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Couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd pop out for a coffee! Here are a few photos from Bab Al Shams, in the desert 35km from Dubai:

1. Dunes by the driveway



2. Breakfast by the dunes



3. Gated entrance



4. Sunrise by the pool



5. A quiet corner - Majlis seating area



6. Another quiet area



7. Hotel architecture



8. More hotel architecture

Great shots Phil, what an interesting place. The colours in #1 are so natural. These are some of the sharpest images I'v seen on this forum.

Cheers

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Nikon D7000, D40X, Nikkor 18- 200 VR II, f3.5-5.6, 70-300 AF non VR, Kit Lenses.

I really like your shots. Great composition in #1 and #2. Beautiful and unique place. Compliments!

Grazie mille, Melges

I had to be a bit sneaky as I wasn't staying at the hotel - just popping in for coffee. It is National Day on 2nd December in the United Arab Emirates so there were too many flags and fairy lights over most of the hotel and grounds so I had to be selective with my shooting.

Hopefully I'll be able to get to the Empty Quarter for a sunrise or sunset in the next couple of days. The tallest sand dunes in the world are there - should be breathtaking!

Love number 1 and number 7. Some great shots.

Interesting shots & good composition.

@Phil is this a luxury Hotel or just a regular hotel ?

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Soon.....

Hi there,

i´m totally getting lost in number 1.
Never noticed before that sand dunes are so nice to look at.

greetings

@ arhusha

I think you may be dazed and confused!!!

@ Adi Zulhusni

This is a regular 5* hotel! It is owned by the same group that built the Burj Al Arab, Emirates Towers and the Madinat Complex (with 2 5* hotels in - Al Qasr and Mina A Salaam) amongst others. It's a nice setting and very expensive, but the service is terrible! It's not know as Bab Al Shambles for nothing!!!

Below are a few photos of their other hotels in Dubai, along with a few more experimenting at f2.8 at Bab Al Shams

@ Mbrandste

Sand dunes are pretty much a standard photo if you're an expat in Dubai! Along with the Burj Al Arab across the waterways of the Madinat complex and the camel warning signs by the side of the road! Below is another at f8 without pp'ing out the grasses, as I was experimenting at f2.8 in the first.

1. Pots at sundown, Bab Al Shams



2. Coffee pot, Bab Al Shams (don't know why I like it, I just do!)



3. Emirates Towers



4. Burj Al Arab across the waterways of the Madinat Complex



5. Al Qasr Hotel

Lovley pictures - classicial, and elegant. I like the "clean" look of your images; there are no disturbing elements in them. Really nice job. Did you use the 24-70 for all of these pics?

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Nikon D90 (Primary), Nikon D40 (Backup)
AF-S DX 35mm f/1,8
AF-S 60mm f/2,8 micro
AF-S DX 55-200mm f/4-5.6 VR
2 x Speedlight SB-600

Hi phil, superb shots by the way and
+1 to Solok.

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"A man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask and he will tell you the truth."

Wow - thanks for the comments!

The 24-70 was for the first 2 in the last set (coffee pot and pots). I'm really starting to love that lens, and it now stays on my camera all the time. The others were taken with the 18-105 kit lens, with the night time Burj Al Arab shot being a 3 shot stitched photo..

@Adi Zulhusni

There are a few more of Dubai hotels and sights here:

http://philpage.zenfolio.com/p85403477

Whoooo nice shots Phil, how hot is it in Dubai, I just moved back to Canada and it's kinda colder thn Switzerland.

This architecture is just wow...

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Quentin

Hey, I told you I was going to get my pro account someday!

My blog (in French!)

Unbelievably Sooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Peace,
PB7