Birkat Al Mawz (which translates to “Banana Pool”) is a historic village featuring UNESCO-listed falaj irrigation channels dating back 1,500 years, abandoned mud-brick ruins, lush date palm groves, and nice walking trails. Strategically located, it is a gateway to the mountains and one of Oman’s historically significant villages, providing the experience of a strong connection to a traditional agricultural past, preserved in the stone water channels and mud-brick houses frozen in time. These houses were abandoned 50 to 60 years ago when people moved to the coast in search of better employment opportunities.
I wanted to photograph the village and its plantations against the mountain background, but the light was poor in the afternoon when I first visited, with heavy cloud cover. I decided to come back the following day before sunrise; maybe I would be luckier. Indeed, the next day there was a brief period when sunlight broke through the clouds. I was ready at a nearby viewpoint overlooking the beautiful landscape in front of me, and I set up my camera and lens on the tripod.
I decided to photograph with a 50mm lens, which on my APS-C camera provides a short telephoto angle of view. I had to work very quickly, as the light only lasted for a few minutes. The mountains, abandoned villages, and lush plantations acquired a new life, very different from the previous day. After less than 30 minutes of this type of light, the sun was again obscured by clouds, effectively ending my photo session. However, I was fortunate to photograph this beautiful landscape in such excellent sunrise light.
