7th FIAP Photo Meeting, Oman 2022

By Liz Hardley FPSNZ EFIAP/g MAPS EPSA LRPS

While a large contingent of New Zealand photographers had attended the 6th FIAP Photo Meeting in 2018, held in Morocco, I was the only New Zealander to attend the 7th Photo Meeting in the Sultanate of Oman. However, being a “Nigella no mates” did not hold me back from soon making friends with photographers from other countries. After all, we all had a common interest in photography, and English is widely spoken and understood.

Travelling to Oman gave me the opportunity to sample the top-rated Qatar Airways Business class on the long flight to Muscat via Doha. Nevertheless, I still felt weary on arrival and was happy to have flown in the day before the meeting, get some rest and acclimatise to the time zone.

The Photo Meeting was attended by 180 photographers from over 25 different countries and lasted for seven days. The organisation was excellent, with substantial government involvement from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth. On arrival in Muscat I was transported from the airport to the 5-star Intercontinental Hotel on Qurum Beach, the official hotel for delegates. We were issued with welcome packs, SIM cards and a data package by Omantel, which enabled us to access the internet when wi-fi was unavailable.

On the first full day we visited the Grand Mosque and toured the Royal Opera House, opposite the hotel, both of which offered external and internal architectural opportunities. In the evening, we travelled to the Sultan Qaboos University for the opening ceremony, followed by a buffet dinner outside in the courtyard. Three meals a day were included in the package, and the food was consistently excellent.

In the following three days, we split into three groups, making the organisation of so many photographers more manageable when travelling outside Muscat. On the first day, our group visited the ancient fort and souq at Nizwa, with plenty of opportunities to take portraits, and photograph cultural activities. Later we visited the huge mediaeval Bahla fort, part of a UNESCO world site. The next day we travelled to Quarayat and photographed the impressive Wadi Dhayqa dam, and also visited the beach there to take photos of fishermen. On the following day, we travelled to the Sharqiya Sands Desert, where we stayed overnight at the Arabian Oryx Camp not in tents, but in individual stone chalets. There were various activities to photograph here, including camel racing.

Arriving back in Muscat the following day we attended the 35th FIAP Biennial B & W Event and exhibition, hosted by the Photographic Society of Oman in the new FIAP Exhibition Centre. It was exciting to see some of the photographs from the New Zealand entry exhibited. In the evening there was a “FIAP Evening” opened by

On the last full day we visited Muttrah, taking photographs at the corniche and the souk, and we were able to do some shopping. After lunch (at an Italian restaurant where we were served alcohol for the only time during the week!) we visited the National Museum and the Al Alam Palace. In the evening the closing ceremony and farewell dinner were held in the hotel grounds, and various service awards were presented.

Although it was a very hectic week I enjoyed the opportunity to participate in this event, and am looking forward to attending future meetings.