Page from the ‘Allen Solly LookBook – Friday’ | Say hello to 14 web celebs whose lives bring a splash of colour to our world. They do not believe in being part of a grey scale world. These are people who have found jobs that are as unique as their personalities. From designers to TV presenters, their vibrant views are a true reflection of the spirit of our new collection. So, how did we manage to bring the internet’s most fresh opinionators together? By organising Offline Clique, an event where they got the chance to be styled in our new merchandise and do what they do best – give us their thoughts and opinions on the new collection.

Ever since I shared my picture wearing bright yellow shirt and green trousers, my friends haven’t stopped wondering. Why am I wearing such clothes? I normally don’t wear bright colours, so I have been getting many compliments since morning. The best and my favourite one was from my friend Itika Gupta, who said, “You look like a Mango Tree!”. Thank you Itika.

So this blog post is for my friends who are still wondering, how I landed in Allen Solly’s LookBook and will answer the most common questions I have been asked throughout the day.

How?

I accepted the invitiation by Allen Solly to be a part of their Offline Clique Event. Swetha, from Allen Solly, emailed me and later called me to explain everything in detail. She told me that they would be inviting 14 creative professionals including me and styling us in their new summer collection with 14 new shades and click our pictures while we enjoy ourselves.

What was the venue for the event?

Cheri One Qutub, a beautiful resturant right next to the Qutub Minar, Delhi.

You don’t like getting your pictures clicked. Why did you agree?

I welcome new experiences and also, the food was yummy and the people I met were awesome. I like getting out of my comfort zone. So I accepted the invitation. Also I had nothing to do that day.

How was it ?

Incredible! I would like to thank the team behind the event.

• Core Team : Sahil Arora, Rajesh Lalwani, Neha Chandok, S Swetha, Ankit Mathur.
• Makeup Artist: Shikha Taneja
• Stylist: Atul
• Photographers: Bhumi Ahluwalia and Simran Kapur.

Who else were your fellow models ?

• Jatin Sapru
  ESPN Sports Presenter. Journalist
  twitter.com/jatinsapru

• Charu Gaur
  Online Editor. Blogger. Creative Director.
  www.pickyc.com/
• Aparshakti Khurana
  RJ. Singer. Actor.
  twitter.com/Aparshakti
• Snigdha Manchanda
  Tea Sommelier. Storyteller.
  www.teatrunk.com/home.html
• Chandni Tolani
  Entrepreneur. Food Lover. Shopaholic. Blogger.
  www.facebook.com/BoomerangM
• Arun Jay Designer
  Urban Cyclist. Mountain Biker.
  aahsome.com/
• Aishwarya Khanna
  Student. Fashion Blogger. Footballer. Amateur Poetess.
  aishwaryakhanna.blogspot.in/
• Devyani Kapoor
  Author. Journalist. Editor. Blogger. Expert Advisor.
  devyanikapoor.blogspot.in/
• Faizan Patel
  Wedding Photographer. Graphic Designer. Social Media Manager.
  twitter.com/faizanpatel
• Manik Choudhary
  Ad Agency Co-founder. Ex-Engineering Student.
  www.4nought4.com/we.html
• Shaily Khera
  Stylist. Blogger. Celebrity PR.
  confessionzofacloset.blogspot.in/
• Riaan George
  Luxury Magazine Journalist. Blogger. Managing Editor. Foreign Language Tutor
  www.urbaneye.in/
• Apurva Saxena
  Fashion Stylist. Blogger. 3D Animator. Graphic Designer
  kalapalette.blogspot.in/

Where can I download the LookBook?

You can use the following link to download a soft copy in PDF format.
http://bit.ly/172IX6H

A page from the Allen Solly LookBook 2013 featuring Himanshu Khagta

Snowfall in the Himalayan town of Shimla - Part I

Today, Im sharing pictures from January 2013, when Shimla received massive snowfall. These are from the first day when, unfortunately, the winter wind destroyed my most colourful umbrella. My friend, Asheesh Mehta, came to my rescue and accompanied me with his umbrella while I clicked these pictures.

Despite receiving stark criticisms and threats for sharing a few wintery photographs from my friends living in the plains – the temperature is touching 45 degrees celsius in some places – I bring you these pictures from the freezing winters to the boiling summers!

Hope you like them.

"Amidst the night, cold and dark; hid an old tree with wrinkled bark" - Quote by a wise mountain man.

Kids playing in the snow at Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India

A couple under an umbrella, enjoying the snowfall at The Ridge, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh State Library covered in a thick sheet of snow at The Ridge, Shimla

People standing at the Scandal Point of Shimla during a snow storm.

People walking during a heavy snowfall in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh

People walking through the snowfall at Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India

People clicking pictures of the snow through the window of Wake and Bake Cafe in Shimla

People walking through the snowfall at Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India

People walking through the snowfall at Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India

People walking through the snowfall at Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India

A couple walking walking through the scandal point at Shimla

People walking on the mall road of Shimla, Himachal Pradesh

People walking on the mall road of Shimla, Himachal Pradesh

A couple walking walking through the scandal point at Shimla

For More Pictures and to buy publishing rights. Please click on the following link.
http://www.photoshelter.com/gallery/India-Snowfall-in-Shimla-2013/G0000MfH9xEmUYeg

Cover Shot of Spice Route Magazine featuring Rewalsar

Spice Route, the inflight magazine of SpiceJet published a landscape I took at Rewalsar, a small town in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh.

Ending this post with just one line would be a little boring, so I should add how I clicked this picture. It started when I was trying to read a book in Chandigarh.

Introduction

It was back in those days, when I was doing my graduation in Political Science from DAV College, Chandigarh. Like many students studying away from their hometowns, I used to live in a small room in sector 18 of ‘the city beautiful’ . The temperature was around 45 Degree Celsius and the room had no Air Conditioning. I was trying to read a book  but the sound of the fan was a bit too disturbing. It was 5 am. I thought of an amazing idea. I packed my book and my camera in a small bag-pack. Locked the room, Unlocked the door of my blue maruti 800 and drove up the hills. The idea was to read the book in the mountains. I was thinking of  place between Dharampur and Solan, where I would be sitting under a fir tree, with the book in my hand, cold breeze flowing through my hair (I had comparatively long hair back then). So when I reached Dharampur, I kept looking for a decent place to read. While searching, I reached Shimla. Quickly I decided, not to enter the city and travel somewhere else. The first place that came in my mind was rewalsar. The place I recently heard about while in a conversation with someone. I refuelled the petrol tank and started driving towards my new destination. In just a few hours I was at rewalsar. The tank was almost empty and I only had Rs. 200 in cash. I was hoping for an ATM but there was none. Nevertheless, I had a nice brunch of Coffee and Choco Banana Cake at Emaho Cafe and drove further up to the caves. There are a number of natural caves that were used by Guru Padmasambhava to hide from the king of Mandi who later burned him alive. Every year the buddhist pilgrims visit this place and curse the King of Mandi with folk songs.

Buddhist Nuns praying with a monk in the cave of Guru Padmasambhava in Rewalsar, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, India (Himanshu Khagta)

How I clicked the picture ?

After my cave visit I was strolling around the caves when I noticed a biker enjoying the beautiful view of the Great Himalayan Range. It was a picture perfect moment, but to get the right shot I had to be right behind the biker. I also didn’t want him to notice me as that might change the way he was sitting and would ruin the picture. I kept clicking as I silently moved towards him and when I got the shot I wanted, I greeted him. He was Tsering Dorje, a 54 year old resident of McLeodganj. After a long socio-political conversation he invited me to Dharamshala and I humbly accepted it.

- Link to the May 2013 Issue of Spice Route Magazine

Hope you like it!

Cheers!

I was supposed to take portraits of Rubina right after her interview with Tamanna Kanwar, that ended around 1pm, so I was ready with my speedlights to balance the harsh light of the afternoon sun. Sometimes you don’t have the luxury to wait for the perfect light while shooting editorial portraits as the subjects are busy people. So its always better to be prepared in advance.

Editorial Shoot for Femina April 17, 2013 Issue

The climatic condition was found perfect for the cultivation of Apples, so people started cultivating this delicious cash crop. In just few years,  prosperity entered the region. People were happy, but the government was not. Nor where the big industrialists. They saw a great opportunity lying unexploited. They could use the rivers to make money and the government can use them for employment and power. So the government gave a green signal to many hydro power projects in the region. Dams were built, roads were widened and rivers were controlled . The locals also generated huge amount of income by selling their land to the hydo power projects. All the while, the development kept sustainability away from it.

As you enter the valley, you are welcomed by the ugly sight of the hydro power projects, but as you drive deeper into the valley, the will experience the true untouched beauty of the Great Himalayan landscapes and its people.

I took these pictures four years ago when I had bought a new full frame camera. Hope you like them.

Cheers!

A beautiful mountain road to Chitkul village of Kinnaur

A small temple near village Chitkul, Kinnaur

Bank of River Baspa near Chitkul, Kinnaur

Landscape of Sangla Valley at Rakcham, Kinnaur

Kamru Village, Sangla

Kalpa Village of Kinnaur

Portrait of an old Kinnauri Lady at Kalpa

A kinnauri lady carrying her child on her back at Kalpa Village, Kinnaur

An HRTC Bus travelling through Tranda Dhank, Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh

Goatheard with his goats near Tranda, National Highway 22, Himachal Pradesh, India

A goatherd holding a kid while herding his goats near Tranda on the National Highway 22

Two men enjoying the view sitting atop a mountain at Nigulsari, a small village on the National Highway 22