"Sur la terre" publication - Feather and Mane exhibition - Ak Photography
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FEATHER AND MANE
Four pearls
Laura Hamilton discovers the natural talents of Doha-based
photographers, Aurélie Korady and Marie-Josée Bédard
At the tail end of last year, there was a short exhibition at the Grand approaches to photography complemented each other, and thus, a
Hyatt called Feather and Mane. You will be forgiven if you missed it, partnership was born. They find that as expatriates and photographers,
but it is not excusable to live in ignorance of the two artists behind the they can cast a fresh eye on their surroundings.
show, Aurélie Korady and Marie-Josée Bédard, two French professional
photographers living in Doha. Feather and Mane focuses on two symbols of Arabian culture: the horse
and the falcon. After moving to Doha, the two became enamoured of
After an auspicious but coincidental meeting - their children are in the the most romantic elements of traditional Qatari life. Aurélie is not
same class at school - Aurélie and Marie-Josée found that their different actively involved in falconry, although it’s something that is easily
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4. participate in, but as Aurélie and Marie-Josée explain, practice makes perfect. “It’s such a joy
to teach high school students, they’re so enthusiastic!” praises Marie-Josée. “They’re very
good at the technical side of things,” says Aurélie.
“People always say, ‘Where did you see that?’ when they see our photographs,” says Aurélie.
“It’s because photographers have to look at things harder to fi nd the shot. We take our time...
and look a little closer,” explains Marie-Josée.
For more information, visit www.aureliekorady-photo.com and www.marie-joseebedard.com
Marie-Josée Bédard ..
appreciated from afar, and a trip to the falcon
souq/hospital would certainly pique anyone’s
interest. Her photographs of falconry in
Qatar show a strong connection between
the bird of prey and its owner, juxtaposed
against a lonely background of endless
sand. The muted colours - black and white
is her preferred medium - further illustrate
the contrasts; the results are beautiful and
striking. Marie-Josée, a horsewoman herself,
offers a peek into aspects of culture that
the ordinary viewer might have missed. She
manages to both anthromorphise the equine
beauties and catch their graceful movement
on fi lm, which is no mean feat.
The two charming French women also teach
workshops. Photography has quickly become
very popular in Qatar, perhaps because it is
something that anyone with a camera can
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