The United Arab Emirates has emerged in the latter half of the twentieth century as a country of the new millennium. Its transformation from a land that time had all but forgotten to a glittering modern nation has been rapid and spectacular. Where there were tracks in the sand, there are eight-lane highways and cloverleaf interchanges; where there were simple houses built of palm fronds and coral blocks, there are glass and steel skyscrapers; where there was a small population hard-pressed to survive on fishing, herding and trading, there is a cosmopolitan mix of nationalities living in a healthy and prosperous environment. 
It would be easy to forget the monumental strides that have been taken over the space of barely two generations. Fortunately, old photographs exist, many of them taken by pilots whose duties have brought them to the region over the years, to show the extent of the changes. 
It was while studying some of these old photos – the “then” part of the title – that John Nowell, himself a pilot and photographer, decided to try to duplicate the photographers’ location to achieve the “now” views of Now &amp; Then: The Emirates. His work has taken him through all seven emirates, both in the air and on the ground, and in the process revealed many sights and details that might easily have simply vanished with time. At Bitna, he photographed the same guard whose decades-old picture had been supplied. A spectacular geological formation in Ras Al Khaimah is still clearly visible, while elsewhere dredging has changed channels and coastline beyond recognition. 
Now &amp; Then: The Emirates provides a fascinating insight into a nation in transition, a beautiful and historical photographic record, and an inspiration for photographers in the years to come.

Now & Then The Emirates

Nowell, John J.

Zodiac Publishing

"A Day above Yemen" is a magnificent pictorial tribute to one of Arabia's most photogenic countries. It captures the breathtaking beauty of the Yemen landscape and the life of its warm and hospitable people. It gives the reader an opportunity to view this ancient land from a modern perspective. From above, the deep canyons and majestic mountains of Hadramaut, seem even more dramatic than when viewed from the land. We can marvel at the impressive architecture of the Hadramawt valley towns and wonder at the ruggedness and difficulty of journeys taken long ago by those enterprising merchants. We are able to follow their route along the coast taking in the towns of Mukalla with its main landmark of Hosn al Ghuazi and the bustling ports of Al Hudaydah and Aden. The dark volcanic coastline around Aden is particularly impressive. Travelling north, we come to the capital Sana'a with its bustling streets and imposing, picturesque, multi storied buildings. The long tradition of Sana'a as a trading centre continues to this day. The hustle and bustle of this busy city is best experienced in the dark and mysterious lanes of the old suq. Here merchants and craftsmen have traded their goods for centuries and stepping through the Bab Al Yemen (The Gate of Yemen) is like stepping back in time. People here are busy going about their daily lives, buying, selling, meeting and greeting in much the same way as their ancestors before them. The pungent vegetables and spices add an exotic aroma to this fascinating experience. The area around Sana'a is rich with agriculture; farmers and their families can be seen working their fields through out the day light hours still using traditional methods to work their land. To the east, on the coast of the Red Sea, lies Mocha, the home and origin of the coffee industry. Further north, the landscape changes and, like travelling into another world, the fields of green give way to the barren desert of this inhospitable region that is known as the Empty Quarter, the Ar Rub Al Khali, the largest sand desert in the world. Offshore in the Red Sea lie the Kamaran and Hunaysh groups of islands while some 250 km south west of Al Mukalla is a unique island location called Socotra. 
Yemen is a land of such contrasts and beauty that it is impossible to capture all its facets in one book. "A Day Above Yemen" does however give us a fascinating glimpse into and over many of its varied regions.

A Day Above Yemen

Travel

Asia

Bahrain has emerged in the latter half of the century as a country of the new millenium. Its transformation has been dramatic. The discovery of oil rescued a nation suffering from the sudden and unexpected demise of the pearling industry and transformed it into a vibrant modern state. 
It would be easy to forget the monumental strides that have been taken over the space of barely three generations. Fortunately, old photographs exist, many of them taken by pilots whose duties have brought them to the region over the years, to show the extent of the changes. 
It was while studying some of these old photos – the “then” part of the title – that John Nowell, himself a pilot and photographer, decided to try to duplicate the photographers’ location to achieve the “now” views of Now &amp; Then: Bahrain. His research has taken him all over the world followed by his photographic work in Bahrain, both in the air and on the ground. In this process many sights and details have been revealed that might easily have simply vanished with time. By the slipway adjacent to the old swing bridge, he photographed a dhow nakoudah who was born in 1904. John enlisted his help to step a mast and hoist the only traditional lanteen sail left in Bahrain. On the exposed tidal flats near the modern Grand Mosque, he photographed traditional dhows, now used for shrimp fishing, against the backdrop of modern high rise buildings built on reclaimed land. 1.2 km inland from the Grand Mosque he discovered the old original flying boat terminal, fitted with the original ceiling fans dating from the 1930s. 
Now &amp; Then - Bahrain provides a fascinating insight into a nation in continuous transition, a beautiful and historical photographic record and an inspiration for photographers n the years to come.

Now & Then Bahrain

Politics & Social Sciences

Social Sciences

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Books by Nowell, John J.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Nowell, John J.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Now & Then The Emirates

A Day Above Yemen

Now & Then Bahrain