A mirror image of Doha’s skyline along West Bay. PICTURES: Leo Bautista

By Peter Alagos
Business Reporter
As lower temperatures usher in more photo walks organised by amateur and professional photographers, Doha’s exposure as a tourist destination will increase once pictures of scenic locations around the country are uploaded on blogs or social media sites, a veteran lensman has said.
Aside from photo walks, cooler weather expected in the coming weeks will draw more families to outdoor locations in Doha, such as the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) Park and Katara, according to Leo Bautista of the Doha Pinoy Shooters Club (DPSC).
“Many families, who enjoy bonding activities outdoors, post their pictures on their social media accounts. The same is true with many photographers who make the most of lower temperatures to take snapshots of Qatar’s many scenic locations,” Bautista told Gulf Times.
“This expected surge in photo uploads online will help promote Qatar as a tourist destination,” he explained further.
According to Bautista, many photographers also go on road trips and long drives to other “favourite destinations” outside Doha, such as Purple Island in Al Khor, Singing Sand Dunes in Mesaieed, Fuwairit Beach and Zubarah Fort, among others.
The Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) has listed eight top landmarks in Qatar, which Bautista described as “a haven for many photographers”.
They are Dhal Al Misfir, which features a 40m-deep cave formation with fibrous gypsum crystal; the low salt flats near Al Shahaniya and north of the Saudi border, home to gypsum formations or “desert roses”; Singing Sand Dunes; Al Dakhira Natural Reserves; Al Reem Natural Reserves; Ras Abrouq Natural Reserves; Khor Al Adaid Natural Reserves; and Umm Tais-Natural Reserves.
The QTA has also listed nine of Qatar’s well-known beaches at Al Ghariya, Dukhan, Fuwairit, Maroona, Ras Abrouq, Simaisma, Umm Bab, Sealine Beach Resort and the beach near The Diplomatic Club in West Bay, which photographers also frequent.
“For photographers who do not have the luxury of time to go on long trips, Doha has many locations to offer, especially to photographers who are inclined to shoot nightscapes and cityscapes.
“Roundabouts and newly-built traffic signals are superb subjects for those who want to ‘paint with light’, while the Corniche and the Museum of Islamic Art Park provide a magnificent view of the West Bay skyline,” Bautista said.
Bautista also recommends searching online for international photo walks organised by renowned photographers.
He said international photographer Scott Kelby will be staging a “worldwide photo walk” on October 3 where 50 photographers from Qatar-based groups, such as Catchers of Light-Qatar, DPSC and Web Alliance of Radical Photographer, are expected to join.
The photo walk, which is free and open to all photographers, will run from 5.30am to 8am, starting at the Pearl Monument along the Corniche up to the MIA Park, Baustista added.