Photographing Architecture: The Museum of Islamic Art, Doha

Photographing architecture is yet another area of specialization in photography. The Museum of Islamic Art at Doha, Qatar does seem to be an interesting piece of Architecture to raise the creative energies in a photographer. It’s interesting how the creative genius of an architect generates and can culminate into yet more expressions in photographs. Tried my hand at this aspect of photography here. Of course, with no formal training whatsoever.

The museum is an interesting piece of architecture designed by the renowned Chinese American architect I.M. Pei, coaxed out of retirement at 91, to work on this project (petrodollars??). The museum houses some of the rarest and precious pieces of Islamic art from across the world, including India.

Wonder what a pro might have to say about these shots!

Smart Young City on Gas-Lift – Doha, Qatar

In petroleum engineering parlance gas-lift is a method of lifting oil from wells which do not have enough natural pressure in the oil bearing reservoir to bring it to surface.

Doha, the capital city of Qatar has risen from the Arabian desert sands bolstered by a skyrocketing economy driven by revenues from the huge natural gas reserves. It’s a brand new city with strange and spectacular skyscrapers that are products of the imaginations of the haute architects of the modern world.

And as with the rest of the Arabian countries of the gulf, the traditional ethos yet survive amongst the rising steel and concrete edifices.

The Waqif Souk is an interesting place to spend some of your time in Doha. You can soak in the traditional flavour of an Arabian 'souk' or bazaar, browsing through the little souvenir shops, lazying in one of the cafetarias or have a nice meal in one of the upmarket restaurants. No matter how hip or modern the inside of these places are, the facades are done up in the very traditional aesthetics.