A photo of photographer by Samy Olabi by Samy OlabiDubai Culture & Arts Authority
“What I like most about Astro-photography, it is going back to your origins. When you go on an astrophotography trip, you disconnect from all life’s stresses, from all telecommunications, from civilization… and you go back to nature.”
In Focus - Samy OlabiDubai Culture & Arts Authority
A photo of photographer by Samy Olabi by Samy OlabiDubai Culture & Arts Authority
Samy Al Olabi is an Egyptian-Syrian award-winning astrophotographer who has made Dubai his home. Once a construction manager, he kept building on his hobby till it became a profession on its own.
Today, his body of work is considered among the best in the region and an industry benchmark.
Samy Olabi in the desert at night by Samy by Samy OlabiDubai Culture & Arts Authority
His passion of many years began as a means to escape the stresses of life. A trip for Astro-photography was a call to disconnect from civilization to find solace in nature. “The best thing I love about photography,” he says, “it is a silent language everybody understands.”
Al Olabi sees astrophotography as a combination of artistic aspects, photographic aspects and adventure. It allows him to visually translate something people wouldn’t get to see in normal circumstances.
He adopts a style that abstains from blending or adding artificial elements and extreme post-processing.
Seasoned by experience, he urges budding photographers to get out of their comfort zone. “Equipment is not the key element for success in photography,” he reminds them. “You have to keep looking for scenes and new ideas rather than thinking what is my next lens or next camera."
Samy olabi in the desert with Camping by Samy by Samy olabiDubai Culture & Arts Authority
The photos and articles of Al Olabi are regularly featured in national and international media like Practical Photography Magazine, Petapixel, BCC Sky At Night and CNN.
He won several competitions including the UAE Environmental Photography contest in 2014.
In recent years, Al Olabi has been marking his presence through lectures and workshops. He has led the coverage of many important astronomical events, including the longest total lunar eclipse of the century in 2018.
Samy Al Olabi finds a favourable environment in Dubai that nurtures innovation with exhibitions, seminars and organizations that encourage the passion for photography.
Besides the mystical skies, Samy also showcases the landscape of United Arab Emirates and Egypt, as never seen before.
A photo of Expo by Samy Al Olabi by Samy Al OlabiDubai Culture & Arts Authority
An experimental project, “Heaven and Earth” successfully attempted to capture the star movements and Nebulas from the center of Expo2020 in Dubai.
The Orion Nebula by Samy Al Olabi by Samy Al OlabiDubai Culture & Arts Authority
Al Olabi sees astrophotography as a combination of artistic aspects, photographic aspects and adventure – captured here is the Orion Nebula.
Wadi Al-Hitan, a remote Saharan valley by Samy Al Olabi by Samy Al OlabiDubai Culture & Arts Authority
Samy Al Olabi uses astrophotography to visually translate what people wouldn’t normally get to see. [Wadi Al-Hitan, a remote Saharan valley that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site].
Dibba-Fujairah in the UAE by Samy Al Olabi by Samy Al OlabiDubai Culture & Arts Authority
Al Olabi considers Astro-photography as a call to disconnect from civilization to find solace in nature. This picture was taken in Dibba-Fujairah in the UAE.
