hilde van der sterren photography

Portrait session for FREE

It is time to give back. Around this time a year I always feel like I want to give something back to the community. I am inspired by HELP project. 

The last years I choose a person/persons or a family to shoot for free. And this time I thought it is nice to ask you. Who do you think needs a free portrait photo shoot here in Muscat Oman? Is there someone special you have in mind? Someone who hasn't taken his/her portrait for a long time? Someone who deserves it, but would not do it for her/him self? Anything can be a reason. Someone who cannot afford it or someone who can use the spotlight? Someone who always gives to someone else but not for her/him self?

Send me an email at: hilde@vandersterren.net with the reason why this person deserves it and write 'free portrait' in the subject line. Depending on the numbers I will make a choice and will be in touch. 

I will do a shoot and give images for free. 

Halloween

Halloween is around the corner so we went to buy some new costumes. The kids can't wait... so exited.

Wesak | Muscat

I was invited to come to the Buddhist temple during Wesak. 

Wesak is the most important of the Buddhist festivals and is celebrated on the full moon in May. It celebrates the Buddha's birthday and for some Buddhists, also marks his enlightenment and death. Celebrations vary from one country to another. 

Here everybody was dressed in white. Of course I couldn't understand everything because it was in their local language, but it was really special to be there. 

rain in Oman | muscat child photographer

First of all; Happy New Year to you, may all your wishes and dreams come through. 

Last week I had planned to do a session on the beach with a one year old boy. We had to reschedule due to rain. Something that seldom happens in Oman, rescheduling because of the weather. It was kind of fun because my second daughter wanted to go out in the rain... and so did I ;-).

Merry Christmas

Ok it's a bit too late maybe, but anyway I would still like to wish you a merry Christmas. We spend the days with my husbands sister and boyfriend who visited us here in Oman. And we had a great time with them. They have left for the Netherlands again and with New Years around the corner... things are quite busy here as I am sure they are with everyone this time a year. Time to think about 2011....

 

beautiful light

Ok I have to admit getting out of bed at 6.20 am on  a friday morning (the Oman weekend is thursday and friday) was not really my favorite moment. But the moment I came to the beach and saw the beautiful light... it was all worth it. 

I had a family session and the sun came peeking over the mountain around 7.30 am so luckily we were done by then. 

A scary moment... or two...

We decided to make a day trip up the mountain near Fins. It was a beautiful ride. And then nearly at the top we smelled a lot of gasoline...hmmm ok. We had that before in Jabal Shams... but thought it was fixed... At the picknick stop, I mean, you have to eat right? My husband wanted to park the car just a bit different because one of the wheels was parked on a big stone.  The car would not start anymore... OK... hmm let's eat first, maybe it needs to cool down a bit. To give you an idea. You are in the middle of nowhere. This is one of the last places where you can hear absolutely nothing. Silence. Beautiful nature, great views (and no help either).

After the lunch, luckily the car started... we went on. We stopped at a cave and noticed the back tire was a bit empty. Not ideal on a steep mountain road where you can only come with a four wheel drive. We have a spare tire with us. Let's change the tire. Only to find out it has a lock on it... a lock on the spare tire and the one on the car is losing air quickly... Ok let's go down the mountain quickly... Where would this key be? We never had to use the spare tire before. Going down a steep road we saw there was no way the now nearly empty tire would hold it. A brain wave came, one of the keys had to fit. And it did.

 

Eid Mubarak

The end of the Ramadhan is near. Many already have made plans for the Eid holiday. And so I wish all, Eid Mubarak. 

 

Temperature is rising

in Oman. The hot season is about to start... Soon the days of 40+ degrees Celsius will come.