THE OMANI SOUL

I shot these pictures in Oman, precisely during a visit to the Turtle Reserve in Ras Al Jinz. The experience was fascinating as we witnessed these fantastic animals in their safe environment. I decided to visit Oman as I was craving a much needed cultural shock and I found exactly what I was looking for, as for in Oman, the cultural background stayed pretty much unique and close to their foundations, very often accepted but not investigated. For instance, the Omanis are not very keen at being photographed during their daily routine, as it’s considered quite rude and overall not well accepted. The only times they agree to be portrayed, it’s usually in rigid poses, facing the camera, smiling. I chose then to keep a quiet point of view, silent but effective, filtered by my iPhone, shooting on long exposure in order to blur their faces and features. I wanted to capture a truthful representation of their living, while respecting their desire to be “protected”. The result is ethereal, contrasted, approximated, almost like it was brushed on a canvas. Therefore, the subjects are depersonalized, robbed of their identity, their bodies and their features. What’s left are nothing but shadows of their souls. The Omani Souls.