About Me

I, Maisa Al Hooti, aim to preserve the heritage and culture of Oman through my photographs. Preservation is important to maintain the perfect balance of tradition and innovation in these modern times. My images, which portray my creativity and originality, are my way of promoting the Omani identity internationally. Photos that depict the Sultanate’s heritage and Ancestry are a few of my favourite subjects to shoot. I find myself drawn to people in all walks of life. I photograph the elderly to show their experience, wisdom, and struggle. I have several photos of children that express innocence and youth. Photography is not just about taking photos, it is an immersing experience, to know about my subjects and learn about their lives. These experiences give me a better understanding of myself and where I am from. We live in an era wherein change is essential, rapid, and inevitable.

We should keep up and take in the shift in this ever-changing world. We have to appreciate revolutions in order to sustain with these changes, big or small. Fashion is an area which bears major impact of change. It is fast-paced but also celebrates the genius of human creativity. Photographing these works of art is also one of my passions. I recently got into underwater photography and I do not have enough words to describe the awe I feel whenever I go diving. The beauty of Oman’s Underwater has captured by heart and it is amazing that this environment hosts several wonderful creatures. Every diving experience makes me somehow comprehend the magnificence of Allah’s creations. Right now, my focus is to bring awareness to the importance of protecting the Underwater Environment by promoting its beauty through my photographs.

I think it is very important to embrace the diversity of photography and allow the experiences we have through our pursuit of this art to make our souls wiser and richer. Portraits, landscapes, fashion photography, and underwater photography are just few aspects which all of us can explore. I believe that fully living in theses diversities and complexities is the best way to celebrate the mind and soul. That is through capturing life as a whole.

ميساء الهوتية، مصورة عُمانية، داعية للحفاظ على تراث وثقافة بلدي عُمان، مرنة بما يكفي للتعامل مع متغيرات الحياة العصرية. أعمالي الفوتوغرافية توازن بين المعاصرة والأصالة، والتصوير بالنسبة لي جواز عبور لنقل الهوية العمانية عالميًا، حُب اطلاعي على عادات وثقافات الشعوب الأخرى جعلتني أمارس التصوير بشغف، ووجدت ذلك في السفر

حِرف أجدادنا وماصَنَعته أناملهم من منتجات هي الأقرب إلى قلبي، وأجد بيني وبينها علاقة قوية، وأميل إلى تصويرها أكثر، بالإضافة إلى تصوير حياة الناس، و كبار السن، و الأطفال ، ففي حياة الناس أستمع إلى نبضِ حياتهم، وفي وجوه كبار السن أرى كفاحهم، وأرى البراءة والأمل في عيون صغارهم.
 نعيش في بيئة مليئة بالمتغيرات، و الإبداع يتزايد في عالمنا تزايداً متسارعًا، و لن يأتي تطورنا إلا بقدر إبداعنا، لذا أصبو إلى الحفاظ الموروث الشعبي مع مواكبة العالم المتغير، في كل المجالات.عالم الموضة أحد هذه المجالات التي تثبت إبداع الإنسان وهي في تطور مستمر، أميل إلى تصوير عالم الموضة ، و أجد فيه متنفسًا آخر

أجد في البحر كنزي المفقود، فالتصوير تحت الماء عالم آخر خضته مؤخرًا، وجعلني أكتشف مكنونات عُمان البحرية، حيث أن تصويري للمخلوقات تحت الماء يشعرني بالأمان، ويكسبني الجمال، وليس أجمل من مشاركة هذا الجمال وإبرازه لعيون المشاهدين تجربتي تحت الماء ممتعة جدا، لا أجيد وصفها، قد ترى مخلوقات غريبة لم يسبق لك رؤيتها، وفي كل مرة أستشعر عظمة الخالق، وهي رسالة بأهمية الوعي البيئي، لأن الحياة تحت الماء تضيف لك أشياء كثيرة، وتجعلك تفكر بطريقة مختلفة تصويري متنوع وفي مجالات مختلفة، وهذا التنوع في التصوير أكسبني قيم لا يمكن نسيانها

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Trainings & Certificates

Trainings & Seminars

• Entrepeneurship Program by Goldman Sachs, US State Department and Harvard Kennedy School
Washington DC, USA
March 2-17, 2016

• Martin Prihoda
Big Lights Photo Tour Participant, 2012
Rajasthan, India

• Georges Eid
Apprenticeship, 2008
Beirut, Lebanon

Certificates

• Higher College of Technology

• Bournemouth University

My Projects

Oman In Focus Tour

April 2014

Oman In Focus was participated by selected photographers from different countries to a Tour in the Sultanate and participate in a photography exhibition led by Maisa Al Hooti with many Supports and Collaborations of different governmental and private sectors in Oman.

Oman in Focus: Oman’s Underwater in the World’s Spotlight

April 2015

Oman in Focus II is a documentary photography tour involving seven international underwater photographers that features underwater tourism sites and sceneries in Oman.


Exhibits

“Ha Hya” Exhibit by Omani women’s Society

Under the Auspices of H.H. Dr. Mona bint    Fahad Al Said, For the Omani Women’s Day in May 2011



Rajasthan Photography Exhibit

Under the Auspices of Ambassador of India H.E. J.S. Mukul
May 2012


Oman in Focus 2014 Photography Exhibit

Under the Auspices of H.E. Yousuf Bin Alawi Bin Abdullah
• Royal Opera Gallery, Muscat International Airport, and Muscat Grand Mall

Oman in Focus: Oman’s Underwater in the World’s Spotlight

Under the Auspices of H.E. Sayyid Asaad Bin Tariq Al Said
• Al Mouj Marina and Muscat Grand Mall
• Milan-Oman Harvest Beyond Landscapes Exhibit

Recognitions & Awards

• HIPA.AE Instagram Competition Winner

Underwater Photography
(November 28, 2016)




• Union of Arab Photographers

Kuwait
Middle East and North Africa Photographers –Speaker
Oman in Focus – Oman’s Underwater in the World’s Spotlight- Lecturer
(October 3, 2016)

• Fototalks 2016 Kuwait 

Kuwait
Oman’s Underwater in the World’s Spotlight - Speaker
(March 31, 2016)

• Dubai Photo Conference

Dubai, UAE
Women Photographers of GCC - Speaker
(March 19, 2016)


• 10, 000 Women Entrepeneurship Program by Goldman Sachs, US State Department and Harvard Kennedy School

USA
Representative of the Sultanate of Oman
(March 2-17, 2016)



• Emirates Falcons Photography

First Place
United Arab Emirates



• National Committee for    the Youth

Achievement Award
Sultanate of Oman
(August 2014)


• Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum
 International Photography Award (HIPA)

United Arab Emirates
Finalist – Beauty of Light
(2013) 

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