Doha, Qatar: The candid portraits captured through the lens of local photographer Abdulrahman Al Baker has become the bearers of memories of Doha's diverse and bustling street life. Each click is an attempt to encapsulate a moment before it flees with time. Unlike the photography trends sprawling on social media, his works are a far cry from the internet's fast-paced highlight reels. On the contrary, it strives to slow the sands of time with each roll of a film camera.
Yes, you read it right, Al Baker uses multiple analog cameras such as Hasselblad, Rolleiflex and Pentax, some of which are from the 70s, in his journey to document the untold stories of Qatar’s long-lived neighbourhoods.
On a typical afternoon, Al Baker trains his lens on the buzzing neighbourhood of Old Doha and its inhabitants. Each snapshot, captured in candid and staged portraiture, evokes a sense of nostalgia. It also gives a glimpse into the lives of residents surrounded by the constant change in a country that is going through rapid development.
The candid portraits captured through the lens of local photographer Abdulrahman Al Baker has become the bearers of memories of Doha's diverse and bustling street life.
— The Peninsula Qatar (@PeninsulaQatar) June 11, 2023
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Speaking to The Peninsula, Al Baker, the entrepreneur who holds the franchise of Canadian restaurant Freshii in Qatar, said: "I enjoy walking around Old Doha and looking around for people with interesting stories and features, but what motivates me the most is the location itself; the neighbourhood, the scenery, and the light and shadow that naturally occurs during the afternoons."
While skyscrapers are an obvious choice for filming locations, Al Baker thinks that it has become a common setting found in any metropolis.
"To me they all look the same, isolating and cold," he said.
Instead, he refocuses his lens on the untold stories in the streets of Doha which he described as "uniquely Qatar".
"I receive many messages and comments on how certain scenery from my photographs reminded someone of their old house or their grandparents’ house, and it feels authentic and true," he said.
"My style of work is documenting the scene as it is, and I feel my photographs are a true representation of what one might encounter in the old neighbourhoods I visit," he added.
In a mix of black-and-white and vibrant hues, his photographs depict residents from different walks of life. Captured at a specific point in time, his collection includes a male worker looking toward the horizon as the golden rays of sunset illuminate his face and his sandy orange uniform; two men in pathani suits sit on a beige leather couch among scattered sandals; grey-haired tailor smiles at the camera as women’s clothing fill the background; two friends engrossed in a conversation were pictured crouching on the street beside a road sign.
As a professional photographer, Al Baker's eyes are always peeled to spot good lighting, interesting backdrops, and willing subjects to feature in his photographs. Moreover, he is also adept at interacting with people. Al Baker has a single yet effective trick for breaking the ice with strangers.
"The answer is simple but effective, a smile!" he said.
"It instantly neutralizes whatever the subjects would feel towards a stranger approaching them with a camera in their neighbourhood. It sends a signal of approachability and slight charm!
Although I must say having a unique-looking camera from the 1970s strapped on you is usually a conversation starter," he wittily added.
Al Baker dubbed this experience as 'Encountering'. The natural evolution of his photography style as it shifted from solely capturing scenery, streets, and surroundings to street portraits where he can actively engage with individuals.
This eventually turned into a personal project called 'Encounters' which he established with fellow Qatar-based photographer, Hemanth Madupu. As co-founders, the pair described 'Encounters' as an open-love letter to Doha. It features individuals they meet on the streets and gives the audience a glimpse into the life of the subject in the photograph.
However, capturing the moment in an analogue way does not guarantee instant gratification to his subjects. Instead, waiting for the photos to develop also adds to the anticipation which is commonly lost in the present highly digital world.
"So, when individuals finally see their pictures, usually weeks after they’re shot, they relive the moment and they get the feeling all over again," Al Baker shared.
Preserving these moments is of utmost importance for the Qatari photographer. As the country undergoes enormous changes, Al Baker races against time to safeguard these daily fleeting moments through photographs.
"This is of utmost importance to me as many neighbourhoods are undergoing enormous changes. I strive to preserve them through my photographs by roaming these streets, capturing their essence, including their diverse residents," he said.
Al Baker uses various platforms to showcase his personal work and collaborations for 'Encounters' including Instagram and a website. In laying out these photographs, Al Baker only hopes that his audience perceives these images with awe.
"I can only hope they appreciate a local photographer capturing the vastly changing scenes of Doha and its residents to the best of his ability," Al Baker told The Peninsula.
Although Al Baker is well aware of his constant evolvement in a craft regarded as a visual form of self-expression, he also acknowledges that mastering this skill is not always a linear process.
"The more time you devote to your passion, the more reward you will gain," Al Baker said firmly.
So, when this reporter asked if he had to choose a specific photograph that would top the rest of his work, he simply said: "To quote Imogen Cunningham, an American photographer, 'The one I’m going to take tomorrow.'"
Abdulrahman Al Baker on Instagram - @hamanalbaker
