• Here is Alia al Jaberi, an eight year-old from Abu Dhabi who is performing her first Ramadan fast this year. “When I eat suhoor, I drink milk and dates to help me be patient for the day,” she says. Photo by Delores Johnson. Mark Asquith, Deputy photo editor My favorite types of assignment at The National are the ones where a photographer gets to spend a bit of time with the subject and really get under the skin of the story. This picture of a young girl observing her first Ramadan showed that wonderfully. It is the look in her eyes as she gazes in the mirror that works so well. It is honest and real, almost like she has forgotten the photographer is in the room.
    Here is Alia al Jaberi, an eight year-old from Abu Dhabi who is performing her first Ramadan fast this year. “When I eat suhoor, I drink milk and dates to help me be patient for the day,” she says. Photo by Delores Johnson. Mark Asquith, Deputy photo editor My favorite types of assignment at The National are the ones where a photographer gets to spend a bit of time with the subject and really get under the skin of the story. This picture of a young girl observing her first Ramadan showed that wonderfully. It is the look in her eyes as she gazes in the mirror that works so well. It is honest and real, almost like she has forgotten the photographer is in the room.
  • Thick fog engulfs Abu Dhabi’s Reem Island in a January cold spell. Photo by Silvia Razgova. Julie Nicholson, Assistant photo editor Early morning fog can give Abu Dhabi an ethereal feel, as the partially obscured modern architecture is transformed into a futuristic city amongst the clouds. Only the tops of the Gate Towers can be seen above the mass of fog, with a lone delivery man traveling into the mist. It all seems quiet and peaceful.
    Thick fog engulfs Abu Dhabi’s Reem Island in a January cold spell. Photo by Silvia Razgova. Julie Nicholson, Assistant photo editor Early morning fog can give Abu Dhabi an ethereal feel, as the partially obscured modern architecture is transformed into a futuristic city amongst the clouds. Only the tops of the Gate Towers can be seen above the mass of fog, with a lone delivery man traveling into the mist. It all seems quiet and peaceful.
  • Waves splashing at the Jumeirah Open Beach, Dubai, in January. Photo by Satish Kumar. RJ Mickelson, Sports photo editor Here Satish Kumar captured a well-framed, quiet moment interrupted by the aggression of the Arabian Gulf. It appears as if the waves leapt up the rocks, engulfing the onlookers and forcing them to scatter and run for safety. The spontaneity of the moment along with the heavy, ominous skies makes this a beautifully uncommon scene in the Emirates and it is my favorite image of 2013.
    Waves splashing at the Jumeirah Open Beach, Dubai, in January. Photo by Satish Kumar. RJ Mickelson, Sports photo editor Here Satish Kumar captured a well-framed, quiet moment interrupted by the aggression of the Arabian Gulf. It appears as if the waves leapt up the rocks, engulfing the onlookers and forcing them to scatter and run for safety. The spontaneity of the moment along with the heavy, ominous skies makes this a beautifully uncommon scene in the Emirates and it is my favorite image of 2013.
  • Afsana Haji, co-owner and designer of Chenille Mens, poses for a portrait with one of her kandoora designs at her studio in Jumeirah Lake Towers in April. Photo by Jaime Puebla. Olga Camacho, Arts & Life photo editor This photo by Jaime Puebla made for a great Arts & Life cover. I love the playfulness of it, and it seems to capture a bit of designer Afsana Haji’s shy personality. The simple background in the photo makes it all about the designer and the clothes. There are no distractions.
    Afsana Haji, co-owner and designer of Chenille Mens, poses for a portrait with one of her kandoora designs at her studio in Jumeirah Lake Towers in April. Photo by Jaime Puebla. Olga Camacho, Arts & Life photo editor This photo by Jaime Puebla made for a great Arts & Life cover. I love the playfulness of it, and it seems to capture a bit of designer Afsana Haji’s shy personality. The simple background in the photo makes it all about the designer and the clothes. There are no distractions.
  • A child is mimics the wings of a seagull while standing on top of a vehicle in a car park off Jumeirah Road, Dubai, in January. Photo by Sarah Dea. Olive Obina, Magazines photo editor In this photograph Sarah Dea was able to tackle the challenging tasks of taking photos of children, and of birds in flight. She captures the perfect moment when the child was framed in the shot by the seagulls. I am not fond of birds myself, but to see a child enjoying being surrounded by seagulls, the innocence, the joy, the contentment, this is enough for me to forget my bad experience.
    A child is mimics the wings of a seagull while standing on top of a vehicle in a car park off Jumeirah Road, Dubai, in January. Photo by Sarah Dea. Olive Obina, Magazines photo editor In this photograph Sarah Dea was able to tackle the challenging tasks of taking photos of children, and of birds in flight. She captures the perfect moment when the child was framed in the shot by the seagulls. I am not fond of birds myself, but to see a child enjoying being surrounded by seagulls, the innocence, the joy, the contentment, this is enough for me to forget my bad experience.

Photos of the year, 2013

Mark Asquith

December 29, 2013

  • English
  • Arabic

The National's photo editors have selected their favourite images taken by staff photographers in 2013, and explained what makes the photograph stand out.

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