Check Out the Photo Diary of Saudi Photographer Tasneem Alsultan

 "Saudi Tales of Love" by Tasneem Alsultan

Meet Tasneem Al-Sultan, a Saudi Arabian-American photographer, who not only manages to capture incredible snaps on her lens but also sheds a light on gender and social issues in Saudi society.

Her creatively innovative work exhibits intimate - and often left unspoken – realities and experiences. From precious moments at weddings to random people on the street, this artist uses her camera to give a sneak peak on how the rest of the world lives.

Al-Sultan’s work has gained recognition all over the world; from being featured in Vogue Italia to the New York Times Lens Blog. The genius photographer has also received awards and participated in many exhibitions.

Here are some of our favourite shots from her Instagram page:

 

 

 

 

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Photo taken during the first female basketball tournament in Jeddah, in celebration of Saudi women being allowed to enter stadiums in their country for the second time in history. The event was gender segregated meaning that men were not permitted to enter. #nytassignment @nytimes #basketball #jeddah #saudiarabia #doodleforacause #women #womenempowerment

Une publication partagée par Tasneem Alsultan (@tasneemalsultan) le 30 Déc. 2018 à 8 :44 PST

 

 

 

 

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Saudi Arabian photographer @tasneemalsultan addresses gender and social issues in the Middle East. Her series ‘Saudi Tales of Love’ explores questions about love, marriage, and expectations. In an interview with @time: “It began as a hobby but Alsultan later turned her lens toward lavish weddings. A female Saudi wedding photographer used to be rare and even frowned upon, she says, and some Saudis consider it to be a job for “paparazzi.” Yet she gradually made a name for herself and quit her lecturing job to go full-time. As she continued down that path, she pivoted to what came next: the happily ever after—or not. Throughout the past few years, she has met women from across the spectrum in a bid to decipher the concepts of love and marriage—those who were single or divorced, married for decades, widowed or even remarried—as well as the impact of guardianship.” Read our full interview with Tasneem on Medium! Link: https://medium.com/@ycreate/its-not-the-tools-that-make-you-a-great-photographer-ideas-and-storytelling-do-79acb8d7f37c?source=user_profile---------5------------------ #ycreate #photography #SaudiArabia#photographersofinstagram #marriage#wedding

Une publication partagée par Tasneem Alsultan (@tasneemalsultan) le 26 Déc. 2018 à 11 :50 PST

 

 

 

 

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Traditional Nigerian weddings are famous for the elaborate sense of fashion, humour and long list of guests. Whilst shooting Dami and Ohioze's wedding, I noticed the amazing chemistry they had. Dami is super social whilst Ohioze is quiet and calm. "A magnet can never attract the same sign. He calms me. Always seeing the best in me..." shares Dami. #nigeria #marriage #wedding #dubai

Une publication partagée par Tasneem Alsultan (@tasneemalsultan) le 12 Déc. 2018 à 10 :06 PST

 

 

 

 

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Each Moroccan town/city has a traditional wedding attire. The brides must wear as many as seven or more caftans (bridal dresses) on her wedding day. Each gown with a signature color of that town. Regardless of the heavy layers of traditional pearls and gold, the bride will be walked and/or carried around for all the guests to celebrate and view. #morocco #wedding #bride #tetouan #arab

Une publication partagée par Tasneem Alsultan (@tasneemalsultan) le 11 Nov. 2018 à 9 :20 PST

 

 

 

 

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“Even though I give him a daily allowance of 40 Saudi Riyals ($10) my son does not support my work. Having been brought up in a household where my brother would beat me if I ever left the house, I had always hoped I would find a supportive husband. Now I have a 24 year old son who is worse than my brother ever was.” Kadhra, a 50-year-old Saudi has an ill husband and is the main provider for the family. She weaves baskets from recycled plastic and sells them in Jeddah. #jeddah #saudiarabia #women #tasneemalsultan

Une publication partagée par Tasneem Alsultan (@tasneemalsultan) le 29 Nov. 2018 à 6 :34 PST

 

 

 

 

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Heleen met Evguini a few years ago in India at an ashram where her brother was working. He asked her to visit him here to see the different kind of life that he had been leading - away from Belgium & away from the materialism that the rest of the world had offered. It was here that Heleen discovered Hinduism and met and fell in love with Evguini. She had grown very fond of the nearly 400 orphans housed at the ashram and so it made sense that Heleen and Evguini celebrated their wedding surround by the children and only a handful of their friends and relatives. #India #wedding #marriage

Une publication partagée par Tasneem Alsultan (@tasneemalsultan) le 6 Oct. 2018 à 10 :36 PDT

 

 

 

 

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I spy with my little eye, something beginning with a W. #saudiwomen #businesswoman #heritage #traditional #riyadh #saudiarabia #everydaymiddleeast #everydayeverywhere #market

Une publication partagée par Tasneem Alsultan (@tasneemalsultan) le 18 Août 2018 à 4 :28 PDT

 

 

 

 

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Return of the Cassette #walkman #daughters #retro #dammam #saudiarabia

Une publication partagée par Tasneem Alsultan (@tasneemalsultan) le 30 Juil. 2018 à 9 :10 PDT

 

 

 

 

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Happy to see this photo going viral, but not happy to have it not credited #saudiwomendriving #saudiarabia #nytassignment

Une publication partagée par Tasneem Alsultan (@tasneemalsultan) le 24 Juin 2018 à 9 :50 PDT

 

 

 

 

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With her bubble-gum pink hair and stylishly ripped jeans, Doaa Bassem [second right] goes a long way to redefining what it means to be a Saudi woman these days. At age 14, she learned how to change the oil of her father’s car and dreamed of owning a classic Trans Am. Although she assumed she would be barred from driving the sleek, loud muscle car, she wanted the fun of taking the engine apart and rebuilding it. By 17, she had entered into an arranged marriage. Within a year, she had given birth to a child, divorced, then remarried and divorced again. Now, at 29, she is a single mother who works, lives on her own and plans to be among the first women who take to the streets on Sunday, the first day they will be legally permitted to drive in Saudi Arabia, an absolute monarchy that is the last country in the world to bar women from driving. Ms. Bassem won’t be behind the wheel of a sports car, though. She will be riding a Harley. “I’ve always been a tomboy and a rebel,” she said. “Now, others are thinking more like me. Parents have started to understand that marriage isn’t everything, that girls might want a different life. And society is starting to accept this too.” Story published today on @nytimes words by Margaret Coker https://nyti.ms/2lsMfv6?smid=nytcore-ios-share

Une publication partagée par Tasneem Alsultan (@tasneemalsultan) le 22 Juin 2018 à 4 :36 PDT

 

 

 

 

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Big thank you to the elderly lady that ignored me, and instead enjoyed the weather. My career depends on chill people like her. #lifegoals #janadriyah #riyadh #saudiarabia #latepost

Une publication partagée par Tasneem Alsultan (@tasneemalsultan) le 4 Avril 2018 à 5 :31 PDT

 

 

 

 

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Prince Mohammed has actively courted youth as a new constituency to support his programs. About two-thirds of Saudis are under 30 and many have enthusiastically endorsed the changes. “I love him,” said Ibtihal Shogair, 25, who was eating mini-burgers with a friend at a food fair supported by the government’s entertainment arm on the lawn of a luxury Riyadh hotel. “He came and he was a young man who thought more like us.” Full story in bio, for the @nytimes #nytassignment #riyadh #everydaymiddleeast story written by Ben Hubbard.

Une publication partagée par Tasneem Alsultan (@tasneemalsultan) le 17 Mars 2018 à 7 :33 PDT