Qatar National Library view of Main Floor Book Shelves

This image was taken inside the Qatar National Library. To get here, it's best to drive or take a car, but you can also take public transportation (Qatar National Library via Green Line). For either option, input the "Qatar National Library" into the car's GPS and you'll arrive at the building. If you're facing the entrance, go all the way to the top left corner of the library to capture this perspective. I also recommend referencing the GPS coordinates once you're inside so you can have guidance on where I stood for this shot. Note: You'll need permission to take photos in this building, so contact the library before your visit: https://www.qnl.qa/en.

You can visit and photograph the main floor of the Qatar National Library during any month of the year. Since it's indoors, the scene won't change seasonally.

I prefer shooting at the library in the late afternoon so there's more dynamic lighting that illuminates the interior, but you can also find similar lighting conditions in the morning and during midday.

Make sure to contact the library before visiting so you can book an appointment and get permission to photograph the building.

Since this is a library, it's important to be courteous and as quiet as possible for the people studying and reading.

I recommend photographing this space with a medium lens because it's difficult to make order of it with a wider lens. I felt focusing tighter on the interior allowed me to focus on details that showed off the architecture.

I liked having a model in my shot to bring a sense of scale to the photo. If you're traveling alone, you can also just wait for someone to pass through the frame.

There are so many different angles and vantage points to capture the library from, so make sure to walk around the entire building to see what your favorite perspective is!

The library is located in Qatar's Education City, which is an area developed by the Qatar Foundation. All within walking distance, you can find museums, satellite campuses for eight international universities, botanical gardens, restaurants and more.