Amal Al-Sibai Saudi Gazette A precious moment, a lovely image, can be captured and kept forever for inspiration and appreciation. A picture can tell a story, change your perspective, take you to far-away places, play with your emotions, and be far more effective than words. The art of photography, with all the advances in modern equipment, is being taken up by many young budding photographers in Saudi Arabia. Men may have been the first to jump onto this new trend but more and more Saudi women are rapidly catching up, showing their creative side through pictures, and creating for themselves what could prove to be a bright career. Nusibah Al-Khan is only in grade 12 but her skill at taking emotionally infused photos has put her on high demand as a female photographer in Al-Khobar. “I was first introduced to the intriguing world of photography by my brother Ibrahim who is a professional photographer. I used to watch him closely, accompany him to some of his photo shooting sessions and even help carry his equipment. That was when I was still in the intermediate level at school,” said Al-Khan. “Once I decided to borrow my elder sister's camera and tried snapping some photos of my own and from that day onwards I was hooked on to it,” she added. Being behind the lens herself and searching for the extraordinary in the ordinary was her launching point that immersed her in the never ending process of learning everything there is to know about the different cameras, accessories, add-on lenses, and several other techniques. “One of the main obstacles for me was the expensive prices of the cameras and the equipment. Also, there is a sharp shortage of official photography instructors. It is very difficult to find a professional photography course for women, and if you find one it is usually outrageously priced,” said Al-Khan. A common complaint among most amateur photographers is that creativity for girls here is mainly centered around fine arts: drawing, painting, wood carving, or decorating. Talents in fields such as photography, poetry, acting, and creative writing are not encouraged. As for the cost of the camera and its equipment, a Nikon camera, for example, with very basic properties starts at around SR2,800. The camera must then usually be continuously upgraded. Each lens has a specialized function; one lens gives much closer zoom and another offers higher clarity, and yet another can help take pictures of objects in motion. A photographer needs to buy several lenses and each one costs between SR500 to SR900, or sometimes more. Al-Khan said that people around her were very accomodating and encouraging when she started photography. Everywhere she went, her bulky black camera hung on a strap around her neck because a moment or image could appeal to her anytime. “As I started showing promising signs of fine photography skills and I shared my pictures with family members and friends, I gained a good reputation among my immediate social circle. I entered a number of photography contests and was pleased to win quite a few. People started inviting me to their special occasions, such as engagements, weddings, and graduation ceremonies, to take photos of them,” explained Al-Khan. In fact, Al-Khan has already landed several opportunities and she hopes to make a career out of her hobby. She plans to pursue taking memorable portraits of young children, designing photo albums of private ceremonies and occasions, and also taking promotional pictures of fashion products to help thriving businesswomen market their products. Partners in Al-Khan's success are her family members: her brother who first exposed her to photography and taught her the art, her mother for moral support, and her father who helped provide her with the equipment she needed. “I owe special thanks and gratitude to all the young children in my family for their endless patience in posing for me again and again while I was still practicing the art of taking the pictures perfectly,” Al-Khan said laughing. Ibtisam Hasan, another young photographer from Taif, had a different experience. She received less positive reaction from the people around her. Hasan said that people in her town are not very accustomed to seeing a Saudi woman carrying a camera, focusing and shooting here and there. “A barrier to my growth as a photographer was that most people were reluctant to see me with my camera; they also lacked confidence in my ability as a professional photographer. I wish that others could understand the joy of the photographer standing behind the lens,” said Hasan.
