theonlyD800inthehameau
Photography by theonlydeadheadinthehameau
Weekly Photo Challenge: Corner
Posted on August 24, 2017
This angular building in Abu Dhabi is comparatively new, but reflects traditional architecture. It has the characteristic appearance of a wind tower – an old design that was able to capture the cooler breezes that circulate well above the ground and direct them down towards the ground.
Nowadays, of course, they have A/C.
Tuesday Photo Challenge: Golden
Posted on August 8, 2017
When I saw that Frank had set us the theme of ‘Golden’ for this week’s Tuesday Photo Challenge, I knew exactly where to look in my library.
Here are two images captured in the lobby of the Sir Bani Yas Hotel, on the eponymous nature reserve in Abu Dhabi. The first is a crescent of stone mounted against a golden background:
This second image is one of my personal favourites, and one I’ve used in a previous post. Looking directly upwards, it shows the huge lanterns suspended from the golden atrium. Never knowingly understated.
Dhow #179
Posted on July 28, 2017
The wooden dhow is the traditional sea-going vessel of the Arabian Gulf. This one had been taken out of the water for maintenance in the Bateen area of Abu Dhabi.
Y is for Yas
Posted on May 26, 2017
This final instalment of Cee’s alphabetical Black & White challenge was always going to be a bit tricky – unless, that is, you have a particular soft spot for yachts or zebras (I don’t).
However, inspiration finally struck when I remembered this iconic hotel (it actually used to be called the Yas Hotel), which is on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, right next to the Formula 1 race circuit.
We stayed there once. Very interesting architecturally, but as a hotel? – meh.
52 Weeks Photo Challenge: Week 34 – Movement
Posted on May 15, 2017
As they leave smoke trails in the national colours, these six jets of the United Arab Emirates Air Force display team convey a strong sense of movement (trust me, those things can really move) during National Day celebrations in the skies over Abu Dhabi.
Tuesday Photo Challenge: Falling Water
Posted on May 9, 2017
All along the Corniche in Abu Dhabi runs a park. There are play areas and plenty of items of architectural interest, including this water feature. I particularly like the contrast between the rigid geometry of the mosaic and the concrete on the one hand and the running (falling) water on the other.
It being Abu Dhabi, naturally enough the sun was shining, so the light, shade and shadow add further interest to the composition.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Danger
Posted on May 4, 2017
In response to the theme of ‘Danger’ for this week’s WordPress Photo Challenge, here is a photograph I took a few years ago from the balcony of our apartment in Abu Dhabi.
A fire had broken out in a residential block just around the corner, and the emergency services had to evacuate some residents by helicopter.
52 Weeks Photo Challenge: Week 24 – Light
Posted on January 24, 2017
This week the challenge is to provide an image using light (wouldn’t be much of an image without it, I have to say) but not sunlight.
This photograph was taken from a boat making an evening cruise along the Corniche in Abu Dhabi, just before we left there and moved to France. It was well after sunset, so all the light is man-made.
I used to work on the 23rd Floor of the left hand tower of the featured building. My office had a glass exterior wall, so the view was quite spectacular.
52 Weeks Photo Challenge: Week 24 – Light
Weekly Photo Challenge: Graceful
Posted on January 21, 2017
The symmetrical curves of the arches in this cloister of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi are the epitome of ‘graceful’.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Ambience
Posted on January 14, 2017
Ambience: the sense of a place. This is poolside at the hotel on Sir Bani Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. Quite possibly one of the most relaxing places we have ever been to (several times).
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