Images from the Desert
I spent several years living in the Middle East. During this time, I had the pleasure of photographing several families that I had come to know in our community there. As we were located on the "Arabian Peninsula," there's a humid heat that eats away at the environment for 8-9 months each year, with a beautiful stretch of 70*F days in the late Fall. Picking a day and a time (and a season) to take a family out into this sort of heat and humidity can be daunting!
I quickly learned that I had some great "pros" to make these photography sessions a bit easier: light! Most days, the light available was a bright and slightly hazy sky - a product of the dust from the sand dunes. The diffused light allowed for great photographic opportunities in a variety of locations. The cultural tourist locations also gave great backdrops. Mosaic tiles, neutral tones, and interesting architecture. While setting surely isn't everything, it does help to have places to go that offer a variety of backgrounds in close proximity as well as options for the different groups or poses the client was looking for. Along with this, I had to manage some of the "cons," too - namely the heat, which easily fatigued clients (especially the little ones). As with many sites, sometimes a background or location just isn't right, too. The sun hits at the wrong angle, there are tourist groups milling about, renovations are being completed, or myriad other hindrances. A few gentle suggestions and we were always able to keep moving through the photo session.
Some of my families selected cooler early mornings, and some had to sneak in sessions when everyone was available. I recommended times where we wouldn't meet with crowds while still taking advantage of the natural light and some shade; I reminded parents to bring water and snacks (and favorite stuffies) to keep everyone placated. Thanks to the flexibility of my clients and working with (and not against) the locations we used, we were able to capture images and moments each time.
