HX Report
Irishman in the Middle East
Lens Artists Challenge – keep walking
Posted on September 3, 2021
Well done to Amy, Tina et al for keeping the weekly photo challenge going when others like MB were wilting.
Keep Walking, is Amy’s photo challenge this week.
But if you do, MB wants to issue a stern warning to you all – BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU WALK!
Read MoreWeekly Photo Challenge – Rounded
Posted on October 25, 2017
Residents of the USA will be familiar with the Bellagio Fountains in Las Vegas. In Dubai, the fountains of the Dubai Mall, next to the Burj Khalifa (world’s tallest building), are similar, but bigger. The choreographed movements of the water to some great musical pieces are accompanied by flashing lights along the entire length of the Burj K. The fountains, music and light show is a spectacular sight as you dine in one of the many open-air cafes facing the fountain area, or just observe from the piazza.
This shot was taken by MB sometime in 2012 in early-evening. One must, however, see them in the darkness of night to fully appreciate the spectacle.
Weekly photo Challenge – Glow
Posted on October 19, 2017
MB attended a Red Bull Fighters event (motorbike stunt riders) in April 2012 in the JBR area of Dubai. The artificial lighting on the night caused much ‘glow’ and MB managed to capture a little of it. MB’s camera on the night wasn’t very high tech and it struggled to a large degree in the night light, as is evident in some of the pics. Read More
Weekly Photo Challenge – Order
Posted on June 7, 2017
Sort of!
Shot from a Yemeni jewellery market stall at Global Village Souq Dubai, from a few years back.
Weekly Photo Challenge – Look Up
Posted on July 8, 2016
Weekly Photo Challenge – Half Light
Posted on March 25, 2016
“The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light”
This week’s challenge offers an option to demonstrate the ‘half light’ – before night-time darkness, or morning sunrise. In the field of photography, this particular hour (in the morning or evening) is referred to as the ‘golden hour’.
Photo Story – 3 of 7
Posted on August 16, 2015
Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai.
The architects were commissioned to produce a hotel that would double as an iconic design/structure for Dubai. The final selected design mimics the sail of a dhow (traditional arabic) boat; and so ‘The Burj’ was built (‘burj’ is the Arabic word for ‘tower’). At 920 ft tall it is the 4th tallest hotel in the world. Many architects moaned about it from an architectural point of view at the time. Many Islamic conservatives complained loudly that the helipad and the tall spine together form what looks like a Christian cross when viewed from the sea and wanted the helipad demolished. Sheikh Mo (Dubai ruler) told them to get real!
The hotel is touted as a 7 Star hotel, but not by the owners Jumeirah Group (who incidentally sponsored Irish golfer Rory McIlroy until his deal with Nike a few years back). The 7 Star title seems to have stuck after it appeared in a newspaper article written by a British journalist who was invited to one of the opening events.
The hotel design has proved to be the iconic structure envisaged by owners, and the image of the hotel has been used the world over to successfully promote brand ‘Dubai’.
You can not just wander in for a coffee or beer. You must book something online to actually receive your security pass to enter the building. The 7 course afternoon tea option at about 90 USD per head is the most affordable! MB took this shot from the 80th floor of a nearby 100 storey tower he was working on 4 or 5 years back.
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Weekly Photo Challenge – Vivid
Posted on June 5, 2015
MB was dining with family recently at the Jebal Ali resort in Dubai. The food and the conversation were suddenly interrupted when a wandering vividly coloured peacock jumped onto the table to say hello and take a look at MB’s 5 star nosh. No kidding. MB is not spinning one of his tall tales. It happened!
Like a deadly gun slinger in some Western movie, MB pulled his camera from his holster faster than the blink of an eye, and grabbed this (seriously vivid) shot.
Weekly Photo Challenge – Scale
Posted on February 6, 2015
Waldorf Salad
Posted on August 1, 2014
Today, MB had a Waldorf Salad. At the Waldorf Astoria. Not at Fawlty Towers. Read More
Weekly Photo Challenge: Room
Posted on June 6, 2014
The entrance lobby/foyer of the Meydan Hotel, Dubai. The hotel is part of the Meydan horse race-track grandstand complex.
Photo 25/30: Mountains
Posted on May 14, 2014
The Idea
Have decided to post a photo per day for 30 days, each based on a word or theme. Feel free to offer a word or theme challenge to MB in the comment box below.
Photo 25/30
If you travel from Dubai towards Oman you will come to the mountainous region of Hatta. The weather is generally cooler than in coastal Dubai and is pleasant change for the flat desert terrain of most of the UAE. The Hajjar mountains are mainly rocky slopes with almost no vegetation.
Photo 20/30: Silhouette
Posted on May 8, 2014
The Idea
Have decided to post a photo per day for 30 days, each based on a word or theme. Feel free to offer a word or theme challenge to MB in the comment box below.
Photo 20/30
Early morning on a dubai beach. Read More
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