The Pearl in Doha Photo

Photographer’s Note

The Pearl in Doha, a open shell with a size of about 15m height

During the waterfront along the Corniche you pass this Oyster fountain as a tribute to the local pearl diving industry. Durng the Roman period pearls and dried fish were the major items for exportation from Qatar. In 1933 Japanese started the cultured pearl business, putting an end to the pearl diving profession in Qatar.

_________

Doha (Arabic: الدوحة‎, transliteration: ad-Dawḥa or ad-Dōḥa) is the capital city of Qatar. It has a population of 400,051 according to the 2005 census.

In 1825, the city of Doha was founded under the name Al-Bida. The name "Doha" came from the Arabic ad-dawha, "the big tree." The reference is to a prominent tree that must have stood at the site where the original fishing village arose, on the eastern coast of the Qatar peninsula. In 1825, during the war between Qatar and Bahrain, Doha had been severely damaged and Abu Dhabi was helping Bahrain. The following year, the Ottomons made Sheikh Thani bin Muhammed the Hakim of Doha, and he ultimately became Hakim of Qatar.[3] In 1882, al Rayyan built the Al Wajbah fortress, in southwestern Doha. The following year, Sheikh Qassim led a Qatari army to victory against the Ottomans.

The city was made capital of the British protectorate of Qatar in 1916, and when the nation gained independence in 1971, Doha remained the capital of Qatar. In 1917, the Al Kout fortress, which is located in the center of the city, was built by Sheikh Abdulla Bin Qassim Al-Thani. Still, during the early 20th century, much of Qatar's economy depended on fishing and pearling, and Doha had about 350 pearling boats. However, after the introduction of the Japanese cultured pearls in the 1930s, the whole region, including the town of Doha, suffered a major depression and Qatar became a poor country, plunged into poverty. This lasted until in the late 1930s, when oil was discovered. However, the exploration and exportation was halted due to the second world war. Today the nation as a whole produces over 800,000 barrels of oil daily. In 1969, the Government House opened. Today it is considered to be Qatar's most prominent landmark. (Wikipedia)

Exposure Time: 1/3
F-Stop: f/6.3
ISO Speed Ratings: 1600
Focal Length: 50/1 mm
Date Taken: 2007-11-01 21:00

mikolaj_kawa, snunney, josepmarin, belido, Budapestman, pierrefonds, Silversnow, dip, emjleclercq, shevchenko, bakes888, jafadabret, adores, Didi has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

mikolaj_kawa (31819) 2009-07-27 0:36

Hello Achim! Very interesting topic. Very original night shot. Good lightness. Very good contrast. Ideal exposure and perfect capture. Well done!

snunney (35808) 2009-07-27 1:29

Hello Achim,
A fine night time capture of this amazing fountain.

toto (18783) 2009-07-27 2:23

Bonjour,
belle photo de nuit de cette oeuvre d' art bien éclairée.
Magnifique effet de cette luminosité sur votre prise, bon temp d' exposition.

Amitiés Thomas

josepmarin (34243) 2009-07-27 4:07

Hallo Achim,
A well managed night capture. I like the graphical result that offers us this Pearl illuminated in a strong contrast with its surroundings and the lights of the city in background.
A beautiful shot.
Best regards,
Josep

belido (17129) 2009-07-27 4:38

Hi Achim,

very interesting register. What an attractive artwork. Shooting at night emphasized its shapes against the dark sky. Well done!
Regards,
Carlos

Budapestman (43238) 2009-07-27 4:50

Hi Achim,
Very spectacular and particular nocturnal photo, the lights are beautiful, excellent POV and details, TFS! Have a nice week!
George

pierrefonds (26797) 2009-07-27 5:06

Hi Achim,

The use of a slow speed of exposition and of an iso of 1600 is giving a nice image. Did you use a tripod? The point of view is showing the details and colors of the artwork. The subject is well framed. It is clear and precise. Have a nice day.

Pierre

Silversnow (2121) 2009-07-27 10:07

Great looking monument, well exposed, poetic, and a nice contexctual note to better appreciate it :)

dip (13000) 2009-07-27 11:32

Hallo Achim.
eine schöne Aufnahme,die leuchtende Perle und dahinter die Stadt,
interessante infos,
Grüße,
Dimitris.

PixelTerror (87159) 2009-07-27 12:39

HI JFK
Impressive building but I was hoping more from the note, instead of blind dumping wikipedia you could have told us more about that particular and quite fascinating building :-(
The sky is a bit noisy
Have a nice day JY

Fis2 (46681) 2009-07-27 13:20

Witaj Achim!
Good night photo.
A very interesting object.
Curious light, super effect,
Well done.
Regards
Krzysztof

emjleclercq (14620) 2009-07-27 13:24

A strange monument which I undertand to be linked to the pearl fishermen of the past. However, the colors are nice and the effect of that giant oyster with the "big pearl" on the side makes for an original view.

All the best,

Emmanuel

emka (22749) 2009-07-27 14:17

Hi Achim, very interesting note, it is not so popular place for visiting. Beautiful colours of this night shot, and the architecture of this pearl (fountain?)is really amazing.

Warm regards

Malgorzata

shevchenko (10184) 2009-07-27 19:00

Hi Achim,
What a big pearl at the road side, it is the most attractive point here, beautiful artwork at an Islamic city, good discovering and sharing, well done.
Ally

bakes888 (18353) 2009-07-28 0:33

Hi Achim. Great night photo, nice handling of light to retain detail in the FG. Nice work and thanks for sharing.
Cheers, Paul.

jafadabret (40633) 2009-07-28 3:00

Bonjour Achim
Cette fontaine en forme d'huitre avec la perle blanche apparente fait un effet extraordinaire au milieu de la nuit.
Belle réalisation et bonne gestion de la lumière !
Amicalement
Jacques

pablominto (41676) 2009-07-28 3:34

Hello Achim,

Now that is an interesting and eye-catching monument!
Well lit it really stands out during night time, and fits well in the line of outstanding structures in the Gulf states...
Well framed, good details!

Greetings,
Pablo -

Silvio1953 (43362) 2009-07-28 6:08

Ciao Achim, splendid nocturne shoot with fantastic light, wonderful exposure, very well done, ciao Silvio

darek1978 (11683) 2009-07-28 10:25

Hi Achim,
Very good night picture. I like the good POV and excellent light managment. The Pearl makes an interesting, eyecatching silhouette on this picture.
Thanks for sharing,
Darek

adores (15837) 2009-07-28 14:42

Hi Achim!
I like this! Pearl diving has been a very important (and also dangerous)activity for the countries of the region, including the Emirates. It's a very nice monument, guess it's the first time I'm seeing it but I've never visited Doha. Good idea to show it by night, when it's illuminated and with some local families around.

danyy (69903) 2009-07-28 23:39

Bonjour Achim,
une photo qui met vraiment bien en valeur ce coquillage géant et cette perle qui serait inestimable si à cette taille, elle était vraie.
Une photo artistique 100% TE.
Amicalement.
Daniel.

Angshu (34219) 2009-08-02 23:03

Hello Achim
A lovely work of art, the giant oyster, with the pearl in the side. Your exposure is fine with crispness in this shot! Thanls for the rejoinder to your note about the pearl industry as well!
Best Regards
Angshu

Didi (36668) 2009-08-09 10:00

Hello Mr President
Interesting night view on this giant pearl oyter.
Good lights management.
I don't know if it was possible for you to get a closer view.
Best regards