Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) — When we think of camels, we often think of majestic “ships of the desert” cruising golden sands and endless dunes under the restless glow of the sun.
Therefore, when one encounters the scenes documented by the Saudi photographer, Abdulaziz Al-Shammari, he will feel that he is looking at an alternative reality.
In his works, camels appear in a bright spot in the northern regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where plants and flowers vary in the spring, with the spread of lavender and chrysanthemum flowers.
The result was a collection of images that made the camels appear to be in a “purple world”.
Al-Shammari said in an interview with CNN in Arabic: “These flowers add beauty to the place with the presence of camels that graze there.”
The professional photographer documented these scenes over the years, and said: “They were widely circulated on social media during the past five years inside and outside the Kingdom, and some foreign sites because of the strangeness of the scene, as camels were previously associated with images of the arid desert, and pictures of lavender came to change the image.” stereotyped and repetitive.”
The award-winning photographer has previously participated in many photography exhibitions in Saudi Arabia.
His images often focus on highlighting the beauty of nature and new areas that embody the kingdom’s uniqueness with its rare terrain and different seasons.
These creatures are considered an essential part of the Saudi heritage and history thanks to their close association with humans in the Arabian Peninsula, as they contributed to providing their livelihoods and supporting them in adapting to difficult environmental conditions, according to the official government website of the Saudi Camel Club.
The importance of camels in the country appears during heritage events such as the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival, which started in early December 2022.
According to the official website of the Saudi Press Agency, “SPA”, the festival, in its seventh edition, was a tourist destination for many foreign visitors and residents.
The traditional markets and the camel supplies area were a destination for many visitors, who got acquainted with the camel belongings and accessories.
