Falconers
Aref Al-Ammari took up photography in 2002, joining the Qatar Photographic Society in the same year. He draws on extensive local knowledge to find unusual locations to photograph, aiming to communicate the essence of Qatari cultural life through his images.
Falconry is one of the strongest cultural traditions in Qatar. As well as embodying Qatari cultural pride in the pursuit of the pastime, Aref's photographs also convey the special relationship that exists between falconer and bird. He photographs the accessories of the sport – the glove (al das) and hood (falcon burqa, used to calm the bird) – as objects of art.