Jaspal Jandu Photography

A Day in the Life... Sydney Opera House

I’m back in the UK now after a whistle-stop tour of Japan, China, Singapore and Australia.  It seems that technology was conspiring against me on this trip as both my laptop and my phone gave up the chase on multiple occasions (ironically, the only time they were both working was in China).

Still, being back has allowed me to download lots of photos and movies (more of that in another post), so its time to get caring and sharing once more…

Kicking off, is a wonderful – and, as far as I can tell, unique – sequence of images of the iconic Sydney Opera House.  The Australian east coast has been subject to much stormy weather of late and I lucked out on one particular day off with a series of massive squalls and bright blue skies.

As I was reviewing the images, I felt they stood well individually but that they stood even better as sequence.  Viewed as whole, they are a testament to how varied the climate – and, therefore, photographic light – can be during a 24 hour period.

Hope you enjoy the work and there’ll be more from Asia very soon…

JJ

Hidden Photographic Treasures

Apologies for the radio silence but I have been away for a couple of days and have also been sorting out new products for the year and the upcoming exhibition. However, I have had time to write a couple of pieces so I’ll be uploading those in the next week or so…

 

To kick start things, I wanted to share an intriguing link which a friend sent me the other day. It’s called Everytrail and it allows users to upload and share GPS tracks via the internet.

There used to be a time when some photographers would jealously guard locations in the hope that they would remain hidden from the general hoi polloi. In fact, there are at least a couple of apocryphal tales involving photographers deliberating ruining scenes after their personal discovery!

In light of this, it’s quite remarkable to witness the liberating power of the GPS, telephony and the internet combine to reveal photographic locations such as The Wave, for example (I remember having to barter my first-born to find out where the darn thing was). Although I'm not commercially associated with the site myself, I would be interested to hear your views on whether it’s a huge force for good or, paradoxically, whether its just another excuse sit in front of the computer...!

Doric Inspiration

No sooner back from the American West coast than off to Greece and then Washington, DC.

It’s amazing to think of the inextricable Doric link between two of the World’s most sublime structures – the Parthenon in Greece and Lincoln Memorial in America - despite the intervening 2,500 years. 

Without over-labouring the Picasso biography which I am currently reading, he also noted that “good art copies, great art steals” !

America West - Panoramic Black and White

It’s hard to sum up the American west coast without mentioning the climate and geography.  Whether it’s the pounding surf, sublime inter-tidal range or sheer cliffs disappearing into blinding summer fog, the natural beauty of the area is a photographer’s dream.

However, as I was looking forward to capturing this essence with my lens, a quote caught my eye.  According to Pablo Picasso’s biography, the great artist once noted “…Success is dangerous. One begins to copy oneself, and to copy oneself is more dangerous than to copy others. It leads to sterility.”

The line obviously resonated because I couldn’t stop thinking about it during the rest of the flight to San Francisco.  After a hastily arranged shopping trip, I was soon armed with Tmax 100 black-and-white negative film and my beloved Fuji Velvia was relegated to a dark recess of a bag.

On the road, I began concentrating on smaller, more ephemeral details and eschewing things like horizons or recognizable landmarks.  Partially driven by the film choice, I was soon reacquainting myself with the unforgiving compositional demands of black-and-white. As the panoramic frame is best read from left-to-right (in response to the written word in the Western world), I focused on scenes that would compliment this facet.  The only upside was having a tonal range of around eight to ten stops compared with three to four in transparency film.

I hope you enjoy the scenes and I trust that I managed to convey how terrifying and exhilarating it can be to move out of a well-worn comfort zone…

Australian Touch-and-Go

I am always acutely aware of two things whenever I visit Australia.  Namely, the sheer scale of the country and also the quantity and quality of the local art/photography.  It must have something to do with the unforgiving nature of this faraway land, because it certainly inspires the ‘pioneer spirit’ amongst its native artists.

Although I was there for only a week, I did manage to attend the PMA show and also caught up with the inspirational Ken Duncan.  It is always a joy to see him and we swapped stories at his magnificent new gallery on the central coast.

Having a couple of days to spare in the Hunter Valley, I decided to eschew the classic (and slightly over-exposed) Aussie icons.  Instead, I chose to explore secluded trails and unmarked properties.  Hope you enjoy the slightly-more-muted-than-normal Aussie sideshow…

Back in Black

Hello everyone.  I have just returned from a very hectic, whistle-stop tour to Japan, Singapore, Australia and the States.  I am back online so more updates very soon…

Everest-London-Tokyo?

After barely touching down in the UK, it’s off to Asia once more.  Although the mood over here is slightly subdued (no-one is immune from the global economic wobble), it’s always a joy to be back in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Both Tokyo and Mount Fuji never cease to impress and they truly represent the simple and powerful design ethic which I have written about many times before.  It’s off to Singapore and Sydney after this so I hope they can both live up to this sublime Japanese benchmark...

Mount Everest : A Visual Journey

Concluding the natural wonders book with the jaw-dropping Mount Everest was quite an experience.  I hope you can follow the remaining part of the journey when the new volume is released in March 2009.

   

Preparation
Altitude is the single biggest concern with any mountain adventure.  Because no amount of fitness training or previous experience can prepare the body for high-level exposure, it is also the most difficult to manage.  Therefore, I decide to set this issue aside and instead concentrate on more practical points such as clothing, crampons and cameras.  Given the demanding terrain, I eventually opt for the Linhof 617 with just one lens, a digital system comprising two lenses and some sparse ancillary equipment.

Days 1-5
The journey to Everest itself begins in Kathmandu - a frenetic capital where man, motorcycle and cow often meet.  After a short flight, I find myself in Lukla; the focal gateway to the Nepalese Himalaya.  Although I’ll be in the region for a while, the usual butterflies are beginning to appear.  The next few days entail slow acclimatisation and long - often punishing - walks uphill to Namche Bazaar.

Days 6-10
Namche is 3,440m above sea-level.  I attempt to cope with the headaches and restlessness as best possible but invariably there are times when photography falls off the agenda.  However, Mother Nature is inspiring as she is harsh and by the time I get into the magnificent Goyko Lakes, I’m truly getting into the ‘zone’.  My incredulity also stretches to the porters and sherpas carrying indescribable loads over very tough terrain.  Complete respect goes to them and bodies such as the International Porter Protection Group (IPPG).

Days 11-15
Only amongst mountains can one truly appreciate how plate tectonics literally shape the world.  Sheer rock faces appear from nowhere and I am acutely aware of the 8,000m peaks all around me.  Capturing this beauty with a panoramic camera is proving difficult given the vertical aspect of the terrain.  As a result, I am constantly looking for high vantage points to capture the grandeur.  The temperature is dropping (particularly at night) and the air is thinning rapidly.

Day 15-20
Crossing the Cho La pass en route to Gorak Shep (5,164m) and I am greeted by awe-inspiring views of Naptse, Lhotse and Mount Everest.  Also, known as Sagarmatha in Nepalese and Chomolungma in Tibetan, Everest is mighty as much as it is imperial.  Views improve further at Kala Patthar (5,545m) due to the breathtaking context of the entire Khumbu Valley.  I have seen a lot of mountain ranges in my life, but none compare to the Himalaya.

After frantically capturing as much of the experience as possible, the journey back to Lukla allows the focus to switch to the smaller world.  I can now explore forests, streams and rock formations without the worry of Everest the mind.  Ironically, it is often during these ‘free-times’ when the best images are created!

A detailed visual diary is now available to pre-order...

I'm Back...

Now that was an adventure! 

A visual diary of Sagarmatha National Park and Mount Everest to follow...

Saving the best till last...

This is a quick update to let you know that as of tomorrow I’ll be travelling on a three week trek to Mount Everest in both Nepal and Tibet - a truly magnificent way to finish the shooting of an incredible project.

As I am not sure of the internet coverage on the road, service will resume when I hit these shores again.

Bon voyage!