Category Archives: Saudi Arabia

Faisal Mohammed Alamrah, playing soccer in the desert of eastern Saudi Arabia

1,000 to 1 were the odds given to the Saudi soccer team to win, particularly against the powerhouse team from Argentina led by superstar Lionel Messi. The victory on Tuesday by the Saudi team over Argentina is being described as “one that ranks as one of the greatest shocks in the tournament’s 92-year history…unlike the World Cup’s traditional powers, it does not call on stars from major leagues of Western Europe to join its squad. Its players are drawn instead from the country’s lightly regarded, but well-supported, domestic league.” Rory Smith, The New York Times, Nov. 22, 2022.

I made these images in 1983 of Bedu boys of the Al Amrah clan of the Al Murrah tribe playing in the desert in Al-Ahsa, the eastern region of Saudi Arabia.

Bedu boys of the Al Amrah clan playing soccer in the desert of Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
Al Amrah boys play soccer in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia.
Hamad Nasser Alamrah in the green sport suit, playing soccer at the Alamrah camp in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia.

As a documentary photographer, the success of the Saudi soccer team this week was gratifying. While living with the Al Amrah in the desert in Saudi Arabia I observed a strong human spirit and passion in the members of the clan. I have seen how the young boys and girls that I photographed in the 1980s have gone on to achieve academic and business success.

The spirit I saw among these young people in the desert in the 1980s was once again shown in the skill and desire of the Saudi players who defeated Argentina a powerhouse of a soccer team at the Lusail stadium, in Qatar this week.

Images like these help build a bridge from modernity to the roots of a culture.

Al-Ahsa, BEDOUIN, Bedu, Saudi Arabia, Soccer, World Cup Qatar

1,000 to 1 odds, Saudi Arabia defeats Argentina

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Portrait, Portraiture, Bedouin, Bedu, Saudi Arabia,

Murie bin Mohammed Al Murrah brought us a bag of truffles from the Empty Quarter. Dahana Sands, Saudi Arabia.

Persona

A portrait should represent your likeness and evoke your emotional energy.

That is my goal when making your portrait.

I  think of your portrait as being an image representing the outside and inside of you.  A single image if made with focus and connection can be a true representation of your persona. However, no manner how successful the single image is it will not represent the whole truth of who you are because you are way too complex.  At the moment the photograph is made you may be open and the still image can communicate that openness.  You may also be quiet, cautious, and have wit, chances are the single picture will not communicate all of those aspects of your persona.  When making your portrait I will guide you to being present in the moment and not get concerned about trying to show all the aspects of your persona.  Let’s be satisfied with getting one image that reflects who you are.

When you open your spirit and allow your energy to move and I focus my attention and spirit we can connect in 125th of a second to create an image that communicates your persona.

My Portrait Studio is located in downtown Sarasota at 1338 Central Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34236.  I’ve put a lot of intention into creating a space that is warm, comfortable and safe with the goal that you will feel good about having your portrait made.  I look forward to working with you to “capture” your persona. 

To schedule a time to make your portrait contact me; WayneEastep@Gmail.com  or call 917.675.0640.

Art, creativity, Portraits, Recent Personal Images, Saudi Arabia, Travel

Persona #4

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Al-Hijr / Madain Saleh

UNESCO, World-Heritage-Site, Nabataen-civilazation, Saudi-Arabia, archeology

Al-Hijr, Madain Saleh the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Saudi Arabia.

The entrance to a sacred area within the complex at Al-Hijir.  The archeological site of Al-Hijr (Madain Saleh) is the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in  Saudi Arabia.  It is a major center of the Nabataen civilization.  It is the largest Nabataen site south of Petra in Jordan.  It bears testimony to the Nabataen civilization between the 2nd and 3rd centuries BC and pre-Islamic period in the 1st century AD.

Part of the collection “Art Within Architecture” on exhibit at Eastep Photography gallery 1338 Central Avenue, Sarasota, Florida 34236

 

Architecture, Art, Art Gallery, artists, creativity, Culture, Design, Exhibition, Interior Design, Recent Personal Images, Saudi Arabia

Al-Hijir Art Within Architecture

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Yurt, Sarasota, Kazakhstan, Kazakh, Tent, Nomadic, Dwelling

Patti and Wayne Eastep awaiting the arrival of guests to their Kazakh Yurt

Yurt, Nomadic, Tent, Kazakh, Kazakhstan, Central Asia,

Yurt from Kazakhstan in Sarasota, Florida

The June 2017 Heat Index section  of Sarasota Magazine, features a story about Patti and Wayne Eastep and the Yurt which they brought from Kazakhstan to Sarasota, Florida.  Click here to read the full story.      Story in Sarasota Magazine

Architecture, Culture, Kazakhstan, Recent Personal Images, Saudi Arabia

Story in the June 2017 issue of Sarasota Magazine about Patti and Wayne Eastep’s Kazakh Yurt.

Kazakh Yurt which Patti and Wayne Eastep brought from Kazakhstan to Sarasota, Florida.

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Radio interview on 95.5 WSLR. (Podcast)  Patti and Wayne Eastep share their first hand experiences living with the Bedouin the Saudi Arabia.

Bedouin, Nomadic, Nomadic Culture, AlAmrah, AlMarri, Saudi Arabia, Patti Eastep, Documentary Photography,

Patti Eastep in traditional Bedouin dress living with the Al Amrah clan of the Al Murrah tribe in the Dahana Sands in Saudi Arabia.

Bedouin, Nomadic, Nomadic Culture, AlAmrah, AlMarri, Saudi Arabia, Wayne Eastep, Documentary Photography,

Wayne Eastep in traditional Bedouin dress photographing in Saudi Arabia.

Wayne with Shaikh Jaber of the Al Amrah, Saudi Arabia

Wayne with Sheikh Jaber of the Al Amrah, Saudi Arabia

 

Culture, Recent Personal Images, Saudi Arabia

Let’s Talk About The Middle East

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Saturday May 6, 2016 10:00 am Patti and Wayne Eastep share their experiences of living with the Al Amrah bedouin clan in Saudi Arabia.   The radio interview will air on WSLR program “Let’s Talk About The Middle East”

Bedouin, Nomadic, Nomadic Culture, AlAmrah, AlMarri, Saudi Arabia, Patti Eastep, Documentary Photography,

Patti in traditional Bedouin dress in the Saudi Arabian desert.

Bedouin, Nomadic, Nomadic Culture, AlAmrah, AlMarri, Saudi Arabia, Wayne Eastep, Documentary Photography,

Wayne Eastep in traditional Bedouin dress photographing in Saudi Arabia.

Al Amrah, Al Marri, Al Murrah, Bedouin, Bedu, Nomadic, Nomadic Tribe, Saudi Arabia, Dahana Sands, Documentary,

Al Amrah bedouin clan of the AL Marri Tribe preparing coffee in the Dahana Sands of Saudi Arabia.

To see more images of the Al Marri Tribe visit www.WayneEastep.com

Books by Wayne Eastep, Culture, Recent Personal Images, Saudi Arabia, Travel

Patti and Wayne Eastep experiences with the Al Amrah bedouin clan

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Arabia, Beauty in Nature, Blue, Central Arabia, Clouds, Landscape, Middle East, Najd, Nejd, Saudi Arabia, Sunrise, ancient land, desert, escarpment, highland region, iris in April, peaceful, plateau, solitary

Sunrise in the Najd

Sunrise in the Najd, or “highland,” the central region of the Arabian Peninsula. 

The dromedary camel walks moving both legs on one side then the other while its body rolls side to side.  This seesaw movement can cause a storage bag to rub against the camels body developing  a hole.  As best I can tell this is what most likely took place on one of the caravans crossing the Arabian desert.

Numerous caravan routes criss crossed Arabia.  This image is of one traversing the  Najd in central Saudi Arabia.  Along this ancient trade route a hole wore into a bag carrying iris bulbs.  The seesaw movement of the camel deposited bulbs along the desert floor.  Wind blew sand over the bulbs and they lay dormant until in the spring the winter rains enable the iris to bloom.

To buy a print and see more images visit EastepPhotography.com

Art, Culture, Design, Interior Design, Nature, Recent Personal Images, Saudi Arabia, Travel

Gift of the Caravans

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Art, Culture, Saudi Arabia, Travel

Color Beyond Description

Mada'in Saleh, the historical site of a Nabataen trading center, northern Saudi Arabia

Mada’in Saleh, the historical site of a Nabatean trading center, northern Saudi Arabia

Photography has reached a strange place when I have to explain that “yes, that was the true color” and NO I did not create this in Photoshop, yikes!

The place I made this picture is Mada’in Saleh the historical site of a Nabatean trading center in north-west Saudi Arabia.  These folks were part of a group whose capital was Petra in modern-day Jordan.  It is also the place the Ottomans had a railroad depot which T.E. Lawrence destroyed.  It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

I made this image as part of a  feature story of archeology  for Smithsonian magazine. There are two reasons the color is other worldly.  The first is the light in Arabia gets this way sometimes, that’s all I know.  The second reason is I used a rare film Kodachrome Photomicrography which had insane saturation and detail.  The ASA is 16.  I did not add any color, the film simply  recorded everything that was there.

To see more images from this story visit Eastep Image Archive @ www.EastepPhotography.com 

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Nomads,Nomadic,Bedouin,Bedu,Saudi Arabia,Al Murrah,Portrait, people,

Murie bin Mohammed Al Murrah brought us a bag of truffles from the Empty Quarter. Dahana Sands, Saudi Arabia.

The Bedouin of Saudi Arabia are one of the world’s most unique nomadic people.  They survive in the Arabian deserts under some of the harshest conditions in nature.

The Al Murrah Bedouin tribe attracted my attention because they have lived as nomads in Arabia with an unbroken bloodline for 5,000 years +.  I figured such unique people would have important insights into human relationships.  I was right.

Leading Saudi families in government, business, judicial and academic communities have sent their young children to live among the Bedouin for similar reasons.  King ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn Sa’ud, the monarch who unified the Arabian tribes and created the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, spent time with the Al-Murrah in the southern deserts of Saudi Arabia.

When I began my documentary photography career I decided to study the Bedouin in Arabia, specifically the Al Murrah tribe.  This modest collection of images is from a library of over 25,000 images.  They are the subject of the book BEDOUIN which won the Pershke Price “Best Book” award and Gold Prize for the “Best of All Things in Print”.

To see more images of the Bedouin visit EastepPhotography.com

Culture, People who have influenced me, Portraits, Saudi Arabia, Travel

BEDOUIN of Saudi Arabia

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Saudi Arabia

Keeping An Eye On The Goings-On

Bedouin tent wall opening

An opening between the women and men’s section of a Bedouin tent. Saudi Arabia

The space between the men and women’s section of a Bedouin tent is divided by a wall made of cloth.  The cloth material of the tent wall makes it convenient for women to listen in and keep an eye on the goings-on in the majlis,  “the public sitting place.”  When the majlis is free of visitors from outside the women sit with the men.

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