Ladyfinger 1
Mountaineering vs. Alpinism
Ladyfinger Peak (also known as Bublimotin, Bubli Motin, or Bublimating) is a distinctive rock spire. Located near the city of Gilgit in the westernmost part of Pakistan’s towering Karakoram Mountain range, it stands tall as a lone sentry amidst the gorgeous embrace of the Hunza Valley.
The Peak is a sharp, relatively snowless rock spire that climbs to a dizzying height of 20,000 feet. The last 1,830 feet to the top are nearly vertical.
Ladyfinger is climbed mostly by alpinists, not mountaineers. Alpinism is a specialized form of climbing that focuses on ascending difficult routes in cold and challenging environments. It’s much more demanding, dangerous, and deadly than mountaineering.
Very few alpinists attempt Lady Finger. It’s one of the more difficult climbs in the area. The final 1,830 feet of sheer rock wall are extremely challenging. Those who succeed often paraglide back to the valley.
The Lady in Waiting
Legend has it that Kisar, a magical prince from Baltistan, came to the Hunza Valley on one of his adventures. While there, the already married prince met and married a princess named Bubli. Afterwards, Kisar learned that his first wife had been kidnapped. He promptly prepared to set off and rescue her.
Taking Bubli up the mountain that would later bear her name, he handed her a sack of grain and a chicken. Bubli asked him whether and when he would return. Kisar told her, "Every year give this chicken a single grain to eat. When the sack is empty, I will return. Until that time, stay here."
He left and they say Bubli is still waiting on Ladyfinger Peak.
The Shot
We left early on the morning of November 7 for our Ladyfinger photoshoot. Arriving well before sunrise, we had plenty of time to evaluate possible compositions. The Peak was about 5.5 miles away in the distance.
When I first saw it, I instinctively grabbed a shot. But the easiest photo is oftentimes the most boring photograph you can create. And that was the case this morning. What could be changed to make a more visually appealing image?
Boring!!!
Every time we take a photograph, we frame our subject. But frames within that frame potentially create striking and powerful images. Careful use of framing can help lead the viewer’s eye through the image and hold their interest much longer.
Luckily, there were several potential compositions that framed Ladyfinger. You’ll see more than one Friday Photo featuring Ladyfinger in a frame.
This framing composition excited me the most. Getting down on my stomach with my camera inches from the ground, an overhead arch of branches and leaves framed the top of the image. Ladyfinger is in the left center, with nearby Hunza Peak at 20,570 feet on the right.
Thanks for looking,
Chuck Derus