First visit to the new National Museum of Qatar

Michiel de Lange May 24, 2019

It’s been awhile since my last posting. been so busy settling into a new project at my day-job as an architect. Amongst all of this, I was fortunate to visit the newly completed National Museum of Qatar recently, on a quiet Friday morning with nobody around. This architectural masterpiece by french architect Jean Nouvel was inspired by desert roses, crystallised sand that can be found in some desert regions, including Qatar. These are some of my first impressions, taken with my Leica Q.

One of the finer details that immediately struck me, is that the exterior paving is constructed from rough concrete with sand and small stones strewn over it. This closely resembles the Qatar desert floor. The sandy paving gradually transitions to cobble stones at the entrances to the building.

I’m looking forward to a few more visits, as well as (obviously) exploring the interior and displays on offer.

Low Summer is back!

Michiel de Lange November 5, 2018

There are a few real challenges being a photographer in Qatar. The most obvious is the harsh climate. It is virtually impossible to venture outside (let alone into the desert) during the roughly six months that we consider "high summer" due to temperatures that can routinely exceed 50 degrees Celsius. Thankfully "low summer" 2018/2019 has arrived, meaning desert exploration trips are again possible for the next few months.

Everyday Doha ... and things #3

Michiel de Lange February 13, 2018

Been a while since my last blog posting, simply because there hasn't been much going on in my life apart from a few photography outings to explore Doha and the wider Qatar in search of material for my ongoing "Qatar Unfiltered" series.

2nd Place in Life Framer 2017 Edition

Michiel de Lange July 10, 2017

Ecstatic to announce a second place in the first Theme of the 2017 edition of Life Framer International Photography Competition. The theme was "Civilization" ind is the first in twelve themes over a twelve month period. This theme was judged by Simon Norfolk.

Everyday Doha ... and things #4

Michiel de Lange May 7, 2017

During the summer months, I find it really hard to keep my street photography passions going in any active way. Just this past weekend, I tried again to hunt for a few usable shots at a new local shopping mall, but I always leave disappointed. Some street photographers are probably highly skilled in indoor mall photography, but it is not my strong point or main interest.

Everyday Doha ... and things #2

Michiel de Lange February 8, 2017

As already mentioned, I find modern Doha to be an extremely harsh city. For unknown reasons, there appears to be a resistance from the Municipality and property developers alike to avoid softening the urban cityscape by significant green landscaping, and to be fair, with some noticeable exceptions.

Portraits of Syria: The Bakers

Michiel de Lange November 7, 2016

It is always easy finding a bakery in Syria. Apart from being plentiful and mostly located in well exposed locations, one just need to follow the great aroma of freshly backed bread to the open shopfront window swiftly serving fresh, hot, steaming flat breads to customers queuing in the street outside.

Portraits of Syria: The Craftsmen

Michiel de Lange October 30, 2016

What always used to fascinate me was how Syria appeared and felt like it was literally thirty years behind most modern industrial nations, a time-warp taking one back to the times before big factories and a simpler lifestyle.

Street Photography in the Middle East: Some Observations

Michiel de Lange August 25, 2016

With wide ranging clampdowns on the freedoms of Street Photographers throughout many parts of the world at the time, the intention if the original article was to provide fellow street photographers with some informative guidelines to avoid legal problems when out photographing in the Middle East. At the time I didn’t quote and analyse any official, legal facts on general Middle Eastern policies and laws on Street Photography, but purely shared some of my own experiences and observations that would hopefully help to keep photographers out of unwanted trouble with the law.