A Moment in Time

Henry Dallal, Flying Wildebeest, (c) Henry Dallal

Photography is not my area of expertise but expertise is not always a prerequisite to see the extraordinary. This week I would like to share the artworks of two amazing photographers, both of whom I met in unexpected ways: Henry Dallal and Annette Morheng

Henry Dallal

Born in 1955 in Iran, Henry Dallal received two life-defining gifts from his parents when he was a child. His father gifted him his first camera and his mother taught him how to ride a horse. Combine this childhood love of photography and horses with the family’s love for the outdoors and adventure, and the phenomenon that is Henry Dallal - whose photograph of Queen Elizabeth II flanked by two Clydesdale horses is in the National Portrait Gallery - begins to take shape.

I met Dallal completely outside the context of the sublime and artistic, in the quotidian pursuit of a place to live for I was looking to buy a flat and he was looking to sell one. It took me all of five minutes to fall under the spell of this charismatic man (although I did not buy the flat) and about a second to fall in love with his work (his website was in the signature line of our email correspondence, and of course I looked it up).

He is the author of multiple books, including “Desert Pageantry The Royal Cavalry of Oman”, “Horse Warriors”, and “Polo at Night”. His artworks speak for themselves and you can see more of them (and more of his books) on his website at https://henrydallalphotography.com

Henry Dallal, Galloping Grey - Oman, (c) Henry Dallal

Henry Dallal, Okawango Delta - Botswana, (c) Henry Dallal

Annette Morheng

Annette Morheng is an intrepid photojournalist with a love of adventure and languages who has lived all over the world, including nine years in China and now living in India. Our meeting also occurred by chance, if there is such a thing, also outside the context of the art world. In fact, it was her kindness and love of languages that started our friendship. I was in a little store in a little Italian village, struggling to remember some basic vocabulary in an attempt to secure some cheese for dinner when Annette came to my rescue. Next thing we were having aperitivi on a lovely veranda overlooking a stellar view and getting to know each other.

Born in Luxemburg, Morheng is a polyglot who has worked as a journalist and a consultant for intercultural communication, as well as founding the Beijing Floor Art Gallery in China during her time there. Morheng’s recent book, “China, the Harmony of Colours”, published by teNeues Verlag GmbH is available on Amazon and Waterstones among others. She is currently having an exhibition of new works in India.

Her photographs speak for themselves, and you can see more on her IG at annette_morheng

Annette Morheng, A cup of warm reindeer milk for breakfast, (c) Annette Morheng

Annette Morheng, Ölgiy, Bayan-Olgiy, Mongolia, (c) Annette Morheng

Annette Morheng, At Nagaland‘s hornbill festival enjoying 17 different local tribes gathering with music and dance, (c) Annette Morheng