The left hand representation has been around since the start of rock art, but in this case probably represents a connection with the hunt or a gesture that expresses a desire to dominate and appropriate the animal; the hand is also thought to be a sign of domestication.
Tombs from about the third millennium BC.
Juniper Tree – Jebel Shams.
Nikon F4 on T-Max iso 400 @ 320.
I have no idea !
These taken with available light (Not Much!) on T-Max 400 rated at 800 and developed in T-Max developer.
Fuji Neopan 400 – 55mm f/2.8 Micro Nikkor lens.
Oman’s Geological Heritage – Ken Glennie (Editor).
This is a book that is well worth reading; for anyone who has wondered how some of the magnificent rock formations found in Oman have been formed.
It has a wealth of pictures, diagrams and descriptions of Oman’s geology, from remnants of the ice age, fossils on the top of Jebel Shams to signs of a far wetter period in Oman’s history, which can be seen from rock erosion.
Meteorites from Mars, the Geodes of Dhofar, one of the largest caves in the world not to mention the abundant mineral wealth found in the country.
Update: I notice this is getting rather hard to find – for those here in Muscat, book shops still have copies.
The Musandam.
This Juniper tree was in a gully on Jebel Shams at about 8500ft – a long walk back when coming from 10000ft carrying camera gear.
Due to the exposed ground on the top of Jebel Shams; when a thunder-storm arrives, it can be quite spectacular. On the odd occasion that a Juniper tree gets hit with lightning, the whole tree just explodes because the sap boils at such a rapid rate. The result is like something out of H G Wells ‘War of the Worlds’ fun when one is indoors but rather frightening if caught outside – not to mention dangerous.
The weather on Shams can change quite dramatically around 16:00 to 16:30 at this time of the year.
Bronica S2a – Nikkor 50mm F2.8 lens.
David A Lockwood 