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One of Bahrain’s top photographers has been recognised internationally for her delightful and thought-provoking shots as well as her contributions in nurturing the art form in Bahrain.
Shaikha Hanan bint Hassan Al Khalifa recently became the first Bahraini photographer to win the Excellence Diamond 1 (EFIAP/d1) distinction from the International Federation of Photographic Art (FIAP).
“I first got into photography when I was 12 and my father bought me a camera and equipment after I completed primary school,” Shaikha Hanan told GulfWeekly.
“I still have the camera, projector and monitor with its holder!”
Since becoming a professional photographer, Shaikha Hanan has had 2,465 photos accepted by the FIAP.
She first participated in a FIAP exhibition in 2004 in Luxembourg as part of a group of photographers from the Bahrain Photography Club (BPC).
The FIAP is the only photography organisation officially recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).
The organisation has a series of distinctions starting from Artist FIAP all the way to Master FIAP. For the EFIAP/d1 distinction, a candidate must have won at least 50 awards in five different countries with at least 15 different works.
“I have been a member of the BPC since 1991, and at one point, we received an invitation to attend the 2001 FIAP biennial in Italy and eight of us decided to go,” Shaikha Hanan reminisced. “The exhibition was in one of the war bunkers and there were some stunning photos there. I was a bit disappointed that we did not find any from Bahrain. I came back with a goal in mind – to represent Bahrain in these biennials and showcase our work on an international stage.”
She went on to participate at the 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018 biennials in Hungary, China, Slovakia, Vietnam, Singapore, Turkey, Korea and South Africa, respectively.
“I’m honoured to receive this distinction and it is my gift to my country, family, friends and all the photographers in Bahrain,” she added.
Shaikha Hanan’s passion in photography stems from the art form’s ability to tell stories creatively and poignantly.
Her particular passion in documentary and street photography has been highlighted in her nine photography books including Yemen from Bahraini Eyes, Japan, and Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo.
She has also published Almurada, a book about traditional Bahraini songs and dance in collaboration with Bahraini historian, poet and novelist Noora Al Sherawi.
She has been the president of BPC since 2008 and holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Southern California. She has had almost 1,800 of her photographs accepted and awarded in global competitions.
For more details, follow @bahrainphotoclub on Instagram.
