The Torch Hotel Pool

This image was taken in front of the outdoor pool in The Torch hotel, which is in Doha. The hotel is about a 20-minute drive fom the Doha City Centre, so you can either take a car or public transportation via Metro (Al Aziziyah; Gold Line) or bus (Stadium 1 Entrance; 31, 32, 136, 136A, 137, 137A). After taking your preferred mode of transportation, make your way to the entrance of the hotel. If you're not a guest of the hotel, I recommend asking the hotel staff if you can go up to the 19th floor and take a photo of the pool. It's not a public space, but if you communicate that you're there to take photos, they should let you right up to the pool!

The summer will be extremely hot, but you can visit the pool at The Torch in Doha during any month of the year.

I prefer having some shadows in my image, so for similar lighting conditions, visit in the morning or late afternoon when the sun isn't directly overhead. This is also a fantastic location for night photography!

Please kindly speak to the staff and ask if you can photograph the swimming pool if you aren't a guest of the hotel.

Shooting your photos with an ultra-wide lens is crucial here. A 24mm is not wide enough to capture the swimming-pool, the view and the roof of the floor, so make sure to go as wide as possible!

If you don't have a very wide lens, experiment with other compositions and framing. The pool has a lot of potential for other photos.

I think it looks best to stand at a slight angle so you can get the full effect of the architecture—especially the way the arch is built over the pool.

A tripod is a good idea if you're taking photos during blue hour or at night.

I highly recommend staying the night at The Torch to get the full experience. In addition to the pool, the five-star hotel has a fitness center, tea garden and (most importantly) a revolving restaurant called Three Sixty that offers panoramic views of Doha from the 47th floor.

You can also enjoy a walk in the nearby Aspire Park or browse for clothes the Villaggio Mall, which is home to more than 200 stores.