By Zuwaina al Suliemani
In the northern reaches of Oman, where towering mountains meet shimmering turquoise waters, photographer Ali Harbi is behind his camera, capturing scenes of Musandam that seem more poetic than photographic. What started over 15 years ago with a humble mobile phone has blossomed into a dedicated visual journey — today, he uses a professional Sony camera and aerial drones to reveal angles few have ever seen.
Ali’s passion for photography didn’t begin with expensive gear but with an instinctive appreciation for his surroundings, especially during the winter months. As his skills grew and he experimented with different techniques, photography became more than a pastime; it became a mission — to explore, to express and to record the timeless beauty of Oman.Musandam, with its rugged mountain ranges, clear blue waters and quiet allure, remains Ali’s endless inspiration. “This isn’t just a place to shoot”, he explains. “It’s a constant source of ideas. Every view holds a new story, every sunrise reveals a secret”. Ali’s work has garnered recognition worldwide, including features on CNN and Nat Geo, which have introduced international audiences to Oman’s lesser-known beauty. He also becomes an unofficial photographer of Musandam for various organisations such as the Oman Daily Observer, capturing its landscapes for different visual stories. For him, it’s about more than personal achievement — it’s an opportunity to serve as a “visual ambassador”, sharing Oman’s stories through his lens.
Through his images, Ali aims not only to showcase nature’s beauty but to evoke the feelings it stirs — the gentle whisper of sea breezes, the hush between bird calls and the shimmering light dancing between rocks. His distinctive style has evolved through relentless exploration, self-education and countless hours waiting for the perfect light during dawn and dusk. His compositions strike a balance between technical precision and emotional depth, always seeking unobserved angles and quiet moments others might miss.
One of his most striking photographs depicts Salamah Island and its inhabitants, a seldom-captured landmass in the Strait of Hormuz. Initially aiming for a minimalist shot of its solitude, a spontaneous procession of boats sweeping across the frame added an unexpected, lively dimension. “It was like nature and humanity performing a silent ballet”, he recalls. That fleeting moment, for Ali, encapsulates his ethos: transforming transient scenes into timeless images.
He favours Sony equipment for its blend of professional calibre and field resilience, especially in difficult environments such as rugged hills or coastal cliffs. His use of drones expands his creative horizon, granting breathtaking aerial views of Musandam’s jagged coastline. Yet these tools aren’t without risk: strong winds and unpredictable weather have already claimed two drones. Still, the awe-inspiring perspectives they produce make every challenge worthwhile.
Post-production plays an equally vital role in bringing his visions to life. Ali mainly relies on Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop to enhance colours and sharpen details, carefully preserving the authenticity of each moment. For video projects, DaVinci Resolve allows him to achieve cinematic colour grading, ideal for field reports and dynamic coverage.
Looking ahead, Ali is developing new projects aimed at narrating Oman’s ecological and cultural richness through his photographs. These are more than just pictures; they are visual messages designed to open new windows onto the unseen.
To budding photographers, Ali offers simple but powerful advice: “Don’t wait for expensive gear. Start with what you have. Photography isn’t about the price tag on your camera but about how you see the world. Keep shooting. Keep feeling. Let your images tell the stories words can’t”. In every frame, Ali brings Musandam to life — not just as a place, but as a living story told through silence, colour and light.
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