The beauty of Dhofar known for its Khareef Dhofar Season (Monsoon Season) as well as its round the year salubrious clime, the breathtaking scenery and waterfalls, misty mountains and vibrant flora, contrasting beautifully with its classic Arabian desert, has been alluring tourists from across the world and the ever magical Salalah has been a photographer’s delight.
Dhofar Governorate, known as the jewel of southern Oman, truly captivates hearts with its diverse natural beauty, starting with the silver beaches and sprawling plains to towering mountains and golden sands. Its expansive landscape and iconic buildings on the coastal side reflect a rich heritage and ancient history, creating a mosaic that blends the charm of the past with the allure of the present.
A photographer who is enthralled by the impeccable combination of mist, unique greenery and drizzle of Salalah, captured nature to everyone’s awe and is now a cynosure of snappers around.
Meet Siraj Zidan Dharis Bech, a well-known expatriate and socialite among the shutterbugs in Salalah. Siraj Zidan is a person who is into photography and helps visitors explore the various facets of the region and enjoy the timeless beauty of Salalah.
As a traveller who spares no opportunity to travel to the less-known areas of the governorate and beyond, he is a guide for people visiting Salalah from the GCC and other countries during the Khareef Dhofar Season and he has an Instagram page called Salalah Travels and a WhatsApp group in Salalah, which has an increasing number of members.
“I wasn’t a learned photographer but couldn’t help but capture the beauty of what I see everyday and share with the rest of the world. Started off with a Kodak camera two decades ago, I now have advanced photography tools just to quench my thirst to capture the surroundings”, an elated Zidan says.
He believes that it has been a dream of every photographer to capture the intriguing beauty for its unique Khareef monsoon, which transforms arid landscapes into lush green.
For a photographer, the stunning beaches such as Al Mughsail, ancient Frankincense sites and rich cultural architecture, offer diverse subjects from dramatic landscapes and wildlife including eagles offer mesmerising astrophotography opportunities like the Milky Way.
Some of the photographs that he has captured include the Khareef Dhofar Season which runs from June to September when the region experiences a monsoon, turning dry mountains into emerald green hills, creating dramatic cascading clouds, mist-covered cliffs such as the one which is seen at Shaat and lush wadis with waterfalls like Ayn Athum and the like.
“The stunning coastlines that feature dramatic beaches like Al Mughsail, with mountains meeting the sea, powerful waves and unique blowholes which are also known as natural geysers that are fantastic for action shots”.
“Capturing the lush and arid contrast of the desert landscapes and tropical greenery allows for diverse environmental shots, from verdant forests to sun-baked sands”, says Zidan.
He believes that Salalah provides photographers like him with a dynamic canvas that shifts dramatically with the seasons, offering the thirsty shutterbugs with all the delights of natural photography.
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