LOVERS of photography can now enjoy reading and learning more about their interest through a new magazine. It will offer them tips and advice on how they can use their interest and turn it into a skill they have mastered. The photography committee “House of Photographers” of the Saudi Society for Arts and Culture has started the first Saudi magazine to specialize in photography. The magazine’s first issue will appear at the beginning of this month and its name is “Al-Zawiah” or “the angle.”
The first issue has only 16 pages but the team is hoping it will grow to 60 in the future. “I had the idea for the magazine years ago but started to really work on it just four months ago,” said Salim Ba-Sabaeen, the magazine’s managing editor
Ba-Sabaeen is a member of the committee and a member of the International Photographers Union. He participated in photography contests when he was at university studying media some 15 years ago. He still considers photography a hobby rather than a profession.
Five thousand copies were printed for the first issue of the magazine and the plan is to publish an issue every two months. The magazines will serve as a source of information for those interested in photography, whether professionals or beginners. “There are no books in Arabic in our bookstores about modern photography. Not even translations,” Ba-Sabaeen said.
The magazine also includes interviews with photographers and samples of their works. The space is open for everyone to publish their photos with their names. Ahmed Abdulwahed Trading Co is the magazine’s financial supporter and has taken care of the expenses of publishing and printing. Reporters working for the magazine are doing their job out of personal interest with no financial rewards.
“The minister of culture and information, Iyad Madani, is enthusiastic about the committee but the financing is very weak from the ministry. The budget allows us to hold one exhibition and one course only,” Ba-Sabaeen said. There has been a recent surge in interest in photography in the Kingdom and though the interest is personal, there is a need for official support. “Our sponsor is very cooperative. He will pay SR100,000 each year without waiting for a profit. The magazine is in the beginning stages and others won’t contribute unless they are guaranteed to make double what they contribute,” Ba-Sabaeen added.
There have been difficulties in collecting material. The magazine needed specialized material. It was difficult to reach some of the photographers. Some were busy working while others complained that there was no financial reward out of their participation. Nonetheless, many cooperated. One commented, “I want to serve my religion through taking photos of pilgrims at the Holy Mosque in Makkah. Some people have different views of photography. Those photos raise questions in the people’s heads about Islam.”
Creativity has no limits. A photographer can have a simple digital camera and take creative shots of places such as the desert where there are almost no features while another may use an expensive camera and be unable to produce anything creative.
Suzan Baagil, the first professional Saudi female photographer and the first member of the House of Photographers, thinks that it is good that the magazine offers useful information for readers interested in photography. “It does not depend on marketing and selling only. It also announces new photography exhibition,” she said.
All photographers can send their photos to the magazine to be published under their names, according to Saud Mahjoub, president of House of Photographers and the general supervisor of the magazine. “The magazine will raise the spirit of competition among photographers who will compete to have their pictures on the cover,” he said, adding, “Hats off to Ahmed Abdulwahed Trading Co who trusted and supported us to come up with the magazine.”
“The idea of having a magazine for the committee has been there since I was the president; however, it did not happen because of some factors, most importantly financial support,” said 22 year-old Esa Engawi. He hopes that the magazine will soon attract readers and photographers from all Arab countries; however, it needs support from the private sector. “Artistic awareness in society, especially regarding photography, is still in its first stages. It is still opposed by some people but we were glad when a royal decree stated that photography was allowed and places where it is allowed were named,” he added.
For those who oppose photography, Ba-Sabeen said, “Photos are very important to register history and nowadays advertisements use photos instead of using graphics and drawings. A photo, like any picture, can be worth 1000 words.”
Anyone, Saudi or non-Saudi, can be members of the House of Photographers. They offer seminars for both men and women. The annual fee for members is SR120 which allows them to hold exhibitions and have special discounts on courses.
The first edition of the magazine is distributed free of charge and upon request on [email protected].
