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BAHRAINI Ahmed Fathi Shahin worked day and night clicking nearly 200 photographs, at times even racing alongside horses, before capturing the mesmerising image that won him a top Arab honour.
The award-winning picture, The Beginning of a Challenge, depicts the start of an equestrian race at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir and was taken using a Nikon D850 with a 70-200mm lens.
“It was a rainy day, with scattered clouds filling the sky and chilly winter breeze swirling around,” explained Ahmed, who lives in Diyar Al Muharraq and has worked as an IT technician, multimedia designer and a web master in the past.
“I waited eagerly for the perfect moment to capture a breathtaking shot. I had been waiting for quite some time to gather the largest group of horses together. It took nearly 200 photos to finally capture the ideal moment, as I raced alongside the horses at times and they outpaced me at others.
“To achieve the desired composition, I positioned myself on the ground in the middle of the race track to capture the pyramid-like formation of the riders atop their noble steeds. The raindrops glistened on their coats, adding an ethereal touch to the scene. As they galloped gracefully, their synchronised movements created a mesmerising spectacle.
“As I gazed upon the final photograph, I felt a sense of accomplishment. It was proof that patience and perseverance could lead to capturing that one extraordinary moment that transcends time itself.”
According to the Information Ministry, ‘the prestigious award reflects the distinction, competence and professionalism of national cadres, which entitles them to compete at various global gatherings and clinch advanced positions, in light of the constant support the media personnel receive in order to motivate them to be more creative and distinguished in carrying out their message’.
“This award is my motivation to enter more high-level competitions in the near future, if God wills it,” he added, as he thanked his BNA colleague and head of the photography unit Yaqoob Al Sada for encouraging him to participate. “I will work hard to achieve greater successes and develop my skills in the future, and I am excited by the opportunities ahead.
“I aim to continue embracing the art of storytelling through my work and weaving visual narratives that leave lasting impressions.”
He expressed deep gratitude towards Royal Endurance Team captain Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa for allowing him and other photographers to participate in the wonderful horse activities in Bahrain and abroad.
He is also thankful to Information Minister Ramzan Al Noaimi for his continued support. He has thanked all those who have contributed to the development of his skills, particularly Shaikh Nasser’s media office director Tawfiq Al Salihi and BNA’s general director Abdullah Bouhaj.
For details, follow @ahmed_f_shaheen on Instagram.
