First visit to the new National Museum of Qatar

Michiel de Lange May 24, 2019

It’s been awhile since my last posting. been so busy settling into a new project at my day-job as an architect. Amongst all of this, I was fortunate to visit the newly completed National Museum of Qatar recently, on a quiet Friday morning with nobody around. This architectural masterpiece by french architect Jean Nouvel was inspired by desert roses, crystallised sand that can be found in some desert regions, including Qatar. These are some of my first impressions, taken with my Leica Q.

One of the finer details that immediately struck me, is that the exterior paving is constructed from rough concrete with sand and small stones strewn over it. This closely resembles the Qatar desert floor. The sandy paving gradually transitions to cobble stones at the entrances to the building.

I’m looking forward to a few more visits, as well as (obviously) exploring the interior and displays on offer.

Low Summer is back!

Michiel de Lange November 5, 2018

There are a few real challenges being a photographer in Qatar. The most obvious is the harsh climate. It is virtually impossible to venture outside (let alone into the desert) during the roughly six months that we consider "high summer" due to temperatures that can routinely exceed 50 degrees Celsius. Thankfully "low summer" 2018/2019 has arrived, meaning desert exploration trips are again possible for the next few months.

One Week in Tunisia

Michiel de Lange December 27, 2017

Just returned from a cold and rainy week in Tunisia, and more specifically, the capital city Tunis. It's been a while since I last visited an African destination, but found the atmosphere to be more distinctly Arab than African.

The Leica Q as a Travel Camera

Michiel de Lange September 11, 2017

Being a bit obsessed with travelling as lightly as possible, the Leica Q is a compact camera, but nowhere near as compact as the Fuji X100s. Even when the Fuji is adorned with an adapter lens, it is still more compact and lighter to carry around. Though I did start getting used to the feel of the Q in hand, I still find the Fuji to be more comfortable to carry around and hold for long periods while moving around. I prefer using a wrist strap, which works perfectly well on the Fuji.

Dusting off the Rollei for Croatia

Michiel de Lange August 13, 2017

Apart from my current favorites, my Leica Q and Fuji X100s (no, still can't put it away), I'm also planning to try my hand at film photography again. I'll be taking along an old Rolleiflex I picked up in an antique shop in Aleppo (Syria) some years back. After consulting a few YouTube videos to understand how it works, as far as I can now tell, it is in some form of working order.

Week 2 in Sri Lanka - Fuji X100s vs Leica Q

Michiel de Lange January 9, 2017

I spent my last week in Galle to mostly travel around the area, in an almost desperate attempt to see and capture as much possible quality stock before my return to Doha. This is (as always) made easier by renting a scooter, and with the wonders of Google maps in my pocket, deep explorations into the back roads and rural farmlands is always possible without the angst of getting lost.

Week 1 in Sri Lanka - Fuji X100s vs Leica Q

Michiel de Lange December 25, 2016

As always, my trusted Fuji X100s, a constant travel companion of circa four years, accompanied me. However, having also recently accuired a new Leica Q, I was interested in seeing which one of these tools suit me best. Admittedly, my heart layed with the Fuji before the trip, as my short time with the Leica has been slightly unimpressive to date.