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I Traveled To The Karakoram Range Twice To Capture Its Shapes, Lines, And Textures (30 Pics)
"In the face of the power of the mountains, it is easier to discover yourself, or at least the fact that most of the borders and fears are just a handicap of our mind, beyond which freedom begins…” – J. Teller.
The vertical walls of Trango Group are a dream of every climber and mountain lover. In 2019 and 2021 I visited the Karakoram Range to find out why. It turned out to be also a landscape of the photographer's dream. My dream. Shapes, lines, textures never ceased to amaze me. I could forever stare at those rocky sculptures. Endless photographic inspiration, each second giving me a chance to capture it in a different way. The decision to move forward to the next camp was one of the hardest during both expeditions. Leaving home is never easy.
Here are 72 images showing the uniqueness of Trango Group.
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Few facts about myself: I'm a self-taught photographer specializing in photographing mountain landscapes. I do mostly black and white portraits of hills, rocks, and other forms of uneven landscapes. Sometimes I teach people how to photograph it better. My kind of photography is not popular even though I won quite a lot of awards. I don't like social media. I try not to follow current trends in search of likes and praise (but as a photographer, I still need to publish my photos on FB/IG - funny, huh?). I got my favorite quote that says a lot about the way I think about photography: "Want to see pretty images? Well, shoot them yourself" - Jerzy Piątek. That's exactly what I've been trying to do all my life. I like my images, you don't have to, but if you do - thanks! Appreciate it.
I always wanted to photograph the highest mountains, so I chose Everest first. During the planning phase, it turned out that Everest is a pretty ugly mountain. I didn't like it at all! I had to look elsewhere. Then I saw an image of Trango Towers by Doug Koufsky and was amazed. I instantly knew it was the place to go. When I saw the other summits on the way to K2 - I was awestruck. It is compared to nothing I have seen before. Extremely pointed peaks, and rugged lunar landscapes - I fell in love at the first sight. Even though the Trango Group was only one of the places I passed on my way to K2, it became my favorite place on the trek. Spending several days there was the best photography experience of my life. 5*, highly recommended!
I have another kid now, and it's more difficult to leave home for a 3-week photo expedition. But seriously - after visiting Pakistan twice, I felt a great need to explore Karakoram better. Before I paid my first visit there, I thought I wanted to see all of the beautiful places: New Zealand, Patagonia, the Himalayas, Iceland, etc. I realized I was wrong. What I wanted was just a quick road trip. What's the point of seeing everything if you can't stop for a long while and enjoy it? Now I believe it is more valuable to get to know one place well enough to be able to call it home. I'm sure I will be coming back till I have enough strength to face all the challenging aspects of a Karakoram expedition. I'm pretty sure I'll have quite a lot of time to do it. With the current development of new technologies, in my 60's I'll most probably be wearing a powerful exoskeleton to support my body. Or well... maybe I'll just become lazy and ask AI to do my job.
Nobody forces you to make your dreams a reality, but I guess it's worth the effort. If you're fit to do something challenging, you better do it before you won't be able to.
I think you've heard enough, so let's see some images. Or wait - if you'd like to join me in Karakoram - feel free to shoot me an email, FB/IG DM, etc. Cheers!
"One does not simply walk into Mordor. Its black gates are guarded by more than just orcs. There is evil there that does not sleep. The great eye is ever watchful. It is a barren wasteland, riddled with fire, ash, and dust. The very air you breathe is a poisonous fume. Not with ten thousand men could you do this. It is folly."
In 2008 I hiked with a group up the Baltoro glacier to Concordia . It is stunningly beautiful. One of many memories of that region was going past a village and seeing apricots drying in the sun on a house roof.
To me this looks like a place you'd see gnomes and trolls and goliaths and other semi fairy tale mysteries
Now I see it. I guess it takes some monkey skills to get to the top
Load More Replies...Beautiful and I enjoyed them. Kept hearing " Night on Bald Mountain ". I hate to admit it but I'd rather view these photographs than actually be there. As a cold adverse flat lander I'd probably last about five minutes.
Thanks Kenny! Nah, it's not that hard to survive there. If you can stand living in a tent for 2 weeks in not-so-clean environment you can last at least 6 minutes.
Load More Replies...These are stunningly beautiful and magestical. A tribute to Ansel Adams and Galen Rowells work with the “range of light” concept in the Sierras. Much appreciated
One of my favourite photographers! Did you know that Galen Rowell was actually the first person to climb Trango? (along with 3 more climbers)
Load More Replies...So beautiful. . . .looking at them seems like silently praying. Thank you for sharing them .
These are my stone cathedrals
Load More Replies...Wow, breathtaking! Did you take these in Pakistan? I plan to see the range with my own eyes! Btw, just some advice, I think you should have uploaded 20-30 of the best ones and kept an equal balance of coloured and uncoloured shots. Still great though!
Hi Mohammad! Thanks a lot! Yes, I took them in Pakistan. All of them between Paiju and Urdukas camps. I decided to choose 72 images to show how many different frames you can get from a single massif - Trango Group. I never visited a place where it was possible to get so many unique shots. That's why choosing 20-30 wouldn't serve my goal :)
Load More Replies...Gorgeous photos. I love this series of the Trango Group. As Mazer said, these are reminiscent of Ansel Adams. Fantastic!!
Thanks Ron. Appreciate it! It's a honour for me when AA gets mentioned after viewing my images.
Load More Replies...Beautiful and I enjoyed them. Kept hearing " Night on Bald Mountain ". I hate to admit it but I'd rather view these photographs than actually be there. As a cold adverse flat lander I'd probably last about five minutes.
Thanks Kenny! Nah, it's not that hard to survive there. If you can stand living in a tent for 2 weeks in not-so-clean environment you can last at least 6 minutes.
Load More Replies...These are stunningly beautiful and magestical. A tribute to Ansel Adams and Galen Rowells work with the “range of light” concept in the Sierras. Much appreciated
One of my favourite photographers! Did you know that Galen Rowell was actually the first person to climb Trango? (along with 3 more climbers)
Load More Replies...So beautiful. . . .looking at them seems like silently praying. Thank you for sharing them .
These are my stone cathedrals
Load More Replies...Wow, breathtaking! Did you take these in Pakistan? I plan to see the range with my own eyes! Btw, just some advice, I think you should have uploaded 20-30 of the best ones and kept an equal balance of coloured and uncoloured shots. Still great though!
Hi Mohammad! Thanks a lot! Yes, I took them in Pakistan. All of them between Paiju and Urdukas camps. I decided to choose 72 images to show how many different frames you can get from a single massif - Trango Group. I never visited a place where it was possible to get so many unique shots. That's why choosing 20-30 wouldn't serve my goal :)
Load More Replies...Gorgeous photos. I love this series of the Trango Group. As Mazer said, these are reminiscent of Ansel Adams. Fantastic!!
Thanks Ron. Appreciate it! It's a honour for me when AA gets mentioned after viewing my images.
Load More Replies...