Empty Quarter: A Photographic Journey to the Heart of the Arabian Desert

by George Steinmetz

Aerial photographer George Steinmetz, shooting from a motorized paraglider, has created an unparalleled portrait of Rub' al-Khali, or "the Empty Quarter," the largest and most likely the hottest sand desert in the world. Although only a fraction of the size of its giant neighbor, the Sahara, the Empty Quarter's punishing terrain has rarely been captured on film, and never from such a striking perspective.
Old maps, satellite images, and a dose of Arabian hospitality enabled Steinmetz to travel where few have ventured. He reveals in his photographs a true wilderness, without a single permanent human habitation or known point of water, preserved by its harsh climate and extreme remoteness, as well as a fascinating tradition of a hardy people living at its edges. For experienced travelers or explorers and for those who have never heard of the Empty Quarter, entering the heart of the Arabian Desert is truly the ultimate experience.

208 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Algernon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some real gems of landscape photography in here, but also some filler shots that capture the local colour and even some industrial scenery.
The best shots are of course the wildest ones, the aerial portrait of Rub-Al-Khali,also known as the Empty Quarter. Shot from a high point of view, at the golden hour just before sunrise or at sunset, the red tinted sand dunes are incredibly beautiful, majestic and also forbidding to the mere human. The most famous shot in the album I have already seen before, as I think it had some prizes in National Geographic: it shows a camel caravan that when you look more carefully at it, you realize it is only a play of shadows. I didn't include it here, but you can do a google search to have an idea.

I know a little about landscape photography, enough to make me green with envy that Steinmetz has been able to witness this place and capture it in all its glory. Even if I am working now in Saudi Arabia, I know that without big sponsors and local logistic support, such an adventure is beyond my means. And even if I were to go the heart of the desert, I must be honest and admit that Steinmetz is a master at composition and working in low light.

The second great bonus I got from the album is the introduction to Wilfred Thesiger, one of the the first Europeans to cross the Empty Quarter in the traditional way, on a camel with Bedu guides. I am reading now his account, and the language is amazing, the struggle much more real than modern all terrain vehicles or paragliders.

verdict: worth checking out.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing photography of the desert! I don't normally write reviews for coffee table books, but this one is amazing. The author flew over the Empty Quarter in the Arabian desert in a motorized paraglider. The result is beautiful collection of aerial photographs. The text is also really interesting. One of the most interesting portions of the book is about the Yemen city of Shibam, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is made up of 500 mud skyscrapers 5 to 11 stories high. I also enjoyed the sections about Bedouin life.