Bohri cookbook: Haleem

Part of the photographs for the Bohra traditional cookbook.

I know I know, this is what happens when you post a photo on an empty stomach :)

Bohra traditions: Lota

The Lota (watering can) is used to wash hands before the meal. The white sheet below is called a Safra (Safro in Gujrati).

Bohra traditions: Salt

Bohra traditions,
originally uploaded by imfaraz.

I took a series of photographs for a Bohri cookbook. This particular photo was taken with the intention of putting it on the book's cover.

The food is served in a big metal plate called a thaal, and this little thing is for holding salt. According to Bohra tradition, a meal starts with a pinch of salt, hence the idea of using this photograph for the cover.

I need a woman

I discovered a message etched on one of the wooden pillars inside our Engineering lab at work. It was etched before we rented the building many years ago.

The funny thing is, the message still applies. All of the current engineering staff is single and in the typical Silicon valley startup spirit, we spend countless frustrating hours in the lab :-P

Gohar

Portrait using the Rembrandt Lighting technique.
I used a 10" garage light fixture with an ECA bulb as the main light and a 2x3 ft white posterboard reflector to control the light ratio between the highlights and shadows. For digital cameras, this difference between highlights and shadows should not exceed 1 and half stop.