Hello readers ! In order to celebrate launch of new Light Room book by Scott Kelby. He organized world wide photo walk on 23rd August 2008. I proudly led the walk in Islamabad. Me along with gang of Islamabadi photographers went to Said Pur Village to explore old village.
Here are few takes by me click photos for more
Hey kiddie
Gang busy in photography
Ancient Hindu tomb at saidpur village
Train model made of clay by local craftman about century ago
You may have read about very bad experience with canon official dealers MBM in this post . Well after rasing my voice to canon HQ in singapore. I received a call from MBM assuring deleivery before 14th August at all costs. Today is 13th and no clue of the lens rather today i am told 15 or 16th August!!! So no independence day celebration for me and my viewers.
I will highly recommend buying from somewhere else and not to trust these crooks ! they don’t keep inventory in Pakistan, so when ever someone has to buy a lens buyer has to wait ages and miss a lot things during that period. And i cannot imagine what they do to their customers when claiming warranty !
THIS IS EXTREMELY WORSE DEALERSHIP I HAVE SEEN ON EARTH, these folks are destroying canon’s cradibility with there weird business strategy !
Singing and painting competetion was held at open air theater at Islamabad organized by Payaam foundation. It is a formed by youngster volunteers and work for spreading peace and happiness through its varity of work like free medical camps etc. Anyone can become a volunteer call +92-51-2539179 for donations etc.
It was charm to witness such activity in the city. With so many children with smiles on their faces. Best part was inclusion of orphans and special children who also took part in the competitions equally.
Here are few images click image to see few more in the gallery
Work in progress
Singing Auditions and little Iman sisters!
Face Painting
3 sisters 
I love the way of nature and capturing special moments. Well i was after the moment when one ant transfers food to other. Due to extremely small size and very high magnification and difficult technique of reverse lens chances of getting sharp picture are very mild. After hundreds of wasted tries since past season and hours of observation i was lucky to get these pictures.
Ant transfering Wax obtained from mealy bugs
Ants transfering was obtained from mealy bugs
So what is happening there ?
Well these ants obtain some wax produced by mealy bug (those white things in picture) in exchange ants provide security to the bugs. This happens in monsoon season.
Philosophy
I was surprised to observe this whole system of ants society. And i was amazed to see many things which i missed to shoot. It was amazing demonstration of management !
How i got them ?
I used historic 50mm Yashica lens in reverse on my sony cybershot H5 camera. Focus was set to infinity and focus was acheived by moving back and forth. Lens was tapped infront of the camera. Do not be surprised this technique is been around for quite some time.
Write to me awaisyaqub@gmail.com
Well audience it was August and 14th was the date when Pakistan got independence from British rule. Pakistanis saw light of independence due to devoted person who fought for free country for he was non other then Muhammad Ali Jinnah also known as Quaid-e-Azam ( Great leader)
Images are printed and shipped from USA. Printing is handled by professionals assuring high Quality. Discount is on Standard sizes. 12 x 18 , 16 x 24 , 24×36 all sizes in Inches. Watermark which you can see accross the image is not printed on actual image it is just to keep thieves away to preserve uniqueness of the prints
If required image is not in Fine art prints gallery throw me an email i will place it there.
So hurry up own a piece of Pakistan in form of fine art print
View from Lahore Fort
Email me at awaisyaqub@gmail.com
talk to me : +92.345.5400315
Located in Islamabad Pakistan.
Pakistani customers email or call me 0345-5400315 for purchase info.
Purchasing method is simple as you purcahse other goods from internet and secure SmugMug handles it all so don’t worry
In case of confusion contact me
To all editors of news or advertising agencies and picture theives in case you stole my images and printed without permission you will face lawsuit and negative social marketing so becareful while taking such a stupid step
I use Canon EOS 400D with EF-S 18-55 f3.5-5.6 supplied kit lens. Lovely colors of flowers always attract me and i decided to shoot closeup of the sunflower with this lens. At 55mm and aperture set to f/8 while iso set to 200. I kept moving closer and closer to the flower and kept focusing and discover how close this kit lens can actually focus !(0.92 ft) image came our pretty good with lots of colors and detail. Click the image to purchase the print. It came out too good i decided to put into my fine art gallery.
I have been very satisfied with this lens and have used it to make a lot photos. It is not much good at focusing and very cheaply built but, it will keep happy a lot budget shooters if they use it carefully. This was not planned test shot just one from random daily shots so i decided to post.
Flower shot with canon 18-55 kit lens no cropping slight PP. click to buy Print to check how it looks when printed. Image will be printed from much smaller 1667x2500 size as compared to 2592x3888 orignal Raw from camera.
100% crop no noise reduction applied slight USM
Problem stated in this post is solved.
About 20 days ago i ordered canon Pakistan for 17-40L f/4 lens. I got quote of 44000 Rs from canon well when i made my mind and talked to them next day quote increased to 46000 Rs ! and Islamabad representative assured delivery of lens in 1st week of August as lens had to reach from Singapore with consignment. Well time reached and i called him but no response,got phone call from regional manager after 2 hours and he told me.
“If you want that lens now (he is saying this at time when they were suppose to deliver the lens and after 20 days) wecan arrange it from other dealer in Pakistan but you have to pay 52000 Rs otherwise you have to wait 15 days more”
His statement revealed 2 facts
Anyway friends i had huge plans on 14th August and prior to that unfortunately it is ruined because of crooked canon dealership. I am sorry i cannot bring you glimpses of Pakistani independence day. Renting lens is not an option here.
This is Photography its about capturing moments, moments that never ever return. If canon continued with such marketing mix i hardly believe they can ever succeed in photo business. This is not 1st time i was told they have very low credibility regarding this i kept margin for that but they exceeded far from that too.
Professional are advised to stay on safe side!! Order 1 year before you need a lens haha or miss the gig.
This has made me extremely crazy to knock door of consumer court in Pakistan. This is insane and non professional attitude of canon Pakistan. I was already annoyed at canon quality control and now i am totaly sick due to canon distribution strategy.
Thanks for listening
Canon 17-40 f4 L 650$ lens
Solar Eclipse were witnessed in Pakistan on 1st August 2008 here is how they looked on a cloudy day in Islamabad.
Solar Eclipse and Cloudy sky
Zoom view of solar eclipse
Sorry for low resolution version and watermarking, Newspaper thieves and advertsing agencies never show mercy stealing work of young growing artists. This is delimma of Pakistani creative market. Sorry once again i either don’t like water marking but have to be on safer side.
Awais Yaqub’s blog