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The Man Behind Pakistan’s Photography Evolution

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Recipient of the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, Prof. Rahmatullah Khan has been a trailblazer in photography education in Pakistan. As the architect of the country’s first photography diploma, his contributions span across photojournalism, media arts, TV production, archaeology, cultural heritage. Teaching students the nuances of the evolving world of photography and his advice for aspiring photographers.

Can you share your journey into photography? What inspired you to pursue the field of photography?

R.K: My journey with photography started at the age of six when my elder brother gifted me a camera worth 110 rupees. That little piece of equipment sparked a lifelong passion. I always say, “Photography is my religion.” But passion alone wasn’t enough. Coming from a nawab family, my mother strongly opposed my career choice. She believed photography wasn’t a suitable path for someone from our background. I was determined, though, and refused to let societal expectations dictate my future.

An MBA in Marketing and I worked in computer marketing for ten years. However, something was always missing. One day, I made a bold decision—I left my corporate job and dedicated myself entirely to photography. I started teaching at the Pakistan American Cultural Center (PACC), and from that moment, there was no looking back. It’s been 36 years since I began teaching photography, and I still love every moment of it.

How did you become associated with Alliance Française de Karachi?

R.K: As my teaching career expanded, I started working at multiple institutions, including PACC. When I approached Alliance Française, they welcomed me aboard, and I eventually established my own art gallery here. At one point, I was teaching in six to seven universities simultaneously! Currently, I am pursuing a Ph.D. in Visual Anthropology of the Indus Civilization, a photography-based research project that—if completed—will be the only one of its kind in the world. It’s a thrilling challenge!

What were some challenges you faced as a photographer in Pakistan?

R.K: Every day is a challenge—not just for photographers, but for media professionals in general. I have taught TV production, film production, and video production at universities, and one of my biggest concerns is the lack of dedication among the younger generation. They get excited about the field but lose interest in just a few days. There’s a serious gap in career counseling—something that was once addressed at PACC by Dr. Falak Thawar. She had a Ph.D. in student career counseling, but after her passing away, the entire department shut down.

What are the key elements that make a compelling photograph?

R.K: It varies from photographer to photographer, but a great photograph should showcase both artistic vision and technical skill. Ansel Adams once said, “We don’t take photographs; we make photographs.” That’s an essential mindset. A photographer must compose the image with intention, paying close attention to lighting, angles and emotion.

With digital photography and AI on the rise, how do you think photography as an art form is evolving?

R.K: Technology will keep evolving, but photography will always remain photography. Cameras may become more advanced integrating AI features, but at the end of the day, the art lies in the hands of the photographer. I still develop my photographs in a darkroom, using traditional black-and-white techniques. I even import film and chemicals from Dubai because I believe there’s something special about analog photography that digital can’t replicate. I’ve also introduced a darkroom photography course to keep this tradition alive.

You have been recognized as an archaeology and heritage photographer. What draws you to these subjects?

R.K: I began my career with wildlife photography—long before it gained recognition. But wildlife photography requires an immense amount of time, so I transitioned into fashion photography. Eventually, I received an assignment to shoot heritage sites, and I never looked back.

I have traveled to China four times by road, cycling across entire provinces to document heritage sites. Unfortunately, in Pakistan, archaeology and heritage photography are underappreciated. Exhibitions happen here, but the real demand comes from international audiences.

What role does photography play in preserving Pakistan’s cultural heritage?

R.K: Photography is a powerful tool for preservation, but it requires people who truly care. Thirty years ago, I took my students to Makli Graveyard—a place rich in history. People mocked me, questioning why I was interested in photographing old tombs. But I saw it as an opportunity to document our heritage. Today, many realize the significance of such places, but back then, very few paid attention. The journey of photography education in Karachi has been remarkable. When I started teaching in 1988 at PACC, the field was still in its infancy. Over the years, I’ve played a key role in shaping photography education, especially in Karachi. Today, we offer internationally recognized diplomas at Alliance Française, providing students with a globally competitive edge.

What advice do you have for young photographers who want to turn their passion into a profession?

R.K: Practice, practice, practice! Photography is not just about technical skill—it’s about dedication. You must shoot every day, every week, and every month to refine your craft. Master the fundamentals—lighting, composition, and exposure. Your camera is just a tool; it’s your vision that makes the photograph. Creativity and technical expertise must go hand in hand.

For upcoming photographers, my advice is simple: stay consistent, stay curious, and never stop exploring.

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Pakistan Women’s Foundation for Peace

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Women’s Day 2025

The Pakistan Women’s Foundation for Peace hosted the Women’s Day 2025 event, addressing Pakistan’s persistent gender disparity and the critical need for equality. Despite women’s undeniable contributions to society—excelling in academics, breaking stereotypes, and achieving historic milestones—Pakistan ranks 145th out of 146 countries on the Global Gender Gap Index, a position it has held for years.

President PWFFP said Women make up 49 percent of the population, yet their literacy rate remains only 51 percent, and their workforce participation stagnates at 25 percent. Even in politics and corporate leadership, their presence is limited, often restricted to token roles. Rural women face even harsher realities, with unpaid labour and lack of recognition. Billions have been spent on women’s development programmes, yet tangible improvements remain scarce.

PWFFP urges a national commitment to addressing these issues through better resource allocation, strict accountability, and a stronger push for gender parity. This year’s event featured renowned experts Dr. Ishrat Husain (Economist), Ms. Nasreen Jaleel (Politician), Dr. Tasneem Ahsan (Health Specialist), Barrister Zahra S. Viyani (Legal Expert), Ms. Baela Raza Jameel (Educationist), and Dr. Asad Sayeed (Economist). Their insights highlighted solutions to break barriers and advance women’s empowerment in Pakistan.

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Songkran – Festival of Water

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The vibrant spirit of Thailand came alive in Karachi recently, as the Royal Thai Consulate General hosted the Songkran Festival at the Pakistan American Cultural Center (PACC). Held in collaboration with the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA), PACC and Pakistan Print and Electronics Media. The event marked two special occasions: the Thai New Year and the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Pakistan.

Consul General Mr. Surashete Boontinand opened the evening with a warm address, highlighting the cultural significance of Songkran, recently inscribed by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. He emphasized the importance of cultural exchange in strengthening bilateral ties.

Over 200 guests, including media representatives, diplomats and members of the local community, were treated to a colourful lineup of performances that blended Thai and Pakistani traditions. From elegant Thai dance to rhythmic Pakistani music and dance the evening was a celebration of unity through culture.

Guests also enjoyed a rich spread of Thai cuisine and took part in traditional Songkran activities, including the famous water-splashing ritual, which symbolizes cleansing, renewal, and good fortune.

The Songkran Festival in Karachi was more than a cultural showcase—it was a reflection of the growing friendship and mutual respect between the two nations, leaving attendees with memories of joy, connection, and shared heritage.

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Nurturing a Classical Infant

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By Imran Shirvanee

Classical music has a long history, but in that long history there is a very recent entrant Sagar Veena which was created in Lahore in 1970. In fact, its present version was finalized as late as 2012 by the inventor Raza Kazim. A man of many talents and a musicologist, his love for the instrument is being carried forward by his daughter Noor Zehra Kazim, who is perhaps the finest exponent of Sagar Veena playing. Being a new entrant does this instrument have any future in this dwindling classical music environment? Noor Zehra believes it has a future. And she has a reason for saying that. “Our natural response to our own music is inherent in the raags and their structures,” she explains. “Sagar Veena is capable of exposing us to the undiscovered aspects of those emotions. The conceptual route means that it is already a part of a thought structure. If that belongs to these times and its people, then Sagar Veena is only a means to convey them.”

Noor Zehra explains the instrument was developed on the basis of ideas contrary to the evolutionary route which most of the musical instruments that are handcrafted have taken. The evolutionary stages of any instrument are mainly dependent on the aesthetics of the musician who gets those changes done, and also his own understanding of the structure of the instrument, which was always insufficient. The present instrument makers in India mainly have perfected the art. The younger generation instrument makers have also utilized the technology to make them. On the other hand, Sagar Veena was constructed on the basis of understanding the principles of how a stringed musical instrument works.

“In fifty years the Sagar Veena was standardized. Unfortunately the most crucial part of the instrument, the jowahri could not be completed, as Raza abruptly stopped working due to health issues. The sound of the Sagar Veena keeps changing on a micro level,” says Noor Zehra.

She believes potentially the instrument can communicate much more than the sitar or surbahar. Its resonant sound can tap those areas of the mind which other stringed instruments cannot. “Listeners don’t pinpoint the reason, but they respond to the resonant sound,” she says. “The music is exactly the same as on the sitar. In fact the rhythmic and fast tempo music is better expressed on the sitar. The alaap, which literally means conversation, is expressed and elaborated in the emotional domain much more, but the resonance is more pronounced in the Sagar Veena.”

When asked about the interests in classical music among the younger generation, Noor Zehra was somewhat skeptical. “If you were to say that the younger generation is getting interested in classical music, does this mean that there is a revival of classical music. These questions will demand a closer look. Sufi music is now qawwali, fusion music and kafis. And this does not come under the definition of classical music.”

She, however, is not pessimistic. “The younger generation, on a relative scale has shown interest in learning vocal and instrumental music,” she points out. “Young people have much more access to technology which enables them to learn and understand classical music better. Virtual learning is a bigger reality than guru shishya training. The younger generation is more curious to see how it is different from the music that they are acclimatized with. Some have been exposed to classical music since childhood, but they are few. More than other genres, classical music needs rigorous training. With electronic tools they substitute the rigours of learning.”

Noor Zehra believes that in the absence of guru shishya training and with little or no previous exposure to the diversity of raags, the younger generation catches on to certain moods in the traditional compositions in the simpler and attractive raags, like Daes, Bhairavi, Bihag, and some others. “They are a smart lot,” she admits. “If they have the talent to play or sing, figuring out compositions in difficult rhythms is easy for them. Improvising on the basis of certain principles is also not difficult for them.”

Noor Zehra’s optimism comes from her understanding of the classical music as it stands today. She says the future of classical music which has a restricted authentic audience, is bright. “It is basically a repository of innumerable facets of learning. This repository is not going anywhere,” she asserts. The role of music in society in the past has corresponded to the cultural, political and social structures, Noor Zehra points out. Folk songs, devotional music, religious music, and music with national fervour bear witness to this fact.

Most importantly, the instrumentalist says, this is all because of the role music plays in any society. “I think music has played a role since time immemorial. Today let us generate awareness, in order to get rid of our prejudices and ignorance,” she says.

Extract:

Noor Zehra explains Sagar Veena was developed on the basis of ideas contrary to the evolutionary route which most of the musical instruments that are handcrafted have taken.

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