(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Qatar Turkey 2015: Year of Culture has launched its photographic exchange programme by welcoming two Turkish photographers in Qatar yesterday.

Later this month, two Qatari photographers will begin their expedition in Turkey to photograph its landscapes and people.

The aim of the exchange programme is to capture the essence of Qatar through Turkish eyes and the essence of Turkey through Qatari eyes. In fall 2015 their journeys will be showcased in an exhibition in Qatar. This programme is organized in collaboration with the Qatar Photographic Society (QPS) and the Ministries of Culture from Qatar and Turkey, and with the support of platinum sponsor Exxon Mobil, Hospitality Sponsor W Doha Hotel and Official Airline Qatar Airways.

Yesterday, Qatar welcomed Turkish photographers Prof Ali Muhammet Bay and Dr Hasan Yelken. A graduate from Dokuz Eylul University, Faculty of Fine Arts, postgraduate from Savannah College of Art and Design (MFA degree on photography), and doctorate from Ankara University Ali Muhammet Bayraktaroglu still works as an academic and Faculty Dean, sharing with his students his love for Fine Arts and specifically photography.

Hasan Yelken is a dentist. The beauties he came across during his travels inspired him to take up photography. In 1995, he became a member of the Gaziantep Association of Art Photography where he went on to become chairman of the board of directors from 1998 to 2006.

Ali and Hasan will embark on their journey of discovery by touring Doha: from Old Doha and vibrant Souq Waqif to walking along the Doha Corniche where they will appreciate the unique Doha city skyline and its iconic Museum of Islamic Art.

In the following days, they will be heading to Al Shamal in the north, where they will have their first taste of Qatari history with a visit to Al Zubara fort. They will be able to see one of the largest and best preserved examples of an 18th-19th century Gulf merchant town. The team will also visit Zikreet where they will witness the Richard Serra installation "East West € West east". And they can't leave Qatar without dune-bashing all the way to Khor Al Adaid on an exhilarating Inland Sea desert trek!

Later in the month, two Qatari photographers will start their exploration of Turkey, from the cities of Istanbul and Ankara to remote Anatolian villages. They will have the opportunity to learn more about the Turkish people and capture in images their rich culture and history.