Dubai skyline photography at SLS Dubai by Gerry O’Leary
As part of a series of ‘Before & After’ posts throughout this blog, I’ve showcased the striking differences between the ‘raw’ photograph, often taken during a recce, and the finished product. Here, I invite you behind the scenes at Carna by Dario Cecchini restaurant in SLS Dubai.
SLS Dubai is a striking, modern 75-storey tower in Downtown Dubai. Carna restaurant, helmed by the inimitable Dario Cecchini, is located on the 74th floor, providing diners with remarkable views across Dubai while they enjoy sumptuous cuts from the 8th generation butcher who truly knows a cow from tongue to bum!
As a luxury property photographer living in Dubai, my hospitality portfolio showcases a vast variety of the lavish décor and glamour the city has become known for. However, when I got the call to photograph SLS Dubai in 2021, it was particularly exhilarating. The hotel won a slew of awards within months of opening and the interiors have been crafted by the multi award-winning Paul Bishop Design so I was excited to turn my lens on it.
Rich, plush and welcoming – though not without photography challenges
Carna’s two main colour schemes are red and green – which I thought was perfect for a blog in December. Rich velvet seating invites guests to relax over dinner with wine while the warm wood and emerald green tile lend an air of opulence, particularly when enhanced with the ambient lighting.
The moment I surveyed the lounge, it was clear that photographing the space would come with its own set of challenges. During my initial walkthrough, I couldn’t help but notice the abundance of reflective surfaces — from the silver panels that adorn the wall to the light streaming through the large window (on the right of the image).
In past blogs, I’ve highlighted the importance of natural light and how I plan my shoots accordingly. Indoors, I often need to rely on creative lighting solutions to achieve the desired effect.
Crafting the composition
When conducting hotel and resort photoshoots, I usually have to account for the guests staying at the property and busy periods when footfall is high. To that end, most restaurant photography happens during the day.
In Dubai, which gets more than 3,500 hours of sunshine every year, natural light is usually flooding the space. In this case, the brightness doesn’t align with the restaurant’s intended mood, so I had to recreate a nighttime setting to achieve the desired effect.
In the ‘Before’ image, you can see how natural light is spilling in. While Carna’s large windows offer a stunning view of Dubai, they also wash out the room when captured on camera.
Although I didn’t quite ‘black out’ the windows I had to use artificial lighting to strike the right balance.
Finishing touches
I always have a member of restaurant staff or housekeeping on hand during a luxury hotel shoot. This is to ensure that every glass is sparkling and help me if I want to move furniture around.
Some of you will notice that the round table to the left in the first image does not appear in the final image. I want the image to appear as uncluttered as possible and that table could be distracting to the viewer.
If you want to read a luxury photographer’s case study on SLS Dubai, you can read more here.
As a UAE-based hospitality photographer, I am available for hotel and resort photography in the Middle East, The Maldives and India. Please get in touch to discuss if you have an upcoming project.
