Nomad with a Rebel: Iman Al-dabbagh

The work of a photographer can be [positively] deceiving. One shoot may require capturing the hearts of lovers into still images while another displaying verbs rising from anti-war rallies. They tell stories through pictures. They document the injustices, promises and realities of lives everywhere from Saudi Arabia to California.

Meet rising photojournalist Iman Al-dabbagh, who strives to document both positive truths and unjust realities. She was raised in Saudi Arabia by an Armenian mother and a Palestinian father. After moving to California, she got her B.A. in Graphic Design from Cal Poly Pomona in 2004.

She has photographed weddings in Jeddah, “starving artist” types in Los Angeles and the morsels of food on her plate [that's a habit]. Learn more about Iman in the MD Spotlight.

How did you get started in photography, what attracted you to it?
Back in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia I was always interested in the humanities and arts classes. I wanted to study filmmaking, but I ended up studying Graphic Design cause it sounded “safe” (I did like it). I got into photography during college years when I attended lots of concerts and realized that I took “cool live shots” of PJ Harvey, Alanis Morissette, and other musicians. I also got into photography when I wanted to use my own photos for my Graphic Design projects. My point and shoot film camera got too expensive to deal with, so I purchased a digital one. Then I realized that I was starting to [keep a] journal with my camera, so I used that as my visual diary. I didn’t consider photography professionally until two or so years after graduation.

I’ve heard you take your camera everywhere you go, is this true? Why?
True, because I forget a lot. I’m lazy about writing, I’m very visual and not as articulate and eloquent with words. So the camera was a good, cheap and fast way to document my daily life. This started in 2004. It progressed to different ideas and projects, like photographing everything I eat and also photographing time lapse like changes that happened in the way I looked and felt in correlation with what I ate (I like making “before” and “after” pictures). I like change.

What are you working on right now?
The long-term personal food/image project; the documentation of Nisreen’s journey of recovery in California - a girl from Gaza who’s being treated in the US  through Palestine Children Relief Fund; another project that will be revealed only when it’s done; and finally, Project Souarna that I’ll talk about in depth later.

What’s a typical job like for you as a photographer?
It’s different every time.

What equipment do you always take with you to a job?
Camera, some lenses, and sometimes a flash. I also pretend that “patience” and “feeling positive” are equipment so I take those, too.

How do you secure jobs in photography?
My instant reaction [to this question is]: jksdjkdsjflsl;alS’sIswl;”a’! But really, there is no such thing in my life at the moment. Deposits work for big jobs. If I needed security, I’d have to get a government or 9-5 job. Or maybe something I’m still not aware of. But continuing to network is a good way. Some people say that’s just crazy. I think they’re right. But who says crazy is bad?

What sets you apart from other photographers? Do you have a niche?
You tell me. But what I hear people tell me all the time is that my portraits are “feel good” photos and very in the moment. People who are attracted to my work are generally NGOs, Graphic Designers, young couples, new moms, non-conforming performers, activists, poets, musicians, and artists in general. I tend to attract the “starving artist.”

Biggest challenges up to date?
Technical issues, and financial issues - I am not a business-minded person.

What do you like most about what you do?
Experiencing a fraction of other people’s joy or misery and meeting new people; changing sceneries - not being trapped in a cubicle; traveling - getting flown over to do weddings or other events; and the practicality of digital work when it comes to delivery (over the internet) - working from home and getting published worldwide.

What do you like least about what you do?
Carrying heavy and expensive equipment that cause back aches; head and eye aches after long photo shoots; and not having a consistent income.

What are your most notable milestones?
One event, I remember, [that] made me so sure about what I wanted to do with my life was the 3-day VII Photo seminar in 2006. I met the late photojournalist Alexandra Boulat, who gave me a few words of advice. When she left this world a year and a half later, it made me realize how I’ve taken people and opportunities for granted.

What’s in store for the future?
I’m not the planner type, but I do have something planned for the near future. Another international photographer, Aisha Mershani, had asked me to join her in starting a project to teach Iraqi and Palestinian refugee youth documentary photography. I’ve always wanted to work with kids because I think they are awesome people to be with and I’ve been wanting to go back to school to study Social Work. I thought I’d combine my skills and passions together. I also had always wanted to do something like this, so it’s a great opportunity and an honor to be asked to do. We called it Project Souarna (”Our Pictures” in Arabic).

Tell us about Project Souarna.
The workshop is meant to enhance the artistic and journalistic skills of young Iraqis and Palestinians growing up in refuge to show us their hidden world, and to give them a voice and give them a sense of empowerment. We are hoping that making pictures will provide them with a sense of responsibility, and increase their self-esteem and autonomy. The workshop is taking place in Amman, Jordan from mid July to mid August and we’re going to have an exhibit for their work next Spring in the US and Jordan. We’re working on the funding right now and accepting and appreciating the support. I am also currently working on putting together a curriculum and ideas for how to make this as useful and fulfilling as possible. Join our Facebook group and spread the word.

What projects have you been involved in? Tell us about your favorite/most valuable experience.
I signed up for Foundry Photojournalism Workshops in Mexico last summer because I never had the training in this field before. I can say that was a valuable experience because it was the kind of environment I needed to get me immersed into the world I’d been wanting to be exposed to. I wanted to take classes in photojournalism where I could also “work” and get assignments. Mexico was perfect in ways that also taught me how to communicate with people without even knowing the language. My awesome teacher, Guy Calaf, taught me new ways of approaching stories and presenting my work. I met many international working and student photographers and lived with complete strangers for ten days. Exactly what I was looking for. I met really brilliant people whom I am still in touch with on a regular basis.

How have you spread the word about your work?
Friends, family and acquaintances did that for me (word of mouth). But other ways include volunteering for local events in the beginning, having a website, business cards, and networking (I meet lots of people because I travel and attend many art, music, and community events).

How many clients have you had in the past? What kind of events were these?
I don’t think I can count but I can categorize them: relatives, friends, friends of friends or friends of relatives or relatives of relatives, acquaintances, community organizations, artist friends, musician and poet friends, filmmaker friends, magazine owners who are friends with someone I know, people who find me on social networking websites, people who are friends with people who find me on social networking websites, etc. The kind of events were mostly local community based (Arab, Muslim, and Armenian communities in California).

Any embarrassing or funny moments?
The first wedding I did in Jeddah, I fell on the bride while standing on a chair trying to take a higher view. It was caught on video by the videographer. No one good hurt, we all had a laugh.

Best practical advice to pass along?
For photography in general, shoot every single day and work on the technicalities and light to expand and know your niche. As for documentary photography specifically, start with what you know best and love most, start with yourself, your home, your community and surroundings then branch out (that was Alexandra Boulat’s advice to me). And if you’re in the very beginning stages, put yourself out there by volunteering and making yourself visible. Perseverance is a keyword here.

What did you do before you got into photography?
I was and still am a Graphic Designer.

What are some of your favorite causes?
Anything that’s about justice, equality, and fighting (non-violently) for rights of the underprivileged and oppressed regardless of ethnic origin, nationality, class, gender, sexual orientation, physical and/or mental appearance/condition or age.

Favorite pastime outside of work?
Photography is still a pastime even when I’m not working, but for the sake of sounding less obsessed with photography, I’d say reading, eating out (it’s true), and analyzing the deep messages behind great movies with friends.

Do you have any mentors?
Many throughout the years, really. A soon-to-be-Pastor friend has been my mentor (even though I’m Muslima). My college advisor has been my mentor. A distant cousin photographer whom I only met recently is a mentor. Mostly everyday strong people who will refuse to sit at the back of the bus.

Favorite book?
It’s hard to pick one: Orwell’s 1984, Gibran’s Spirits Rebellious, Nawal Al-Saadawy’s Awraqi-Hayati, Coelho’s Veronika Decides to Die, and Millman’s Way of the Peaceful Warrior.

Passions in life?
I’m passionate about being a progressive member of Earth (there, I’ve risked sounding like a “hippie”) and about learning more on how to be a better member of our planet. I’m passionate about making people appreciate and accept each other’s differences. I’m also passionate about reminding myself that I have the right to choose for myself and don’t have to fall into society’s expectations if I don’t want to. Also, trying to constantly stay inspired because that causes motivation, which enhances my creativity.

What inspires you to stay in this field every day?
Meeting inspirational people. Meeting messed up people. Knowing that my work is important because it can make a difference and because it’s recording history.

Who would you like to meet one day?
There were four on my list, I met two and now two more are left: Egyptian doctor/writer/activist Nawal Al-Saadawy and UC Berkeley documentary photo professor Mimi Chakarova.

Who would you like to be contacted by?
Anyone with similar interests as mine, anyone interested in collaborating on a project, whoever wants to hire me as a photographer or designer, anyone interested in funding my projects and hopefully a photo agency, like VII Photo.

Explain the name Nomad with a Rebel.
I’m constantly moving around, carrying a Canon Rebel, to make a living.

Anything you’d like to add?
Yes, thank you so much for this interview.

To contact Iman or check out her work, visit www.photosbyiman.com and www.dissentdesign.net.

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Credit: Urmi Rahman, a freelance journalist residing in California. She received her B.A. in political science with minors in English and journalism from Cal State Fullerton. Urmi, 25, is also the editor and co-founder of Minority Dreams Magazine.