11 December, 2018
The majority of images we see of Afghanistan, Yemen, Mali and Syria are through the lenses of professional photographers. And in conflict zones, almost without exception, photographers are photojournalists working for papers and agencies with an interest in gathering images covering war and politics. ISHKAR's latest initiative is challenging this status quo and giving talented local photographers a new outlet for their work.
Every four months, ISHKAR will select and publish images under a new theme; this first edition's focus is architecture. There has been widespread coverage of war's impact on ancient architecture like the Buddhas of Bamiyan or Palmyra in the international media, however many of the photographers in this series chose not to make these their principal subjects. Instead many of the images focus on the architecture which surrounds their everyday lives.
ISHKAR found the selected photographers through social media channels and recommendations from friends. The photographers' level of experience varies greatly; some are professionals working for news or advertising agencies, others are talented amateurs taking lower resolution photographs on their phones. Nevertheless, whatever their background ISHKAR's objective remains the same - to give photographers a new platform where they can tell their stories.
All of the photographs are available as individual prints or bespoke framed editions here.
