Local lenses bring Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve’s conservation story into focus

RIYADH — Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve is putting cameras in the hands of the people who live and work across its landscapes, empowering rangers, ecologists and community specialists to tell the story of conservation through their own eyes. Marking World Photography Day on Wednesday, the Reserve announced the completion of an intensive six-monthphotography development program designed to build local storytelling skills and document the land, sea, wildlife, people and culture that define the Reserve. **media[2753000]** “This isn't about pretty pictures. Photographic storytelling by locals at Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve is a catalyst for social and environmental sustainability,” said Andrew Zaloumis, CEO of Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve. “It brings our communities together to experiment with new ideas, ultimately shaping how the Reserve is understood, seen, and experienced from both within and without.” The initiative began with 36 members of the Reserve team completing a custom-designed two-day introduction to smartphone photography. From that group, 13 participants — nine men and four women — were selected for an advanced DSLR photography course based on their photographic eye and passion for the medium. The participants, including rangers, ecologists and community development specialists, completed the training alongside their full-time roles under the guidance of international art photographer, author and lecturer Angela Buckland. The course covered visual literacy, exposure, lens selection and other technical foundations, complemented by individual mentorship aimed at helping participants develop their own photographic and storytelling styles. Over six months, they documented daily life, landscapes, cultural heritage and major conservation milestones across the Reserve, including the reintroduction of the Red-necked ostrich, Arabian hare and Asian houbara. **media[2752998]** Among the participants was ranger Abdullah Al-Huwaiti, whose work ranges from photographing the Milky Way over the Reserve’s landscapes and documenting wildlife reintroductions to capturing the work of fellow rangers and traditions within his own family. “I think people outside the Reserve may not realize the amount of work and effort that goes into protecting nature and conserving wildlife,” Al-Huwaiti said. “Through photography, I try to show this side of the work, not only by photographing landscapes and wildlife, but also by documenting the work of the inspectors and their presence in the field, so that the images show the relationship between people and nature and the efforts being made to conserve it.” Marine ranger Salma Aziz Alqasir, another graduate of the program, has a connection to photography stretching back to childhood. Born and raised in the Reserve’s Red Sea coastal town of Duba, she received her first camera from her father at the age of nine. Today, Alqasir combines photography with her work patrolling the Reserve’s coastline, where she documents marine and bird species and helps protect turtle nesting sites. **media[2753001]** “Whether photographing dolphins, birds or the changing marine environment, it’s not just about the picture,” she said. “I keep learning about the relationship we have to the animal world and it inspires me to do my part in protecting nature.” Photography has also become an important tool for scientific observation inside the Reserve. Biodiversity and Research Manager Ali Al Faqih uses it to monitor ecosystems and is particularly interested in bird photography. In 2025, he recorded the first sighting of a White-tailed eagle in Saudi Arabia in more than 20 years. **media[2752999]** “The Reserve contains exceptional ecosystems with high biodiversity,” Al Faqih said. “We have a responsibility to demonstrate the value of this complex environment so the public can respect and protect it for future generations. Photography is an effective way to showcase and share this beauty.” The participants’ photographs have been exhibited in the Reserve towns of Duba and Al-Wajh alongside winning entries from its school art competition, which attracted more than 1,000 submissions from young local creatives. Their work is also being showcased across the Reserve’s digital platforms. The program is set to expand further, with the Reserve planning to introduce videography training and working toward a national photography exhibition in 2027.