IN October 2019, Rania Khodr, Head of Oman Tourism France, Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Sultanate of Oman, invited Brussels-based freelance photographer Pascal Mannaerts to visit Oman with a purpose.
Rania specifically instructed Pascal to photograph ‘inspiring Omani women and not about Oman’ and the visit was in collaboration with Asia Voyages and the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism.
Pascal later went around Oman and Muscat as he had the ability to place the human element at the heart of his work.
From the desert sands of Rimal al Sharqiya to Sidab, Nizwa, and beyond, his portraits capture their outer beauty and inner strength, sparking dialogues, evoking emotions, and provoking thoughtful contemplation.
“I came to Oman for the very first time just before the Covid-19 pandemic. I was truly amazed by the beauty of the country and its people. I particularly appreciated the grace, elegance and nobility of the Omanis. I also found Omanis to be particularly hospitable towards their visitors. The Omanis I met are like the country itself, which is absolutely beautiful and inspires respect and a deep sense of admiration,” recollects Pascal.
As a travel photographer, he collected a series of portraits of particularly inspiring Omani women. He focused on this photographic subject and it was wonderful to meet all these amazing people. “I've also travelled to some extraordinary places around the country and can't wait to go back to complete all that reporting in pictures,” he adds.
Having travelled to over 70 countries, Pascal has several projects in mind in Asia but also in Africa and in South America. He is planning to go back to India in September 2023 to the eastern states of India and their specific tribes.
Photography for Pascal has always been closely linked to travel. “I learned photography when I was travelling and I am a self-taught photographer,” he says.
Pascal studied law at university in Brussels and worked as a lawyer for more than 10 years and he travelled whenever possible during free time.
When he was back home, he shared his pictures with relatives. His photos began to be noticed and got published by some big names such as National Geographic, Géo, The Guardian, and BBC.
“I was really happy about that and I made the choice to evolve as a photographer and to follow this road, which brought me much more happiness and satisfaction than working as a lawyer in Brussels, though it was related to asylum and refugees and was also satisfying.”
He followed his passion for photography and this passion for travelling took him to Asia, India, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East and now works on assignments or on personal projects.
So now as backpacking with his camera and notebook, he has one simple and powerful dream: to discover the world.
“I dreamt of the unknown, of open spaces and adventures, of discovering different cultures. From the very beginning, I combined this desire to discover the world with my passion for photography.”
His book ‘Parchemins d’Ailleurs’, published by a major French publishing house, Hachette, in 2017, includes a selection of his 15 years of travel across five continents. The three-chapter book was a big success in Europe and distributed in Canada and the US.
He is presently working on his second book which will have pictures of his recent travels and focus on specific themes and will have a chapter on Oman about his visit.
Pascal (@Pascalmannaerts) says he is able to share all his experiences around the world through photography. “This is what drives me forward: discovering, being inspired, and creative through photography and then sharing the result of this creativity, with as many people as possible. Then the loop is complete,” he adds. Pictures by Pascal Mannaerts
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