UAE's women in the view finder

Dubai: Women of the UAE will be the focus of the first photography book showcasing and celebrating women from all walks of life, of all ages and of all nationalities living in the UAE today.

Charney Magri, an award-winning photographer from Australia now based in Dubai, launched the project earlier this year to capture "a defining cultural and artistic snapshot of this important period of development in the UAE".

Any woman can take part by registering themselves online. Afterwards 100 photographs will be selected to be published in the book Women Of The UAE with a further 25 photographs showcased in an exhibition on completion of the project.

The images will focus on the beauty of the subject by capturing their persona in a portrait, accompanied with a short biography. The image will portray the person and not their status, location, or materialistic belongings.

"These images will become a visual time capsule to the region," said Magri.

To coincide with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Magri turned her lens last week to women who have survived breast cancer.

"I did this special shoot to support women that have been through breast cancer and the charities that are so involved," said Magri.

"Meeting and photographing these women really showed me what a cross-section of women it can happen to, and it can happen to anyone."

Roberta Rees, a former graphic and fashion designer moved to the UAE with her husband four-and-a-half years ago. She was diagnosed with breast cancer two-and-a-half years ago and draws on her young son, friends and family for inspiration and meaning of life, and was photographed by Magri to raise awareness of the illness.

Are you a women of the UAE?

Register yourself or another fabulous woman you know at www.charneymagri.com or www.facebook.com/womenoftheuae and you'll have the opportunity to take part in a photoshoot focusing on you as a woman of the UAE.