JEDDAH: A new generation of Saudi photographers are counting on the power of social media to showcase the beauty of the vast Kingdom.
Online platforms have been a melting pot of images taken by photographers traveling the country – from sandy beaches in the east and west, to mountains in the north and south, and green oases in the desert – discovering the beauty of every region one image at a time.
Fahad Al-Mutairi, 22, started @thesaudigate on Twitter to promote Saudi Arabia’s “hidden magic” to the burgeoning travel market.
“I want to be part of the future somehow – that’s why I started Saudi Gate and this is what motivates me to keep going,” he told Arab News.
Many other photographers who have traveled abroad have the same view.
Faisal Fahad Binzarah, 41, said: “I have to work on several projects and go to places I have never been to before. I remember thinking, where was this all my life? I never thought I would find such a gem in Saudi Arabia. “
Binzarah said he was looking for a dramatic scene and trying to “capture the overall feeling of the place.”
He said: “The photos I took were not unique, the uniqueness came from the place. I am only a bearer of beauty and nothing else.
HIGHLIGHT
• Fahad Al-Mutairi, 22, started @thesaudigate on Twitter to promote Saudi Arabia’s ‘hidden magic’ to a burgeoning tourist market.
• Al-Mutairi said that about a third of @ thesaudigate’s followers are international, and they are usually surprised by what they see.
“As a photographer, I try to capture the right object at the right time, but often I feel the beauty is not represented,” he said.
Al-Mutairi said that about a third of @ thesaudigate’s followers are international, and they are usually surprised by what they see.
“Often they are amazed but also very happy because after looking at the pictures they know that there is a part of the world they have to explore.”
Hadi Farah, 28, a Lebanese photographer now living in the Kingdom, said he had traveled extensively in Saudi Arabia and “always felt a sense of welcome and comfort.”
“I think tourism is directly influenced by photographers. Every time I post something, I receive inquiries with people asking if this is really in Saudi Arabia or whether I accidentally entered the wrong name.
“Unfortunately, people thought it was just a desert and nothing else. So by posting photos of these places we educate them about possibilities and attractions they think never existed, ”he said.
Binzarah agreed, saying: “As yet undiscovered places are attractive to professional photographers, because they are always looking for a challenge, and I think this sparked their interest in going to these places and exploring.”
he added that “although the desert may not be new to the Saudi population, it will appeal to people living in greener countries.”
Saudi Arabia, as a land of ancient civilizations, is very attractive to archaeologists and tourists who are interested in history, Binzara said.
Farah described the beauty of nature in various places, saying: “We associate beauty with life, and in our minds where there is green there is life, but we forget that there is also life in rocks and sand, and it is rich in history. . So, keep in mind that the beauty of AlUla is different from other areas. “
Technology also has a big impact. Photographers are now using drones to reach places that were once too dangerous or remote, and the resulting images shed new light on the power of photography and the beauty of landscapes.
“Being on social media gives us an impetus to do better,” said Binzarah. “If there isn’t a community or people to interact with, it gets boring.”
He added: “This is a personal journey and one for each person to find Saudi Arabia one image at a time.”