The year 2024 has been unpromising for some, devastating for others, and a year of progress for a few. I cannot find eloquent words to define it for myself. Unlike the structured preparation for exams in schools or colleges, life moves forward regardless of whether we are ready or not. And so, another year has come and gone.
For me, 2024 was a long ride, filled with plans, tasks, and goals. I accomplished some of what I set out to do, while other tasks were postponed to this (new) year. For the first time in many years, I decided to slow down, especially when it came to traveling. I reflected on what is worth traveling for and what is not.
At the start of the year, I traveled to Pakistan and later returned to the United States to finish the spring semester. Traveling to Pakistan is always demanding—long flights, additional journeys within Pakistan, and the return trip to the States require significant energy. Despite the challenges, the trip was rewarding, as were my experiences afterward, including a amazing summer job.
Amid all the traveling, working, studying, and exploring, I managed to capture a collection of photographs, films, and stories. Here, I am sharing a selection of the photographs and videos I edited this year. I hope you enjoy them, and if you do, please share them with your friends, family, or fans.
Happy New Year, Happy 2025!
(Un)neutral gaze. Capitol building, Washington DCLady Freedom Statue, Washington DCThe Apotheosis of Washington by Constantino Brumidi – inside the Capitol Building, Washington DCLove for Darwin, Smithsonian Natural History Museum, Washington, DCA wage labourer carrying 50 pounds of sand up the walls of Ranikot Fort. The fort is also known as the Great Wall of Sindh, reconstructed in the 19th century by the Talpur dynasty. This photo is a glimpse into the past.A local family of four on motorcycle ride through the Ranikot FortPost-sugarcane harvest field burn in Nawabshah, SindhWhen I asked how you make the land, this Rustamani farmer took me out in the field to show exactly how land is made for the next sugarcane crop season, Nawabshah, SindhA mosque showcasing the regional architecture typical of small villages in agrarian areas, with a man approaching its walls to pay respect before entering for prayers in Nawabshah, Sindh.In this photograph, one can see my ancestral graveyard and the mountains where my ancestors lived for generations. Between the graveyard and the mountains, a herder is guiding sheep and goats to midday grazing.A little sunshine in the morning was all the folks wanted to speed up clearing a fish farm, which served its purpose, and now the Zamindar (who manages land, labor force, finance it, takes profit and everything in between) have decided to rotate it with rice crops in the upcoming season. To do so, they need to put the farmers to work, remove the remaining water from the farm area, and catch or transfer the last batch of fish. In that process, I captured Naveed’s photo when he grabbed a 2-pound fish with his bare hands before storing it into a net full of fish needed to be transferred. I took a few shots at the time, but when sunlight kissed the soil, Naveed’s face, and the fish in his hand, the moment became magical and shined. I didn’t realize it until I came back home, downloaded the photographs into my MacBook, and looked closely to discover how amazing it was – not just the photograph but the moment that boosts energy for the farmers. It’s a kind of ecological relationship with nature that keeps these folks going, and by doing so, they provide vital help in farming and agriculture, eventually contributing to food production. The work they do, the skills they have, and the passion they put into maintaining farms and helping Zamindar achieve the best yield are significant and a cornerstone of Sindh’s successful agricultural system.A man gazing at the recently arrived crew on the fishing boat. The fishermen were waiting for customers to come and purchase fish directly from the boat, Keti Bandar, Sindh, PakistanFisherman and their boats at Keti Bandar, Sindh – coastal belt of SindhCoastal erosion’s visible signs: Disappearance of land at the Keti Bandar, Sindh.An intense conversation unfolded on the boat, as people held their phones and paid close attention—Keti Bandar, Sindh.A bird take-off shot. It’s a luxury that birds can fly to the sky, to a new place, to a new destination, to another rock.Pizza Express, Chauvin, LAChauvin Sculpture Garden, the mysterious artist and his interpretive art, Chauvin, LAResilience in the Face of the Climate CrisisVictory Hill pre-parade photoshoot in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.San Antonio, TexasHalloween Parade in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 2024Sunset at Bloxi Beach, Mississippi
Kashif Rustamani 