On the Way to Sweihan

A few from this very morning...

Al Ain Camel Racetrack

One more from the local track at dawn...

North West Winter

A short outing to the beach in the UK in December with my Dad ... These were all taken under / on Southport pier.

National Day

The country celebrates its 37th year; lots of fairy lights and horn-honking. This was taken last year, the roundabout no longer exists but I'm sure the Municipality has found a good home for the lights.

One from Oman

From Rustaq fort, overlooking date palms and one of the town's mosques...

Art Show. Fully carpeted.

Tired of seeing these photos at a miniscule 700 pixels in length? Want to see full-sized prints? Well, if you're in Al Ain on 21st & 22nd November (heck, if you're in the country - it ain't that big) I'll be exhibiting a selection of photos and photoboxes at this carpet / photo / art sale. Here's a brief look at who will be selling what, directions are here. Hope to see you there!

Robot Jockeys

In these winter months, the camel track in Al Ain gets busy early. These races were held using the latest modestly-dressed robots... According to Wikipedia, these robots can 'monitor and transmit the speed and heart rate of the camel'. And they're sometimes perfumed...

Jebel Akhdar

A few shots from Oman's 'Grand Canyon' - the spectacular Jebel Akhdar plateau near Nizwa. The full-sized version of the B&W one below is a stitched panoramic, the equivalent of an image from a 40MP camera. Definitely 4WD roads ...

Jebel Qatara

I've already posted a couple of shots taken from the plateau, but here's another. It's a great hike, but from a photography point of view, by the time you get to the top, the light is pretty flat and it's usually pretty hazy. Maybe need to camp out on the top? A polarizing filter and a curves layer is usually needed ...

Bida Bint Saud

Just a few minutes up the road from my flat is the archaeological hill and ancient falaj system of Bida Bint Saud. Great name. Keep meaning to return to get some shots of the nearby camel farm from above. Meanwhile, some dunes shots and a desert melon ...

Afrathe oasis

Here are a couple of photographs taken on a short late-afternoon hike with the ENHG last weekend in the wadis and along the ridges near the Afrathe oasis. I've also posted some earlier shots taken in and around the oasis.

Al Ain & Buraimi

Just over the Omani border at Buraimi, gravel plains with a smoldering rubbish tip. Plastic everywhere, plus the odd bone or two.

I wanted to take more shots of the overpass at night, especially with the new tripod. When I got back after the summer, there was only a pile of rubble... Early morning exercise at the Al Ain track. Pre-race practice for young camels and robots.

UAE landscapes

A few more landscapes taken around Al Ain ...

More from Kerala

Just a few more from the trip to India...

Vienna

A few cold days in Austria, galleries galore, cofee and cake ...