PEOPLE | interview
THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER
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.
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our pictures have quite the story to tell, but could you start by telling our readers a bit about yourself?
Sawsan Taher
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?
www.womanthismonth.com
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 September 2020
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