Interview: Photographer Farida Farhat (Libya, North Africa)

Can you tell us little About you?

My name is Farida ,I was born in Italy, and grow up in Libya , I lived in a couple of places Libya, Italy , I

am resident in Canada , and now I am in Egypt for a year. I was graduated from Engineering , then I have a second degree in Information Technology . I love reading , sport , and traveling.

How and when did you get into photography?

It was shortly after finishing University , which was 4 years ago , I had friends who were photographers and encouraged me to go out and shoot together and the rest is history.

What does photography mean to you?

Photography made me open my horizon in a new challenging way , as I don’t have any background in

Art, I just felt comfortable with it, and became quite obsessive about it and thought about photography all the time. It was one of those things whereas you love it so much, then maybe you should do it. For me, my camera is not simply a box constructed of electronics, metal, and glass — a box that is ergonomically designed with dials, buttons, and an LCD monitor. Rather, I look at my camera as a tool to achieve my creativity. It gives me permission to talk to strangers in strange lands and photograph them ,and build relationship Without a camera, I’d feel awkward, with no valid reason to interact with the person.

Please briefly describe your photography style for our readers.

Dramatic portraiture all about dark light, creating a mood and showing emotion, not just with the

subject themselves, but also the way in which I capture them.

Where do you get inspiration from?

My interest was influenced and inspired back when I was in Italy , Galleries of art are everywhere. I got fascinated by the amazing work of Leonardo Da Vinci , Raffaello Sanzio , Sanro Botticelli , Titian , and many more that I could not even recall the names and how their work is fascinating in way that I could not explain it ,but now when I am digging deeper and studying more about their work, I notice more the expression of human emotion , and how they use light and shadow , composition ,colors , …etc. in their work and I try to apply that to my work .

Do you think in advance what you want in the picture?

I am kind of a ‘big picture’ person I tend to be creative, strategic, and visionary… I am also be messy,

disorganized, I plan some mood boards, and lighting and clothes and some inspirations from paintings mostly , but I always go to another direction .

Studio, on location or both?

I prefer to control my lighting nowadays, so I am more into studio shoot.

Would you consider yourself a hobbyist or a paid professional?

I am a paid professional , but I feel more creative when I am thinking that I am a hobbyist , as I can be

free to explore and try new stuff.

What has been your most memorable session and why?

one of my last shoots that I have organized was about Libyan tradition clothing , I want to do it for so

long, but I was far away from the place that I grow up in for almost 9 years ,so when I got the chance, I

felt so connected and proud to show the positive and the abundance of the Libyan Culture especially