By Kessler Lite
A Post-Class Reflection Following Andreu Doz’s Masterclass on Cultural Event Photography
Introduction: The Philosophy Behind the Frame
As an aspiring travel journalist pursuing my master’s degree in travel journalism, I approach cultural photography as a form of quiet activism, a way to preserve disappearing traditions while challenging stereotypes about the Arab world. Andreu Doz’s masterclass crystallized my belief that the best cultural documentation happens between performances: in the dust kicked up by a dancer’s sandal, the calloused hands of a date farmer demonstrating ancient irrigation techniques, or the unguarded laughter of teenagers sneaking karak tea behind a heritage stall.
At the 2025 Muscat Festival, I won’t just document Oman’s culture; I’ll frame it as a living conversation, one where Bedouin rhymes sync with iPhone beats, and frankincense smoke curls around steel-and-glass skyscrapers.
My Personal Approach: Participatory Storytelling
- The “Three Light” Rule
(Inspired by Andreu’s triad of light/moment/composition)
● Golden Light: Capture artisans at dawn, when Oman’s winter sun gilds
silver khanjars and palm frond baskets.
● Shadow Play: Use midday harshness creatively, photograph weavers in
striped shade, their looms casting geometric patterns.
● Festival Glow: At dusk, bracket exposures to preserve both neon lit
stages and the warm glow of gaslit food stalls. - Candid Over Curated
● Behind the Curtain: 70% of my shots will focus on preparation, capturing the intricate setup of traditional instruments, artisans arranging their craft displays, soundchecks for Omani opera fusion performances, and the careful preparation of traditional costumes and props.
● Cultural Boundaries: Given Oman’s Islamic customs where women cannot be filmed in certain regions, I’ll focus on documenting the rich cultural elements that are accessible, such as traditional textile work, architectural details, and men’s preparation rituals for performances like Ardha sword dances.
● The “Unseen” Participants: Elderly male attendees watching from plastic chairs, migrant workers building stages, male artisans demonstrating traditional crafts, their perspectives often excluded from glossy brochures. - Context as Character Layer shots to show cultural duality:
A close-up of a hennaed hand holding a 3D-printed festival badge, or a camel parade reflected in a hotel’s glass facade.
Working with my Sony A7iv and DJI Mavic 3 Classic drone, I’ll capture both intimate ground-level moments and sweeping aerial perspectives that contextualize the festival within Muscat’s dramatic landscape of mountains meeting the sea.
Aspects I Would Prioritize Capturing
Intergenerational Transmission: The elderly master craftsman guiding young hands through silver-working techniques, fathers teaching sons traditional Al-Tambura drumming patterns, the concentrated expressions during storytelling
sessions where oral history passes between generations.
Authentic Cultural Details: The intricate geometric patterns of traditional textiles, frankincense resin cracking over glowing coals, the weathered hands of spice merchants, architectural details that frame performances against both historic and contemporary Muscat.
Moments of Cultural Pride: The unguarded joy during traditional drum performances, children’s wide eyed wonder at camel parades, the quiet satisfaction of male artisans displaying their craft to appreciative audiences.
The Narrative and Atmosphere I Aim to Convey
The atmosphere I seek to capture is one of living heritage, where tradition isn’t museum piece preservation but dynamic, evolving culture. My visual narrative would emphasize how modern Oman embraces its past, perhaps capturing traditional dancers with the city’s contemporary skyline in the background, or documenting how palm-leaf stages replace plastic ones in alignment with Oman’s Vision 2040 sustainability goals.
This approach reflects my broader focus on ethical travel journalism, creating content that serves both the communities I document and audiences seeking authentic cultural understanding.
The Cultural Event I Would Like to Cover: Muscat Festival 2025
Why This Event Captivates Me: The Muscat Festival (December 2024 – February 2025) represents everything I value in cultural journalism. It’s Oman’s premier cultural celebration, transforming Naseem Park into a living museum featuring traditional crafts, culinary heritage, and performances like Al-Hashoona dances alongside contemporary interpretations of Omani culture.
Visual Power and Uniqueness: What makes this festival visually compelling is its authentic blend of accessibility and tradition. Unlike performative tourist events, Muscat Festival genuinely serves the local community. Families attend in traditional dress, children participate in heritage games, and local artisans demonstrate centuries old crafts like saff dhow building, a dying art rarely accessible to photographers.
Photographic Challenges: The challenges are both significant and creatively stimulating. Cultural sensitivity is paramount, particularly given Islamic customs where women cannot be filmed in certain regions. As a male journalist, I would collaborate with local female journalists who can access and document women only cultural spaces, ensuring the complete cultural story is told while respecting local customs. This limitation requires creative solutions, focusing on architectural details, textile work, and other cultural elements that convey the richness of Omani heritage without crossing cultural boundaries. Technical challenges include harsh desert light during day events versus evening illumination, requiring creative use of shadows and strategic positioning. The festival’s scale demands balancing wide contextual shots with intimate close-ups that reveal the craftsmanship and emotion behind performances.
Research Insights: What Makes This Event Extraordinary
My research reveals that the Muscat Festival uniquely combines traditional Omani heritage with contemporary cultural expression. The festival’s “Heritage Village” offers rare access to traditional crafts, while the sensory richness, from Al-Tambura drum percussion to rosewater infused halwa aromas, provides multiple storytelling layers.
The festival’s location in Muscat’s heart provides rich architectural context, allowing me to frame traditional performances against both historic and modern backdrops. This visual contrast perfectly illustrates the living heritage I seek to document, while working within the cultural parameters that define respectful photography in Oman.
Conclusion: Photography as Cultural Dialogue
The Muscat Festival isn’t just an assignment, it’s a cross section of modern Oman. Through my camera, audiences will see a culture that doesn’t just preserve heritage, but performs it into the future. As Andreu taught, the most powerful images aren’t taken; they’re received through patience and respect. That’s the journalism I aim to practice.
This project extends beyond aesthetics to answer: How does a nation honor its past while racing toward Vision 2040? By documenting environmental efforts, economic impact, and intergenerational knowledge transfer within cultural boundaries, I’ll create work that serves both artistic and journalistic purposes while respecting the communities that make these celebrations possible.
This article is part of the practical work carried out by students on the Master’s Degree in Travel Journalism at the School of Travel Journalism.