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Kuwait City (Arabic: مدينة الكويت, transliteration: Madīnat al-Kūwait), is the capital and largest city of Kuwait. It has an estimated population of 63,600 (2006 estimate) within city limits and 2.38 million in the metropolitan area. Located at the heart of the country on the shore of the Persian Gulf, and containing Kuwait's parliament (Majlis Al-Umma), most governmental offices, the headquarters of most Kuwaiti corporations and banks, it is the indisputable political, cultural and economic center of the emirate.

This is a photo of Kuwait City skyline with a beautiful (and unusual) sky on my return from Saudi Arabia. I can still picture in my mind that amazing sky I’ve seen from the plane when approaching Kuwait and recall how desperate I felt not being on land. As we landed the sky started to change colors and I tried to rush through passport control and custom check as fast as I could. When taxi brought me home, I had just enough time to drop my language there and rush to the top of my building to capture this scene, unfortunately door to the top floor was locked so I had to rush to neighboring higher building (which I have recently managed to sneak in). I still wore my lovely abaya (Arabic long black dress) as I had just arrived from Riyadh and when the guy from the reception saw me he looked really strangely at me. I didn’t have enough time to explain that I’ll be sneaking to the very top of his building so I pretended that I’m visiting someone there. I only wish welcome back to Kuwait would be as beautiful as this every time. Btw, just a small note – after trying to find best view points from high buildings during my trips in different places in the world, I realized that that there might be nice view from the very top of the building I live in. And as you can see, I was right but it took me nearly 2 years to find out. Sometimes the great things can be just behind the corner, or in this case, few floors above you.

Camera Model: Canon EOS 5D Mark II; Lens: EF17-40mm f/4L USM; Focal length: 22.00 mm; Aperture: 9.0; Exposure time: 30.0 s; ISO: 100

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The Grand Mosque is the largest mosque in the State of Kuwait. Located on Gulf Road opposite Seif Palace. Its area spans 45,000 square metres, out of which the building itself covers 20,000 square metres. The remaining area consists of gardens with a variety of flowers, plants, palm trees, fountains and waterfalls. On the eastern side there is a vast courtyard with a total area of six thousand five hundred square metres. The Main Prayer Hall is 72 metres wide on both sides, has 21 teakwood doors and lighting is provided by 144 windows. The Dome of the Grand Mosque is 26 metres in diametre, 43 metres high and is decorated with “Isma Al-Hosna”, the 99 attributes of God [Allah]. The Grand Mosque can accommodate up to 10,000 men in the Main Prayer Hall and it has a separate Daily Prayer Hall for men also. A Ladies’ Prayer Chamber is located on a level above, which can hold up to nine hundred and fifty female worshippers. There are steps and a lift for access. Its entrance gate is in the southern wall. During Ramadan, annually, 180,000 men, women and children from Kuwait and all across the globe, attend the Grand Mosque for praying together to God (Allah) at the same time during the Last Ten Nights.

You could see from one of my previous photos that I had a chance to capture the Ramadan night prayers in this beautiful mosque before, however those prayers are middle of the night which is not ideal for capturing beautiful color and light. I've asked for special permission to come to the NBK (National Bank of Kuwait) roof again, this time during much better time of day for photography. Also note that the previous photo "Sunset behind the Power Plant" was taken from very same spot, just with different lens. It is hardly visible on this shot - the power plant is in the top left corner of this photo.

Camera Model: Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Lens: EF17-40mm f/4L USM, Photo Focal length: 24.00 mm, Aperture: 18, Exposure time: 32.0 s, ISO: 100

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Karakoram is a large mountain range spanning the borders between India, Pakistan, and China, located in the regions of Gilgit, Ladakh, and Baltistan. It is one of the Greater Ranges of Asia, often considered together with the Himalaya, but not technically part of that range. The Karakoram is home to more than sixty peaks above 7,000m (22,960 ft), including K2, the second highest peak of the world (8,611 m, 28,251 ft). K2 is just 237 m smaller than the 8,848 m tall Mount Everest. The range is about 500 km (300 mi) in length, and is the most heavily glaciated part of the world outside of the polar regions. The Siachen Glacier at 70 km and the Biafo Glacier at 63 km rank as the world's second and third longest glaciers outside the polar regions.

This photo was captured at Duikar - Eagle’s Nest view point. it is one of the most amazing places I've ever visited. The thing I particularly like about this shot is the different layers and shades of colors ending up with dark silhouette of a lonely traveler at the very left bottom corner overlooking sunset of Mt. Spantik also known as Golden Peak (7027m - most attainable 7000m peak in the Karakoram). Eagle’s Nest is situated in the village of Duikar, which is preached on a 2850 meter high ridge above Altit village in Hunza valley. Eagle’s Nest is one of the best and most beautiful viewpoints in the whole of Hunza valley. Even if you don’t have time to stay long it is a must to come up to see the sunrise or sunset views on Hunza valley and Rakaposhi and the other peaks surrounding Eagle’s Nest.

Camera Model: Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL, Lens’s focal length: 18.00 - 200.00 mm, Photo Focal length: 88.00 mm, Aperture: 9.0, Exposure time: 1/1600 s, ISO: 800

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In Dubai, E 11 is known as "Sheikh Zayed Road" (in Arabic: شارع الشيخ زايد). It is the longest road in the UAE, it streches from the city of Abu Dhabi and ends in Ras Al Khaimah, running roughly parallel to UAE's coastline along the Persian Gulf. The road forms the main artery in some emirates' main cities, where it assumes various alternate names — Sheikh Maktoum Road in Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, and Sheikh Muhammed bin Salem Road in Ras Al Khaimah.

This photo was taken during photoshoot with Daniel (thank you for that). We arranged to go to 68th floor of one of the highest unfinished buildings on the Sheikh Zayed Road. It was scary and fun at the same time. I thought it is brilliant idea and since then I managed to somehow get to several unfinished buildings in Saudi Arabia and here in Kuwait.

PENTAX K20D, f/16.0, 30 sec, ISO 100, 12 mm

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Every country has its "must be photographed" locations and Kuwait is no exception. Al-Doha port is one of the most photographed and photogenic location in Kuwait. It is a place with many abandoned ships that create very nice point of interest against setting sky.

Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL, f/8, 0.006 sec (1/160), ISO 400, 18 mm

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All images are exclusive property and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transmitted, manipulated or used in any way without expressed, written permission of the photographer.

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