A walk around the park. MIA park, that is! The one building you never tire looking at in Doha.
Arts & Architecture
A Friday in the souq
The Souq Waqif in Doha can be a light and shadow show at the right time of the day. It has a rustic retro look that has been immaculately maintained by the government. It was even better a few years ago when the decision was made to let in some ‘current’ logos to be installed. Philips still maintains the old logo, a nice throwback touch.
The long corridors of the souq is all about linear patterns crowned with the islamic arch.
The numerous bell hops in the Souq (its a licensed job) also pose freely for the tourists.
Falcon trapping and hunting using them is almost a national pasttime for the Qataris. Falcons have their own passports and some of them cost upwards of a million quid!
Last days of Winter, 2015
Every year when winter arrives in Doha, I think I am going to shoot pictures of the beautiful sunrise and sunset every day.
Some days you could be wearing a beautiful weather balloon as a helmet!
Picture of the day
I made a quick stop at the Museum of Islamic Arts Park, Doha this Saturday trying to bide some time. The weekly art market was in full flow and a glorious sunset was bathing the city in a beautiful light.
The museum never ceases to amaze, as an extraordinary building on the shores of the city. I M Pei will be long remembered for giving an icon to this city.
Interstellar
Interstellar travel is now so affordable!
National Day Fireworks
The fireworks over the Doha corniche is one of the most anticipated events in the Doha calendar. Roads were bumper-to-bumper and properly gridlocked.
The fireworks were spectacular as usual. This view is from my balcony.
Mozart at the Museum
There are more important things than Mozart! At least ‘Eine kleine Nachtmusik’ is better background score than some inbuilt game score.
The Curse of Florence!
It’s been three months since my visit to Florence, Italy, where I spent a month last summer attending a black & white film photography course from Studio Art Centers International. I shot non-stop on the streets of Florence using my film Zeiss-Ikon and digital Leica M-E for the whole of July. Florence was unusually cool for summer except for a few days when it was baking hot. The city looked even better than the last time I visited a couple of years ago.
In this past three months I haven’t touched my camera with the intention of actively seeking a photograph. This has never happened to me before, since I started taking pictures almost six years ago. I do not carry my camera every time I go out as I used to before. The feeling is not just restricted to photography. This distinct lack of interest pervades to almost everything I do. I do not feel the enthusiasm to dissect a menu and compile a meal to enjoy when I go out with friends and family. In fact I have reduced the number of times I go out with family and have altogether stopped going out with friends.
It feels like a giant void has been created inside me, by the people of Florence.
Call it the curse of Florence!
Experiments in Cyanotypes – 2
I continued with my experiments in printing Cyanotypes. Discovered that adding a bit of lemon juice (citric acid) to water in the first wash deepens in colors and increases the contrast.
The crossing, India, 2013
I tried printing on different papers and am yet to decide on a final paper to focus most of my work. I get a feeling that smooth watercolor paper that will not lose fibers while washing should work well.
Salzburg, 2013
I never realized that Cyanotypes can display delicate tones very well. This print was exposed in the evening sun. I also didn’t use lemon juice in the first wash.
