JEDDAH: For most people, the human eye is simply a feature of the face. For Saudi photographer Ashraf Habib, it is a canvas of extraordinary beauty.
“The Gate of Sights” exhibition, which concludes on Saturday at Galleria Center in Jeddah, is dedicated to iris photography and is an extension of the vision of the Saudi photographer Ashraf Habib, founder of the “Qurrat Ain” platform.
He dedicated his project to documenting and photographing the iris as a visual signature, presenting a creative experience that blends artistic professionalism with advanced technologies, making it one of the region’s specialized and rare initiatives.
Habib reveals the intricate patterns, vibrant colors and remarkable details hidden within every eye, transforming each iris into a distinctive work of art.
The 20 images displayed in every corner of the Galleria highlight the patterns and structures of each eye, creating scenes that combine scientific precision with visual beauty.
His idea was to photograph the irises of real people, a concept that is both intriguing and fascinating.
Over the course of three years, Habib took photos of about 12,000 irises.
Speaking to Arab News, Habib, who specializes in photogrammetry, said: “A friend told me that iris photography (the macro art of capturing the intricate details and patterns of the human eye) is highly popular all over the world and there are many dedicated studios. He asked me to do an exhibition here at home.
“I liked the idea and started studying this unique art. After three years here, we are holding my first personal iris photography exhibition. I love taking these high-detail mind-blowing pictures of people’s iris. I like also how challenging it is, how technical and difficult can get.
“When you capture a person’s eye, each one is unique. A normal eye may appear black from the outside, but with different cameras and micro lenses, we reveal intricate details inside. It’s truly fascinating to see the complexity of our iris up close,” he said.
“Everybody’s eye is different. Our eyes are more unique than our fingerprints. Especially when we get this close, we can see all of the detail, all of the different colorations. People think that their eyes with one color but it’s rare that there’s actually just one color in there.”
The exhibition features large-format iris portraits that showcase an astonishing range of colors, textures and naturally occurring patterns.
Among the exhibition’s most striking displays are enlarged iris portraits that appear to transform into scenes from nature. Some resemble the vibrant petals of a sunflower radiating from its center, while others evoke the fiery crater of a volcano or the swirling motion of ocean waves.
“They are highlighting how the human eye can mirror some of nature’s most breathtaking forms,” Habib said.
At the exhibition, visitors spend several minutes examining each image before realizing they are looking at a human eye rather than a digitally created artwork.
Many attendees have also chosen to have their own irises photographed, turning the exhibition into an interactive experience that blends art, science and personal identity.
For Habib, the exhibition carries a simple message; extraordinary beauty does not always lie in distant landscapes or famous landmarks. Sometimes, it exists within the human eye itself.
