By Alex
The city of wonders, Dubai, never ceases to amaze with one surprise after another. Its latest claim to fame is the world’s largest and tallest Ferris wheel:the Dubai Eye(Ain Dubai), set to open on October 21. This newest landmark in Dubai stands 250 meters tall, features 48 cabins, each capable of holding up to 10 people, and takes approximately 38 minutes to complete a full rotation. Visitors can enjoy breathtaking views of Dubai’s urban skyline while taking in the vast expanse of the Arabian Sea.
▲ The world’s largest and tallest Ferris wheel, the Dubai Eye, will open on October 21. (Photo by Ahmad Alnaji)
Local photographer Ahmad Alnaji has photographed the Dubai Eye multiple times since the beginning of this year, each time capturing it against different backdrops such as fireworks, moonsets, and fog. Recently, he shared his creative insights from the perspectives of storytelling and “artistic urban landscape photography.”
The Dubai Eye is situated on a man-made island in the sea, and its massive size makes nearby buildings (around 15 stories high) seem diminutive. Earlier this year, he captured the Ferris wheel during a moonset. The moonlight reflecting off the sea created a striking shadow of the wheel, though the absence of installed cabins left the image with a slight sense of incompleteness.
▲ Captured from the 90th floor of a nearby skyscraper on New Year’s Eve. (Photo by Ahmad Alnaji)
▲ The next day, he moved to the rooftop of Caesars Palace Hotel. Ahmad Alnaji. (Photo by Ahmad Alnaji)
Not long ago, Alnaji planned another moonset photo session. This time, he used the PhotoPills app to determine the date of the full moon and calculate the exact time and direction of the moonset. As a result, around 4 a.m. on September 19, he managed to take a stunning photo.
▲ Captured during a moonset when the cabins were not yet installed. (Photo by Ahmad Alnaji)
▲ Using the PhotoPills app to find the full moon date and calculate the moonset time and direction. (Photo by Ahmad Alnaji)
▲ After a long night of waiting, he finally captured this breathtaking image. (Photo by Ahmad Alnaji)
Next, he turned his focus to fog. On one particular evening, he was lucky enough to encounter fog at dusk. To enhance the visual effect, he composited several photos taken on the same day to increase the amount of fog, paying careful attention to the positioning of the sun.
▲ On one evening, he was fortunate to encounter fog at dusk. (Photo by Ahmad Alnaji)
▲ Half of the Ferris wheel appears to rise from the fog, emphasizing its massive scale. Though the composition is somewhat classic, the effect feels more dreamlike. (Photo by Ahmad Alnaji)
▲ This photo required only minimal editing to create a high-key feel. (Photo by Ahmad Alnaji)
The following photo is one of Alnaji’s favorites, taken in the early morning before sunrise using a long exposure technique. You can see the Ferris wheel rotating, turning the cabins into light trails. He opted for a monochrome composition to make the image more abstract and minimalistic, harmonizing with the hues of the fog; the colors of the fog actually come from the streetlights and building lights on the island.
▲ One of Alnaji’s favorite works, captured in the early morning before sunrise. (Photo by Ahmad Alnaji)
You can find more of his work on Instagram and Ahmad Alnaji’s personal website. Tickets for the Dubai Eye Ferris wheel start at 130 AED (approximately HK$275). For details and booking, visit the official Ain Dubai website.
Source: Ahmad Alnaji