6 Photographers "Kashmir Though the Lens" June 4, 2009

Six Photographers ‘Kashmir Through The Lens’

May 1, 2009- Armed with cameras and a sense of adventure, six photographers left the comfort of their homes in the United Arab Emirates and traveled to Kashmir to capture images of the landscape, life and people of the area. Now their awarding-winning photos will be on display at a unique exhibit at the Creative Alliance Gallery in Baltimore, MD. The exhibit coincides with “World Refugee Day” and opens on June 3 at 5:30 pm til 7:30 pm meet the photographers and view the short film" Kashmir Thought the Lens". The exhibition runs thru June 27, 2009. This is the first time the photographs will be exhibited in the United States.

At the exhibition, guests will have an opportunity to meet the photographers, view their images and book, and see a screening of the documentary “Kashmir Through the Lens.” Through the exhibition, the artists hope to give others the feeling that they were a part of the adventure.

In conjunction with the photo exhibition, the photographers will be hosting and leading workshops for children on photography, as well as visiting local schools. The workshops are being sponsored by Baltimoregallery and will give children basic lessons in photography and access to cameras for them to document their neighborhoods. Susan R. Gould, Director of the Baltimoregallery, and Jeb Dobbs, Artistic Director of the Creative Alliance, have teamed up to bring support to this worthy photographic project and exhibition. Both long-time community volunteers and advocates for the arts and children, their desire to bring awareness of the need to have art in schools has fostered this ambitious project.

Supporting the project is Hahnemuehle, a producer of fine art paper. Founded in 1584, Hahnemuehle is the oldest German papermaker, manufacturing papers for traditional and digital artists as well as industrial papers. Their high quality paper, both for traditional and digital applications, is renowned worldwide and is in demand by professional artists and amateurs alike. The fine quality of Hahnemuehle paper gives life to the artists’ prints, and seeing the images on Hahnemuehle paper will undoubtedly give the viewers a feeling of being a part of the journey, just as the photographers experienced it.

The Journey
The photographers first traveled to Manali in Himachal Pradesh in Northern India. Their wanderlust took them on a journey to mystic Ladakh through Leh and into Kashmir. There they encountered the unique beauty of the people and culture. Kashmir is often featured in the media as a place of strife. But for the photographers, Kashmir offered more; it showed its magic in the generosity of the people, who opened their arms to the strangers. Nomads were keen to have their pictures taken and would not accept money, instead offering tea to the motley crew with cameras.

The Photographers
Kashmir Through the Lens features photography from multiple individuals with unique backgrounds. Photos from Carl L.C. Abrams (a Baltimore native), Henry D’Silva, Shahid Hashmi, Abdul Nasser, and Sujin Balakumaran will be on display. From landscapes to people, the photography is an expedition for the search for the perfect light and focuses on their personal perspectives of Kashmir as seen through their lenses.

With their experience in Kashmir, the photographers vowed to do something for the people, however mundane or small, but to do their bit to bring a change in the lives of at least a few people, even one family. Proceeds from Kashmir Through the Lens will go to UNICEF to support UNICEF’s aim of “Building a Culture of Peace for the Children of the World.” The photographers are excited to showcase their work and bring their love of photography to children in the Baltimore region, while at the same time, helping those less fortunate in other places around the world.
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