AlJahiliFort-2601

Viewbug Picture Perfect Award 21May2023

This photo won the "Picture Perfect Award" on Viewbug Photography portal in May 2023. the Picture Perfect Award is an award given to photos that are technically excellent, creatively composed, and visually appealing. This is a prestigious award that is highly sought-after by photographers of all levels and is a great way to celebrate your photograph. It is sure to inspire and motivate photographers to continue creating beautiful and meaningful images.

View it at https://www.viewbug.com/photo/97866588
 

The beautiful setting sun framed behind pillars made of palm tree wood and the ghaf tree above captured my imagination. This beautiful scene was captured at the Al Jahili Fort in Al Ain, UAE

Hope you enjoy it too just as it has caught the eyes of Viewbug editors!!

In my guestbook or comments below please let me know how you felt while enjoying this stunning view.

Kilt Rock and Mealt FallsThe spectacular Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls in Isle of Skye, Scotland. (click on photo to view full size)
The magnificent 90 meter Kilt Rock, looks strikingly similar to a pleated Scottish kilt. It is made up of basalt columns resting on a sandstone base
The Mealt waterfall which is fed from nearby Loch Mealt, plummets 55 meters from the top of the cliffs to the rock-laden sea below. It is generally rare to see a waterfall dropping directly into the sea, hence making it special. The refractive effect of water mist and sun created a beautiful rainbow around the base of the falls
Shot on iPhone XR - Jul 2022

The spectacular Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls in Isle of Skye, Scotland!!

The magnificent 90 meter Kilt Rock, looks strikingly similar to a pleated Scottish kilt. It is made up of basalt columns resting on a sandstone base

The Mealt waterfall which is fed from nearby Loch Mealt, plummets 55 meters from the top of the cliffs to the rock-laden sea below. It is generally rare to see a waterfall dropping directly into the sea, hence making it special. The refractive effect of water mist and sun created a beautiful rainbow around the base of the falls

Shot on iPhone XR - Jul 2022

#kiltrock #mealtfalls #scotland #isleofskye #unitedkingdom #lochmealt #ScottishKilt #iPhoneXR #shotoniphonexr

In my guestbook or comments below please let me know how you felt while enjoying this stunning view.

Trondheim-Norway-2345Safdar family summer holiday in Norway. It was a road trip in a Mercedez Benz GLC 350 e spanning driving around 2600 km in 10 days. Started from and ended in Oslo. Travelled via Vinstra, Rondane, Roros, Trondheim, Molde, Trollstigen, Geiranger, Klakegg, Bergen, Voss, Flam

Viewbug Curators Selection Award-2-22Nov21

This photo won the "Curator's Selection Award" on Viewbug Photography portal in November 2021.

View it at https://www.viewbug.com/photo/93226185
 

This was a very early morning shoot in the extremely beautiful and colourful town of Trondheim in Norway. The town was yet to wake up to the hustle and bustle of the day offering me a serene view of what the amazing light of the rising sun can do to a cityscape. This was a long exposure shot giving the water a silky smooth look in the pleasant light on one hand and imparting the clouds with a sense of urgency and motion with the colourful buildings, houses and boats in the background

Hope you enjoy it too just as it has caught the eyes of Viewbug editors!!

In my guestbook or comments below please let me know how you felt while enjoying this stunning view.

Scaling the Dunes - Desert AlAin Road

Excited to share this photo of mine was selected, featured and highlighted on the ViewBug.com photography community feed on 10 July 2021

I noticed this very interesting situation where a father is taking a picture of her daughter right on top of a tall sand dune with the large and glowing setting sun hanging just above them and his small son is cautiously scaling the dune to be on time for his turn to be photographed.

This was taken off the highway to Al Ain, an oasis city and part of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in United Arab Emirates - famous for large swathes of amazingly beautiful desert landscapes.
 

Reflections in Wadi Shawka PoolsWadi Shawka in Ras Al Khaimah in United Arab Emirates

Spring 21 Award-Viewbug-25Mar21

This photo won the "Spring 21 Award" on Viewbug Photography portal in March 2021.

View it at https://www.viewbug.com/photo/86187258
 

There are amazing lesser known gems of nature inside the mountains in the Northern Emirates of the United Arab Emirates. This is one of them - Wadi Shawka Pools - our most popular go to off roading picnic spot, not very easy to reach (need a 4x4 drive) but spectacular when you do manage to reach it. This photo has garnered a lot of media attention too. It has been published a few times, won me prizes and been displayed at a photography exhibition/gallery

Hope you enjoy it too as it caught the eyes of Viewbug editors too!!

Hope you enjoy the stunning view - let me know how you felt - in my guestbook or comments below

Burj Khalifa

Viewbug Winter Award 2020

This photo won the "Winter Award 2020" on Viewbug Photography portal in December 2020.

View it at https://www.viewbug.com/photo/91094235
 

This is one of my most favourite photo too. Besides Burj Khalifa in Dubai, UAE, being the worlds tallest building with its super impressive design, awe inspiring height and the amazing impact it has on you, it gave me great pleasure and satisfaction to get my creativity flowing and practise some of my newly found skills and tricks with my camera, lenses and of course the light.

Hope you enjoy it too as it caught the eyes of Viewbug editors!!

Hope you enjoy the stunning view - let me know how you felt - in my guestbook or comments below

Norway-4349-4352-HDRSafdar family summer holiday in Norway. It was a road trip in a Mercedez Benz GLC 350 e spanning driving around 2600 km in 10 days. Started from and ended in Oslo. Travelled via Vinstra, Rondane, Roros, Trondheim, Molde, Trollstigen, Geiranger, Klakegg, Bergen, Voss, Flam

Viewbug Fall Award 2020

This photo won the "Fall Award 2020" on Viewbug Photography portal in November 2020.

View it at https://www.viewbug.com/photo/80046139 

As my family and I were driving down the countryside to Oslo in Norway, I intuitively felt there was something interesting at this spot although it was not directly visible from the road so we decided to take a brief halt. Lo and behold I found this cute and beautiful stream running under a small bridge on the side road. I quickly setup my camera on the tripod and happily shot away to get some spectacular shots of this stream in a silvery smooth milky flow

Hope you enjoy the stunning view - let me know how you felt - in my guestbook or comments below

2020 Epson Pano Awards

Excited to share that despite 2020 being a difficult year it has again WON me 3 BRONZE Awards at The 2020 Epson International PANO Photography Awards.

Happy to continue my unbroken streak of winning awards 6 years in a row from 2015 to 2020 at this prestigious global competition, although I missed 2 Silvers by just 1 point.

"Beauty on 70 mm screen"

....is what I would like my fans to experience through my deep passion for Panoramic Photography. As you would have noticed I am very passionate about nature and love being outdoors and capture beautiful stunning landscapes.

(Click Collage above to see full size winning images)
 

The Epson International PANO Awards 2020 - World's Top Awards for Panoramic Photography (Epson Pano Awards Website)

Two BRONZE Awards 2020 - Open/Professional Competition - (Built Environment / Architecture Category)

One BRONZE Award 2020 - Amateur Competition - (Built Environment / Architecture Category)
 

Competition Statistics -

96 Countries,

2587 Open entries,

3060 Amateur entries,

5859 overall entries,

1452 Photographers
 

Please share a few thoughts in the guestbook about my work!

Stunning Geiranger Fjord of Norway* Won Curator's Choice Award - May 2018 on ViewBug photography portal
* Judge Commended - July 2018 on PhotoCrowd photography portal
* Won Community Choice Award - May?? 2018?? on ViewBug photography portal
* Won Legendary Award - September 2020 on ViewBug photography portal

Viewbug Legendary Award-03Sep20

This photo won the "Legendary Award" on Viewbug Photography portal in September 2020.

View it at https://www.viewbug.com/photo/78111629  

This has been one of my post popular photos that my fans, various photography portals and social media have loved and the photo that has given me incredible exposure, mileage and love as a Landscape Photographer.

So I too LOVE this photo!! Captured from an aerial viewpoint, with the setting sun behind the dense clouds creating a lot of magic, while driving down to the town of GeirangerFjord in Norway

Hope you enjoy the stunning view and let me know how you felt - in my guestbook or comments below

Hellesylt Fossen waterfall in GeirangerfjordHellesylt Fossen waterfall in Geirangerfjord
Hellesyltfossen is a small but nice waterfall in Hellesylt, More og Romsdal, Norway.
Most people go to Hellesylt to take the ferry to Geiranger. Just before the ferry you will see Hellesyltfossen at the left side when you cross the small bridge heading to the ferry to Geiranger.
Hellesyltsfossen is quite powerful and is appr 20 meter high. The river Dalaelva is being fed with melted snow and ice from two rivers: Langedalselva and a smaller river (Tverelva)

Hellesylt Fossen waterfall in Geirangerfjord, Norway is a small but nice waterfall in Hellesylt, More og Romsdal, Norway.

Hellesyltsfossen is quite powerful and is approximately 20 meter high and a rare natural attraction. The river Dalaelva is being fed with melted snow and ice from two rivers: Langedalselva and a smaller river (Tverelva)

Hellesylt is just a small village where most people go to take the ferry to Geiranger. Just before the ferry you will see Hellesyltfossen at the left side when you cross the small bridge heading to the ferry to Geiranger.  In the centre of the village, between two bridges (Høge bridge built in 1907 and Hellesylt bridge built in 1902) the water cascades down the polished granite stones. It is a spectacular sight during the early summer period when the snow thaws.

Between the duration of our inbound and outbound return ferry we just had 10-15 minutes in which to run and have a look at this beautiful waterfall and capture the moment. I literally had to run back with all my photography gear and just about catch the return ferry and unite with my family who were stressed whether i will make it back on time. Photography is no easy job!!

You may leave a comment in my guestbook if you enjoyed the blog post

Thank you!

Reflections of a lake in NorwaySafdar family summer holiday in Norway. It was a road trip in a Mercedez Benz GLC 350 e spanning driving around 2600 km in 10 days. Started from and ended in Oslo. Travelled via Vinstra, Rondane, Roros, Trondheim, Molde, Trollstigen, Geiranger, Klakegg, Bergen, Voss, Flam

As we were driving through the Norway countryside on our way to Oslo, the view of the amazing vast lake with this mirror reflection was so spectacular that we could not but stop and soak in the views and capture the beauty.

View it at https://www.viewbug.com/photo/79042276 
 

As we were driving through the Norway countryside on our way to Oslo, the view of the amazing vast lake with this mirror reflection was so spectacular that we could not but stop and soak in the views and capture the beauty. i am happy that it also captured the eye of the judges at Viewbug.

Hope you enjoy the serene view and let me know about how you felt - in my guestbook or comments

Sunrise over Burj Khalifa - Worlds tallest building

Sunrises and Sunsets are the most romantic and impactful times of the day which are also the most colourful and spectacular. They are the best friends of a landscape photographer!

"Each Sunrise brings with it the promise of new life and each Sunset leaves you with hope for peace" 
 - Zubair Safdar

If you cherish these moments in your life, explore a small collection from my Sunrises and Sunsets photos. Hope you feel awesome!!

Do you like watching a Sunrise and a Sunset? Where would you like to travel to watch one?

What feelings and emotions does it evoke in you?

Let me know in the blog comments below or the Guestbook of my website...

Zubair-Zenfolio Site Review-28Jul20

If interested, please watch the YouTube video - Site Review Tuesday - July 28, 2020. The review of my website begins around 41:00 minutes into the live session.

It turned out to be a treasure trove of improvement tips and ideas, self-inspiration and inspiration from discussions by the expert and the live audience. The generous compliments to my images from the Zenfolio expert and the audience were very flattering and confidence boosting.

I am right away on the job to make the recommended improvements and apply the pandoras box of ideas it has opened up. It is indeed a huge task but will hopefully lead to a website with far better SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) and improved look and feel, intuitive and seamless visitor experience.

Thanks for watching and reading.

The Stunning Stigfossen WaterfallThis stunning waterfall #Stigfossen is a huge waterfall on the river Istra intersecting the beautiful twisty 11 hairpin road of Trollstigen in the Romsdal region of Norway.

One amongst the most beautiful and powerful waterfalls of Norway, Stigfossen creates a deafening roar as it falls all of 240 m of which 180 m is a single drop. The cute bridge across the falls was built in 1935.

This stunning waterfall #Stigfossen is a huge waterfall on the river Istra intersecting the beautiful twisty 11 hairpin road of Trollstigen in the Romsdal region of Norway.

One amongst the most beautiful and powerful waterfalls of Norway, Stigfossen creates a deafening roar as it falls all of 240 m of which 180 m is a single drop. The cute bridge across the falls was built in 1935.

Who could hear the Giant Roar of the falls while looking at the image? Let me know in the comments to the blog....

Reflections at Wadi Shawka

Proud to share this photo won the "Judge Award" on Viewbug Photography portal on the 4th June 2020. View it at https://www.viewbug.com/photo/86187258

This is one of my favourite images and has also been published earlier in the local city magazine and displayed at a photography exhibition in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Most importantly this is the place I love visiting with family and friends. The water is crystal clear and clean and fun to dive in and swim

Desert HyacinthDesert Hyacinth at Al Wathba Wetlands Reserve in Abu Dhabi, UAE

Excited to share this photo of mine was selected, featured and highlighted on the ViewBug.com photography community feed on 22 July 2020

Desert Hyacinths are branch less, pyramid-shaped plants with bright yellow flowers, which generally bloom between the months of December to March. The Al Wathba Wetland Reserve in Abu Dhabi has some of the most beautiful varieties of hyacinths you could find.

My passion for Panoramic Photography has evolved over time and keeps growing as time goes by. I love the fact that I am able to display a much wider and larger canvas at high resolution to my viewers. A panoramic photograph is able to evoke in the viewer's mind a completely different and much higher level of emotion than a normal single small rectangular 35 mm photograph would, simply because of the fact that it displays a wider panoramic perspective of the landscape, place or architecture which more closely relates to how the human eye actually sees and perceives.

It also allows the artist a much bigger canvas on which to exercise his or her creativity. Another aspect that excites me is while i am on the location I shoot all that raw footage (many single shots with different settings, varied angles, different exposure levels) and then come home and sit with my MacBook to put them all together, stitching them up seamlessly into a wide stunning panoramic image. This becomes a creation of multiple dimensions. It thoroughly excites me to see the picture I had visualised in my mind evolve into fruition as a single beautiful image.

What then is a Panoramic Photograph?

In simple terms, a photograph that has an aspect ratio of 2:1 or larger, the image being at least twice as wide as it is high. It is an image showing a field of view approximating, or greater than, that of the human eye - about 160 degree by 75 degree

Aerial view of Salzburg, Austria

View a limited collection here...

It is also very important to first visualise the desired panoramic image in your minds eye and then shoot the raw footage for the panoramic image exercising a lot of care, meticulous attention to detail, proper and sufficient overlaps and consistent alignment of the camera angles (especially when shooting hand held) and moving the camera along the same horizontal or vertical plane to avoid parallax errors. Otherwise it can get really frustrating when the images refuse to stitch and blend well together and you realise your vision of creating an awesome panoramic image slipping away.

Over the last weekend, it was a tough balance between time, right selections and creativity to achieve a thrilling finish to successfully catch the early bird offer and submit my entries to the Espon International Pano Awards 2018 competition. How I fare this year remains to be seen...

Epson International Pano Awards is an annual top level international competition exclusively dedicated to Panoramic Photography where the finest quality panoramic photography work from over 5000 entries across over 71 countries is judged and awarded every year

I have been consistently participating in this competition since 2015 and every year I have managed to win a few awards. I have also found one of my image placed in The Top 50 and published in the 2016 Winners Gallery on their website. That really gives me a lot of incentive to keep participating every year and aim for the Grand Prize! The real challenge and hard work lies in going out there and collecting unique and exciting high quality imagery to keep ahead of the strong competition.

My winning Pano Awards...

Hope you enjoyed a brief insight into my thoughts and experience with panoramic photography and the intense creative fulfilment it brings me!

Please ask if you have any questions and share your own experiences and feedback

Thanks for reading!

Cheers,

Zubair Safdar

I am an outdoors loving person and hence feel very comfortable and at peace with myself when i am in the midst of awesome mind blowing landscapes. In the course of my #travels around the world, mostly on #holidays, i have accumulated a huge collection of beautiful colourful landscape images.

I have finally gotten around to curate and update my #Landscapes collection on my #photography website. Hopefully what you see will make you feel good and happy!

Please click here to reach the collection

This is not at all everything from my collection but just a teaser. I will occasionally keep updating my collection.

I will appreciate your constructive feedback on my guestbook here

Thanks for visiting and your feedback

Cheers!

The real challenge begins now....

It was a great Friday on 9^th March at the PhotoFriday 2012 at the Dubai Knowledge Village put together on a grand scale by Gulf Photo Plus. The highlights of the day were lots of fun, tremendous learning and buckets of inspiration from the great masters of photography - all under one roof. It is invaluable - to say the least!

I got to personally interact with such biggies as Joe McNally, David Hobby, Martin Prihoda, Zack Arias, Chris Hurtt, Gregory Heisler. The nuggets of knowledge and experience that one picks up at such awesome events really ramps up your learning curve sharply. I came out picking up a lot of tips, tricks and ideas. Their stories and journeys are always so inspirational for me.

I also got my camera sensor and lens cleaned for free!!!

Waiting for the next year PF....

Since you are here why don’t you also enjoy my picture gallery by clicking the ‘Home’ link above

I am embarking on my blog journey from today. Finally!!! It took a lot of urging, marketing and spoon feeding from my dear wife Nilofer, and now finally I have decided to take the plunge. I had lots of excuses (the usual and the most lame ones!!) not to blog. I guess it in now the time to fire off....

Cheers

Zubair