TITLE: The Majestic Peaks of the Himalayas in the Land of the Sherpas

The Himalayan mountains have fascinated me more than any other landscape on earth. My first trek was in 2012. I fell in love with the majestic region and with the Sherpa people. During my journey, I spent time in their homes hearing their stories about their hard lives. They are some of the strongest people both physically and mentally. I have trekked the region 3-times. My final trek was in 2016. My ultimate goal was to photograph Mount Everest on November 16 with the Super Moon! The next time we will encounter the Super Moon will be in 70 years!
My 75-mile journey began in Lukla at an elevation of 9383 ft. My goal was to reach Kala Patthar (elevation of 18,700 ft.) which has the best view of Mount Everest.
Most of the people trek in the morning but the sun rises behind Mount Everest. The sunset conditions are extremely dangerous because of the freezing temperatures and the severe windy conditions of 30 to 40 miles/hour
Once I landed in Lukla, I went to a local agency to hire a Sherpa for my 12-day trek to Kala Patthar for the moonlight shoot. Nobody wanted to take me because it was too dangerous! After 3-hours of scouting, I found a Sherpa who agreed to do the venture with me.
He carried my personal gear and I carried my photography equipment which consisted of 30-pounds of my 4 x 5 Linhof Master Technica with 3 Lenses, Linhof 617 with 2 lenses and a tripod. It was extremely difficult since I had issues with altitude sickness. During my previous treks altitude sickness was not an issue. But my sheer determination helped me reach my goal. It was a dream come true. I bracketed my exposures on my Linhof 617.

AUTHOR: MOHAN BHASKER (United States)

Artist Statement
I have a deep passion for hand crafted photography prints. I am primarily an analog photographer and shoot with medium and large format cameras. I print both silver gelatin and PtPd. Because of the dynamic range that PtPd yields, it gives me a three-dimensional appearance with endless shades of grey. Every print I make is challenging and exciting! Anticipation of how the print will look like as I pour the developer is beyond words and description!

Photography & Darkroom Workshop Instructor for Samy’s Photo School in 475 South Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles USA www.samysphotoschool.com.
Published two books: (1) ‘SEVEN CONTINENTS’ Landscape Photography Book 1st Edition, (ISBN# 978-0-615-87894-2) printed on 2014. The book won the “Book of the Year” by the Press of Book Expo of America in New York City in May 2014. (2)‘SEVEN CONTINENTS’ Landscape Photography Book (ISBN# 978-0-7643-4980-5) printed and published by Schiffer Publishing, Ltd on November 2015. In a 15-year collection of more than 220 photographs, the author pays tribute to the beauty, history, and significance of some of the most remote places on Earth.
Silvergrain Classic Magazine Edition—featured in the 12th edition on September 2021.
Currently my photographs are being sold and exhibited: The Historic Ahwahnnee Hotel, Yosemite National Park, CA, and The Phoenix Shop in Nepenthe, Big Sur, CA.
Camera of Choice
For my film photography I shoot with medium-format Linhoff 6 x 17, Mamiya 7 and Leica M6. For large-format I shoot with Linhoff Master Technica 4 x 5.

Style of Printing
 Fujiflex Crystal Archive.
 Piezography- with K7 carbon inks.
 Silver Gelatin- Traditional analog silver gelatin darkroom printing & Contact Silver Gelatin Process.
 Platinum & Palladium-Alternative process printing.
Artist Portfolio
Kolibre Art Gallery, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 2005-2007
Catalina Artist Market, Avalon Catalina Island, CA 2007-2009
Artist Eye Laguna Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA 2010-2012
MountainSong Galleries, Carmel by the Sea, CA 2011-2014
Ritz Carlton Hotel, Laguna Niguel, CA 2014-2015
Hamilton Galleries, Santa Monica, CA
Exhibited 45 photographs from my Antarctica Expedition “The Purest Land on Earth” on July 2012. All sales were donated to a charity towards global warming.
Trump National Golf Club, Los Angeles, CA 2015-2016
Bhasker Gallery, Promenade on the Peninsula, 550 Deep Valley Drive, Suite 114, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274 from February 2013 to present.
Forest and Ocean Gallery, Laguna Niguel, CA 2016 thru Present
Ansel Adams Gallery, Yosemite National Park, CA — 2020-Present
The Phoenix Shop in Nepenthe, Big Sur, CA 2020-Present
Historic Ahwahnnee Hotel, Yosemite National Park, CA 2021-Present
Your Daily Photograph Agency 2022