Wednesday 24 / April / 2024
The visual arts have affected our culture in many ways, and one of the main fields responsible for this is photography. As we gear up to commemorate World Photography Day on August 19, here in Oman, we meet some of the most talented photographers who are adding a different dimension to their work through their creativity, talent, and extraordinary flair.
We were recently incredibly inspired by a handful of photographers, who are giving back to their communities in ways that go far beyond the occasional volunteer day or pro bono assignment. They share the beauty that Oman has to offer with the world; they become the eyes that offer a glimpse into the country and its traditions. From wildlife photographers who have a passion for capturing animals and the adventurous spirit, to dedicated shutterbugs who live to photograph precious moments of Omani culture and those who enjoy taking portraits of the elderly, Oman has them all. As the craft requires an ample amount of time, talent, and passion, we’d like to share with you the works of five photographers whose devotion and generosity to the world of photography are truly remarkable —artistes who are all set to make a difference in Oman.
What do these photos have in common, you ask? They are a visual celebration of revered, and time-honoured Omani culture that brings about joyful festivities, historic craftsmanship, and fervent cavalrymen who live to entertain crowds with their skills. These photographs were captured by the ever-so-talented Oman-based photographers who love to celebrate and showcase the beautiful Omani traditions and the natural beauty the Sultanate offers.
Wildlife beckons: Althaf Abdul
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I attended a photography event on the birds of Oman in Al Ansab and I was inexplicably happy,” said Althaf, a lover of wildlife and birdlife photography. Watching the pictures of birds taken by his friends inspired him to update his gear and start shooting birds. “I stepped into wildlife photography in 2016 with the help of a group called BAF – Photomuse in Kerala, India,” said Althaf, adding, “I had a chance to visit Jim Corbett National Park in India last year and it was a memorable trip full of tigers and herds of elephants.” While he started with landscape photography as it had a lot of scope in Oman due to the mountains and long stretches of deserts, he soon realised that his passion lay in capturing wildlife. Later on, he joined a photography club called FSO Muscat and had the opportunity to meet many other like-minded creative photographers with unique interests. Together, they planned events every weekend to meet and enrich each other with the knowledge of still photography. During his free time, he goes online and observes the photographs taken by eminent photographers around the world, which inspire him to capture the moments that shape his desire to become a photographer. “What I like about photography is that we capture a moment that’s gone forever and is impossible to reproduce,” he explained.
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Capturing wisdom: Khalil Al Obaidani
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Khalil is a renowned photographer from Nizwa, and works as a government employee at the Ministry of Health. His photography is nothing short of an inspiring trip exploring our revered culture.
“I dove into the art of photography through a simple relationship with my Nokia cellphone. I used to pick up anything and take pictures of trips, occasions, and family gatherings,” he said, adding, “I was photographing and collecting pictures, which made me fall in love with photography.” In 2010, Khalil purchased his first professional camera, and since then, he’s been constantly evolving and growing to stay atop the game. It seemed that it was a great opportunity to transition into the professionals’ club. “As a photographer, you must keep pace with the developments of this industry, from cameras to equipment.”
Culture encompasses all aspects — clothing, nature of life, habits, traditions or occupations and characters — and to convey the culture of the people and discover the world around them, this made me love portraying the lives of people and their cultures.
One of his biggest inspirations is photographing the elderly. He has been fascinated by the lives and times of senior citizens who have tales to tell. “I find inspiration in taking photos of the elderly, the souq, people’s lives and Omani traditions, as they contain a lot of beauty and simplicity that make for wonderful pictures,” he said. Through his career, many achievements have been bestowed upon him by the Ministry of Health. He won the first place at a blood donation competition, and third place at a youth creation competition. “My work has been accepted internationally and locally, which makes me a proud Omani photographer,” he said. His future plans include going global and setting up his own exhibition.
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Nature in its finest form: Mohammed Al Barami
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If you enjoy photographs of the Khareef season in Salalah, scenic landscapes, and stunning, sharp photos of wildlife, then you’d be inspired by Mohammed Al Barami’s portfolio, a Dhofari native whose passion for this craft is beautifully reflected through his stunning photos.
The talented photographer discovered his passion for the lens when he had just finished school, and was looking for a way to kill time before attending university.
Though Mohammed has studied geology, his true passion was photography, a craft that came naturally to him. He is a self-taught photographer who’s been immortalising the outdoors for about a decade, and his passion for wildlife and nature saw him naturally gravitate towards the natural beauty of Salalah and its surrounding areas. “I studied geology at Kuwait University, but my hobby has always been pursuing nature and wildlife in Dhofar, and through my photography, I want to prove just how beautiful nature and the environment are in Dhofar,” he said. “You know, Salalah is a naturally beautiful city and inspires any photographer to improve himself by shooting the many stunning views you can enjoy.”
Mohammed’s favourite aspect of photography is the documentation of the wild and natural life, and the pursuit of the different species of birds as they periodically migrate from urban to rural areas. With an eye for detail and the instinct to capture nature in its finest form, Mohammed has learned much from his time as a photographer. “The important thing I have learned from this hobby is patience,” he explained. “Sometimes, I have spent more than three hours with little to no movement to capture a photo. It might seem very difficult, but this patience rewards you for your dedication and hard work.” “Sometimes, I have stayed away from home for many days, especially during my vacations, just to capture the perfect photo,” he said, adding that “it might be a lot of hard work, but my parents and friends recognise that and really admire my photos”. With a very impressive collection of work now on hand, Mohammed has plans to publish a book of his best photos in the future.
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Framed by a lifetime: Dr Mukhtar Ali
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Mukhtar is another photographer whose cultural photographs speak volumes. The Pakistani photographer resides in Nizwa with his family, and is a doctor working at Firq Health Centre in the city. After coming to Oman, he was mesmerised by the culture and its people, and ended up finding his true passion. He began practising the profession with his mobile phone, which later forced him to learn the craft more professionally. “I am a self-taught photographer. I developed my skills using online resources and photography magazines,” said Mukhtar.
His work is heavily influenced and inspired by Oman. To him, the country’s rich culture is an endless pool of inspiration, especially the Al Dakhiliyah region, where he lives. “The local culture has attracted me to the world of photography, especially traditional events and local traditional souqs,” he said.
Mukhtar draws inspiration from people and their adherence to history and culture, such as that of Oman. “One of my photographs achieved the top 20 slot in the Nikon 100 portraits competition held in Dubai, and I have won a few awards locally online,” he said proudly, referring to his achievements. He added that he finds it difficult to manage his time and practice photography because of his busy work schedule and family commitments, but yet tries to stay true to the art.
Some of Mukhtar’s future plans include publishing a coffee table photo-book comprising photos of Omani culture and the people. Also, he has a keen desire to start infant photography as a part-time profession, as it’s an area where he seems to have a growing interest.
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Connecting Cultures: Mavuri Ramesh
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Mavuri, an Oman-based photographer from India, has always loved celebrating other cultures, and given that cultural photography has been a passion for years, being in Oman allowed him to capture the richness of the Sultanate’s culture and heritage.
From something as simple as face portraits or street scenes to the ones that require the perfect sense of timing, for Mavuri, the art of taking pictures is about capturing the world around more realistically.
He started his photography journey in Oman in 2011, when he went to Bidiyah in Al Sharqiyah on a trip. There, he witnessed Oman’s culture and heritage from close quarters and was completely inspired by it. He soon decided to learn photography, as he wanted to capture those timeless scenes on his camera.
He also joined one of Muscat’s leading photography groups, FSO Muscat, and began polishing his skills. “There, I started learning photography techniques and all the tips and tricks on how to stand out from a crowd,” said Mavuri, while remembering his initial days of learning all the behind-the-lens tricks. He honed his skills by mastering the technicalities of photography and also joined a team of photographers from Bidiyah and Jalan Bani Bu Ali, where he captured the beauty of Arabian camels and horses.
The talented photographer also visited various other parts of Oman to capture the best shot. Some of the places he visited include Sur, where he got to know all about the fishermen and their industry. He also enjoyed shooting bullfights in Mussanah and Barka.
Today, Mavuri has become the go-to photographer for cultural events in and around Bidiyah, as well as other parts of the country. His most memorable moment was when his photo was selected by the National Geographic magazine, Daily Dozen. He has also been awarded by the Ministry of Tourism for best photography.
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