phone camera or high end SLRs, the goal is always to capture something worthy to be posted and shared to thousands of likers on different social media platforms.
In Oman, the World Photo Day has not taken quite a root yet. Hatched in 2009 by a young photographer named Korske Ara in Canberra, Australia, local photographers are yet to fully embrace the celebration. To mark the event, we chatted with two photographers based in the Sultanate — one, a multi-awarded professional who’ve competed in hundreds of competitions and the other, an expat who’ve discovered and loved the local beauty and flavour — we previously featured on our Weekend magazine to get their thoughts about Oman being a photographer’s hub.
Hamed Al Ghanboosi
website: www.ghanboosi.com
Q: What makes Oman an ideal venue for photographers?
Oman is a very ideal country for photography. Here, those who pursue this craft has a variety of options. For those interested in landscape photography, we have Jabal Shams, Jabal Akhdhar and stunning places like Salalah, Wakan village and Ras Ruwais. For those interested in the culture, Nizwa and bahla forts and the traditional Omani souq in Muttrah offers an authentic experience that comes out great on photos.
Q: Having competed in several international photography competitions, what kind of photos are resonating well with global audience? Is there an interest in the local culture?
Global audience has different perspectives. Some of them prefer to see old and traditional culture of people from around the world while others prefer to see creative and outstanding photos where they can see the vision, skills and ambition of the photographer. Here in Oman, we have both. Omani photographers show their ability and flexibility not only to shoot photos of traditional importance but also creative photos that stick to the audience’s mind.
Q: Are your photos of Oman, whether culture or landscape, winning awards internationally?
I’m glad to report that many photos of Oman were selected and presented in different exhibitions and several also won international awards. From my collection, more than 20 photos were awarded in international competitions. This gives very positive message to all Omani photographers that their photos taken locally are strong entries and can easily win international awards.
Q: What is the future of photography in the country? Is it thriving?
Photography in the Sultanate is on the right track. There are a lot of exhibitions, workshops and photo contests being conducted where photographers get an opportunity to hear feedback of their work. We need to develop more for opportunities for local photographers to learn from international, world renowned professionals. That means attracting them to conduct workshops. For Oman photographers, we should make use of the country’s beautiful landscape.
Krishnakumar Omanakuttan
Instagram: @krishnakumaro
Q: Is Oman an ideal place for a photographer?
Oman is definitely a beautiful place to shoot, in my opinion, the best among the GCC countries. It has varied landscapes and its culture is rich. There are also a lot of interesting places and the people — with their varied culture and diverse styles, make up for a great photo.
Q: What’s your thought about the country being referred to as ‘photograph-ready?’
Oman has a very long and beautiful coast line. The waters are teeming with different marine life. The topography is interesting — the arid deserts and colourful sand dunes, the plenty of wadis with their own characters — and we should not forget Salalah which is an unexplored paradise in the middle of the desert. On people photography, the rawness of the scenes makes up for good photos. The challenge there is minding the general etiquette and if you don’t speak the language, asking for permission may get a little difficult.
Q: How is the photography scene like? Is it thriving? Are photographers given an ample opportunity to interact with their peers ?
and they selected 37 photos including those taken by expats. The photos are now displayed at the PSO headquarter.
Q: What kind of projects have you been pursuing these days?
My last project was about people of Oman and their traditional livelihood. This winter, I’m moving on to my next ones where I will focus on remote villages and settlements in the country.
Q: Any recent exhibitions and contests?
Nikon celebrated their Centennial Year and to mark the occasion, Nikon MEA and FSO Oman collaborated to create a competition with a specific theme. This was a travel photography competition and winners will be announced on August 22, 2017. I joined some exhibitions and got some mentions on international competitions. It’s a good year for photography.
Yeru EBUEN
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