Woodturnings,
Artwork and Photography
by Michael
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Photographs - 2
All the photographs in this portfolio are in black-and-white. This was of necessity in the earlier years, as colour film was not readily available except as slides, a format that I did not use. When colour prints became available, I was not satisfied with the colours and I stayed with black-and-white which I had come to believe often leads to an impact that colour cannot equal. Black-and-white also involves quite a different approach to composition, where for any given subject, it is the interaction between light and shadow and tonal subtleties that gives the picture its interest and tend to encourage a sharper attention to the portrayed matter. CLICK ON AN IMAGE TO SEE FULL SIZE AND CLICK ON SIDE ARROWS TO MOVE TO ADJACENT IMAGES.
These pits have been in operation for literally hundreds of years. The smell was very strong.
The loom was was clearly quite ancient, but working very well... I asked the weaver how old it was, and he said it was already old when he was learning the trade from his grandfather .....
These pits have been in operation for literally hundreds of years. The smell was very strong.
Taken near Khat in Ras al Khaimah. I was out on a walk-over survey for a road through to Dibba - the road that is now Route 87.
This fellow was a regular for our trips across the Creek from the BBME on Dubai-side. The Library and the now-demolished Darwish building are in the background.
Taken near Khat in Ras al Khaimah. I was out on a walk-over survey for a road through to Dibba - the road that is now Route 87.
Salalah - landing cargo through the surf before the harbour at Risut was constructed. The helmsmen on the steering oars were very skilled at choosing the wave upon which to run in - and the speed usually took the boats well onto the beach. Getting out again was another matter....
Cabin baggage on the SOAF flight from Salalah. Just as well there was no cabin service on these flights to and from Muscat - with the boxed goat in the aisle it would have been a bit difficult to have got past with the trolley....
Concord was at Seeb Airport for several days doing hot weather proving trials. It was quite a sight to see on take-off and landing in the nose-down configuration. A rather grainy shot on full telephoto - but it's an historic one....
Salalah - landing cargo through the surf before the harbour at Risut was constructed. The helmsmen on the steering oars were very skilled at choosing the wave upon which to run in - and the speed usually took the boats well onto the beach. Getting out again was another matter....
Retro Photos of Oman 1972-1984
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Initially I was on a batchelor posting to Salalah in 1972, working onthe construction of Risut Port, being built for use by SOAF. After a leave I was transferred to roadworks in Muttrah and Muscat. My family was able to join me. On completion of these works I joined the team working on the Seeb-Nizwa Road. We left Oman in 1974, but I made several later business trips. Here again, it was interesting to be in the country when we were with considerable development getting under way, but tradional ways still very much in evidence. On my further visits in the 80's, whilst progress was clear to see all around, it was nice to see that the lovely old buildings along the Muttrah corniche were still there. The photos here are part of a series of 40 that I gathered together for an exhibition in 2009. If you are interested to see the full set, or wish to buy prints, please contact me.
Morocco
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Photos taken during a holiday in Morocco. There were many fascinating places with hundreds, and some cases, thousands of years of human presence and diverse activities.... The images in this section are a sampling.... If you are interested to see more, or wish to buy prints of those on display here, please contact me
Retro photos of Dubai 1965 - 1971
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I was in Dubai from 1965 to 1971. Initially I was the consultant's site engineer on the completion of the airfield lighting and navaids for the now-surfaced runway. In 1966 I was the site engineer on the initial Dubai-Sharjah Road. I then joined a Contractor and was the site agent on a number of road and infrastructure projects, petrol sations and the original Dubai Country Club. It was an interesting time to be in the country - there was considerable development getting under way, yet the tradional way of life was still very much in evidence. The photos here are part of a series of 40 that I gathered together for an exhibition in 2009. If you are interested to see the full set, or wish to buy prints, please contact me.