Make Afghan friends, and see Kabul like they would - Nazir Ekhlass
Afghanistan and India have been extremely close to each other for centuries and have shared ideas, culture, and more through the Silk Road. Even when I was growing up, the story of Kabuliwala created an image of a far far away land which didn't seem as far in the mind. Events of the last century changed the geo-political dynamics of the region, but over the past few years the two countries are coming back together. I think it's a great step forward and I look forward to more people exchanges to happen as well, and travel can play a part in it.
Today, I bring to you a young and exciting photographer from Kabul - Nazir Ekhlass. He lived a tough childhood ravaged by the war, but you will love hearing his voice of hope and change. Read his story below.
So, who is Nazir?
A cool guy lol, I am an Afghan photographer living in kabul-Afghanistan, started photography in 2006 or 2007 I think (age 17-18) and never though it would turn into passion, I am very much interested in capturing faces (portraits), I unfortunately think I am losing my passion because of not having a good companion/active photographer to work with me since in kabul its little bit hard to go out photography alone, I have invested a lot on my passion but now the poor camera is just laying around. So after being a cool guy :P Nazir has recently turned to a lazy guy too :P.
Beside photography I am a research project manager from last 5 years and before that I was a graphic designer, I am working on my Bachelor’s degree in second most famous university of Kabul and I just passed my 4th semester (exams are stupid :\ and hard). I finished school back in 2005 but wasn’t able to afford university back then so had to start university late, but we have a saying in our language “whenever you catch a fish its fresh”. Years ago before finding a job I used to sketch and draw on wood plats, I left other arts after I found photography, “no offense to other arts” I now think photography is the king of all arts.
Childhood days in Pakistan...
Afghanistan wasn’t always a warzone. It was a peaceful country when I was born, but I wasn’t lucky enough to grow in my own country and like most Afghans had to leave my country and spend my childhood in Pakistan, we spent (give or take) 12 years in Pakistan and came back to homeland in 2001, life in Pakistan was hard, very hard, my father used to do hard labor (house painting, carpentry, translation, cooking, cleaning) to earn money and feed us, back then when I was a kid I never cared how my father earns money, now that I am an adult and earn money myself I realize how hard it was for him.
I spent nearly my whole childhood in Murree, I still remember every single place of where I walked when I was living there, I miss my school, teachers, friends. One incident I can (my whole family) can’t forget is, one day my cousins, elder brother and I went to the wood, there we found a very color full plant which we had never seen before, (it had very sweet seeds) and we all started eating it, after few seconds my cousins stopped eating but my brother and I kept eating. Once nothing was left to eat we left for home and within 5 mins after reaching home we both passed out. When we woke up we were in hospital in Islamabad and had undergone a very serious operation. We don’t know what we ate but Drs said it was poison.
Any major influences?
I can’t think of anyone or incident that made me be what I am today, but the freedom and support of my family throughout my life I think is the main reason what I am now and what I might become in future.
What does photography mean to you?
There are many things that inspires me with photography the first and most powerful one is fame and attention from people, the inspiring comment, shares, and likes I get on my page (honestly speaking who doesn’t like fame and attention). Second thing would be being part of history, when I search “Afghanistan or World war” I see many black and white photos from times very old, those photos are part of history and so are their photographers, I want my name to live like others long after I am gone. I want my photos to appear on internet years from now. I want to be one of the famous photographers if not now maybe in future.
Even though I haven’t been out photography recently but in general I don’t plan my shots. Yes! I do think of capturing portraits of people busy in work, but once I get out I shoot anything that attracts my eyes, when I was active in photography I developed a mental think (maybe good maybe bad) but I used to look at everything like my eyes are camera, whenever I used to see something, anything instead of enjoying the scenery like others I was more worried on how can I shoot it so others see what I see (even when I didn’t have my camera with me).
Kabul...
Kabul from the stories I heard from father and others is not as it once was unfortunately. People of Kabul where very nice, educated, well-mannered and respective to each other. Kabul now is different from kabul then in many ways, war has effected people psychologically, they are now more offensive with each other (not saying that all are same), the presence of terrorism has ruined the image even more but I can guarantee that it’s not as bad as “sweet” media portrays. The illiteracy has raised to a very big level. But apart from few negative points I am and always be in love with Kabul, it’s my home and its where I want to live forever, insecurity has affected my life too but unlike other Afghans I am not planning to abandon my country.
The idea of foreigners pouring in as tourists like old days always excites me, that will benefit our people in many ways like boost their economy and enrich the culture. Keeping current situation in mind I would suggest tourists to travel to Bamyan, Herat, Mazar, Parwan, Pajnsher, Samangan, Kabul for sure, Badakhshan but not to forget important point travel should be done via air to most of the mentioned provinces.
Many non-Afghans who visit Kabul for work see kabul from windows of their cars (which is same as seeing kabul trough photos, they only commute from guesthouses/compounds to office, they are never allowed to go other places so they never see kabul. They should make trustable Afghan friends and go to local weddings, restaurants, football stadiums with them, see the kabul like an Afghan does.
How about your love life?
Not that lucky neither the conditions allow, I see girlfriends and boyfriends going out and always scarred of being caught, so am not in any relation now, let’s see what future offers, no one wants to be single (and believe me as I say it a 27 year old guy) being single sucks :P, it’s not like I never had any offers of being in relations but they never were my type so I had to reject.
And finally, What is your dream, Nazir?
Dreams Dreams Dreams, I have so many but I will share one that relates to photography. I want to be as famous as Steve McCurry, well not exactly like him because he never replied my emails and I am sure he doesn’t reply others either, if I become as famous as he is I would always reply to emails of my fans (if I had any :P), I am still waiting for opportunities in my life, opportunities such as working as an intern or contract based photographer for any large organization like NGC, Discovery.
To connect with Nazir
Facebook
500px
Flickr
Today, I bring to you a young and exciting photographer from Kabul - Nazir Ekhlass. He lived a tough childhood ravaged by the war, but you will love hearing his voice of hope and change. Read his story below.
 |
| An intense gaze... |
 |
| A man praying at Bagh Bala |
So, who is Nazir?
A cool guy lol, I am an Afghan photographer living in kabul-Afghanistan, started photography in 2006 or 2007 I think (age 17-18) and never though it would turn into passion, I am very much interested in capturing faces (portraits), I unfortunately think I am losing my passion because of not having a good companion/active photographer to work with me since in kabul its little bit hard to go out photography alone, I have invested a lot on my passion but now the poor camera is just laying around. So after being a cool guy :P Nazir has recently turned to a lazy guy too :P.
Beside photography I am a research project manager from last 5 years and before that I was a graphic designer, I am working on my Bachelor’s degree in second most famous university of Kabul and I just passed my 4th semester (exams are stupid :\ and hard). I finished school back in 2005 but wasn’t able to afford university back then so had to start university late, but we have a saying in our language “whenever you catch a fish its fresh”. Years ago before finding a job I used to sketch and draw on wood plats, I left other arts after I found photography, “no offense to other arts” I now think photography is the king of all arts.
 |
| Happy kids... |
 |
| Mazar-e-sharif |
Childhood days in Pakistan...
Afghanistan wasn’t always a warzone. It was a peaceful country when I was born, but I wasn’t lucky enough to grow in my own country and like most Afghans had to leave my country and spend my childhood in Pakistan, we spent (give or take) 12 years in Pakistan and came back to homeland in 2001, life in Pakistan was hard, very hard, my father used to do hard labor (house painting, carpentry, translation, cooking, cleaning) to earn money and feed us, back then when I was a kid I never cared how my father earns money, now that I am an adult and earn money myself I realize how hard it was for him.
I spent nearly my whole childhood in Murree, I still remember every single place of where I walked when I was living there, I miss my school, teachers, friends. One incident I can (my whole family) can’t forget is, one day my cousins, elder brother and I went to the wood, there we found a very color full plant which we had never seen before, (it had very sweet seeds) and we all started eating it, after few seconds my cousins stopped eating but my brother and I kept eating. Once nothing was left to eat we left for home and within 5 mins after reaching home we both passed out. When we woke up we were in hospital in Islamabad and had undergone a very serious operation. We don’t know what we ate but Drs said it was poison.
 |
| Kabul night... |
 |
| City in the background... |
Any major influences?
I can’t think of anyone or incident that made me be what I am today, but the freedom and support of my family throughout my life I think is the main reason what I am now and what I might become in future.
What does photography mean to you?
There are many things that inspires me with photography the first and most powerful one is fame and attention from people, the inspiring comment, shares, and likes I get on my page (honestly speaking who doesn’t like fame and attention). Second thing would be being part of history, when I search “Afghanistan or World war” I see many black and white photos from times very old, those photos are part of history and so are their photographers, I want my name to live like others long after I am gone. I want my photos to appear on internet years from now. I want to be one of the famous photographers if not now maybe in future.
 |
| Darulaman Palace |
 |
| Landscape at Parwan |
Kabul...
Kabul from the stories I heard from father and others is not as it once was unfortunately. People of Kabul where very nice, educated, well-mannered and respective to each other. Kabul now is different from kabul then in many ways, war has effected people psychologically, they are now more offensive with each other (not saying that all are same), the presence of terrorism has ruined the image even more but I can guarantee that it’s not as bad as “sweet” media portrays. The illiteracy has raised to a very big level. But apart from few negative points I am and always be in love with Kabul, it’s my home and its where I want to live forever, insecurity has affected my life too but unlike other Afghans I am not planning to abandon my country.
 |
| The blue eyed kid! |
 |
| Poor... |
The idea of foreigners pouring in as tourists like old days always excites me, that will benefit our people in many ways like boost their economy and enrich the culture. Keeping current situation in mind I would suggest tourists to travel to Bamyan, Herat, Mazar, Parwan, Pajnsher, Samangan, Kabul for sure, Badakhshan but not to forget important point travel should be done via air to most of the mentioned provinces.
Many non-Afghans who visit Kabul for work see kabul from windows of their cars (which is same as seeing kabul trough photos, they only commute from guesthouses/compounds to office, they are never allowed to go other places so they never see kabul. They should make trustable Afghan friends and go to local weddings, restaurants, football stadiums with them, see the kabul like an Afghan does.
How about your love life?
Not that lucky neither the conditions allow, I see girlfriends and boyfriends going out and always scarred of being caught, so am not in any relation now, let’s see what future offers, no one wants to be single (and believe me as I say it a 27 year old guy) being single sucks :P, it’s not like I never had any offers of being in relations but they never were my type so I had to reject.
 |
| Bagh Babur |
And finally, What is your dream, Nazir?
Dreams Dreams Dreams, I have so many but I will share one that relates to photography. I want to be as famous as Steve McCurry, well not exactly like him because he never replied my emails and I am sure he doesn’t reply others either, if I become as famous as he is I would always reply to emails of my fans (if I had any :P), I am still waiting for opportunities in my life, opportunities such as working as an intern or contract based photographer for any large organization like NGC, Discovery.
 |
| Nazir Ekhlass |
To connect with Nazir
500px
Flickr
Amazing post...
ReplyDeleteNeha
http://www.theinstylejournal.com/
As an Afghan, i really appreciate what he do, as he is trying to show the very brighter face of Afghanistan to the world.
ReplyDeletethanks for your efforts
Wonderful, Superb pics by Nazir Ekhlass. Thanks a lot for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThis is so amazing
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pics, This place need to be visited.
ReplyDelete