Feroza Gulzar

freelance photographer and video maker

Compiled from 1 recorded interview. Every statement below is drawn from the passage cited beside it.

Feroza Gulzar is a freelance photographer and video maker who runs a shop selling journals, stickers and postcards that she makes. She moved to Hunza soon after her wedding. She has started moving toward documentary work.

Early life and background

Gulzar lived in Quetta for her first 16 years. She says she did not have much freedom. Her father is a civil engineer, and she says he has been both a mother and a father. [1]

She has traveled since childhood, as her father often took the family on trips. Her father was very protective, but knew she had a strong urge to travel. She says she went using her own money. [1]

Education

Gulzar studied at a school up to 10th class. After 10th class, the family planned to move to Karachi. She moved to Karachi to study. [1]

She completed FSC with the aim of becoming a doctor. She decided against medicine after watching her elder brother, a doctor, spend long days with books. Her teachers suggested she study architecture because of her drafting skills, but she realized she was more on the creative side than the drafting side. She saw architecture as dependent on the client, who decides what has to be delivered. [1]

She wanted to continue working in video and photography. She expected fine arts to give her freedom and the skills for later choices. Her father agreed to what she wanted to do. [1]

She took an entrance test and was accepted in design, and she was admitted to Indus Valley in interior design. She graduated in December 2016. She remains best friends with an architect and a graphic designer. [1]

Career

The family waited for her to graduate before moving to Islamabad in 2017. In that year she survived by doing many small projects. [1]

She did one short job with a wedding photographer, for about 15 days. She says she has mostly worked freelance and taken on her own projects. [1]

She did a residency in Lahore. In 2017 she joined a teaching program, going on the program as an art teacher. Participants paid a very small amount and received lodging and food while teaching. [1]

Her village was four to five hours from the main road. At that time there was one spot where a signal sometimes came, only for making calls. [1]

She did a two-month art residency. In 2019 she applied to a program. She runs a shop selling journals, stickers and postcards that she makes. [1]

Life in Hunza

Gulzar had long wanted to live in the mountains. She wanted to challenge herself and do something of her own. [1]

She taught at a school in Hunza because she likes to teach. She describes a bukhari as made of steel, with very good heat. She says many people in Hunza have become architects. She says new hotels have opened in Hunza. [1]

Views

Gulzar is more comfortable with travel photography and video than with people. She does not feel comfortable with portraits and prefers documenting nature. She believes a person should know she is taking their photograph, and that she should know their story. She says there are very few galleries. [1]

She tells people it is not a fairy tale and not for everyone. She tells people they should have a plan. [1]

Timeline

2016
Graduated in December.[1]
2017
Family moved to Islamabad.[1]
2017
Joined a teaching program as an art teacher.[1]
2019
Applied to a program.[1]

Appearances

DateTitleWhere
2022-03-07 The photographer who moved to Hunza to actually live Thought Behind Things

Frequently asked questions

Who is Feroza Gulzar?

Feroza Gulzar is a freelance photographer and video maker. She runs a shop selling journals, stickers and postcards that she makes. She moved to Hunza soon after her wedding.[1]

What does Feroza Gulzar do?

Feroza Gulzar has mostly worked freelance and taken on her own projects in video and photography. She runs a shop selling journals, stickers and postcards that she makes. She has started moving toward documentary work.[1]

Where did Feroza Gulzar study?

Feroza Gulzar was admitted to Indus Valley in interior design. She graduated in December 2016. She moved to Karachi to study.[1]

Where did Feroza Gulzar grow up?

Feroza Gulzar lived in Quetta for her first 16 years. She later moved to Karachi to study. Her family moved to Islamabad in 2017.[1]

What kind of photography does Feroza Gulzar do?

Feroza Gulzar is more comfortable with travel photography and video than with people. She does not feel comfortable with portraits and prefers documenting nature. She has started moving toward documentary work.[1]

Why did Feroza Gulzar decide against becoming a doctor?

Feroza Gulzar completed FSC with the aim of becoming a doctor. She decided against medicine after watching her elder brother, a doctor, spend long days with books.[1]

References

  1. The photographer who moved to Hunza to actually live . Thought Behind Things , 2022-03-07.
Show the source passages (50 statements)
  1. Feroza Gulzar lived in Quetta for her first 16 years. Main bachpan se, paida hone ke baad se main 16 years tak Quetta mein rahi hoon.
  2. She says she did not have much freedom. but woh ek reality hai na ke us tarah ki mere paas freedom nahi thi.
  3. Feroza Gulzar moved to Karachi to study. jab main Karachi move hui parhne ke liye
  4. Feroza Gulzar studied at a school up to 10th class. Maine Army Public School, Seven Streams ek school tha, ab ab bhi hai, but obviously. Toh wahan se maine parha 10th class tak
  5. After 10th class, the family planned to move to Karachi. paper dene ke baad we already had the plan ke humne jana hai Karachi.
  6. Her father is a civil engineer. mere father hamesha se kyunke woh civil engineer hain
  7. She says her father has been both a mother and a father. But my father has been a mother and a father.
  8. Feroza Gulzar graduated in December 2016. In 2016 I graduated in December.
  9. She completed FSC with the aim of becoming a doctor. Mujhe shauk doctor banne ka tha, isiliye maine kiya bhi FSC kiya tha
  10. She decided against medicine after watching her elder brother, a doctor, spend long days with books. kyunke mera bara bhai doctor hai. Main usko dekhti thi ke sara din books mein hota hai, like okay, this is not something I can do.
  11. Her father agreed to what she wanted to do. So for me, it was easier ke main jo chahti thi, mere father ne kaha okay, jao.
  12. She took an entrance test and was accepted in design. Comsats mein maine kya kiya tha, test diya tha aur maine design mein mera ho gaya tha.
  13. She was admitted to Indus Valley in interior design. But then I got admission in Indus Valley in interior designing.
  14. Her teachers suggested she study architecture because of her drafting skills. meri jo basically drafting skills thi, woh bahut acchi thi. Toh meri teachers ne mujhe bola ke okay, you should go to architecture.
  15. She realized she was more on the creative side than the drafting side. maine realize kar liya ke I am more on the creative side than yeh drafting aur yeh sab cheezein.
  16. She wanted to continue working in video and photography. Toh main chahti thi ke main video aur photography mein hi aage kaam karoon.
  17. She expected fine arts to give her freedom and the skills for later choices. fine arts mujhe freedom bhi dega aur main jo bhi aage kuch karna chahoon, mujhe skill, mera skill set aa jayega mere paas
  18. She saw architecture as dependent on the client, who decides what has to be delivered. Otherwise architecture mein na aap dependent hain. Jo client bolega aapne woh kar ke dena hai.
  19. She remains best friends with an architect and a graphic designer. one is an architect aur dusri jo hai woh graphic designer hai and we are still like best friends.
  20. The family moved to Islamabad in 2017. Phir main 2017 mein hum log udhar move ho gaye Islamabad mein.
  21. The family waited for her to graduate before moving to Islamabad. aur un sab woh sab mera wait kar rahe thay ke acha yeh graduate ho jaye uske baad hum move karenge.
  22. In 2017 she survived by doing many small projects. But is tarah ke bahut saari chote chote projects karke kisi tarike se survive kiya 2017.
  23. She says there are very few galleries. Aap ginein toh aapke finger tips pe hain. Bahut hi kam galleries hain.
  24. She had long wanted to live in the mountains. I always had this idea ke mujhe mountains mein move karna hai
  25. She wanted to challenge herself and do something of her own. Challenge myself and I want I always wanted to do something of my own.
  26. She did one short job with a wedding photographer, for about 15 days. Job maine ek ki thi ek dafa wedding photographer ke saath ek aur woh I think 15 days ke liye ki thi
  27. She says she has mostly worked freelance and taken on her own projects. Maine hamesha apna kaam kiya hai, freelance matlab projects hamesha uthati thi
  28. She is more comfortable with travel photography and video than with people. I am more comfortable with travel photography ya phir travel videos ya kuch bhi but not with people.
  29. She does not feel comfortable with portraits and prefers documenting nature. Portraits I I don't feel comfortable ki logon ke saath for some reason. I am more comfortable documenting nature and everything.
  30. She believes a person should know she is taking their photograph, and that she should know their story. Bande ko pata hona chahiye main uski tasveer le rahi hoon. Uski story mujhe pata honi chahiye.
  31. She has started moving toward documentary work. Isiliye thoda sa main move karne lagi hoon ki main documentaries ki taraf jaana chahti hoon.
  32. She did a residency in Lahore. Ah maine Lahore mein ek residency ki thi, uska naam tha Tasveer Ghar Residency.
  33. She has traveled since childhood, as her father often took the family on trips. Main bachpan se travel kar rahi hoon kyunki mere father hamesha travel karwa rahe hote the.
  34. In 2017 she joined a teaching program. Ek thi uh ek teaching program tha Chipursan Valley mein. Theek hai. Uh in 2017.
  35. She went on the program as an art teacher. main basically gayi thi uh as an art teacher.
  36. Participants paid a very small amount and received lodging and food while teaching. humne bahut minimal amount deni thi aur samjhein ki aapne rehna tha wahan pe, teaching karni thi aur khana waghera aapko rihayish milegi.
  37. Her village was four to five hours from the main road. andar jo hamara gaon tha woh chaar paanch ghante ke baad aata tha main road se.
  38. At that time there was one spot where a signal sometimes came, only for making calls. Us time to hamare paas ek point tha jahan pe kabhi kabhi signals aate the sirf phone karne ke liye.
  39. Her father was very protective, but knew she had a strong urge to travel. bahut protective the mere father mere liye. Meri matlab mere liye bahut zyada protective the. But unko pata bhi tha ki mere andar yeh wala keeda hai ki bas jaana hai.
  40. She did a two-month art residency. Uh do mahine ke liye maine kiya tha uska naam tha Marfa. Marfa Artist Residency.
  41. She says she went using her own money. to yeh tha ke main apne paise laga ke ja rahi thi.
  42. She tells people it is not a fairy tale and not for everyone. It's not a fairy tale. Main yahi main yahi bolti hoon sabko ke it's not for everyone.
  43. In 2019 she applied to a program. So in 2019, main ek program pe maine apply kiya, uska naam tha Tabeer-e-Nau.
  44. She moved to Hunza soon after the wedding. Yeah, 2021. When did you move to Hunza? Shadi ke foran baad.
  45. She runs a shop selling journals, stickers and postcards that she makes. I also have a shop jismein main journals aur stickers aur postcards banati hoon.
  46. She describes a bukhari as made of steel, with very good heat. Maine woh Bukhari ka bataya tha na, ek basically steel ka hota hai aur uski heat bahut achi hoti hai.
  47. She taught at a school in Hunza because she likes to teach. Hunza mein bhi school mein padhati rahi hoon jab main shift hui thi because I like to teach.
  48. She says many people in Hunza have become architects. Hunza ke bahut saare log architects ban gaye hain
  49. She says new hotels have opened in Hunza. Hunza mein bhi bahut achhe achhe hotels khul gaye hain
  50. She tells people they should have a plan. Main unko yahi batati hoon ke aapke paas ek plan hona chahiye.