I am a freelance photojournalist, residing in Dubai, UAE, who started
my journey into the fabulous world of Photography in 2005 through an
online news portal. I have been working for a postproduction house in
Dubai since 2004, handling the creative side of visual effects which was
quite informative and productive and has enriched my experience a lot.
But now I feel that the time has come to venture into new opportunities.
Being a self trained photographer, I draw my inspiration from the
enigmatic and magical world around me. Sometimes those are the
moments of innocence personified or moments of sheer beauty or
at times the harsh realities of life. Some faces evoked so much pain,
solitude and emptiness. Such rare moments always tempt me to
capture and forever preserve them in their uniqueness. I’ve always felt
that such images communicate and remain within me.
I like to travel extensively and was lucky enough to traverse India and
several countries across Asia such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Nepal and
some countries in Europe and Africa. These experiences, especially
those amongst Ethiopian tribal groups and in pristine countrysides of
Nepal and India have left a deep impression in my heart.
FAVORITESA picture normally invokes feeling, and your feelings make you
aware about what you’re seeing. Usually I choose Pain, Agony,
Helplessness and Solitude as my favorite subjects. There are
many things in life that catch your eyes but only a few will catch
your heart! And I truly believe that certain moments will happen
only once in a life time and we cannot ever reproduce it.
UNSCRIPTED LIVESMy fascination with photography began after watching a
documentary on war photography which really captured
my attention and I dreamt of becoming a photographer ever
since. I love exploring different cultures, visiting strange places,
meeting new people. Some of these people I have met, fight to
survive in extreme conditions. And each of my journeys have
led me to ’ unscripted lives’ around the world. Often these sights
remain as a sigh within my heart – how dark is the life beyond
our colorful world!
S H A D E S O F L I F EI truly believe “A picture is worth a thousand words!” The
different shades of life, be it a cup of joy, frustration or loneliness,
can be expressed aesthetically through photographs. It may be
your memory of a beautiful sunset, the surf on the beach or the
tiny droplets of soothing rain; of course, real images definitely
capture the true essence of the scene, as if from a dream...!
E THIOPIAEthiopia is exciting because it’s so unexplored. The wonderful
culture, beautiful landscapes and the different tribes truly
mesmerized me. Southern Ethiopia is the land of rift valley
lakes, wonderful remote wilderness, abundant wildlife and
colorful cultures. It is home of Africa’s most fascinating and
colorful ethnic groups, who live in innate simplicity, which still
is unaltered by the pressures of the modern world. The colorful
jewelries, body decorations and traditional rituals of these
tribes, gazed upon by mesmerized visitors, is one of the most
extraordinary real-life shows of the world.
V I E T N A M & I N D O N E S I AA fusion of cultures... that’s what Vietnam offers to its visitors.
From its interior villages to fast-paced cities, this amazing
experience is the perfect recipe for an enchanting visual treat.
Even with its Communist background and politics of resistance,
Vietnam still has a spiritual feel in its daily life.
Though being its neighbour, Indonesia is an entirely different
experience altogether. The history and the indigenous culture
of the land evokes a very unique atmosphere. But in every
corner of these countries, the people have their own stories to
explore... lives to follow, in their own way.
N E PA LThe abode of the highest mountain in the world and virtually
unspoiled stretches of Himalayan majesty, where myth and
reality becomes one and time advances, yet stands still. It
is nonetheless one of the world’s poorest countries, and
is struggling to overcome the legacy of a 10-year Maoist
insurrection. However, home to eight of the highest mountain
peaks in the world, lush forests and abundant wildlife, Nepal is
a nature enthusiast’s dream.
I N D I ABeneath the richest and most diverse culture in the world,
India hides a treasure trove of untold stories found in the most
conflicting of scenes - from villages filled with lush greenery to
completely parched stretches of land. The stories of loneliness,
togetherness, daily struggle for survival or journeys that never
end... Captured in frames, these lives frozen in time, represent
the true essence of India.
M I D D L E E A S TA land of wars and rich history, the Middle East is the region
of big events. Land, people and cosmopolitan life clubbed
with many cultures has shaped its present face. Still keeping
its tradition and cultural wealth alive, while embracing all the
modernities, this region showcases life in its full range... from
workers toiling in scorching heat to those immensely rich
people enjoying all the luxuries.
FAC E TO FAC EA woman asked me what I was doing.
I said ” Taking pictures of interesting things.”
She asked, “You’re not taking pictures of me, are you?”
I said, “No, I am not.”
Then she said, “I haven’t had my picture taken in these
90 years.” So I said, “Well, that’s not good; you don’t have
any history of yourself over that time.”
All of a sudden, she stood up and said;
“Go ahead, take my picture”. I said sure, and here it is!
Stories etched in every wrinkle, every line!
P R O F I L E
Date of Birth : 25-05-1975
Nationality : Indian
Living in Dubai, UAE
+971 52 9230232
+91 9400 203320
For more pictures and information please visit :
www.daydreamerfotos.com
www.facebook.com/daydreamer.fotos
SHIJU S BASHEER