You might say Tasneem Alsultan is fearless. As an investigative photographer for The New York Times and National Geographic, her assignments take her on location in shark infested waters or infiltrating locations otherwise forbidden to women. Her own projects, which capture the intimate stories of Saudi women and weddings, evoke a fresh perspective on Saudi life rarely exposed to non-native eyes.
On this episode of Creative Risk we meet an extraordinary creator. Her defiant and bold stance has helped her build a career by championing often invisible aspects of her culture. Those fortunate enough to sit for her portraits join a brave circle of women who defy traditional notions of Saudi identity.
Tanseem inspires us to look past the superficial cultural differences that separate us towards the universal human constants of love and mortality that resonate for us all.
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Show Notes
Tasneem’s Portfolio: https://tasneemalsultan.com/
Wedding couple photo referenced in the episode:
Divers Risk Drowning and Sharks to Poach Abalone Worth $200 a Pound: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/31/world/africa/south-africa-abalone-poaching.html
Tanya Habjouqa: http://tanyahabjouqa.com/about
Arab Documentary Photography Program: http://arabdocphotography.org
Magnum Foundation: https://www.magnumfoundation.org
Prince Claus Foundation: https://princeclausfund.org
Saudi Arabia Lightens Up, Building Entertainment Industry From Scratch:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/17/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-entertainment-economy.html
Credits
- Written, produced, and edited by Gabriel Shalom.
- Recorded by Gabriel Shalom in Richmond Virginia and Tasneem Alsultan in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- Engineering and original music by Alberto de Angeli.
- Additional audio produced by Wael Al Amri.