Photography has often been referred to as a silent art. A single photo can speak a thousand words. Now, photography is considered an independent art, especially in light of the new technologies.
Suzan Eskander, a Jeddah-based photographer, had the chance to display her traditional photos, on June 25, in her first exhibition at the Jeddah Meridian organized by Priority Option Group. Prince Saud ibn Khalid Al-Faisal was an honored guest at the opening and the prince said he believed such exhibitions would point the way for other young artists.
Abeer Dahran, Priority Option public relation and marketing manager, said that the name of the ‘Zoom Out’ was inspired by one of the photos taken in Johannesburg, South Africa. “We noticed that Suzan’s speciality was in taking multidimensional photos such as long roads and nature,” said Dahran. She said that some 300 people attended the exhibition’s opening and that the photographs will be on show in Serafi Mega-Mall from today.
The exhibition contains many traditional photographs of spots in the Kingdom — such as the Holy Mosque as well as natural and historic sites in the Kingdom and around the world.
Suzan got into the business 14 years ago by photographing weddings and special occasions. “Since Jeddah is full of family occasions and weddings, it was a good start for me to start with wedding pictures,” she said.
Her husband is a pilot so she has been able to visit many countries around the world. From Germany and South Africa to many Arab countries and the Kingdom, Suzan has been inspired to take pictures of natural and historic sites. Though she has been taking pictures for a long time, this is her first exhibition. “Thankfully,” she says with a happy smile, “the responses have been both enthusiastic and positive.”
Suzan believes that being a female photographer is not so difficult. In the past few years, after all, Saudi women have moved into many fields that were previously the exclusive domain of men. “Even at the beginning, I never felt obstacles in my way, “ she explained. “And now a lot of young women are trying their hands at it.”
Suzan believes that photography needs a woman’s touch and her special kind of creativity. “Men and women naturally look at things differently and obviously this is reflected in their photographs,” she said.
