Architecture,  Art,  Monochrome Madness,  Photographic techniques,  Qatar,  Travel galleries

Gallery: seeing Doha in black and white

March 4, 2026 / 41 Comments

Black and white allows me to detach from the cliché ‘souvenir photo’ approach to photography

Guy Gagnon

There is a temptation while travelling to take only those ‘souvenir’ photos, and it’s one I often fall into. I naturally want to capture the main sights of a destination and it’s all too easy simply to point the camera at them and press the shutter while considering only the basics of composition. At the same time I do try to look for the more unusual photo opportunities, and I like to capture the details of everyday life in a city, of its buildings and anything that stands out as a little ‘different’.

Another way to avoid the stereotypical postcard shot is to shoot in black and white, as the quote above suggests. My preference however is always to shoot in colour and edit later. Even when I can ‘see’ a monochrome image, I nevertheless capture it in colour, to give me more options in post-production.  

I mentioned in my previous post that for our latest trip to Sri Lanka we decided to preface the main event with three nights in Doha. Like most cities there were sights and sounds there that leant themselves to black and white photography, so here for Leanne’s Monochrome Madness this week is a selection of them. A few you will already have seen in their original colour versions in that previous post. Do let me know which version you prefer, if any!

As always I’ve used Nik Silver Efex Pro to convert what were originally colour images to black and white. My feature photo was taken in West Bay, one of the city’s most built up areas with a wealth of interesting modern architecture.

More of the West Bay skyscrapers

Still in West Bay

Dove houses, Katara Cultural Village

In the Katara Cultural Village

Inside the Museum of Islamic Art

The Museum of Islamic Art

Another view of the Museum of Islamic Art

The Qatar National Museum, designed to resemble a desert rose rock formation

Sculpture around the flagpole at the Qatar National Museum

Pouce sculpture, Souk Waqif

World Cup sculpture

In the Katara Cultural Village

In the camel pen, Souk Waqif

In Souk Waqif

Fisherman in West Bay

Minaret reflection

On Museum Street

I visited Doha in late January 2026, before recent events made the city a rather less inviting destination; I hope peace returns to the region very soon 

41 Comments

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