In recent years, photography has been blooming in Afghanistan and bringing forward previously unseen parts of the country and its beauty. Most photographers are from a young generation who have learned and developed an interest in photography simultaneously with the reconstruction and post-2001 transition period in Afghanistan.
Initiated by Journalism and Media International Center (JMIC)/OsloMet, inspired by an idea from Afghanistan’s Embassy in Norway, Afghanistan Photographers Association (APA) is organizing an exhibition in Kabul to display Afghanistan through the lens of Afghan photographers given the context of the ongoing peace efforts in the country. Following the Kabul exhibition, a version of this exhibition will also be organized in Oslo by JMIC.
Our hope is for a physical and digital exhibition, which highlights Afghan culture, civilians, and livelihoods.
What do we look for?
Photos from Afghanistan from the last ten years: people-oriented photos celebrating daily lives, events, or marches, and people working in various sectors, engaged in preserving their local communities, portraits, and landscapes.
Eligibility:
- Afghan photographers living in Afghanistan or abroad
- Be 18 years of age or above
- Hold complete ownership and copyrights of the submitted photo(s) or permission if the photos are jointly copyrighted
- Be able to submit an original and high-resolution photo(s) after selected for the exhibition
- Must have verbal permission or written consent from people in the photo(s)
Incentives:
- 40 photos will be selected for the physical and digital exhibitions in Kabul and Oslo respectively
- At the conclusion of Kabul/Afghanistan Exhibitions, 40 photos will be repacked and presented to their respective photographers along with a certificate. The three best photos will receive a cash prize from APA
- At the conclusion of the Oslo exhibition, 40 photos will receive a certificate by JMIC
Submission Guideline:
Interested photographers may submit the following to submit@afghanistanpa.org in one package no later than April 10, 2021 (4:00 PM – Afghan Time). The subject line of the submission email must be “If there is a war, there is still life.” Emails without this subject or incomplete applications will not be considered.
Please know that only selected applicants will be contacted. Afghan female photographers are highly encouraged to apply.
To be submitted:
- Application form
- 1 to 10 images with full caption. Captions must include 1) names and title of the people in the photos, 2) date and location of photos, 3) a brief description of the photos, 4) name of the photographer. Photos must be in JPEG with sequence filling names like AD-001, AD-002. The size of images must be at least 72 resolutions with the longest dimensions of 1500 pixels.
The photo exhibition “If there is a war, there is still life” is supported by Norway’s Embassy in Afghanistan, OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University, US Institute of Peace, Free Expression Foundation, and NAI – SOMA (moral supporter).
