The Saudi photographer, Fahd Faraj Abdul Hamid, did not expect that taking a memorial photo with his wife in the "rain room", one of the synthetic artworks in the Sharjah Art Foundation, during a visit to the Emirates, and through his mobile phone, will enable him to achieve his dream that he sought for six years This is the achievement of winning the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Award for Photography for the mobile category, which was titled "Water".
And about the story of that fourth-winning photo, Abdel Hamid said, in the beginning of his dialogue with «Emirates Today»: «I was in the Emirates with my wife, and we decided to visit (the rainy room) in Sharjah, and among the instructions for the visit, not to shoot with the camera, then documented our visit to the place from Through the phone, as I installed it on a base with the use of the timer for the camera, and I took the memorial photo, as mobile phone cameras have evolved significantly, and in the recent period I have become more eager to use the phone for photography.
He added about submitting the photo to the Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Prize for Photography: “I participated in more than one axis of the competition, and I had a feeling that this image will win, and that its subject is appropriate, so the theme associated with the competition, which is water is appropriate, and that its association with a personal memory made me optimistic Present it. ”
Old promise
Abdel-Hamid - the owner of the lens that pursues the aesthetics of buildings, nature and movement - stressed that it is not the first time that he participated in the competition, as he presented the first time in 2014, and reached the closing stage in that year without achieving victory, and since that day he promised himself to win, and the dream came true. Six years later.
As for his beginning in the world of photography, Abdel Hamid describes it traditionally, as he used to take the family's camera and take some pictures, but he actually entered the field of photography in 2010, when he started reading about the world of the picture, and he bought the first professional camera, and his relationship with the lens began to develop, through development Self, reading and books, following the world of the picture and everything new in it, along with continuous experimentation.
The Saudi photographer pointed out that despite his work in an administrative position, he is seriously seeking in the field of photography, as he loves to photograph various types of subjects, but he is more inclined to photograph buildings, nature and aerial photography, in addition to photographing the movement, where he believes that he should not The photographer is deprived of himself from the many aesthetics that exist in the world.
On starting filming, especially the architect, Abdel Hamid explained that he studies the shape of the building and reads the architect's vision about the building, describing the buildings as being incubators for humans and they are designed with a spirit that enables them to interact with them. As for the modern buildings that it picks up, it is subject to study from inside and outside, as it reflects on the percentage of lighting during the daytime periods, and how it is reflected on the building and inside it, along with the building’s body with lighting during the evening period.
He stated that some buildings visit it in more than one time to show its aesthetics differently. As for the old buildings, they are subject to the same study, but it seeks - as much as possible - to catch people wandering near the building, especially if they wear the local costume, because they interfere with the building and reflect the same culture, and see one story.
A special moment
Today, Abdul Hamid is going to use the mobile phone more in the field of photography, considering that millions of photos are published on social media every day, but there must be pictures that attract attention, and the beautiful picture is what attracts attention, whether it was taken by a professional or an amateur who does not know the techniques Photography, as the documented moment is distinctive.
And he saw that the subject is the basis for the strength and success of the image, and it is undoubtedly complemented with the moment and the spontaneous snapshot and the use of techniques and how to employ the subject in the image, so that it is within the constituent elements of the moment, to be more attractive to the recipient's eye.
And Abdul Hamid does not deny that the mobile phone can be the starting point in the world of photography, by learning about it, and starting with some simple things and applying them to the mobile, after which the person moves to the professional camera, the phone is easy to use and always at hand, and that photography through it makes one exceed some Barriers to photography in public places.
He noted that the development in the lenses, programs and filters that are used in photography is constantly evolving, and every period new technologies emerge, and the photographer must adapt these technologies to the benefit of his work, because it helps him and improves the quality of what is presented.
To celebrate art in the kingdom
The Saudi photographer, Fahd Abdel Hamid, emphasized that the openness that took place in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia witnessed the transformation of some bodies into ministries, including the Ministry of Culture, which was created years ago, and has been working remarkably on cultural mobility in various fields, including sculpting, shaping, and photographing, as well as interest in artists and opening Plastic centers.
He noted that art is widely celebrated in the Kingdom, and prizes are announced in many cultural fields, without depicting these awards and forums.
"The image's association with a personal memory made me optimistic about her presentation to the competition."
"I love photographing aesthetics of buildings, nature, movement and aerial photography."