Patterns in mosaic

This is a detail from an intricately patterned mosaic in the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Islam discourages, or in some cases completely forbids, the creation of images of humans and all sentient beings. Accordingly, the development of art has focused to a great extent on geometrical patterns.

(You’ll have to believe me when I say that I’d already selected this image before I saw the one featured in Cee’s post)

Pattern

 

 

Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Patterns

Abstract shadows

Palm trees cast long shadows across a path in Hili Oasis, near Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates, producing the illusion of depth in an abstract image that makes me think of something a space probe might send back from the surface of a distant planet. (Although that’s probably just me.)

Shadows1

Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Reflections and Shadows

 

 

Weekly Photo Challenge: Off-Season

In Abu Dhabi, August is off-season for anything to do with the beach – it’s just too hot. Which is why these pedalos were left high and dry on the sand until things started to cool off a bit.

Off-Season

Weekly Photo Challenge: Off-Season.

 

Running on empty

On one of the weekend photography courses I attended in Abu Dhabi, we were let loose to look for something ‘quirky’. I saw the word “Empty’ written next to a manhole cover.

So I put my wallet underneath the sign and took this picture.

SignB&W

Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge

Weekly Photo Challenge: Motion

Ah, the jet-ski: the noisy scourge of the Abu Dhabi beach. At least this one had the good grace to be a red foreground object.

Motion-2

 

Weekly Photo Challenge: Motion

Weekly Photo Challenge: Blur

This image was taken as part of an assignment on a ‘Beginners’ photography course I took in Abu Dhabi. The technique involves mounting a camera with a zoom lens on a tripod, setting a long exposure and then rotating the zoom while taking the picture. Obviously it works best at night, as here, and it does provide some vey arresting, Matrix-like images.

Blur-2

WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge: Blur

Weekly Photo Challenge: Wall

This is a detail from one of the underpasses – each individually designed – that are dotted along the Corniche in Abu Dhabi.

Posted as a response to this week’s Photo Challenge.

Wall

Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Construction

‘The Landmark’ is – or was – the tallest building in Abu Dhabi. Here it is under construction, pushing up through an early morning fog.

Construction

Posted in response to Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge

Weekly Photo Challenge: Depth

Not the most original take on this week’s challenge, but an attractive image nonetheless. Taken at the Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.

Depth

Weekly Photo Challenge: Depth

Serenity

Calm, peaceful and untroubled? Oh yes.

This photograph was taken at the resort hotel on Sir Bani Yas in Abu Dhabi. We were just about the only guests there (it hadn’t been open for very long), which just added to the tranquility.

I particularly like the additional elements of serenity in the foreground: the infinity pool, what could almost be a Zen garden, the reflection and the curves.

Serenity

Posted in response to WordPress’ Weekly Photo Challenge: Serenity.