Souq Waqif Pottery & Abdullah Bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Center

This image was taken in front of a pottery market in Souq Waqif near the Old Well area. The easiest way to get there is by taking a car or a cab to Souq Waqif. Alternatively, you can also take public transportation to reach Souq Waqif. On the Gold Line, get off at the stop "Souq Waqif". Head north on Grand Hammand St and use the GPS coordinates to guide you. Once you're in the area, reference the GPS coordinates to get to this corner of the market.

All months are great to photograph the pottery market in Souq Waqif; however, be prepared for extreme temperatures if you go during the warmer summer months.

To avoid the heat of a hot day and to have the place nearly all to yourself (for photo purposes), visit during sunrise and/or early morning. The light is absolutely beautiful at this time, too. Nighttime will have the most hustle and bustle where you can really enjoy the chaos and vibe of the scene.

It was helpful to have a wide-angle lens (33mm) at this location so I could get the market and Abdullah Bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Center (the spiral tower) in the background. The alleyway where this photo was taken is narrow, so a wide-angle lens helped open up the scene.

Incorporating a model in the frame will breathe life into the photo. I recommend having them wear neutral colors, which will complement the hues of the pottery market.

Focus on the pottery, but make sure to get the tower on the left side of the image to have some additional architecture in the photo.

Msheireb Downtown Doha is close by and you can walk around admiring the mosques, museums and classic Qatar architecture. Don't forget to try some local food while you're in the area, too!