Muslim women and photography aren’t often things you hear in the same sentence. Why is that?
I think that is because traditionally it has not been seen as something that a woman would do as a career choice. Often it is not because woman are not interested in photography but more due to family or societies restrictions. As well as that historically men have been the breadwinners and the ones with disposable income to invest in equipment. leaving women to take care of the home. Having said that things are changing rapidly and I have met an abundance of young female Muslim photographers recently. With a change in society with women working, developing social networks and hobbies etc. there is more disposable income and room for them to enter the industry. So I think this is a combination that we will see more and more as time progresses.
What inspired you to get snapping?
What inspired me to get snapping is actually an interesting story. I have always loved photography yet never had the confidence to really try it. However three years ago this Christmas something happened that changed my life and the way I see things forever. I remember my sister telling me to watch the news. We stared at the screen in total horror, we were watching the Israeli attack on Gaza. Immediately I started to attend the Gaza demos outside the Israeli embassy. I thought it would be a simple affair. We were fighting for a just cause, surely we would be supported?? But what I saw still shocks me to this day. I saw how the Police treated the protesters, the underhanded tactics and violence that they used. It made my blood boil…were we not there for a positive reason? I myself have been punched, pushed and even arrested by the police. I decided I wanted to get a camera, I wanted to document what was really happening at these demos. I also felt that this was a beginning of a change in our society, that people had had enough of the system and what it stood for. I wanted to document all that was going on around me. I felt that we were living in a historical time and i wanted to make sure I captured it. So off I went and splashed my savings on photographic equipment. I’ve never regretted it. What for me started out as a way of highlighting injustice has now become a major part of my life. Becoming my passion, my hobby and my career. People forget photography is not just about pretty pictures and fashion shoots, pictures are memories, they are a chance to show a true picture of our world, they are bits of history.
Whats been your favourite project so far and why?
Well I have just started work on a project that I have been planning for a while. Its a project on Muslim women and the hijab. Often society presumes that women in the hijab are somehow weak, controlled and manipulated by Muslim men, I want to tackle that stereo type. Some of the brightest, strongest women I have met are hijabis and they are such an inspiration, I want to celebrate their success and show the world there is so much more to Muslim women then they presume. The project is in its early stages but I am hoping to get some amazing sisters involved. I’ve been told about hijabi martial arts instructors, lawyers, journalists, human rights activists, performers and even stand up comedians. I just love the diversity of what Muslim women have accomplished. The reason I chose hijabi women and not just Muslim women is that there are even more stereotypes and barriers forced on these sisters. Their hijab is a symbol and I want to take it back from the critics and show the women who wear it for what they really are, strong, beautiful and a true inspiration.
What are your short and long term goals?
Short term goals….I’m currently building a wedding/event business. It’s open to all clients but is specifically geared towards the Muslim community. It will offer female photographers for segregated weddings and events and in house printing and editing for Muslim women. I am currently working on a project with a good friend Sai Photography on female only studio and beauty days. There just doesn’t seem to be anything out there for us and I want to change that. Long term wise my dream is to put together and exhibit some of my personal projects. I would love to travel and tell stories that are otherwise not mentioned. One of my long term goals is to get out to Kashmir and work on some projects with the women out there. So really my goals are a mix of starting and maintaining my own business but also to never forget why I got into photography in the first place and stay true to my social conscious.
Women have more often been featured in front of the camera, how many are there behind it?
Photography has always been a male dominated industry. Unfortunately due to that I sometimes feels it can objectify women. That is one of the reasons that I feel it is so important for women to get involved. It’s only by working from the inside can we change anything. An example of this is the fashion industry. You will find most fashion photographers are male. Their remit is often to modify the model so much that she is no longer a normal women. This leave your everyday women striving to achieve something that is utterly unattainable. Leading to low self esteem, eating disorders and depression. Objectifying and sexualising women has to stop and it will only change when the industry changes. I myself tell my clients in regards to using Photoshop that I will only do what a good makeup artist could have achieved not a plastic surgeon. The numbers maybe low now and as a women this field maybe difficult to conquer but I have the warmest feeling that in ten years time there will be a massive shift and there will be so many more of us. Also may I add how many of these young ladies are Muslim. InshaAllah in the future it will not be such an unusual thing to hear of female Muslim photographers.
Some tips for those starting out?
It’s not going to be an easy road to take so my advice is to remember nothing you really want in life is easy. Many will stand in your way. Believe in yourself and believe in Allah. Give it all you have and never ever give up. There will be good days and bad days but you have to maintain your resolve and your ambitions. You may face sexism or feel pushed aside…use that to make you stronger. Keep practising at every opportunity whether it’s taking your camera out and about or family functions as the more you practise the more you will learn.
To contact Anika for bookings and commissions email duniyaphotography@yahoo.co.uk
Or call 07949270943
Also check out her work on www.duniyaphotos.com and www.duniyaphotographt.blogspot.com
