Muscat Stories
In January 2023 I visited Oman for the first time in my life. Even though some other business brought me there, I intended to also plan a photoshoot while I was there. Coming from dark, cold and wet Northern Europe, this chance to catch the warm, glowy winter sun in Oman was an opportunity not to be missed. Even though I quickly adapted to the amazing light and nice temperatures in Muscat, I kept a certain Dutch perspective on shooting a fashion editorial. With little time to prepare, the results exceeded my expectations and I fell in love with Oman as a great place for my style of photography.
I was so very happy that local couture designer Threads by A|M (@byamthreads) was willing to lend me some of their latest dresses and with the kind help of Issa AlKindy (of Luminary Studio) I was able to find a great team of: model (Mahla @moonlasni) and make-up artist: (@makeupbyangelinas) in Muscat. Using just natural light at the Old Opera in Muscat made us move light and stealthily and security didn’t really bother us. The beautiful reflecting surfaces arranged for a perfect soft light that made the color of the teal dress pop, and Mahla added exactly the dose of Parisian mannequin elegance to create images that were not just very beautiful but also express emotion. The arched gallery at the Old Opera courtyard adds a touch of exotic flavor for a European audience, and the play of lines and curves beautifully complement the shapes and curves of the dresses on the model.
The Old Opera is a well-known and often used background for fashion and wedding photography. Our second site was located at the outskirts of Old Muscat, where the last houses give way to the rough mountain terrain, immediately beyond the perimeters of Old Muscat. Here I asked Mahla to wear a black casual dress which, in this environment, expressed a nice countryside simplicity. Combining the dress with the high heeled glamorous pumps and a wet-look hairstyle, added the fashion element, while still being very natural. The rough environment, the textures of the rocks and mountains, and the smooth surface of the sidewall of the house were just the perfect backdrop for this set of images. These are among my all-time favorites, and I have had so much great feedback. The images became part of an editorial that has been published by two renowned European fashion magazines: Paris based MOEVIR and Italian Figgi.
I was barely able to scratch the surface of Muscat, let alone Oman, let alone the wider Gulf Region on this visit. And still, I came home with images that resonated with a large international audience. More importantly, they resonated with me. I would love to come back and create more fashion and landscape inspired work. Contact me and let’s explore how we can create magic!
Written for Luminary Studio by Marc Glaudemans
You can find more of Marc’s work here
