Aerial mapping to Art Festivals:
A Brief Cultural History Photography is considered one of mankind’s greatest inventions. With a camera, someone can capture reality better than any painter. Photography gave humanity the ability to document history accurately, but it can also be used to reflect the narrative of the photographer or be used to deceive. This dichotomy of documentation vs. selective narrative is present in Qatar’s photography. Photography in Qatar has shifted from scientifically documenting Doha’s growth through the use of aerial photography, to reflecting the current cultural shift of Qatar through the lens of street photography. The current shift of photography in Qatar is narrative driven, straying away from documentation, as can be seen in the Tasweer Photo Festival.
West Bay, Doha, Qatar. 1952. [Figure 1]
West Bay, Doha, Qatar. Photo by NASA Johnson. 2018. [Figure 2]
39 A2Q
