Dutch photographer Naomi Pescheux has made it her mission to document Bahrain’s people and way of life with authenticity and respect, recognising the unique responsibility that comes with photographing a culture beyond her own as an expatriate living in the country.
Through her Instagram account, the 46-year-old uses her page to preserve everyday moments as the country continues to evolve, capturing scenes that may one day become part of the kingdom’s history.
Her images feature Bahrain’s iconic ice-cream trucks, donkeys, fishermen bringing in freshly caught crabs at Nurana, children gathered around a snack kiosk in Nabih Saleh, and makeshift outdoor gathering spaces transformed into impromptu open-air majlises.
Speaking to the GDN, Ms Pescheux said expatriate photographers should approach their work with respect, humility and a willingness to learn, particularly from local creatives.
“The goal is not to define Bahrain’s identity, but to celebrate and document it in a way that encourages understanding and appreciation,” said Ms Pescheux, who works as a relocation consultant helping expatriate families settle in Bahrain. “For me, photography is a way of honouring the place I currently call home, and I believe Bahrain’s story is best told by Bahrainis themselves.”
She added that photography has also challenged perceptions of the kingdom, including her own before moving to the kingdom.
“My mother often comments on my photographs and asks why she doesn’t see more skyscrapers and glitzy buildings. The truth is that before moving to Bahrain, I probably had a similar perception myself. While those places exist, I have been happy to discover another side of the kingdom.”
Rather than focusing on landmarks, Ms Pescheux photographs the Bahrain she encounters every day, such as seaside villages, residential streets, roadside fish vendors, empty boats resting on dusty lots, locals riding horses at sunset and neighbourhood communities.
One of her favourite photographs captures an ice-cream truck parked beside Saar Mosque after Friday prayers.
“I was on my way to collect my daughter from a friend’s house when I spotted the wonderfully vintage-looking truck,” she said. “Usually, I see these trucks outside local schools, surrounded by excited children. What caught my attention was seeing adults standing around with ice-cream cones in hand. It felt quintessentially Bahraini and immediately made me smile.”
Another memorable image shows donkeys being transported through Al Qurrayah.
“I had seen donkeys many times in Nurana, but on this day I spotted a yellow trailer carrying several donkeys and started following it,” she said. “It eventually stopped at a farm. I got out of my car, asked in simple Arabic if I could take some photographs and started snapping. Before long, what had started as a wild goose chase turned into an invitation onto the farm, where I learned more about donkey racing.”
The experience, she said, reflects Bahrain’s unique contrasts.
“Different worlds coexist side by side. You can find a donkey farm a few streets away from beautiful villas and traditional houses in the centre of the capital.”
Among the places she returns to most often is Nurana, one of her favourite locations to photograph.
“Before it closed earlier this year, I spent many Saturday afternoons there with my son, watching families picnicking, fishermen, people walking their dogs and horse riders all sharing the same place.
“This photograph shows professional fishermen bringing in a catch of freshly caught crabs.”
Like many of her favourite images, she said, it was completely unplanned.
One recurring subject in her work is Bahrain’s makeshift outdoor gathering spaces, furnished with old sofas and armchairs to create impromptu open-air majlises.
“Many of the chairs look as though they have been lifted from a family living room and given a second life in the open air,” she said. “It is a common sight in Bahrain and speaks to the country’s social culture, where almost any space can become a place to gather.”
Ms Pescheux has lived in Bahrain for around a year and a half in Al Qurrayah, close to older villages including Bani Jamra, Budaiya and Diraz, which frequently feature in her photography.
Ms Pescheux is also learning Arabic, saying that choosing to live in another country comes with a responsibility to understand its language, culture and people.
To see more of her photographs follow @loomi.and.light on Instagram.
julia@gdnmedia.bh
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