Maxime Seltenrijch: Documenting Saudi's hidden beauty through her lens

In Conversation with Maxime Seltenrijch, @withmaxime

Unlike most photographers, travellers, and explorers, Maxime Seltenrijch arrived to Saudi on a yacht, and the journey that followed was full of surprises.

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Her adventure began with a chance opportunity while on one of her routine hospitality assignments, which led her to the remote islands of the mysterious Red Sea. The unplanned yet alluring journey piqued Maxime's curiosity for the country, leading her to explore the Empty Quarter alongside semi-nomadic Bedouins and then eventually soak in the beauty of Saudi’s heritage and archaeological spectacle, AlUla.

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Her Saudi introduction was not an extravagant curtain-raiser moment, but it was a humble and authentic one, fuelling her love for the country and inspiring her photography career. She subsequently embarked on an expedition of a lifetime that took her to the heart of Saudi. Since then, Maxime has been documenting the Kingdom’s rich heritage, sharing its beauty and stories with the world.

This is a glimpse of her journey as she captures the magnificence of the Empty Quarter and then turns her focus towards AlUla and its people. 

Inspired to Explore the Desert from a Yacht  

Maxime, who studied hospitality management at Hotelschool The Hague, managed to find a job on a boat as a photographer and attendant after she graduated.  

“This yacht usually only operates in the Mediterranean and Caribbean Sea,” she explains. “So, we had just finished the Caribbean season and were starting the Mediterranean one and arrived in Nice, France. And then the next day it was like, OK, we’ve cancelled all our bookings and we're heading to Saudi tomorrow.”  

Following the sudden change of plans, Maxime and the crew spent five days sailing through the Suez Canal, passing by Egypt, before finally reaching Saudi. They sailed around the developing islands of the Red Sea for four months, but she was not allowed to set foot on land during this time. Despite this, she spent her free time learning more about the Kingdom, with some stimulation from the guests on board. 

 “I was quite inspired to learn more about the country and I read a lot of books. One of these was Arabian Sands by Wilfred Thesiger, which spurred my first trip to Saudi. It's a story about a traveller who explored the Empty Quarter, and I went there in 2019, during my first visit,” she says while recollecting the budding urge to travel to the majestic deserts.  

An Authentic Introduction to the Empty Quarter 

 “It was an incredible journey. A group of Bedouins who lived a semi-nomadic life guided me,” the 32-year-old shares about her trip to the Empty Quarter. She says her guides spend winter there, with their herds passing around from pasture to pasture. In the summer, they live in their settlement outside of the desert. “They directed me through the desert and showed me the most beautiful places. It was an authentic experience because it was with real, deep-rooted Bedouins. It developed my love for the country, and I think it was a life-changing experience for me.”  

Charmed by an Enduring Culture and Heritage 

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As well as being enchanted by the rich culture and its legacy, the avid photographer felt that the frames she captured through her lens were the embodiment of her long-held aspirations. In a way, it was an inaugural milestone in her photographic journey, igniting an insatiable passion within and propelling her to dedicate the subsequent five years to meticulously documenting the rich tapestry of Saudi's heritage. 

Maxime feels that tribal members, like those from Al Menhali who reside in Saudi’s interiors, live a remote life that has remained largely unchanged for centuries, with the only significant switches being the addition of cars and phones and the establishment of small settlements. Despite this, the people remain deeply connected to their traditions and way of life, and are proud to showcase their heritage to tourists. She notes that this is a unique and wonderful aspect of Saudi culture and contrasts it with the loss of heritage and tradition in many European societies. Although her experiences in AlUla, a more developed Saudi area, were different, she feels that its locals similarly took pride in their customs and legacy, dressing up in traditional attire to celebrate their traditions.   

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 Having worked on TV shows that document the history of Arabia, like Ala Khota al-Arab (Retracing Arab Footsteps), her interests in Saudi people, their culture, history, and archaeology have shaped her choices and experiences. 

“I focus on heritage storytelling, and I like to combine those three because they've always influenced each other,” Maxime, also an experienced social media specialist and travel designer, says. “Natural heritage influences the cultural heritage, and cultural heritage influences the archaeological heritage of a country. Before I go somewhere, I like to research and read about the place through studies and books or talk with people who are working in the field. I think as a photographer, that's very important for me to try to tell a good story.”  

Awed by the Beauty of AlUla

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Saudi is truly captivating with its landscapes and history; it's no wonder that it's a photographer's paradise. AlUla, in particular, stands out as one of the most picturesque locations on Earth for Maxime, owing to its breathtaking scenery and archaeological sites. Whether it's the ancient city of Hegra or the charming mud houses of the Old Town, there is no shortage of mesmerising sights to capture on camera.  

“When I first learned about Saudi, I thought that was the place I wanted to visit after the Empty Quarter because it's just so beautiful,” she says. 
 
When asked to pick the best naturally stunning spot in AlUla, Maxime replies: “My favourite place was the oasis because it feels like you are living in a desert, and just to be in such a green place with birds flying around and the sounds of nature and water, it was very relaxing. It is beautiful, with thousands and thousands of date trees. There's not one backdrop, but I think the region itself is beautiful.” It was her preferred spot to unwind and also to interact with the locals. She further adds that the oasis always had a lot of activities going on, making it even more charming. 

While on a project there, Maxime had the opportunity to photograph various events, but the one that stood out for her was the AlUla Camel Cup. “It was interesting for me to see how they are developing the place and creating different activities to involve local people,” she says. “We shot the Camel Cup, which was quite a commercial event, but the beauty of it was that a lot of Saudis attended. It was really fun to experience. I love camels in general, but it was amusing to see how they treat theirs like royalty. They were dressed in heritage outfits, and that for me was an interesting combination. The commercial events going hand in hand with the celebration of Saudi’s heritage was interesting.” 

A Welcome to Remember

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Other than the artefacts that left the photographer in awe, there’s one thing Maxime fondly recalls about her experience in AlUla – the warmth of the people. She found herself in the desert city during Ramadan, a quiet time, and on one of her routine strolls to the supermarket, she was pleasantly charmed by an interesting encounter with the locals. “Children were playing outside with puppies, and I just went up to them to say hello and pet the puppies when one of the local women invited me. She didn't speak any English, but I went in and ended up spending five hours there,” she recalls. 

At the beginning, Maxime was there with that one woman but every 10 minutes another family member walked in. “When they took off their hijabs and burqas, they looked so fashionable and wonderful,” she excitedly recollects. “We did our makeup, perfume, and nails together!” She rejoiced after her time with the local women, enjoying the sweets, delicacies, and culture (despite not knowing the language they spoke) because they truly connected from their hearts. “I think that shows the mentality of the Saudi people. They're so curious to meet western people and show them their tradition and culture,” Maxime says.  

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 To clear misconceptions about the region, she also intends to “reframe the region positively and showcase the stories and heritage of Saudi” on her website, Arabian Moments. “I'm always shocked about how people respond so negatively about Saudi when I'm in the Netherlands. And I think through my work, I am happy to see that I can show another perspective or change people's point of view. And it's made me realise that a lot of people don't know anything about the Kingdom. It is probably home to one of the oldest civilisations in the world and it has only now opened up to outsiders, so there’s so much to explore,” Maxime concludes. 

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Life's most beautiful journeys are the ones that we don't plan for. They come to us at the mercy of fate, and it is up to us to recognise their value and cherish them, just like Maxime did.

For those who are looking to rejoice in the heritage and culture of Saudi, the photographer adds a word of advice: “People should go with an open mind. A lot of westerners are influenced by the media and other people’s judgment. I think Saudi is huge and there is a lot to discover.” 

@withmaxime