The man behind many faces

"Photography for me is not looking, it's feeling. If you can't feel what you're looking at, then you're never going to get others to feel anything when they look at your pictures."- Don McCullin

This is exactly what I felt when I first started researching the photographer behind the beautiful shots of Hunza Valley in Pakistan. At just 21, Ghulam Shahbaz shot to f(r)ame for his incredible work with Alyne Tamir, travel blogger and founder of Dear Alyne, on Hunza Valley in 2019. He has collaborated with world-class brands such as Marhaba in Pakistan to promote them.
Currently a film making student of Beacon House National University in Lahore, Ghulam to his credit also has started his own production house ZamanaSaaz. Scrolling through his Facebook and Instagram account, you will realise that the young artist finds his stories from everyday life. "I have a knack for storytelling. I am always curious about things, observing the emotions of people around me. I look for stories embedded in our rich and beautiful culture."

To sharpen his God-given gifts, Ghulam took up a filmmaking course at Beacon House National University, self-funding his education at the moment.

Global inspiration, local

Art cinemas motivate Ghulam. The aspiring film maker is passionate about movies and his favourite directors are not the ones that many may be aware in today's generation. These include Satyajit Ray, Majid Majidi, Wes Anderson whose cinematography has been a huge influence on Ghulam, and American movie directors like Christopher Nolan, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg and Alfred Hitchcock. He is also a fan of Israel-Arab video blogger Nas Daily, also the fiancé of Alyne.
"Pakistan is full of stories. Everywhere I look, from children running around in the streets of old Lahore to the government school I studied in, people are walking and talking stories. We just need the eyes to listen to them." Talking about shooting for 'Dear Alyne' and other projects in Norther Pakistan, Ghulam says, "The region of Pakistan, which apart from being a 'Heaven on Earth', is also brimming with ancient tales and folklores and mythical creatures. I have captured these in my frame. But the real stories are the living and breathing people of Northern Pakistan. I think one thing my people really love doing is being so devoted to the beauty and the soul of our home that it becomes evident the way they welcome tourists."

Capturing Creativity

Ghulam's storytelling on camera is based on human relationships. "I aspire to replicate human emotions on my frame. For instance, in the photo of the labourer you can see his toil and hard work reflected on his face. I want to capture the common man and his predictable stories in my photography."
Ghulam says that ZamanaSaaz Films was created with the vision to capture socially and culturally relevant themes in and around Pakistan. "I am not attracted to glamour. I find beauty in realism and want to connect with my audience emotionally with shots that are relatable. I want to capture Pakistan and its culture."
Ghulam is also a fervent reader, finding motivation and stories from the likes of progressive writers such as Premchand, Rajinder Singh Bedi. "I want to create a socially-conscious movie that affects the audience and makes them think."

Future plans

Ghulam plans on continuing his studies with an MS, preferably in a foreign university such as National School of Denmark. He also adds that he will continue to make short films under his banner and aspires to be short-listed in film festivals. "Movie making is my passion."
Connect with Ghulam Shahbaz, Facebook @ ZamanaSaazfilms IG @ zamanasaazfilms

Discover the magnificence of Hunza Valley

Referred to as the Switzerland of Pakistan, Hunza is one of the most exotic places in Pakistan. Several high peaks rise above 6,000 metres in the surroundings of Hunza Valley. The valley provides spectacular views of some of the most beautiful and magnificent mountains of the world.
Hunza Valley is one of the main stops on the legendary Karakoram Highway, and it´s a comfortable place to stay for days, if not weeks or even months. It's truly a paradise valley. It is divided into three geographic subdivisions, Upper Hunza, Central Hunza and Lower Hunza. Hunza Valley is located at the PakistanChina border in the Gilgit-Baltistan province. The state capital of Hunza is Karimabad that offers a breathtaking view of the Rakaposhi mountain.
Located at a height of 2,438 metres, the weather in Hunza Valley can go below 0°C and because of the closure of roads due to snow, the official tourism season is from May to October (during the summers). The people of Hunza are known as the Hunzakuts, who are fair-skinned and speak the almost unknown language, Burushaski. Most of the locals in the region are Ismaili Muslims and are very generous in accommodating tourists. You will find that you are always welcomed in the hotels, restaurants, cafés, and homes of the people of Hunza Valley.

How to get there

Once you are in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, you have two ways to reach Hunza Valley. The first is to take a flight directly to Gilgit airport and then make a short two to three-hour drive to Hunza Valley.
The second option is to take a 24-hour bus directly from Islamabad, witnessing the beauty of Karakoram, Skardu and Kaghan valley on the way. Like me, if you love exploring new places, then I would recommend taking the drive and staying overnight at some of the must-visit places in Pakistan such as Naran.
Once you are in Hunza Valley, private vehicles are primarily used for transportation, and most people rent out jeeps for the duration of their tour. You can get to the different cities within Hunza via bus or through your own rented transport as well. The first stop is the state capital, i.e., Karimabad.

Preparing for a trip

Next up is how you should prepare for the trip to Hunza, including all the things that you will need to get by. The most essential items that you will need for travelling to Hunza Valley are:
Trekking and hiking gear: There are quite a few trekking and hiking locations in Hunza Valley and nearby such as the Baltit Fort and Ultar Base Camp. Most of the time, particularly in Karimabad and other cities, you will have to walk through slightly hilly terrains so you should keep your big boots with you for the trip.
Food items and water bottles: If you choose to go to Hunza through road via bus then keep in mind that there are not a lot of stops where you will find food and water supplies. When in Islamabad, it is advised that you keep basic food items and a few water bottles with you to quench the thirst along the way.
Local sim card: There are no service centres to register sim cards in Hunza Valley so you will have to purchase a local sim card either from Islamabad or from Gilgit. The internet speed is not fantastic, but you do get EDGE internet speeds and sometimes even 3G in those parts, so it is sufficient to get by.
As for the daily budget for your trip, it can range between Rs4,000 to Rs5,000 PKR which includes accommodation and three sizeable meals at the local cafés. You will not find anything too expensive, and should be able to get by for as little as Rs1,500 as well if you prefer walking over renting out jeeps and sleeping in dorms.