The Unbearable Weight Of Beginning

On Assignment: Qatar. Part 4.

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There’s a mirror in front of me in this Doha hotel room, as I write or cull the daily images on my laptop. The first few days, I tried not to look into it; I was pale, exhausted, disheveled, over-heating and over-eating. I could feel every day of my age in the thick heat. A big heavy backpack only added to the weight.

Exterior, The National Museum of Qatar, early morning. Photo by Josh S. Rose, 2022.

For the first few days we are scouting locations, getting the lay of the land, seeing how the light looks at different times of day and letting the dancers rehearse on site. I’m looking to absorb and inhabit.

Courtyard, The National Museum of Qatar, early morning. Photo by Josh S. Rose, 2022.

The first thing I want to know when I travel on assignment is what don’t I know. Qatar is…