience as we had our meal on the side of the road with the Satluj flowing below and the mountains rising steeply to where we were eating. Later, we drove through the apple orchards flanking our way and along the forests of cedar and pines.

After some grueling driving through the bumpy roads, we reached our campsite just moments before the sun bid a fiery adieu to the sky. We all stood awestruck besides our vehicles as we witnessed its last rays kissing the snow capped peaks a sweet goodbye. Silhouettes of birds flew home across a sky and in just a while, the biggest star had set, giving way to a thousand others.

The camps were set, the bonfire lit and before I knew, we were all tracing constellations and enjoying ourselves with Bryan Adams,

Sturdy Giants

Dharan Ghati Canon 60D 18mm f/4 1/500sec ISO100

Mean Machine Accessories Canon 60D 18mm f/3.5 1/800sec ISO100

Kishore Kumar and Muhammad Rafi playing in the background.

The morning’s sunrise was yet another breathtaking display of nature’s wonders following which we left for our next stop. On the way down, we were met with snow covered roads where we had to tread with caution. We even had an incident where we helped a few locals whose vehicles were stuck in the snow. Thereafter, we continued our journey from the picturesque Kinnaur district to Pooh. We drove through winding roads which required the utmost attention of the driver. Some of them really tested

the nerve of the drivers as we passed along narrow roads with gorge on one side and the towering mountains with shooting stones on the other. We reached Pooh extremely exhausted and fell into our beds at the PWD Guest House after a quick bonfire and dinner.

The next day had even better plans for us as we ventured ahead for Spiti. From here on, the driving got more intense as we crossed the famous Khab zig along the towering mountains which were totally arid and the path replete with rubble.

On our way, we also crossed the infamous Malling Nala which was rendered frozen owing to the extreme cold weather. We stopped at Sumdo to get our vehicles

registration logged and made our way along the sea blue Spiti. We even took an off road to the river below and had a quiet lunch on its banks. We reached Tabo late in the afternoon and made a stop there before we were on the road again.

The views got better with a little vegetation. The willows and the grey-silvery poplar trees making grey quadrangles across the plain paired with the cloudy weather made the entire ride a visual treat.

Kaza welcomed us with high rising mountains that seemed to challenge the skies and with such warm hospitality that we didn’t feel the temperatures dipping down to zeroes and sub-zeroes. The weather outside our home-stay predicted FEATURE 63

snowfall and while we were hopeful, the locals were not so sure. Spiti is said to be the land of Gods and I think the Gods there must have heeded our prayers for we woke up to a white winter-land the next day.

The majestic mountains seemed all the more regal with their white shawls on.

While some people preferred to stay back in the home stay, others went to the nearby helipad to take their 4X4s on a spin. Starting the vehicles in the morning was a task owing to the temperature that reached a whopping -25 degrees the previous night. Despite the precautions like the use of antifreeze for fuel and alcohol to protect the windshields, we still

getting late for the drive ahead, I rushed back to the home-stay and joined everybody to narrate my encounter with the monks and listen to their stories as well.

After the initial brief, we all set off to enjoy the drive in the snow towards Losar. The fresh snow provokes such responses that takes us right back into our childhood.

And these Xtreme Off-roaders, at that moment, were just boys with their toys; drifting and spinning their vehicles at Phaldar Ground and just having fun. Nothing could deter them from enjoying themselves- not the pitfalls on the way and definitely not the freezing temperatures.

The following morning was quiet. It was going to be a long day. The

wore a smile as I resisted that force and drove along. I was assured that I will be back again; for my escapades have never been about moments but experiences that I will cherish forever. In the words of Jack Kerouac, “What is that feeling when you’re driving away from people and they recede on the plain till you see their specks dispersing? - It’s the too-huge world vaulting us, and it’s good-bye. But we lean forward to the next crazy venture beneath the skies.”

Xtreme Offroaders is a 4X4 Club founded in 2009 by Sammy Khangura (President), Aman Bedi (Co-Founder) and Karan Grewal (Co-Founder). They took their

Grub Prep Canon 60D 24mm f/4 1/250sec ISO400

had to heat up the vehicles, using steam, for them to start.

While all this was happening, I decided to venture out on my own to visit the monastery where I experienced firsthand the kindness and hospitality of the people of Spiti that everybody talked about.

Seeing how cold I was, the monks offered me, a total stranger, warm tea and breakfast and made me feel right at home. They educated me about life in Kaza and told me a lot about Buddhism, the monastery, and their way of living. As I was

snow had melted down and the flow of the rivulets assumed strength as they caressed the rocks around. The winds were gently breezing through.

We were prepared to leave. As I looked back at the snow capped peaks, I could witness a demeanor it did not assume in the past few days and I came face to face with the knowledge that even though these mountains will be long standing for years to come, I will never be the able to view them the same way again.

As we drove back I felt a strange pull holding me back from leaving. I

love for travelling and projected it into a club of like-minded travelers that have a passion for driving 4X4s through challenging terrains.

The club currently has more than 250 members and organizes Xtreme expeditions across the Himalayas. This group, with their xtreme off- roading, pushes the boundaries of adventure traveling and takes the road less travelled in their 4X4 vehicles. If you want to be a part of the Xtreme Off roaders, then all you have to do is to get your 4X4 and get on board.

Khab Zig Canon 1200D 29mm f/8 1/125sec ISO100

Moment of Peace Canon 1200D 48mm f/9 1/200sec ISO100

Vertical Limits Canon 1200D 55mm f/13 1/400sec ISO100

Dirt Trails Canon 60D 18mm f/3.5 1/800sec ISO100

Ride to Remember Canon 60D 18mm f/3.5 1/800sec ISO100

Kaza, Spiti Valley Canon 1200D 18mm f/10 1/250sec ISO100

Merry Go Round Canon 60D 60mm f/5 1/1600sec ISO100

Pangmo, Spiti-Valley Canon 1200D 29mm f/11 1/320sec ISO100

Dreamscape Canon 1200D 41mm f/11 1/400sec ISO100

Snow Drifitng Canon 60D 35mm f/4 1/1600sec ISO100

Prateek Kashyap prateek@chiiz.com An adventure seeker by heart, his passion for photography was ignited in the Great Himalayas. Clicking clear frames and solving the mysteries of life, he just wants to spend his time as a confused photographer.

All for None Canon 60D 18mm f/3.5 1/1600sec ISO100

Priyashi Negi priyashi@chiiz.com Trekking in the top of the hills through tiny little paths and between pines is nothing short of paradise for Priyashi. Books and poetry are her refuge. She is a foodie at heart and seems to be blessed with a sweet tooth (sweet-teeth rather) and a love for all things cheese (pun-intended).

In-Street is a collective of passionate street and documentary photographers, mainly based out of India, sharing a common passion – “walking the streets, seeing the seemingly common life around us in different, unusual and original ways and representing the same through our own visual language”.

In-Street is committed to promote the works of In-Street members and overall street photography in India and beyond.

In-Street also encourages other photographers to participate in different street photography programs, which will be showcased on In-Street website.

Finally, In-Street is a platform for collective learning and growing together as photographers.

The In-Street Collective Members are Manish Khattry (Varanasi), Saumalya Ghosh (Kolkata), Raj Sarkar (Kolkata), Sankar Ghose (Kolkata), Swarat Ghosh (Hyderabad), Zahir Abbas (Gurgaon), Jayati Saha (Kolkata) and Sreeranj Sreedhar (Dubai).

This picture represents the perfect use of vertical framing, color, scale and geometry. The way those squares stack up gives a feel of blocks of dreams on which the little kid is climbing, as if towards a magical garden.

Though the path seems to be flat or downward but the illusion is of a stair set going up. ~ In-street Collective

WINNER Bhaskar Kundu F/2.2 1/100 ISO32

1st Runner up Ab Rashid

F/7.1 1/15 ISO100

2nd Runner up Subodh Shetty

F/13 1/90 ISO1600

Autumn Night in Pavlovsk Canon 5D Mark III 14mm F/5 15s ISO1600

Waterfall in the gorge Canon 5D Mark III 17mm F/8 1/80 ISO500

The Bay of Water Lillies Canon 5D Mark III 17mm F/10 1/100 ISO250

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TRIGGERS

Fedor Lashkov, born in Stavropol, is a photographer from Saint Petersburg. He is a color expert who can deliver subtle nuances in the bright palette: a dawn during the first moments of a new day, twilight which seems to be a light fog among mountains and plants, elusive beauty of the sky or the charm of the nasty weather. Fedor Lashkov’s landscapes are imbued with a deep sense of admiration for nature: In his work, he shows that the nature is our home-the beginning of our soul. The Nature inspires him, gives him joy and happiness. Thus, he has a strong desire to share this beauty with people. For him photography is an opportunity to share this pleasure.

The Steppe is Full of Flowers Canon 5D Mark III 44mm F/14 1/320 ISO100

Creativity of Ladoga Canon 5D Mark III 16mm F/18 1/250 ISO200

Sculpture of Ladoga Pentax 645Z 28mm F/18 1/320 ISO100

Golden Domes Canon 5D Mark III 600mm F/11 1/640 ISO200

Hoarfrost in the Steppe Canon 5D Mark III 24mm F/13 1/320 ISO100

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TRIGGERS

Cloudy Nature Nikon D810 14mm F/13 1/125 ISO100

Waiting for the Clouds Nikon D810 14mm F/11 1/3 ISO100

Flowers Rarely Found Nikon D810 15mm F/11 1.3s ISO31

Safar Bakhyshev was born in Siberia, Russia but moved with his parents to the Urals at the age of 12. As a child, he was never interested in photography or video shooting. He picked up photography by chance at the age of 22. It has been almost 6 years since then. Now he travels a lot and is engaged in video shooting of landscapes. He works in one of the Russian TV channels dedicated to nature and often travels all around the world. Despite that, he has not forgotten the stunning corners in Russia that are less explored by man. Photography allows him to admire the world, to breathe the clean mountain air, and to meet sunsets and dawns, to keep himself in good physical shape. While shooting nature, he always tries to capture that special moment that may never happen again. And almost always, it takes a long time. Sometimes, he spends three or four days in one place, to get that perfect shot. But he feels that this approach allows him to capture unique shots.

Autumn of Altia Nikon D500 28mm F/11 1/60 ISO50

Purity in Sunset Nikon D810 22mm F/11 5s ISO31

Weather Changing Nikon D810 18mm F/9 1.10s ISO31

App of the Month Adobe Photoshop Lightroom CC Rating: 3.5/5 Platform: iOS, Android Cost: $5 per month

In this digital era where everyone has to click it and instagram it- be it the #iwokeuplikethis picture or your brunch that looks just as delicious as it might taste (once you actually have it); the picturesque sunset that you just have to click or even the amazing astro shot that you finally got right. But what is common to all these pictures? They all need little retouches here and there before they make it to your gallery. We have all been there and let’s just face it, sometimes the filters are just not enough. It is here that Adobe’s Lightroom Mobile, which is well known for editing images, even on mobile phones, comes into picture.

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom CC+ for mobile is an official app that lets you capture, edit and share your photos.

What’s more is that you can organize your pictures, synchronize them with other devices, work with pictures and do all that in a sleek, user-friendly interface. While iOS users had that user-friendly interface from early on, Adobe redesigned the UI for android from the ground up to make it more efficient and well “android-y”.

For those who don’t have a Lightroom account or another Adobe plan, this application is just a trial version, so for thirty days you can use Adobe Lightroom Mobile freely, but after that time you would have to pay.

There’s a wide range of editing options available like cropping, fixing geometric perspectives, lens profile corrections, and adding metadata to your images while importing them. You can also adjust the tonal scale of the picture and finely tune the tonal scale using the tone-curve.

Adobe has also provided the features to adjust clarity, dehaze, and add vignettes to the images. Another great feature is that you can use a wide range of gesture shortcuts to perform some of the most common actions in a much easier way. The Rate & Review panel in the Loupe view allows you to quickly give a star rating and flag (pick or reject) your album photos. You can also view, share, and export photos. However, the Export Original option is disabled for those synced originals that were added from Lightroom Classic CC on your desktop. Lightroom has some good editing tools, although not many more than Google photos stock app, but my gripe is that it has no

ability to save your edit back to the SD card. There should also be an option to turn off the auto upload to Creative Cloud as it bogs down the connection while uploading huge RAW files to Creative Cloud. This can be problematic in areas where the connectivity is low.

Adobe has amazing premium features like the RAW support, selective edits and search. However apps like Google Snapseed offers most of the expensive premium features of this app as standard. The way Adobe expects hobbyists to pay enormous prices for “pro” (actually basic) is way behind times and Adobe might have shot themselves in the foot with this one.

Also, the controls for split toning could use a text box for typing in values rather than a person trying to dial in the right hue and saturation. It would have been way more convenient if we could save our own presets or even import a custom preset but that doesn’t happen here. The iOS version has a details section which is missing from its android counterpart. This details section provides the option of noise reduction and color noise reduction along with the sharpness adjust slider which is absent is android.

Overall, Adobe Lightroom for mobile is a great app for editing but you can only enjoy the app to its full potential only if you pay a whopping 5$ a month(!!!), which is way too expensive for a hobbyist, especially when there are apps in the market that provide almost all of the premium features as basic.

Aditi Puranik aditi@chiiz.com

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TOOLS

A budding journalist , Aditi watches the world with wonder in her eyes. Talented but lazy, introvert but sarcastic, she is a nature lover, continuously trying to work on her photography and writing skills. She is a wanderer at heart and dreams of travelling the world.

Taghi Hamidimanesh Iran

CHIIZ GALLERY To get published, upload your photos on Chiiz.com

Water Border Canon 6D 24mm F/8 1/500 ISO100

Narnia Land Nikon D810 24mm F/7.1, 2s ISO 100

Pawel Zygmunt Oldtown, Ireland

Strawberry Greenhouses Canon 7D 59mm F/13 1/250 ISO100

Leyla Emektar Istanbul, Turkey

Vineet Singh Noida, India

Taktsang Monastery Nikon D7000 17mm f16.0 1/200s ISO800

Go Wild for a While Canon EOS 7D 200mm f4.0 1/640s ISO 100

Giovanni Corona Villaperuccio (SU) Sardinia - Italy

Sourabh Gandhi New Delhi, India

Nirupam Dutta Kolkata, India

Chandratal Lake,Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, India.

Nikon D810 14-24mm f/8 1/500s ISO64

Madhur Wadhwa New Delhi, India

Semaphore of Night-Vigators Pentax K-3 10mm ƒ/3.2 30” ISO 3200

True Colors of the Sky Canon700D f/18 1/100s ISO200

Udayan Sankar Pal Chennai, India

Laura Bernas Syracuse, NY, USA

Chinmoy Biswas Kolkata, India

Mansor Mohamadi Iran

Blue Up Close On Davidson Glacier Canon 60D 400mm f/6 ISO400

Tell Tale Trees Canon EOS 5D Mark III 50mm f/11 1/180s ISO100

Nature’s Creation Nikon FM2

Debashis Mukherjee Kolkata, India

Rural Landscape Nikon D7200 26 mm f/3.8 1/1250s ISO100

A wave of the light Nikon D300 18-200mm f/18 1/200s ISO100

Saha Surjit India

Alipriya Ghosh Kolkata, India

In the Clouds Canon 5D Mark IV 56mm f/11 1/80 ISO200

Minimal Mountains of Ladakh.

Nikon D7200 18-140mm f/4.8 1/1250sec ISO 100

Sudip Roy Kolkata, India

Kanchenjunga,the great Himalayan beauty Canon EOS Rebel T5 75-300mm f/9 ISO100

Dipankar Karmakar Kolkata, India

Nafis Ameen Dhaka, Bangladesh

Great Coexistence of Serenity In Front of Enormity Nikon D7200 18mm f/10 1/250s ISO100

Eruption of Mayon volcano Nikon D810 100mm f/6.3 1/40sec ISO400.

Broken Dreams Nikon D7100 11-16mm f/2.8 30sec ISO100

Soumya N Ghosh Kolkata India

Tanay Das Kolkata, India

Emrah Uygun Istanbul, Turkey

Where the Stars Live Nikin D5500 18mm f/8 1/30 ISO100

Irfanali Baburao Borgave Ichalkaranji, India

Let’s Cross Fuji-XPRO2 10mm f/14 1/420s ISO500

Colors are the smiles of nature Nikon D610 18mm f/13 2.5s ISO64

Taiyab Jamal Bolpur, India

The Scenic Beauty NikonD5300 18-55mm F/9 1/100sec ISO100

Rahul Pradip Kinikar Sangli, India

The Gate to the Heaven Fujifilm XT-10 Fujinon XF-10-24 f/10 1/2sec ISO1000

Yamini Krishna Thane, India

Joydeep Paul Kolkata, India

Walk on the Salt Nikon D750 15mm f/9 SS 1/40s ISO2500

Nature and Life Nikon D3300 18-55 F5 1/500s ISO100

Khalid Faraj Mubarak AI Wdahi Salala, Oman

Jhuma Dutta Kolkata, India

The fearless Canon 600D 24-105mm f/10 1/5s ISO100

Aritra Nath Kolkata, India

The Silk Route Canon 80D 10mm f/5.6 1/20s ISO100

Morteza Cameran Mashhad, Iran

Demar Beach Nikon D5300 11mm f/22 9.6s ISO100

Sistan Valley Nikon D7100 35mm f/2.5 1/500s ISO640

Khalid Faraj Mubarak AI Wdahi Salala, Oman

Almogsil Beach Nikon D5300 11mm f/22 9.6s ISO100

In The Trend Canon 5D Mark III 85mm F/1.4 1/125 ISO1000

Hanami: A Walk Through the Cherry Blossoms Rohan Shrestha captures the essence of Hanami, the cherry blossom festival of Japan, through his projection photography show

The Princess Canon 5D Mark III 85mm F/1.6 1/125 ISO800

“Within each one of us, there exists a nomad who seeks the world outside; within this nomad, we carry our home with us.” With this sentiment the celebrity photographer, Rohan Shrestha’s first projection photography exhibition – Hanami – was showcased at the Diesel store in Juhu, Mumbai, as a part of the Diesel + Art initiative.

The 33-year-old son of pioneer celebrity photographer Rakesh Shrestha along with his curator, Ambika Hinduja Macker has attempted to recreate the beauty of Hanami (Cherry Blossom Festival in Japan) in his projection photography show.

Shrestha, who is a student of the New York Film Academy, began his photographic journey with working under his father in 2004. Along with working with his father, Shrestha has also worked with various photographers in different fields to widen the scope of his creative horizons.

Hanami exhibited 25 image series using six ultra-projectors along with a moving image piece, housed in the backdrop of print images.

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The Cherry Blossom Canon 1D Mark II 21mm F/6.3 1/8000 ISO400

Accidental Encounter in Japan…

Shrestha, who is also a professional scuba diver, was in Guan for a diving trip to Chuuk Island when a typhoon hit and he had to seek refuge in Japan for a few days.

The accidental journey to Japan left an indelible imprint in his mind and soul. It was the advent of the spring season when Shrestha first visited Japan in April 2015.

As he spent time in the country, he fell in love with the country and kept extending his trip, to just about when his visa was close to expiring.

Inspired by Japan, the cherry blossom and the Japanese aesthetic, Rohan Shrestha’s debut solo exhibition is a result of his love for photography and passion to experiment. The cherry blossom represents the fragility and the beauty of life. It’s a reminder that life is almost overwhelmingly beautiful, but that it is also tragically short.

The notion is called wabi-sabi life.

In the search of Sakura, a flowering cherry tree, the artist visited Kyoto, Japan where he experimented with a converted infrared camera to capture some enthralling landscape and artistic photos. The images shot in Shinjuku Gyoen Garden in Tokyo, Kyoto and Koyasan were published in National Geographic Traveller.

The Second Visit…

The Bachelorette celebration of Shrestha’s best friend took him back there again in the autumn of the same year. This time, he shot in Kamakura, an hour away from Tokyo by rail.

He captured surreal images of old Japanese temples and Buddhist monasteries through photographic techniques of zoom burst and rotational slow shutter.

The Experiment: Fashion + Landscape Projection…

Shrestha, who has shot covers for prominent magazines like Noblesse India, Cosmopolitan, FHM, Grazia, Verve and Filmfare among others, took this project further to blend

Hello Nature Canon 5D Mark III 85mm F/2 1/125 ISO800

two styles of photography - his travel and fashion work, completely different from each other, into one.

By combining images of the Sakura projected on an Indian model dressed in the traditional Japanese clothes, Shrestha embarked on projection photography.

An artist of the floating world…

“We are all artists of the floating world in which there’s no such thing as a perfect craft. Just like there’s no such thing as perfect despair,” quotes the nomadic photographer who handles an Instagram account under the pseudonym- ‘Nomad Within’.

Reuniting Blossoms Canon 5D Mark III 85mm F/2 1/125 ISO800

Drawing on the legacy of his father, Rakesh Shrestha, Rohan Shrestha’s passion for photography was fuelled from his childhood. While still in college, he studied under his father and other prominent photographers in an effort to widen the scope of his creative horizons. At a very young age, he has worked with numerous celebrities, photographed covers and editorials for leading publications and has developed campaigns for several leading brands.

Well known for his celebrity and fashion photography as Rohan Shrestha, he also loves to create fine art and travel images under the pseudonym- ‘nomad within’ which is an exploration of his more personal style of photography.

Flowers in the Bowl Canon 1Ds Mark III 85mm F/16 1/40 ISO100

Traveler Going Nowhere Canon 5D Mark III 19mm F/16 1/5 ISO500

“We are all artists of the floating world in which there’s no such thing as a perfect craft. Just like there’s no such thing as perfect despair.”

Rahul Batra rahul@chiiz.com

86 FEATURE

The Angry Moon Canon 5D Mark III 35mm F/22 1/5 ISO100

Rahul is a culture based writer who left his engineering job to pursue a career in writing. He is a flaneur who thinks that the ideas brewing up in his skullsized kingdom can transform this world into a better one. He wishes to write a psychological thriller one day.

Purity in White Canon 5D Mark III 85mm F/1.6 1/125 ISO800

Blending Styles Canon 5D Mark III 85mm F/1.6 1/125 ISO800

Projected Shadows Canon 5D Mark III 85mm F/1.4 1/125 ISO1000

Model of the Month Super chirpy and high on energy, GL Sanjana is either giggling or laughing at her inside jokes most of the times. She has a love for food (specific kinds) and is always putting on loud music, dancing, jumping around when she’s alone and laughing out loud. However, she also has a very silent side to her where she just goes all mute, journals and contemplates her way into overthinking. She likes to cook and loves experimenting with food.

She’s originally from Andhra Pradesh but she has lived in the northern part of the country and Bangalore for the most part of her life since her dad is from the defence.

She was a second runner up at the Elite model look India 2014, one of the top 20 finalists of miss India 2016. She has been modelling from past two years in Bangalore and Delhi and recently moved to Mumbai to pursue acting and modelling. She has done television commercials for Close up, Tropicana, Fastrack, Subway and Fbb and currently working her way into films. She’s loving the process of it and is excited about what Mumbai has in store for her.

Clicked by: Studio Basic

Clicked by: Rafique Sayed

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Stats

Age: 24 Height: 5’9’ Upper Bust: 79 cm Bust: 80 cm Lower bust: 70 cm Upper waist: 66 cm Lower waist: 78 cm Mid waist: 68 cm Hips: 93 cm Thighs: 53 cm Knee: 37 cm Ankle: 26 cm

Shoulders: 46 cm Sleeve lengths: 58 cm Arm hole: 45 cm Neck: 47 cm Dress Size: S Cup size: 32 B Shoe Size: 39/40 Jeans Size: 28 Trouser Length: 100 cm Hair: Black Eyes: Dark Brown

Clicked by: Sameer Dhalwani

Clicked by: Yashasvi Sharma

Clicked by: Yashasvi Sharma

Clicked by: Sameer Dhalwani

Make up Artist of the Month

Diane Martin is a French makeup artist and hairstylist based in Paris. It’s in front of the cameras as a model and actress that she first discovered makeup and hairstyling which fascinated her in the fashion world .

Polyvalent and eager to learn new skills, she decided to learn both. She has always been attracted by art, and those skills allow her to combine her love for beauty with an artistic technique.Graduated from the Makeup Forever Academy for makeup and the Scotto di Cesare School for Hairstyling, she has participated in many projects, mostly in fashion, but also in movies and live events.

She was published on many editorials and continue to discover new aspects of her work during each new project. For her, materials and colors are things which you can use and play with to transform and beautify, just like a painter. She likes variety, and this job allows her to do something different and unique every single day.

Her style? She likes to change it as she wants so it’s rather difficult to define her style but overall, she prefers refined, dark or colorful, graphic, rock and beautiful artistic looks. A makeup artist job requires dynamism, creativity, perfectionism and to be able to react quickly when confronted with adversity. Things that challenge her also make this work fascinating to her. You can see her work on: Website: dianemartinmuah.com Instagram: diane_martin_

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The Flower Petals

Naughty Red

Golden Tears

Rainbow Trance

Sensual Attraction

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Posing Drill

Furred Up

The Human

Knots The Backrest

Q. What is the idea behind Body Knots series?

A. It started when I was doing a large project with dancers and they would work very hard and then we took a break they would just sit together.

Sometimes, men and women would just sit down, huddle and hold each other and when I looked at them I saw a sculpture. That is when it occurred to me. I call it the ‘Biological Sculpture’ whose human curves, valleys, bends and twists look like a beautiful sculpture. So, I began to make photographs with a wide angle lens and coming very close to the subject and did everything I could to hide their faces because it wasn’t a portrait, it wasn’t about who they were but rather about what their bodies were doing together as a knot tied and twisted together. Then, when I made the pictures they were pretty nice but I felt like I could go further and so what I did was, I sat down with my computer and tried a lot of things. Art is, after all, all about trial and error. When I came upon the idea of using colors; it really resonated with me and made me feel like this was wonderful. I photograph to surprise and that really caused me great surprise and delight.

Q. From ophthalmology to photography, how did this change take place?

A. Well, in medicine, it’s about getting it right- exactly right. It is not trial and error and you cannot take chances and you have to be really well prepared and doing it exactly right. In art, it’s all about trial and

Howard Schatz talks about how he came up with the idea of shooting his muses in such unique and quirky ways. Below are excerpts of his conversation with Chiiz writer, Ankit Tyagi

error, making mistakes and discovering new things; it is all about imagination and creativity. So, I was taking photographs during the weekends while I was a doctor in the weekdays. As we have a lot of attention for art here (we have museums shows, and gallery shows), I started getting phone calls to do more and more work. But I was a physician, a teacher, a researcher and a scientists and couldn’t take out much time for photography. So, my wife suggested that after my 25 years in medicine, I should shift from San Francisco to New York, take a 1 year sabbatical, do photography full time and let’s see what happens. At first it was so much fun, interesting and exciting, we would go to bed giggling and happy. This went on year after year and 5 or 6 years later when the sabbatical had still not ended, it was clear that I was not going to return to medicine. The two areas are very different and in a way it has changed me; when I was a physician I was always very serious, very careful, controlled and rational but being an artist is just the opposite

Upside Down

You are open to all sort of ideas and you can relax and lose yourself and there is a willingness to experiment.

It is a very different life and I enjoy it very much.

Q. How do you manage to explain your concept to your subjects?

A. Well, that’s a very good question.

It is very important to establish a sense of trust and so I am always very kind, considerate, interested and positive when I direct my subjects, whether they are dancers or athletes or other important people. I never use the word no; I say ‘Yes, very good, let’s try this’, so they know that they are collaborating with me and cooperating with me in making something wonderful. I try to make a good picture all the time but to make a fantastic picture, a picture that has impact and which is magnificent is very hard and it requires both of us, the subject and myself. In medicine, one learns what’s called the bedside manners. Learn to be kind and generous and sensitive and that helps me in photography too.

Q. Your upcoming book KINK is about to be launched. Can you please share something about it?

A. One Sunday, my wife and I got into the car and drove to Folsom Street in San Francisco and saw a street fair. We saw people dressed up and behaving differently and it was just fantastic. It was a BDSM fair, a different and interesting experience.

There was masochism and bondage, dominance, submissive and it was a rich, wonderful experience and people

Capsicums

were very creative in what they wore and what they did. So, as I learnt about it, the Folsom Street Fair is held every year in San Francisco on the last Sunday of September, celebrating the world of kink and bondage. I rented a booth, made a studio, brought people into the studio and did this for 25 years for about 20 times. I must have shot about 250 people every year and more than 6000 photographs in these 25 years which were just spectacular. Then I sent every photo to the people I had captured with a questionnaire and when they would answer the questionnaire they would get another photograph.

Q. How do you plan your concept when you work on Figure Study?

A. I am very well prepared before the shoot, I take care of every detail from my gear to the concept and then I go on to start with the shoot.

I use my imagination and creativity to create art which I like to call the ‘Biological Sculpture’.

Strawberry

Entangled

An ophthalmologist-turned-photographer, Howard Schatz has received international acclaim for his work, which has been published in twenty two monographs, and is one of the most sought-after photographers working today. Over the last 25 years 20 major books have been published of his work; he has won virtually every award in photography and has had over 100 museum and gallery exhibitions worldwide. His latest publication, Kink, the result of a 20 year long portrait project focused on the participants of the Folsom Street Fair, an annual BDSM celebration of sexual diversity, will be out this Spring.

He has also captured extraordinary images for advertising clients such as Ralph Lauren RLX, Escada, Sergio Tacchini, Nike, Reebok, Wolford, Etienne Aigner, Sony, Adidas, Finlandia Vodka, MGM Grand Hotel, Virgin Records, and Mercedes-Benz.

His Work 25 Years, a magnificent 2-volume retrospective of the photography of Howard Schatz was published on May 15, 2015. And this coming spring will see the publication of Kink, the result of a 20 year-long portrait project focused on the participants of the Folsom Street Fair, an annual BDSM celebration of sexual diversity. Howard Schatz has received international acclaim for his work and is one of the most sought-after photographers working today. Over the last 25 years, 20 major books of his work have been published; he has won virtually every award in photography and has had over 100 museum and gallery exhibitions worldwide. Schatz’s 20th book, “Caught in the Act: Actors Acting,” was just published (October, 2013). In it, he gives us a unique window into the world of stage and screen as he explores the magical transformation that happens when an actor takes a hold of words on a page and becomes another person. Schatz directed and photographed 85 actors to explore an enormous range of scenarios in one-on-one improvisation, capturing the dynamic energy of the actors in full creative flight. The book includes powerful and compelling portraits of each

96 FEATURE

actor along with an extensive interview, focusing on the creative process.

In 2012, his 19th book, “At the Fights: Inside the World of Professional Boxing” was published. The result of a six-year exploration, it is a magnificent collection of photographs and revealing interviews of current champions and promoters, managers, announcers, referees, judges and trainers.

Published in 2011, “With Child,” is the result of a 20-year long exploration of the landscape of the human body in the last two weeks of pregnancy.

In 2007, Bulfinch Press published H2O, the third in Schatz’s landmark series of explorations of imagery made on, over and underwater. This series, including H2O, Pool Light and WaterDance is a breathtaking feat of underwater photography and a visionary celebration of movement and form. He has made extraordinary images for advertising clients like Ralph Lauren RLX, Escada, Sergio Tacchini, Nike, Reebok, Wolford, Etienne Aigner, Sony, Adidas, Finlandia Vodka, MGM Grand Hotel, Virgin Records, and MercedesBenz. Schatz’s fine art work is represented in galleries in the United States and abroad.

Handy Foot

Playing Lemon

“In art, it’s all about trial and error, making mistakes and discovering new things; it is all about imagination and creativity.”

Ankit Tyagi ankit@chiiz.com Ankit has intense love towards photography and is now working as an Asst. Editor with Chiiz. He has been writing for us for a long time now and believes in the power of words. The dream is to explore and find different perceptions in life. He likes watching classic movies and is inspired by Alfred Hitchcock as a director.

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Self Healing