(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) At first glance Qasim al Farsi is soft spoken and not a man of many words. The conversation takes a while to gain momentum. But then we are talking about a photographer whose pictures speak for him.
With a Nikon SLR in tow Farsi has traversed virgin territories in Oman in search of perfect landscape shots of which some captured moments have the ability to render one speechless.
Belonging to a cult of amateur photographers that has come up in Oman over the last decade and encouraged by the Photographic Society of Oman Farsi has outgrown the tag of 'amateur'. Modesty rooted in the awareness of having waltzed into photography without background training is probably why Farsi has not cut off his tags despite having arrived.
He recently won the Red Bull 5 Pics photography competition which featured works of over 350 photographers from all over the world who were tasked with capturing 'Unseen Oman'.
His winning series on the western Hajar mountains is poetry for the eyes. The exposure the surreal hue and details in the five photographs capture the essence of time lapses that occur at the moment of the shot. The unique point about the pictures is that 'I took them at the right moment at the right day' says Farsi.
In the world of photography where landscapes have become repetitive simulations staring back at you from desktops magazines and wallpapers Farsi's work is distinctive. It may be indicative of the fact that numerous terrains in Oman still remain undiscovered by mainstream photographers.
'In order to be a landscape photographer in Oman you have to know the terrain the wind the climate' says Farsi. This is also an advantage that an Omani photographer will have over somebody who comes from outside for the first time to photograph the country.
'There is richness in Oman when it comes to scenic beauty. What pushed me to get into landscape photography is my country...I love my country its scenic beauty mountains and wadis. I am trying to show the world what Oman looks like' he smiles. '...almost like an advertisement for them to visit.'
A desire almost granted in being the cultural ambassador for Oman Farsi's pictures will be seen around the globe on the covers of DHL courier packages - part of the winning deal at the Red Bull competition.
Farsi shrewdly relies on time to create pictorial masterpieces. He insists that for him 'the correct moment is everything'. Often when he visits a new place he loiters around to analyse the correct timing to play with light the different angles from which he can take a picture and returns another day to create a picture. 'I try not to waste a single shot.'
Most of his projects are determined by the local weather forecast as he sets out only after knowing if the weather will permit a photographer enough light.
If not for daylight a photographer is still at the mercy of weather to avoid dangerous gambles. He reminiscences the time when he shot his award winning pictures in the Hajar mountains. 'Just after I captured the picture lighting struck.'
There have also been comical instances too. He once literally 'chased the rain' around different parts of the country with his Nikon hanging around his neck.
Being a photographer who spends most of his time cradled in nature's lap Farsi says there are moments when he is overwhelmed by the sight before him. He remarks about some awe-inspiring spectacles that he has witnessed. 'There was this time when I went to Jebel Shams in February 2015. It was a stormy day and what I saw when I reached there I cannot describe in words...I just stood watching transfixed.'
Ansel Adams the American landscape photographer who set a benchmark in black and white nature photography inspires this self-taught artiste a great deal.
'You take a picture make mistakes come back and see the mistakes you've made and improve upon it' is the way he summarised his advent into photography.
Then of course like-minded people in the Photographic Society of Oman guided and provided technical tips to Farsi.
An IT professional Farsi pursues photography as a hobby which took root out of the search for adventure and travel.
Despite the recognitions and awards that have come his way he is yet to consider photography as a profession.
'May be sometime in the future but not right now. Although I am open to freelancing' says Farsi.
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