Pic(k) of the week 14: Dubai creek crossing by Abra
To me it is incomprehensible that first time visitors to Dubai, return back home without having been to the area around Dubai Creek... It is the heart of old Dubai, where it all started in the 19th century when the Bani Yas tribe first settled here. Living of the pearl industry, the creek quickly became the trading centre with boats coming from as far as India and East Africa. Even though the pearl fishing has now come to an end, the place still has an old feel to it.
Historically the creek has always divided the city in two parts, Deira to the North and Bur Dubai to the South. There are a total of 4 bridges over and one tunnel under the creek, but by far the most authentic way of crossing the creek, is by Abra; a small wooden boat which takes about 20 passengers for 1 dirham (1/4 EUR or USD) per person.
The hustle and bustle of tens of Abra's crisscrossing the creek is something that can't be missed! Tourists typically come to the area for the Spice, Gold and textile souq. But there is much more; definitively don't miss the loading and unloading the many Dhows along the Deira side of the creek. These medium size wooden ships still take goods to and from Iran, India and Pakistan on a daily basis.
The image below was shot during an Abra ride, on my way to the Dhow wharfage in Deira.
Image details:
Fujifilm X-T1 with the 23mm f1.4 lens
ISO 320, 23mm (35mm full frame equivalent), f8, 1/400s
RAW file developed in Lightroom 5.7 using the Fujifilm Classic Chrome Camera Profile
Since Fujifilm has introduced the Classic Chrome film style, I've become a great fan of it for my documentary photography work. As Zach Arias wrote in his X-100T post, it looks so William Eggleston like!
More similar images of mine can be found in a dedicated gallery called, "Life at the Creek".
Remember, "The more you know about the past, the better you are prepared for the future". - Theodore Roosevelt
BJORN
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