#Kuwait - Walking the long road - camels on Failaka island

Walking the long road - camels on Failaka Poster by NicoleBPhotography
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#Kuwait - How to make a camel sit

By the time we got here, the dust was sitting in the air like a yellow cotton ball.
Not suffocating, but there. I figured to take photos anyway, since
I don't know if I ever get back here to see things like this.

 The camelherders were getting the camel ready for transport when it managed
to slip their grasp and do a short galloping around, one foot already hobbled.
They soon got her, bound the second foot and tried to make her sit,
so the car with the crane could come and transport her to her next destination.

 Either the slaughterhouse or a new owner.

From Kuwait 2013

From Kuwait 2013

From Kuwait 2013

From Kuwait 2013

#Kuwait - More camel market

Can I eat dat?!

From Kuwait 2013

These were the photos for my Photography assignment for the 'Advanced Mentorship program for Photographers'on G+. The assignment this week contained two parts. One for 5 Intentional photos and one for 5 spontaneous ones. These were my Intentional ones, since we had it planned to go here, me for taking photos.

Mission 5 Plus Post - Intentional

One stop on my list of Places to go & things to shoot was the camel market. Ever since my friend Linda mentioned it. Yesterday she took us there.

The morning started out rainy and cloudy. Not as bad as it sounds. Turned out, the closer we got out and into the desert, the dustier it got. Add a bright sky and the results of attempted shooting will be solala. For some mysterious reason though, they didn't turn out as grainy as expected. Maybe the harsh sun helped there (the spontaneous shots, taken early morning Thursday with no dust turned out grainy, but it was hazy and no sun in sight). One day I'll figure it out.

The photos are not as clean and uncluttered as I would have wished and I would have liked to try different angles and such. BUT, the longer you stick around there, the more flies men gather around you, try to chat you up or just watch you.

Can't blame them and they kept their distance, but it makes for some uncomfy shooting. By the time I had the first 3 shots in my bag, there were about 10 men gathered around the area. We switched locations and ran into chatter mouth from Sudan (the guy in the last photo). I sure don't want to know what he tried to offer me, besides a camel ride ;-)

Overall, given the conditions, I am fairly happy with the results. I wish I could have done things different, or take the time to use a tripod et all, but sometimes you have to go with what you can get.

That is one lesson I learned during our travels. Get what you can when you can. You never know when and if you will get the chance again.

Tender Love

From Kuwait 2013

Innocence

From Kuwait 2013

We are family....

From Kuwait 2013

The man and the camel This guy from Sudan was chitchatting with me in Arabic the moment he came around the corner. I think this might have been the only second he kept his mouth shut ;-) He offered me a camel ride and many other things, I blissfully didn't understand. I can't imagine the Life these guys live here. The temperatures are still moderate right now, but I can't even fathom 50C out here. A few seem to have trailers, but most don't. And all that for 30 or 40KD per month, most of that being sent home to their families. Still a better Life than starving at home for most.

From Kuwait 2013

Say that again

From Kuwait 2013

#Kuwait - Say that again

Yeah, that's how I feel right now. Happy, but pooped and kind of 'huh?!' We had a nice 'girls' morning out. My friend Linda was kind enough to drive us around Kuwait. And I mean around. We saw the Camel market (never been there), the Flamingos, the place where they used to build the Dhows (fishing boats - never been there), the oldest mosque in Kuwait (been there, but didn't know), some of the few very old, traditional buildings left in Kuwait (need to go back!) and loads more, including a lot of information. I am grateful for this day and a very happy camper :-) Now, who's gonna edit those photos and puts up my assignment? ;-)


From Kuwait 2013

#365 - 079 / No, they are not dead

No dogs got harmed
Well, JoJo got sand dusted and they felt harmed later in the shower, but that's a different story. King was digging out the reflection of my lens, of course he could have dug through to China, not finding it, but that's also a different story ;)

#365 - 055 / Prisoner or refugee?

Many wild animals are sold under the hand or on the Friday market.
Attempts to control the illegal trade and laws against it are in place.

It still happens and people buy these animals.
Not realizing, what they get themselves into.

People here have Lions, Tigers and Alligators as pets.
Many birds, monkeys, you name it.

One day they are grown up and not only not cute any more,
but in many cases highly dangerous.

Some are lucky enough to end up in one of the two local Shelters, which is equipped to deal with some of the refugees.

My plea to the people in Kuwait is:
Please stop buying wild animals. They are not pets!
Stop buying dogs which you will dump come summer!

To the Expats:
Please refrain from buying them out of pity.
This will only encourage the sellers to 'produce' more animals.

If you want to help, please go to K's path's website (http://www.kspath.org/).
Check their Site carefully and see what options would suit you.
I ensure you, it is a wonderful place with people who care immensely for the animals.
They have many of these rescued monkeys, two Steppe Eagles, one Shikra, many many rescued dogs and cats,...
Donations and Volunteers are sorely needed.