What is Jugni Ji?
‘Jugni’ is a Punjabi word that literally means a ‘female firefly’ and to me, it represents the spirit of life.
What is this photobook about?
This book holds one year’s worth of moments where I caught even the tiniest glimpse of Jugni itself. Each photograph shares a unique conversation that I had with these spirit flower beings while photographing them. Through the lens of meditative photography, I was able to learn from them and appreciate their intricate beauty in all its entirety.
A story told through the lens of meditative Photography
All this time I spent in nature, I was constantly learning and unlearning who and what I am through photography, I felt as if something was holding my hand, almost guiding me through in each and every step of the way. This is my spirit of life -- my ‘Jugni’ -- and through the medium of photography, I am able to appreciate it and recognize its impact on me.
Photography has allowed me to unfold multiple aspects of my own being and It’s through these beings, I embraced my own true inner beauty and place in this universe.
More than just pictures
With this book, my intention is to invite you – its reader – to self narrate what these beings mean to you and tell their story right through your own lens. Each being is so magical and so beautiful, preserving the biorhythmic process of life, there has to be more to their story. Their process and their legacy must be told from a different perspective.
Jugni Ji brings pearls of wisdom in form of poems & poetry written by artists from all around the world.
Ali Rafay
Zahara Rahim
Anisha Gilani
Maeraj Malik
Farhaan Adtani
Ikhwan Allani
Mysha Malik
Eli Kenwood
Irina Yugay
Ruhi Gilani
Aarish Kotadiya
Kamand Kojouri
Beautiful co-creation journey
Each time we connect our humble journeys with these magical and mystical beings, we find a new way to appreciate their beauty and it’s through us, the Universe expresses itself. These are more than just photographs, they are embodiments of the spirit of the Universe and our collective beauty.
Following souls have played a major part in helping complete my first photobook project. Its through their artistic guidance, support and unconditional love that I am able to launch this book for the world to appreciate.
Pravina Chetty
Alina Batogaseva
Irina Yugay
Zeeshan Shiraz
Kamand Kojouri
Tatiana Azman (Editor)
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Diversity is strength
Together we bring this beautiful book for you to enjoy and appreciate the beauty in diversity.
Journey to Jugni
Message from the Author
Jugni Ji's visual narrative is a collective effort of many different artists whom I’ve had the privilege to meet along my journey. Though the physical copy of this book came came to be in 2022, each beautiful poetic verse at the start of each chapter was contributed long before that. Written by seven of my most beloved students, the poems were a part of their class assignments where they were to express what love and soul means to them. With their permission, I was able to use their words to express my journey.
Much of my storytelling done in this book is the story of these magical beings, told from the reflective lens of my own inner journey. Each photograph in this book holds a personal narrative for me, each photograph reminds me of a certain aspect of my own being. Photography has allowed me to unfold multiple aspects of my own being and It’s through these beings, I embraced my own true inner beauty and place in this universe. With this book, my intention is to invite you – its reader – to self narrate what these beings mean to you and tell their story right through your own lens. Each being is so magical and so beautiful, preserving the biorhythmic process of life, there has to be more to their story. Their process and their legacy must be told from a different perspective. Each time we connect our humble journeys with these magical and mystical beings, we find a new way to appreciate their beauty and it’s through us, the Universe expresses itself. These are more than just photographs, they are embodiments of the spirit of the Universe and our collective beauty.
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