WHEN-IN-QATAR: Throwback photos – Flickr Days

Back in the days when there’s still no Facebook and Instagram, photography enthusiasts like me hangout on an online portal popularly called FLICKR.  It was a “community” (or even a family) where members really care for each other – you feel the encouragement and support, as well as the desire to help each other to improve on their craft. Some of them are still my active friends on social media up to now and they are from everywhere… Singapore, Malaysia, Canada, Europe and other parts of GCC (shoutout to all of you guys, in case you will read this).

Flickr (pronounced “flicker”) is an image and video-hosting website and web services suite that was created by Ludicorp in 2004 and acquired by Yahoo on 20 March 2005. In addition to being a popular website for users to share and embed personal photographs, and effectively an online community, the service is widely used by photo researchers and by bloggers to host images that they embed in blogs and social media. Wikipedia

During those days when I was just starting to learn photography, I was using my flickr name – ZEKETHYPURPOSE. It’s a pseudo name which literally translates to – “Seek Your Purpose”. Back then, i just finished reading the PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE book by Rick Warren.

Funny enough, I am not using any advance editing softwares before (actually, even up to now). I’m just using “purism” as my lame excuse for not being able learn these tools and i was only using powerpoint for my texts and borders for my photos before. While my colleagues are all praises for my shots’ interesting perspective and composition, i know that the quality and color isn’t really at par compared to their shots.

Doing photography as a hobby was our way to battle homesickness and to connect with people of the same interest. Since then, our favorite photo shoot locations are Souq Waqif, the Museum of Islamic Arts, and the popular corniche area and westbay skyline. These are the most photographed spots in the country that almost all photographers have already taken a dozen shots or more.

SOUQ WAQIF

 

 

MUSEUM OF ISLAMIC ARTS

 

 

We also made several road trips outside of Doha, including the Al Zubarah Fort (Al Shamal), Zekreet (Dukhan), and Sheik Faisal Museum (Al Rayyan).

Sheik Faizal was very memorable to me since it was the last out-of-town photo shoot that I’ve joined with WARP (Web Alliance of Radical Photographers) – they were my family when i was still starting in photography, and I credit them for teaching me basic skills and techniques which i am still applying up to now.

AL ZUBARAH FORT

 

 

ZEKREET

 

 

SHEIK FAISAL MUSEUM

 

 

But it was upon receiving a FOLLOWER’S request few weeks back when i realized, it’s about time to revisit those old places which made me fell in love with Qatar. My early years of explorations and discovery of Qatar’s rich culture and heritage were enough reasons for me to call this my second home.

A reader of our blog (www.bestlifeqatar.com) requested for more features about Qatar Tourist Spots which they can use as reference in the future. So in the coming days, allow us to explore more of Qatar’s tourism attractions that many expats may not be familiar yet. WHEN IN QATAR, these are must see places to have an authentic Arabian experience.

I was a bit nostalgic while reminiscing the times we were travelling from places to places to see these awesome destinations. While we have the modern museums in Doha now, going through the actual sites of rock formations in Zekreet will leave anyone in awe while watching the scenic sunset as it pass through the famous “eye”. Be amazed in the rich collection of cars and other memorabilia at the Sheik Faizal Museum. Enjoy the ride as you pass by some of the country’s remaining old villages and marvel in wide deserts stretching from the North to the South horizons of this magnificent peninsula, that is… QATAR.