Here is the photo that won the first prize at the 2017 Omani Dates Festival

Muscat: This captivating picture of an Omani woman carrying handmade palm tree brushes on top of her head won the first place in the 2017 Omani Dates Festival photography competition.
The picture was taken by 28-year-old Haitham Al Farsi during a heritage event at Bahla Fort.
"This is the second time I participated in this competition. The first time I won the second place. Winning first place this time was very important to me as it encouraged me to move forward with my photographic career," Al Farsi said.
"What distinguishes the picture in my opinion is the joy and enthusiasm showing on the woman's face despite her age, and the fact that it reflects Omanis’ attachment to palm trees," said Al Farsi.
A banker by profession, photography is Al Farsi’s passion, on which he spends seven to eight hours a day honing his skills, and 30 to 40 per cent of his annual salary is dedicated to capturing good pictures.
He has won 270 international, and four local, photography awards since starting his photographic journey in 2013.