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Winners of Visit Qatar’s inaugural Qatar Through Your Lens competition say the contest has inspired them to continue capturing the country’s beauty, culture and everyday life through photography, film and creativity. The award ceremony, held at Qatar Tourism headquarters in Msheireb, honoured winners of the first edition of the photography and videography competition, which highlighted Qatar as a destination for visual storytelling and creative expression. For many of the winners, the recognition was more than an award. It was a personal milestone and a motivation to continue sharing Qatar’s story with wider audiences. Amir Hamid El-Mubarak, first-place winner in the photography category, said he was proud to be recognised in a competition that celebrated creativity and Qatar’s visual identity. “I was born in Sudan but raised in Qatar my whole life. I feel very glad for this opportunity with Visit Qatar. It was a very nice challenge for me”, he said. El-Mubarak, a civil engineer by profession, said photography began as a hobby in 2020 and later became a more serious creative pursuit. “My background does not have anything related to art. I’m a civil engineer, so I started doing it just in terms of free time,” he said. He added that competitions helped him gain confidence in his talent. After winning first place in another photography competition organised by the Ministry of Culture, he decided to enter more contests. “I was like, okay, let’s hunt this. Maybe it will be a good way to validate your talent,” he said, adding that the Visit Qatar award would not be his last milestone. Second-place winner Paula Blanche Valencia said her success came as a surprise, as photography had been only a hobby during her visit to Qatar in December. “I did not expect to win this competition,” she said. “It was actually the best day of my life, to be honest.” Her winning image showed a boy casting a net at sunset. Valencia encouraged others to take part in future editions, saying: “Go out of your house, take a photo, take a video everywhere, because Qatar is very amazing and a very beautiful place.” Hady Abi Warde, who won 10th place in the video category, said the competition encouraged him to explore Qatar through film.**media[461372]**“I’m so happy that I won this competition, 10th place for a video,” he said. “I feel very excited to continue and to see more about Visit Qatar.” A director and photographer, Abi Warde, said his winning video came from a simple family moment. “While I was walking around with my daughter, I decided to make a video about Qatar,” he said. “It was not easy because you need to go to many places and take many pictures and videos with a small girl, but all was good.” Khalid Yousif Saqer, who placed fifth, described the award as an honour, especially as part of the competition’s first edition.**media[461373]**“I am super happy that I won this competition,” he said. “It is an honour for me to win the first edition of Qatar Through Your Lens.” He said receiving recognition from Visit Qatar added personal and professional value, and he hopes to participate again next year. The competition, which drew more than 1,300 participants, brought together photographers, filmmakers, residents and visitors who captured Qatar from different angles — from cultural scenes and daily life to landscapes, family moments and tourist attractions. 

The Qatar Photography Centre (QPC), affiliated with the Ministry of Culture, has organised the “The Arab Cup through Qatari Eyes" exhibition as part of a series of artistic and cultural events accompanying the launch of the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025.The exhibition is aimed at reviving the visual memory of the tournament when it was hosted by Qatar in 2021, and to showcase the artistic beauty captured by the lenses of professional Qatari photographers.QPC director Jassim Ahmed al-Buainain highlighted the importance of this artistic event, which connects sports and visual culture.He said that the exhibition is the result of a collaborative effort, featuring the works of three Qatari photographers who covered the previous tournament: Jassim Ahmed al-Buainain, Asma Ghanem al-Abdullah, and Ayed Ibrahim al-Sultan.Al-Buainain noted that the collaboration between the three photographers stemmed from their shared passion for documenting this prominent sporting event.The exhibition features 45 high-quality photographs, capturing memorable moments from all the matches of the previous edition of the Arab Cup.The official added that the images transcend mere sporting documentation, embodying the artistic and human aspects of the tournament, from the players' enthusiasm to the fans' reactions and the overall atmosphere in the stadiums hosting the event. 

The second edition of the Doha Photography Festival, organised by the Qatar Photography Center, affiliated with the Ministry of Culture, concluded Sunday evening. The festival ran for six days, filled with activities and events, opposite Darb Al Saai in the Umm Salal area.On this occasion, Jassim Ahmed al-Buainain, Director of the Qatar Photography Center, affirmed the great success of the second edition of the festival, noting that it provided an excellent opportunity for photographers and the public to enjoy the exhibitions, which varied in their themes, topics, and perspectives.He emphasized that the festival was organised by the Ministry of Culture to promote photographic heritage and culture, highlighting the importance of photography as an effective means of expressing Qatari identity and showcasing its beauty and rich heritage. It also aimed to promote local photographic art and highlight photography as a tool for documentation and expression.Al-Buainain noted the significant turnout for the specialized workshops presented by international photographers, as well as the lectures and panel discussions, confirming their popularity and the wide range of participants who benefited from them. He also pointed out that the Doha Photography Award had a significant impact and served as a strong incentive for photographers, in addition to the success of the children's events, which attracted a remarkable number of families.Al-Buainain concluded by expressing his delight at the large audience from outside Doha, including photographers from the Gulf and other Arab countries, who visited the festival to benefit from its rich programme. He considered this evidence of the festival's broad international reach, which helped attract such international participation and strengthened its regional standing.The festival witnessed a large turnout of photographers, both local and international, with the participation of eight leading global camera companies, reaffirming its position as a leading platform for photographic art in the region. The festival also presented a rich and diverse programme that included art exhibitions with different themes and perspectives, specialized workshops led by international photographers, and lectures and panel discussions that were well-received by the public and benefited a large number of photography enthusiasts.The festival also saw the announcement of the inaugural Doha Photography Awards, which served as a significant incentive for photographers. With this conclusion, the Doha Photography Festival reinforces its status as a major artistic and cultural event that contributes to enriching the photographic landscape and provides a platform for exchanging expertise and promoting photographic culture across the region.

The second edition of the Doha Photography Festival, organised by the Qatar Photography Center, affiliated with the Ministry of Culture, kicked off Tuesday evening. This festival affirms the importance of photography as an effective means of expressing Qatari identity and heritage.The festival continues until November 9th, opposite Darb Al Saai in the Umm Salal area, with the participation of eight international companies specialising in cameras.On this occasion, Dr Ghanem bin Mubarak al-Ali, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, stated that the second edition of the Doha Photography Festival is witnessing a significant expansion in local and international participation, along with a diverse range of accompanying events targeting all segments of society.He emphasised that this edition is distinguished by the crowning of the winners of the inaugural Doha Photography Award, with the winners in six main competitive categories to be announced Thursday.He explained that one of the festival’s primary objectives is to support and encourage Qatari photographers, dedicating a special category in the award to local photographers, in addition to another category specifically for children and youth.Dr Ghanem al-Ali added that the festival is not limited to exhibitions but also includes a variety of accompanying events, such as specialised workshops and interactive areas designed specifically for children and families, with the aim of engaging all members of the community in the festival’s activities.He revealed the festival’s intention to expand its scope in future editions to include a greater focus on video photography. This trend was evident in the special exhibition organised as part of the current festival, titled “Space Festival,” a rare event featuring two Qatari photographers who participated in Nasa events. This highlights the international level the festival aspires to achieve.On the sidelines of the exhibition, Jassim Ahmed al-Buainain, director of the Qatar Photography Center, spoke to Gulf Times and said that: “We found a great turnout of photography enthusiasts and photographers at this opening, and everyone is eager for this big event that we are witnessing today. The Ministry of Culture, through the Doha Photography Festival, seeks to provide an ideal platform for showcasing artistic works, giving local photographers the opportunity to connect effectively and directly with the public and exchange experiences with their counterparts from around the world.He noted the participation of leading international companies such as Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, and Insta360, in addition to Qatar 4Cam and iBrand Connect. He explained that this broad participation of international companies and local photography equipment retailers will enrich the experience of participants and visitors, allowing them to explore the latest technologies and products in the world of photography.The programme features a large number of exhibitions, including 24 solo exhibitions and one group exhibition. The festival will also host an exhibition dedicated to the Doha Photography Award, another exhibition focused on astrophotography. There will be exhibitions of antique photographs and cameras, as well as a film exhibition area. The festival features a main stage hosting lectures, seminars and workshops by international photographers.The first day’s events featured a lecture titled “Narrative in Photography” presented by Issa Ibrahim, and a workshop titled “Attachment in Seconds: The Art of Creating Attention-Giving Videos” presented by James Arletta.

The Ministry of Municipality Organising and Supervisory Committee of the 13th Qatar International Agricultural Exhibition 2026 has announced the launch of the photography competition 'Lens of Qatari Agriculture', in partnership with the Qatar Photography Center, in conjunction with the start of preparations for the 2026 edition of the exhibition.The competition aims to highlight the added value of the local agricultural sector as a key pillar in achieving Qatar National Vision 2030, while anticipating the future needs in the areas of food security and sustainability.It seeks to employ artistic creativity and modern technologies to shed light on the aesthetic aspects of Qatar’s agricultural landscapes.Youssef Khalid al-Khelaifi, Chairman of the Organizing and Supervisory Committee of the 13th Qatar International Agricultural Exhibition 2026, said that this competition comes within the Ministry’s efforts to connect this vital sector with the community through visual arts.He added: “We see this initiative as an effective way to showcase Qatar’s agricultural success stories and to highlight our commitment to the highest international standards in sustainable agricultural production.”Meanwhile, Jassim al-Buainain, Director of Qatar Photography Center, confirmed that the 'Lens of Qatari Agriculture' competition opens new horizons for photographers to showcase their creativity and document the stages of agricultural development in Qatar. “We are confident that this initiative will contribute to strengthening the country’s position on the global map and presenting visual content that aligns with international trends supporting the environment and sustainability,” he said.Participation applications will be accepted from October 12, until the end of the photography period on January 15, 2026, and the winners will be announced on February 11, 2026, on the sidelines of the upcoming Qatar International Agricultural Exhibition.The competition will run for three months and aims to document the beauty and diversity of Qatar’s agricultural landscape through the lenses of both professional and amateur photographers alike. The winning photos will be displayed during the Qatar International Agricultural Exhibition 2026, embodying a constructive partnership between government institutions and the cultural and artistic sectors, reflecting the harmony between the Third National Development Strategy and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).