Picture perfect Himalayas

MOUNTAINEERS conquer peaks, they capture them on camera. For years now, the Himalayas have been luring lensmen for their dramatic landscapes, quaint lifestyles, weather-worn faces and Buddhist gompas. The beauty of the region can transform an amateur into a professional photographer. And a professional photographer into a creative artist.

Sweeping landscapes, high altitude lakes reflecting the bright sunrays, silhouettes and wrinkled faces of hill-folk have been captured in all their pristine beauty in these exhibitions and glossy books.

The latest to fall to its charms is Prabuddha Dasgupta. Taking a breather from the world of glamour, he trains his camera on the breath-taking sights of the Himalayas, and the result is a new coffee table book, simply titled 'Ladakh'.

"I went on an assignment to Ladakh in 1995 and got carried away by the natural beauty. Since then I have been re-visiting it almost twice every year," says the photographer known for his Kamasutra advertisement campaign.

"The black and white pictures articulate my feelings about the pristine land. They are my labour of love and have special place in my heart and soul," says Prabhudda.

Ladakh has touched the soul of Benoy as well. Behl's unusual mission in life is to traverse to remote parts of the mountain district in search of ancient Buddhist monasteries. His frequent visits have yielded astounding results. He has re-discovered monasteries some dating back to the tenth and eleventh centuries which are lying in ruins in Leh, Zanskar, Kargil and Nubra.

Many of his pictures of Gompas (monasteries) and Lhakhangs (temples) are essays in ancient architecture and culture. Behl has photo-documented 51 monasteries and discussed with monks, scholars and Rinpoches (heads of the monastic sects) the urgent measures required for their preservation. Some of his pictures of Thangkas (Buddhist paintings) reflect the art, culture, life- styles and spirituality of the Himalayas of the tenth century.

Unlike Behl, for three daredevil motorbikers-cum-photographers the search may not have been as divine. They have consciously avoided landmarks created by humans like monasteries and other structures.

Five years ago when these three photographer friends - Dinesh Krishnan, Pradip Bhatia and Gurinder Osan -- went biking to the Himalayas they began a journey that has not ended since then.

Their mission: Not just to soak in the rugged terrain and discover unexplored places, but to document on camera the essence of the Himalayas.

The many journeys of these three camera-and-motorbike junkies recently resulted in an exhibition titled "Endless horizons" which was put up in Delhi and is now on its onward journey to Chandigarh, Mumbai and Bangalore.

So would Darshan Jit Singh, a colonel with the Indian army. His interest in Ladakh blossomed in 1989 when he was posted to the region. After taking command of the battalion, he went on jeep to explore the magnificent landscape and interact with villagers to get a first hand impression of the region.

He also came across many interesting people, some of them in their late nineties still going strong. One such person was 95- year-old Memelele of Chilling village - the only surviving craftsman from a Gharana whose ten generations have been engaged in making utensils for the erstwhile royal families.

"I mingled a lot with the local people who narrated memorable anecdotes and guided me to some of the most photogenic areas of the region," says Col. Singh whose photographs of Ladhak were on display at a Delhi gallery recently.

Both Col. Singh and his wife make an interesting pair. While Singh loves shooting, wife Reena does the research and they have published an authoritative book on Ladakh. The coffee table glossy has some exotic pictures of the region with an account of Ladakhi life and people.

"We will cherish Ladakh's memories all our lives. The warmth and hospitality showered by the locals is unforgettable," says Col. Singh.

Ladakh has clearly mesmerised the soldier-photographer. He finds the serene and tranquil natural atmosphere inspiring for his creativity. Even now when he goes back, his camera is always slung on his shoulder. For, he never knows when the need will arise to freeze a moment in immortality.

Most of these photographers say that though the scenery spoils you for choice, creativity lies in looking at them from fresh new angles. And when the place happens to be the Himalayas with their lofty cliffs, meandering rivers and gushing springs, their pictures break into a dance.

SURABHI KHOSLA

II year student, Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi

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