Photography is a world that captivates and inspires people from all walks of life. It is a medium that allows us to capture and share moments, memories and feelings with others through a single image. Speaking about his participation in the activities of the seventh session of the International Photography Festival (Exposure), the Saudi photographer, Talib Al-Marri, confirmed that the photographer’s skills turn fleeting shots into an amazing work of art, and that animal life is full of wonderful scenes that he discovered in his unique way, which prompted him to travel to several African countries to accomplish this. His project, which made his clear mark in this sector. In this dialogue, we learn about his experiences, inspirations, and visions in the art of photography.
* If we talk about the beginnings of your journey with photography and the field you focused on?
** I have always been fascinated by the natural world and the beauty it carries, and although the beginnings of my journey with the lens were to capture the things around me, my passion really ignited when I started focusing on animals in their natural environments, through which I wanted to combine the idea of documenting the lives of animals with creative arts, using He portrayed these animals in painting-like ways, rather than simply documenting their abstract daily lives.
* What is the nature of your participation in the activities of the seventh session of the International Photography Festival “Exposure 2023” in Sharjah?
** I am participating in my exhibition entitled “The Art of Giraffes”, which I chose because it is the completed project within my project documenting my artistic vision of the lives of several types of animals, for which I traveled to several regions in Africa. The “Giraffe Art” exhibition took me several years, from 2017 to 2022, and its aim is to convey the message that wildlife photography can create beautiful artistic images that touch the passion of art lovers.
* Why did you choose the giraffe in particular to be the hero of the scene in this exhibition, and why did you abandon the colors in the exhibition?
** I chose the giraffe for what distinguishes it in its way of living, its environment, and its calmness, in addition to the fact that the social life of the giraffe tempts the camera to capture situations and scenes that deserve documentation, in addition to that its life is full of situations and scenes that meet the goal of my project, to form aesthetic elements that we may not realize during the natural movement of giraffes.
I also decided to choose black and white for the exhibition because I see that it conveys the spirit of the photographer to the viewer without being distracted by the colors, because I want the theme of the image to be what attracts the viewer, not the techniques or colors. The black and white technique also highlights the beauty of the past and the originality that has become a desirable element in today's world.
* What challenges did you face in the project, and how did you deal with them?
** As a wildlife photographer, I faced many challenges, because the animals I was photographing were not under my control, so I had to plan my project before starting to implement it, and draw ideas in my mind before going to the field, and sometimes I had to re-take pictures several times to achieve The desired result.
* What is your advice to the younger generations of amateur photographers who want to become a professional photographer?
** My advice to young photographers is to “photograph everything.” Photographing everything in the beginning guarantees them mastery of the camera, after that they have to search well for their passion, and establish for themselves a field that they want to develop, because the world of photography has no borders, and specialization in it is required to achieve creativity.
I also advise young photographers to have their own stamp on the images they produce, and not to seek to imitate others. I encourage everyone to have their own unique style and stress the importance of enjoying photography, as it is the enjoyment of the profession and passion that guarantees the creation of great works in the future.
Saleh Shabraq (Jeddah) @shabrag1