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The lack of academic studying of photography in her country did not hinder her from following her dream and passion of becoming a photographer. Susan Baaghil in fact became the first Saudi professional woman photographer and has participated in various exhibitions worldwide. Baaghil received her high school education in the USA. With the support of her husband, she was encouraged to study photography and took her associate of arts degree from Miami Community College in Florida in 1983. “I wouldn’t be who I am now without my late husband,” she said. In the same year, Baaghil started her own professional photography studio laboratory with the latest digital equipment in Jeddah. A widow and a mother of four, two girls and two boys, Baaghil has spent more than 25 years in photography. She photographs portraits, black and white images, landscape and still photography. She is also experienced in picturing abstract, journalism, fashion, weddings, videos and montage. She has also done commercial photography pictures for various advertisement agencies. After she came back to Saudi Arabia, she taught a photography course in Dar Al-Hanan Private School. She has also conducted photography lessons for ladies and children. Baaghil has received around 20 awards and honorary certificates since 1985 among them was, the “Most Beautiful Photo” competition, portrait category for the Arab world in 1992. She presented Saudi Arabia in the International Digital Photographic Competition by Association National Art Photography ANAF in 2005 in Italy and won the first place among 15 countries. Baaghil made in 15 solo worldwide photography exhibitions; five of them took place this year. She held an exhibition earlier this year on Yemen at Dar Al-Hekma College, Jeddah. The fifty years of the good Saudi-Japanese relationships was a subject that she made her do an exhibition in Tokyo, Japan. For the same occasion, however this time with Singapore, made her hold an exhibition in Singapore. An Islamic exhibition in Oslo, Norway was held on May 14th of this year helped in changing the image of Islam in that country. Her photos held the theme “language of peace and beauty”. “People were impressed with the Islamic art I displayed through my photos and told me that I changed the stereotype that was given to Muslims as terrorists,” said Baaghil. Lately, she had a solo exhibition in Italy, Reggio Emilia in the La Villa del’Ariosto from May 20th — June 4th 2006. The Italian ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Eugenio d’Áuria, visited her gallery in Jeddah that displayed photos of monuments and places in Italy. He so invited her to display her photos in the Italian Embassy in Riyadh for the occasion of the National Italian day in the third of June 2006. “He told me that he wants to show Italy through her artistic Arabian eyes,” Baaghil said. The Italian ambassador admired Baaghil photos. “I admired her unusual way of taking photos of Italian monuments,” said. Baaghil had photos of Venice, Rome, Naples, Piza Tower and Capri. “Baaghil was so generous to offer me a picture of those taken in Italy and was more generous to let me choose among them,” d’Áuria said. He chose a picture of Capri and is looking for the location that suits its important status. More than ninety local and international group exhibitions had the stamp of Baaghil photos. The countries in which Baaghil expressed her thoughts through her photos were, Florida in the US, Switzerland, Spain, Japan, China, Denmark, Morocco, Luxemburg, Oman, Italy, England, Egypt, Lebanon, Dubai (UAE), Kuwait, Tunisia and Jordan. Baaghil told Arab News about her plans for this summer. She said that she so far knows that she will hold three exhibitions. She will hold a solo Islamic exhibition in London from July 6th-9th. Baaghil will present photos that have a touristic style in a group exhibition in Cairo. In September, she will hold a solo exhibition in Riyadh. |
