'Windows of Oman' captures country's beauty

Aesthetically exquisite, the pictures reveal the genuine love and respect the photographer has for his subject.
In his latest book, Window on Oman, Mohammad Al Zubair captures the Sultanate at its multi-layered best.
To mark and celebrate the occasion of the 40th National Day Bait Al Zubair Museum and BAZ Publishing launched the 268-page book at an event yesterday.

Window on Oman is the seventh in a series that was introduced a few years ago. Over 300 stunning images adorn the book, which is published in five different languages including Arabic, English, French, German and Italian.

Over 100 images from the book are also being showcased at an exhibition that opened at Bait Al Zubair Museum yesterday. The exhibition will go on till December.

Speaking to Times of Oman, Mohammad Al Zubair said that
Oman as a subject is a photographer's delight.

Discovering Oman
"Over the years I have discovered so many new places through my lens and have been in a way able to introduce Oman to the world. I have also been pleased that many photographers have visited the same place and taken it from their perspective," he said.
Explaining that the new book was not planned, he said: "There was a request for a photography book on Oman for the tourists, which will show something of everything of the country. So I went through my entire collection and gave them these pictures."
"I hope this book will contribute to provide an overall picture of our beautiful country, its ancient heritage and civilisation," he added.

The publication combines both breathtaking landscapes with human activities on both land and sea. It highlights Oman's diverse countryside and geological features. Aerial shots reveal grids of modern human settlement and the twisting ploughed furrows of ancient river-beds that cleave their way through mountain ranges and plains.

The lush green mountains and wadis of Dhofar, and scraggy trees that produce frankincense - the ancient and cherished aromatic, are shown. Ancient mud-brick settlements, forts and castles of northern Oman and Aflaj are presented alongside images of the desert, desert driving, camels and camel racing.

There are also pictures of acrobatic equestrians and traditional Omani bull fighting; images of magnificent mosques and people going about their daily business in souqs, or dressed in their finery, celebrating at national, religious and traditional festivities in Oman.