By Default
Only a few short years ago this photo would have been nothing but desert, but today Old Town Dubai can claim the world’s tallest building, the world’s largest mall and the world's largest fountain show. (You can see the fountains springing up at the base of the Burj Khalifa)
In the distance to the right of the Khalifa are the futuristic skyscrapers that line Sheikh Zayed Road, which much like everything else in Dubai are either newly constructed or are still being constructed.
My biggest regret about visiting Dubai is that I didn’t get the classic shot looking down Sheikh Zayed Road. I had staked out the perfect position for the photograph from a cab window, which was a highway overpass that looked straight down the middle of it. It was a great location but to say that it wasn’t pedestrian friendly would be a huge understatement. It required crossing a very dangerous street, then a significant walk along a highway and then up onto the overpass with speeding cars only inches away.
My final night in Dubai I decided to give it a shot, but I quickly learned that the reward was not worth the risk so I returned to my hotel. On impulse as I walked through my lobby I asked the concierge if I could go to the roof to take some photographs and to my surprise he obliged
Anyway, this was the view from the Al Manzil Hotel roof as the sunset on my final evening in Dubai…I miss it already!
Comments and faves
Ahmad-ALattar, The Red Pill, mj_021987, Jarrah Bellucci, and 50 other people added this photo to their favorites.
Msbernal (28 months ago | reply)
wow! very impressive structure! love your treatment and composition!
AsadQ (28 months ago | reply)
Absolutely stunning mate. Love you entire stream
The Red Pill (28 months ago | reply)
What a result getting to the roof for this.One of the best ones I've seen.
Decent cloud base adds so much to the shot.
You were right not to risk the SZR shot, the driving standard is so poor over there and really not worth your life.
Philerooski (28 months ago | reply)
Something tells me this is going to be a good place for suicide by jumping off a building. But that's just me and my pessimistic mind :P
Creatific UK (28 months ago | reply)
Great shot. I recognized the angle, my friends stayed at the Al Manzil hotel last month. How did you find the rooms with the tub in the middle of the room?
ADW44 (28 months ago | reply)
Thank you...
We were actually lucky enough to stay in 1 of the 8 suites at the Al Manzil so we had a large separate bathroom. The room was amazing as was everything else about the hotel....I highly recommend staying there
all the pix (28 months ago | reply)
Thanks a lot for sharing this. It's really fascinating.
Faheem-Khan (28 months ago | reply)
WOW! Dude! This is soooo beautiful!!!
Me,Myself_and_I (28 months ago | reply)
Nice photo my friend. It's astonishing the kind of skyline growth they've had in the last decade.
Al-wazzan (27 months ago | reply)
wonderful view
romvi (27 months ago | reply)
fantastic
`'•. Alwed .•'´ (27 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Pure hearts, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
RIYADH CHOCO VOICES (27 months ago | reply)
what a wonderful world we have
keep posting for more information sharing
this is a TRULLY WORK OF ART
fixinmytie (25 months ago | reply)
great shot buddy!
Starship Catvern [deleted] (22 months ago | reply)
I love this building but utterly HATE the country of Dubai.
yohanes budiyanto (20 months ago | reply)
wow.. speechless. it looks like a different place in a different time..
great shot, Andrew :)
I would love to stay at Al Manzil for this view. For Sheikh Zayed classic shot, you could try the Four Points hotel as the top floor has balconies and it looks down to the road (and traffic). That is what I've planned initially.. will see if it is a rewarding shot next year :)
Brandon Godfrey (18 months ago | reply)
This has to be one of the best HDR's of Dubai there is. Excellent blue hour capture!
ARIUKAMO (17 months ago | reply)
Impressive HDR!
Malaz Soukkar (3 months ago | reply)
This is one great capture