Featured Photographer, Mohammed Arfan Asif FRPS

from RPS Landscape Group Magazine, Spring 2022

2021 Monthly Competition winners

The year is 1994, when Arfan first set foot on the enchanting dunes of ‘Rub Al Khali’, literally meaning the ‘Empty Quarter’, in the United Arab Emirates. At first, he saw and interacted with the dunes, making cliché images. Years later, after greater introspection and constant efforts, he arrived at a better understanding of landscape photography and how to create images in a more dynamic way.

Landscapes have always fascinated me. In my earlier days in photography, I was drawn to the outdoor genre for pictorial and portraiture work. It was the year 1994 when I first set foot on the enchanting dunes of ‘Rub Al Khali’, literally meaning the ‘Empty Quarter’, in the United Arab Emirates. At first, I saw and interacted with the dunes, making cliché images. Years later, greater introspection and constant efforts helped in arriving at a better understanding of landscape photography to create more distinctive images. With time, I was gradually able to implement certain techniques. This refinement helped me to present a personal taste as well as reflect a deep connection with the arid, mysterious and enchanting Arabian desert.

Eventually, my work with the Dunes enabled me to produce a body of work that was successfully submitted to the Landscape genre of the RPS qualifications in 2021. Indeed, a great satisfaction that a cohesive set of ‘Dunescapes’, all in monochromatic medium in square format printed on archival quality paper, connected well with the distinguished jury. The FRPS in Landscape genre was a significant marker, rather than an endpoint, in my nearly four decades of sojourn as a photo artist.

The pristine agricultural fields in Europe were another project I have been pursuing with great interest. Here the hue, in particular during autumn, has an enchanting ambiance that attracts my attention. The colour content is sometimes overwhelming to say the least and consequently may lead to mere documentation. Therefore, in such an exotic environment, it will always be challenging for the photographer to present an individualistic approach and skills.

I have enjoyed the barren as well as the lush terrains that I was fortunate to photograph and hope to continue this rendezvous of love for the land. Importantly, photographing landscapes has been both meditative as well as a very satisfying experience.

Thanks & Good Light to you, Arfan

Mohammed Arfan Asif, FRPS Member Landscape SIG Dubai, United Arab Emirates