The Wild East, a photo from Badakhshan, East

Photographer's Note

In the year when I was born, my father was doing his compulsory army service. He was stationed in western Poland and assigned to a unit looking after the security of a military airport. He later told me many stories about that period of his life. The one I remember the best is about him and his companions apprehending a “Western Spy” – a man with a camera, taking photos near the perimeter fence. The poor bloke’s film roll was confiscated and processed. It turned out he was taking shots of cows and rural architecture.

Why am I saying this? Partly, because Gert has recently posted a story of his losing a roll of film to an overzealous policeman in Cotonou in 1982. But also because I have recently remembered another aspect of my Dad’s story – that we found it hilarious someone would bother travelling to Poland to take photos of what we thought were inferior subjects: village houses and farm animals (well, I’m not laughing anymore as I find myself hunting every pretty wooden hut before it disappears https://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Europe/Poland/East/Mazowieckie//photo1459792.htm).

I thought about that a lot when I was in Afghanistan, as I’m sure my travel companions – my guide Azim and the driver Bahradin (patient as they were) must have been watching me with disbelief every time we came across a herd of yaks. What for them must have appeared to be at best the most common of subjects, at worst a nuisance and an obstacle on the road, made me scream with joy, jump out of the car and run for the animals and their herders with my camera. I would walk along the road to meet the herd and to be picked up later to get back into the car.

Yaks are the cattle of Wakhan, kept for their meat, milk, hair and skin. You see a lot of them, herded by Wakhi and Kyrgyz people. I realise not everyone will agree with me they are cute animals. But I'm sure you can all see they are irresistibly photogenic.

And as for the unfortunate tourist that my father “caught” in the 70s… I was told he had been freed. But I never found out if he had got his photos back. Half a century later, there are still places everywhere (including in, what we think are free and civilised parts of world) where photography is frowned upon, in spite of the fact that you can probably look at those locations in great detail on Google Earth.

Such is the power of an image.

Two more photos in WS.

pajaran, holmertz, jean113, ktanska, jhm, dale54, PaulVDV, Fis2, papagolf21, COSTANTINO, CLODO, CMJC, Royaldevon, mamcg has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

holmertz (101890) 2020-08-29 12:39

Hello Kasia,
It's obviously not just the religion and the peaceful conditions that make Wakhan very different from the rest of Afghanistan. I never saw any yaks during my journeys there, but I felt almost the same excitement the few times I saw some in Bhutan and Tibet. I would also have found it hard to decide which of these photos to use, but I think I agree with your choice because of this wider view of the barren scenery and the larger herd of animals.
Kind regards,
Gert

Silvio1953 (220465) 2020-08-29 12:43

Ciao Kasia, great capture ofg a lot of superb creatures, excellent clarity, splendid light, fine details and wonderful natural colors, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

Tue (91478) 2020-08-29 12:48

Hello Kasia,
A really good note to accompany this great photo of the large herd of yaks coming towards us in this vast and rocky landscape. You handled the lighting well, too.
Lars

jean113 (27585) 2020-08-29 13:01

Hello Kasia, a very interesting note.
Three interesting shots; I agree with your choice for the main post, as it gives us a great impression of the countryside through which you were travelling.
The herd looks rather intimidating as it approaches you, just the number of them and their size.
They are charming animals, I like the close up of a few in the w/s.
The land looks so dry and arid, what do the animals eat, there doesn't seem to be a blade of grass to be seen!

Thanks for sharing, kind regards, Jean.

lousat (138541) 2020-08-29 13:29

Hi Kasia, in fact it is not easy for those who live there, to understand your enthusiasm by meeting a herd of yaks ... ehhee ... your story is really interesting, as always, also focused on the difficulties of photographing in some countries even today . The photos are obviously beautiful, and for people like me, extremely unusual. I would have had the same enthusiasm. Have a nice Sunday! Luciano

SteveH (8220) 2020-08-29 21:36

Hi Kasia, It is interesting how values change; when something is common it is not valued but something unusual is. I notice the same thing when travelling. Roman ruins are scattered around the middle east and most of the locals seem to understand why tourists are interested in that old stuff. New stuff is much better. In any case these Yaks have provided a great photo for you. I like the pale colours and rocky ground, showing a pretty harsh landscape. Inclusion of the empty sky, rather than more foreground works well too, again suggesting a dusty yet bright harsh environment. cheers, Steve

ifege (46851) 2020-08-29 21:58

Hi Kasia
A good yak trio in that very barren and dry looking landscape. The main lot seem to be taking aim at you.
Good interesting story in your text.
I've never had my camera taken but I have been ordered not to take photos in an area of Sydney where because I had an SLR I must have been a professional and therefore needed permission!
cheers
Ian

jemaflor (146190) 2020-08-29 23:13

Hi Kasia,
Interesting view of this country, well framed and composed with man, animals and mineral landscape, just a little remark, maybe a bit clear for the presentation, on my screen. Tfs.

emka (157280) 2020-08-29 23:54

Witaj Kasiu, Jak zawsze interesująca notka. Stada pasących sie lub idących droga zwierząt są zawsze wdzięcznym tematem dla fotografa - czy to są owce na tatrzańskich halach, czy słonie w Indiach. Yaki to bardzo sympatyczne i pożyteczne zwierzęta. Żeby je zobaczyć, trzeba jechać wysoko w góry. Widziałam mnóstwo jaków w Shangri La w Chinach i byłam nimi zachwycona. Świetna seria zdjęć.

Miłej niedzieli.

Małgorzata

ktanska (44438) 2020-08-30 5:48

Hi Kasia,
It is a big herd and quite impressive as they are all coming towards you. Bare stone desert is quite a strange landscape. Makes me wonder where these big animals find food.
Kari

jhm (211734) 2020-08-30 9:50

Hello Kasia,

Also in Belgium is make of a picture on street very dangerous, certainly when you can see police.
I've experience, but not good!.
I like this wonderful panorama view about the area.
Your picture is a nice detailed image.
Also pleasant contrast image of the area with all animals.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

dkmurphys (79209) 2020-08-30 10:23

Hello,
Picturesque image from those dry mountains. I wonder what those animals eat...
Good dynamic shot.

D

dale54 (17750) 2020-08-30 10:33

good evening kasia and hello...look at all those bolder's and rocks! what a wonderful looking landscape! well seen and composed too! tfs dale

PaulVDV (62752) 2020-08-30 11:32

Hello Kasia,
The story of the foreign tourist in Poland reminds me that I also once had to hand over a film to a soldier.
It happened in Syria in 1987.
I asked to speak to a superior first, a request that seemed to be granted by the soldier. In the meantime I was locked up in a small barrack where I could replace my film with an empty one. No superior ever came and the soldier accepted my blank film ...
The soldier claimed that I was on military territory. I climbed a hill to have some views ... The site did not even have a fence ... A military terrain without a fence ?!?
Regarding the pictures:
So far I've seen only a few yaks in the north of India. I always thought there were a lot of yaks living in Tibet.
Apparently also in Afghanistan. The terrain here looks very similar to what I ever saw (in photos) of Tibet. Rough, desolate and dusty with only limited spiny blades of grass.
The yaks also seem to be colossal animals, especially compared to the two shepherds who have to tend the herd. The donkey on the right is also a much smaller animal.
I agree with your choice for the wide angle view as main upload. The other pictures are very interesting additions.
Best regards, Paul

Fis2 (169609) 2020-08-30 11:51

Witaj Kasiu!
Bardzo ciekawe miejsce i widok na stado jakow.
Dobre reporterskie foto.
Znakomity kadr i kolory.
Dobra robota.
Pozdrawiam!
Krzysztof
P.S.
A gdzie to te Twoje strony?

abmdsudi (95869) 2020-08-30 23:39

Hi Kasia
It's a spectacular shot of your journey we've got here and worth sharing with us plus your always interesting write up. It's full of excitement when encountered with the rumbling flock of yaks in their natural 'habitat' that I can only imagining being there in person. A quaint shot and a typical slice of life illustrating the day to day activity of the farmers with a more definite flow of the eye through the picture and elements work smoothly. Excellent pics
Kind regards

alvaraalto (42804) 2020-08-31 4:56

Hello Kasia,
Three beautiful pictures that show the herd of Yaks from different sides.
Your extensive very interesting story makes this presentation even more attractive.
Usually we make a post favorite because of the photo, but here I do that for the photo and the accompanying text.
Excellent work
Have a nice day, groet Rob

papagolf21 (152605) 2020-08-31 7:47

Bonjour, chère Kasia,
Vous avez un véritable pouvoir journalistique pour décrire certains moments de votre vie, de vos voyages, de vos rencontres.
Merci de nous faire participer de cette belle façon.
Bien amicalement.
Philippe

Miguel82 (47110) 2020-08-31 12:02

Kasia, nice pictures showing the strong relationship between human and animals. These domesticated yaks can tolerate high altitude climate. They replace the cows in mountain areas. They are reared for their wool, their milk and their meat. I've tried the yak cheese. Fine colors, good sharpness, regards.

COSTANTINO (115421) 2020-08-31 22:46

hello dear Kasia and have a nice day
and a happy evening
a different photo from the usuals
with great originality
it seems like a scenery
from a movie film
welldone
regards
Costantino

CLODO (45116) 2020-09-01 5:31

Hi Kasia

What is interesting while visiting foreign countries is to discover another world, other ways of life, what is mundane for a local is very interesting for a foreigner. Tourist agencies focus on this to invite customers, for example see elephants, lions, rhinos.. in Africa, bisons in US, lamas in South America and so on.
There is life in your main shot, give way to this herd pushed by the 2 men in the deserted landscape. By the way, you could have removed half of the uniform sky.
Cheers
CLODO

mkamionka (73224) 2020-09-04 8:08

Czesc Kasiu,
bardzo interesujace zestawienie kilku przygod.
Tak to paradoks ze ludzie z aparatami czasem wzbudzaja podejrzenia. Mielismy tu juz dyskusje z Clodo kiedy to opisalem fotografowanie fontanny w ktorej byly akurat dzieci w Nottingham, i jak ktos zaczal na mnie krzyczec ze fotografuje dzieci... Clodo napisal ze skoro nie uzywam telefonu ale aparat to dla wielu musze byc zboczencem.
Tak rzeczywiscie prawdziwy szpieg w dzisiejszych czasam ma tak ulatwiona prace wiec w zasadzie ktos kto robi zdjecie np na granicy w otwarty sposob -prawie na pewno szpiegiem nie jest a jednak zakazy sa na lotniskach itp.

Ja ostatnio na Krecie mialm przygode: robilem zdjecie corki na ruinach w Knossos. Poprosilem zeby usiadla na ruinach a ja zrobilem zdjecie z lampa blyskowa. Wtedy ktos z daleka zaczal na mnie krzyczec. Pomyslalem ze chodzi mu o to ze moja corka weszla na cenne ruiny ale zauwazylem ze on sam siedzi na tych samych ruinach po drugiej stronie, wiec odkrzyknalem mu: ze przeciez sam siedzi na ruinach a on na to ze nie wolno robic zdjec z lampa blyskowa :)
Pomyslalem ze w Greckim sloncu lampa blyskowa juz wiele szkody nie wyrzadzi nawet jakims starym freskom na scianach w oddali...

Pozdrawiam serdecznie,
M

CMJC (5085) 2020-09-06 9:40 [Comment]

Show Comment

Royaldevon (85602) 2020-09-08 8:16

Hello Kasia,

I love the title!
Sounds like a bit of Clint Eastwood!
Your w/s absolutely complements this main shot! I understand your dilemma!
This is a fine shot of the animals, including their helpers and the scenery. I just wonder where they feed the yaks! The ground looks so arid, there is no lush meadows or grass covered hillsides that we are used to seeing!

When I look at the size, and the horns on these animals, it makes me wonder how they permit themselves to be herded!

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

jmdias (114170) 2021-01-04 11:14

kasia

WOW!

amazing animals in a so hard lands filled with rounded stones, we can imagine the snow and after the huge amounts of waters running across this area. we can 't see what these big animals can eat in such area. amazing. TFS.

take care

jorge