By George Raphel

A Childhood Fascination Comes to Life in Bahrain’s First Exclusive Stereoscopic Photography Exhibition

I am delighted to announce my ongoing photography exhibition ana-glyph: A Stereoscopic Journey into Bahrain’s Soul, currently on display at the Downtown Rotana Hotel in Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain. This project is especially close to my heart, as it brings to life an idea I have nurtured for 16 years, inspired by a simple toy from my childhood: the View-Master 3D viewer.

As a child, I spent countless hours peering through the View-Master, mesmerised by how those tiny image reels opened up vivid, layered worlds. That early fascination with stereoscopy never left me and quietly shaped my vision as a photographer.

Despite spending over a 20 years building a career in commercial photography, part of me always longed to revisit this nostalgic passion in my own creative way. For years, I put it off, telling myself I was too busy or worrying whether spectators would appreciate this distinctive approach.

What finally pushed me to pursue it was my deep love for Bahrain. Having lived and worked here for 16 years, I wanted to pay tribute to this beautiful country and invite people to see it and have an immersive new perspective.

Today, I am proud to present 20 large-format stereoscopic images capturing Bahrain’s iconic landmarks and hidden gems. The response has been truly heartening, with visitors expressing their delight at experiencing Bahrain in this unexpected way. I have also been fortunate to have the exhibition featured in leading print and social media outlets in Bahrain.

This journey has rekindled my creative spirit. I am currently working on two new series, which I hope to unveil by the end of this year. It is my sincere hope that this work will continue to offer viewers a fresh lens on the places they hold dear just as my childhood View-Master once did for me.

P.S. The reason I separate the word “anaglyph” is that “ana” means “I” in Arabic.

George Raphel

Photographer, Bahrain

+973 39212428

www.georgeraphel.com

The exhibition ana-glyph: A Stereoscopic Journey into Bahrain’s Soul runs until 31st August 2025, and you can read about its opening here.

Copyright © The Stereoscopy Blog. All rights reserved.