It is said that ‘Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder,’ but few can epitomise this saying as well as renowned Bahraini photographer, Sawsan Taher. Being enchanted by the world of photography and human emotions, Ms. Taher has travelled around the world – to the high mountains, secluded tribal villages and spaces in between to capture beautiful images of her awe-inspiring subjects. Woman This Month’s Farah Baig caught up with her to find out where her love for photography stems from, her most memorable photography experience and more.
Your pictures have quite the story to tell, but could you start by telling our readers a bit about yourself?
I hold a Master’s degree in General Management and work as an IT Specialist at Shaikha Hessa Girls’ School. However, I am an avid photographer and have loved photography since I was a child. I pursued professional photography in 2012 and now hold the title of Excellence FIAP Gold (EFIAP/G) from the International Federation of Photographic Art, and Crown 2 title from the Global Photographic Union (GPU).
I have also participated in several local and international exhibitions and have been a member of the Bahrain Photography Club since 2014. I have been competing since 2013, with my first participation in an international competition being back in December 2014, having since won numerous awards and accolades. I’ve also held a solo photo exhibition entitled ‘Incredible India’ at the Indian Embassy complex in Bahrain on July 14, 2018. My photos have also been awarded and exhibited in many countries around the world.
That’s a wonderful journey so far, but what got you interested in photography in the first place?
I grew up in a family that loves cameras and documenting moments and occasions as they are lived. My mother was keen on having a camera ready with the film inside to take pictures at any given moment. It was she who encouraged me and helped me use a camera. When I was twelve, I borrowed her camera for the first time to photograph my friends at school and, since then, the camera has never left my side.
Aside from being inspired by my mother, my fondness for watching documentaries since my early childhood had a great impact on my future, as everything related to the human race has a great impact on directing my photographic lens. I bought a DSLR camera at the end of 2011, and began working hard to become a professional photographer.
You have visited several places around the world for your photography. Could you tell us a little bit about these experiences?
I have been traveling to capture people’s lives and meet some hidden tribes in remote areas like the Lower Omo Valley in Ethiopia. I’ve visited India a few times, starting with a visit to Leh and Turtuk in the Ladakh District in the Himalayas, located above the altitude of 10,000 feet in India. On another journey to India, I visited the Land of Maharajas, Rajasthan, and other areas like Varanasi and Agra. Finally, I visited Rangdum, an isolated region of the Suru Valley of Ladakh, India to meet the Tibetan Buddhist people who live there and also visited Kargil district to meet Muslim communities there.
Another interesting trip was one to South Korea to learn more about their contemporary culture which developed and was inspired by the traditional culture of Korea, while another notable adventure was a trip to Kyrgyzstan – one of the several routes for the Silk Road through the Tianshan and the Pamir-Altai Mountains.
Incredible! Is there a specific place you wish to visit and photograph?
Photography is my passion and I love adventure and exploration; therefore, I hope I get the opportunity to travel to different countries and be able to reach some of the remote areas and learn more about the people and their cultures. My dream is to visit Somalia and Yemen, mainly Socotra and Sana’a, among other areas I was planning to visit in 2020. These trips sadly got canceled due to the outbreak of COVID-19 around the world.
How would you describe your photographs?
I capture moments as I see them and love to show people’s emotions in their environment. I seek spontaneous and honest feelings as I believe that every image has a story and a message to tell. We live in a small world and have to understand and respect things that are different and unfamiliar to us as it not necessary that they are then mistakes or flaws. We can learn from different people and cultures in accordance with our religion, customs and traditions. Humanity is the image with which I want to reach the world away from religious or ethnic fanaticism. I hope I can speak to people’s heart to inform and educate them with my photography.
Your photography seems to be largely based on capturing human emotion, but what would you consider your favourite subjects?
I like Street, People, Portrait, Travel and Macro photography. Photographing people’s lives is closest to my heart, as I get to talk to them before I take a photo. I am often affected by people and their lives, there is so much to learn from them.
Which is the most memorable photography experience you have had?
I have lived through some unforgettable moments during some of my trips, but the one that touched my heart and soul the most is the time I met a Mursi tribe woman in 2015 when I visited the Omo Valley in Ethiopia.
When I visited the Musri tribe, who are known to be the most aggressive people in the Lower Omo Valley, I walked around to understand their lifestyle. I saw a little boy standing near a hut, made mostly from mud and branches, with a curious smile. When I approached the little boy, he ran into the hut, so I peeked from what supposed to be a door and saw a woman breastfeeding her child. The woman glanced at me and looked so incredibly exhausted she broke my heart.
With a smile and sign language I asked if I could enter the hut and she nodded in agreement. I literally had to crawl on my knees to enter the hut which was likely less than 2×2 meters with a small window; I stood looking at everything in that little place that they called ‘home’. There was animal skin on the floor, some branches for making fire, a big bowl with milk and flies all around it, a pot for cooking and some remaining sorghum. In one of the corners, there was a bottle which I assumed was water since the water they drink is usually mixed with mud. There was also a calf, which I later found out stayed in the hut, especially at night, for protection.
The place smelled so bad I could not catch a breath, and couldn’t help by wonder “How on earth do they live like that?”. I was overwhelmed with different feelings; I sat down looking at this woman who chose to live an impossibly difficult life and couldn’t stop myself from crying. I guess she probably thought I was a crazy person, sitting there in her house, looking at everything and crying. I still don’t know if I empathise or envy the simplicity of their life. As time was running out, I had to pull myself together to take some shots and again I used basic sign language to make her understand I would need her to cover up so I could take a photo. They live naked and proud and usually get offended if they are asked to cover up.
Are you involved with any photography groups or associations in Bahrain or around the world? Tell us about the role you play.
I am a member in Bahrain photography club since 2014 and by end of 2018 I became a member in the club board of directors.
Internationally, am a member in the International Federation of Photographic Art (FIAP), and member in the Global Photographic Union (GPU)
You mentioned your solo exhibition which was held at the Indian embassy. Has your work ever been showcased in any other exhibitions? Tell us about this experience.
Since 2013, my photos were awarded and exhibited over thirty times in many countries around the world. Here are just some of them:
2013- World Heritage campaign coordinated by UNESCO, Bahrain
2016- Hayat Team Photography Exhibition, Oman
2016- FIAP 33 Biennial Exhibition, Seoul Korea.
2016- The Second International Exhibition for females Photographers holders of FIAP distinction, Oman
2016- One India and thousand faces, Amaken Team with Adasa Club photography, Egypt
2016- FIAP AUSPICES 20th, Kyoto, Japan
2017- Oman Forum for GCC Female Photographers- Photographic Society of Oman
2017- Xposure International Photography, Story in Red, Sharjah, UAE
2017- Manama Capital of Arab women
2018- FIAP 34th Biennial Exhibition, South Africa.
2019- Nights Photographic 8th, Morocco
2019- World Photography Day 2019 Exhibition, India
2020- Mosques around the World, Jeddah Gallery, Saudi Arabia
2020- Inspired by Muharraq Virtual Exhibition, Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities
What is your greatest dream when it comes to your photography?
By the grace of Allah, I have achieved some of my photography dreams to date, and I ask Allah for success in whatever comes my way.
