Some people think photography is only the press of a shutter button, though photographer Jasser Al-Jihani thinks it is an art of capturing moments. Through his camera lens, a whole world of memories and events are registered for posterity.
Al-Jihani started photography as a hobby. He earned a two-year photography diploma at the General Establishment for Technical Education and Vocational Training.
“If photography was only a press of a button, I wouldn’t have spent two years in studying it,” Al-Jihani said. “I wish that photography was better recognized in the Kingdom and that there were photography colleges in Saudi universities like universities abroad.” He still doesn’t consider himself a professional. “It will take me a long time to become a professional photographer,” Al-Jihani said. “I wonder how new photographers call themselves professionals after having only few exhibits for their works?”
After graduating in 2003, Al-Jihani worked as a photographer for Al-Madinah newspaper for a year and seven months. “Nine months ago I started working as a fingerprint photographer for Detective Inspection of the Jeddah Police. I photograph fingerprints at crime scenes,” Al-Jihani said.
He noted his current work gives him a chance to experience more kinds of photography — an experience that is worth trying. He also does advertising and fashion photography. His relationship with the camera is more than man and machine.
“My camera accompanies me all the time. Wherever I go, I take photos of anything or scene that I think is worth capturing,” Al-Jihani said. “I once took a random photo of a man driving his car, smoking and cutting his hair all at the same time. The scene attracted me, so I captured it.” For Al-Jihani, some photos can only be taken once a year during a specific season. For example, he says that to take a photo of the sky and the sun, he only can take it clearly during the three months of summer when the sky is purely blue and clear, and the sun is glowing yellow. “Some scenes and events also occur only once a year, like fireworks in Eid Al-Fitr and Haj in Makkah,” he said. Al-Jihani has staged two photography exhibits. The most recent was “Jeddah in My Eyes,” which took place at Al-Seirafi Mega Mall. The exhibit was so successful that mall management extended the display another week.
He prefers venues such as shopping centers to galleries so he can share his art with everyday people, and hopefully touch their hearts. “Our society is not yet familiar with exhibits. No one would leave his or her home only to go to an exhibit,” Al-Jihani said. “So we must go to the people if they won’t think of coming to us.”