Khyber pass kids - Khyber Pass Pakistan December 2006
I was on a posting to the Australian High Commission islamabad, Pakistan from Feb 2005 to May 2007. As with my time in Belgrade it was a tumultuous time in the country's history. More of that in days and months to come. This was also the time I purchased my first DSLR a Canon Eos 20D, it was a comfortable transition moving from my Canon film SLRs. I still miss that camera, it was stolen when my house was burgled in 2008 - they got my film SLRs, my digital p&s and earlier film cameras too.
I was fortunate enough to go on the Khyber Pass Steam Train Safari travelling from Peshawar to Michni Post overlooking the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. It is a colonial era rail route, our carriages were pulled by steam locomotives apparently dating to the 1920s. It is amazing journey through rugged country and many triabl areas. Due to periods of turmoil in the two bordering countries, the train has had to stop running for years at a time. I was told by colleagues that it stopped running shortly after our trip, I do not think it has resumed.
We had to get special permission to travel in the area from the Pakistan Government and the Khyber Agency. As the majority of passengers were diplomats and foreign aid we had additional security provided by the military.
Many local people came out to wave at us or just look at us. We stopped for morning tea in one small settlement and men and children (mostly boys) came to watch the sight.
I don't usually take photos of people, but these warm people were so interesting. I liked this cluster of small boys watching the passengers boarding the train, the little bloke on the left covering his ears in anticipation of the steam train whistle which was blasted several times as we left.
This approach to my 365 has seen me dig out boxes of negatives, I have a lot, and dozens of CDs with my earlier digital photos, and a number of external hard drives.
If I continue to share my older photos I think I will be getting my negs digitised, I will mourn the missing ones, I know there are a few that I "loaned" to friends/colleagues who wanted copies, and i know they never came back. So I guess I will be scanning the prints and cursing those friends (spread all over the world I believe)
I will need to figure out a way to finally get the 10+ years of images organised in a logical well organised manner - any suggestions?
Wow! People! Love this shot. And yep, envy here too.
Loving your backshots, and I reckon I might use another year to do the same thing.
And I also hear you about the lost slides etc. Hope you have some of those images burned into your brain.
I wish I could offer you a great solution to organising photos.....but doing a 365 with old ones seems like the best way to do it to me!
@lbmcshutter - Oh Megan, I am struggling just with the 26,000 shots from One country... I have a reasonably well structured filing system which means I can find my stuff if I look hard enough, and I have created numerous "best of" packages, but it seems to be such an ordeal depending on how I feel at the time. That is why I am doing such a retrospective for my second year. I have made it tough by aiming to use a photo from the corresponding date, but I know I made need a "filler" or two. You have made it tough by choosing a variety of locations!
@bobfoto I am trying to work out what system I will use but in the meantime having a wonderful time revisiting the wonderful places. Given this was a spur of the moment decision on my approach to this second year I haven't quite figured it all yet. I did think about trying to find corresponding dates, I also thought about doing it all in chronological order, but nether will work until I get it all sorted and scanned. So far I have only used Dec-Jan shots, and coincidentally a different camera that has been special to me.
So glad the burglars didn't get your images, good luck organizing them. Love the expressions here, they are so interested and open to experience. Unfortunately that has probably changed in the years since.
@buggirl I think you are right, going on this retrospective will give me the motivation to get it all sorted, just not the best system, that is something I'll need to investigate
@robv I was so happy they didn't get all my images. I think it is a big reason I want to get everything sorted and organised and have a back up set which I will store elsewhere.
I think you are probably and sadly correct that their attitude will have changed, the taliban has had a dramatic resurgence in that area and nearby and the ongoing airstrikes etc will have their affect as will the loss of innocence as they grow up
@mwarren365 he is my favourite of the group, he must really have hated the sound of the train whistle
I also like the little bright eyed chap on the right
Too cute, love the little boy on the left covering his ears.
Don't know if this idea would apply to your negatives sorting, but what works for me is organizing my (digital) images in folders by year, then month, then date taken. I then tag them in batches with short descriptions and keywords that will help me search for them (ie, I might write up a photo of a family function as "newphew opening presents" keywords: portraits; family; Christmas. Maybe some variation of that would work well for your situation by rough chronology, or geographical area, etc.
That shot is so full of character! I love the contrasts between their styles of trousers and their hats! I can't imagine how you can begin to organise those years of wonderful photos... just looking through them would use up weeks never mind sorting them! I'd get lost over and again! :)
Cute kids living in a tough area. You were lucky as most of the time this is a very dangerous area - I'm reading 'Agent 6' by Tom Rob Smith at the moment - it wasn't safe when the Russians were in Afghanistan and it isn't safe now the Americans are in Afghanistan - poor Afghanistan indeed!!
what a wonderful shot Megan.....really love the looks on their faces!! And the little one with his hands over his ears.. too cute, what an awesome experience this all must have been for you!! faved:)
@chewyteeth tinker, tailor, soldier .......
i could tell you but I'd have to kill you
Germany 1945? How old do you think I am? Or is it a case of reincarnation?
what a great experience and what a great idea using 365 to share them with us! I'd love to go to Afghanistan sometime...such stunningly beautiful scenery and people.
Great shot. Megan, what do you do for a living if you don't mind my asking? I may have missed it along the way. Your photos and stories are priceless. Thank you for sharing.
@mebswartz I don't hide where I work but don't advertise it, I work for a government department which has given me wonderful opportunities and I am proud of my work, however, figure I don't want to have too much info about me online
If I continue to share my older photos I think I will be getting my negs digitised, I will mourn the missing ones, I know there are a few that I "loaned" to friends/colleagues who wanted copies, and i know they never came back. So I guess I will be scanning the prints and cursing those friends (spread all over the world I believe)
I will need to figure out a way to finally get the 10+ years of images organised in a logical well organised manner - any suggestions?
Loving your backshots, and I reckon I might use another year to do the same thing.
And I also hear you about the lost slides etc. Hope you have some of those images burned into your brain.
I wish I could offer you a great solution to organising photos.....but doing a 365 with old ones seems like the best way to do it to me!
I think you are probably and sadly correct that their attitude will have changed, the taliban has had a dramatic resurgence in that area and nearby and the ongoing airstrikes etc will have their affect as will the loss of innocence as they grow up
I also like the little bright eyed chap on the right
Don't know if this idea would apply to your negatives sorting, but what works for me is organizing my (digital) images in folders by year, then month, then date taken. I then tag them in batches with short descriptions and keywords that will help me search for them (ie, I might write up a photo of a family function as "newphew opening presents" keywords: portraits; family; Christmas. Maybe some variation of that would work well for your situation by rough chronology, or geographical area, etc.
i could tell you but I'd have to kill you
Germany 1945? How old do you think I am? Or is it a case of reincarnation?