Farah Nosh
39, Canadian-Iraqi
Farah Nosh longs to return to Iraq where, she feels, there are still many stories to be told. The Canadian-born Iraqi’s passion for photography kick-started when she discovered her father’s old camera as a child. Nosh is now famous for her works on the impact of war on Iraq, which have been exhibited in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London and Dubai. She has also worked on assignments in Afghanistan, Lebanon, Pakistan, Syria, the West Bank, Gaza and Egypt. Publications such as The New York Times, Time and Newsweek have featured her work.
She says, “In photography, every day is different. My work is an excuse to step into people’s lives, to know how they are living and to learn from their experiences. Stories of conflict have taught me about fear, loss and the instinct to survive, and meeting successful socialites in Dubai has been inspiring.” Nosh began her photography career in 2002 after graduating from the Western Academy of Photography, Currently, she is working on portraits of the last fluent speakers of the dying languages and other assignments in the UAE and the surrounding region.
Rashid Al Beloushi
38, Emirati
Emirati Rashid Al Beloushi works as a personal photographer for one of the royal families in the UAE. He admits he has been obsessed with pictures from an early age — before he learnt to read or write. “I always dreamt of possessing a camera to capture what I found appealing and was keen to discover the secrets of this art,” he says.
His career in photography started in 1990 in an unlikely place — the criminal laboratory of the Dubai Police. He took professional photography training in 1991 and in 2001 in digital photography systems. By 1992, he was already winning awards. He won the first prize in a competition to photograph Islamic marks in the UAE’s architectural heritage. Al Beloushi now runs a business selling a collection of scenes mainly related to life in Dubai. Some of his works now decorate government offices and are featured in official catalogues and calendars.
He is also obsessed with cameras. “Along with scores of photographs, I am also a proud collector of more than 250 antique cameras,” he says.
Stoney Steenkamp
46, South African
A South African of Dutch descent, Stoney Steenkamp was born and raised as Francois, but after a spell in the South African airforce he was labelled Stoney, steen means stone in Afrikaans. He is passionate about sport and can be seen stalking many a Dubai rugby field or tennis stadium pointing his camera.
He says, “I have been shooting for ten years. My passion is action sport, but I do mix it up with studio, fashion and commercial in order to stay current.” He co-owns and founded Sportdxb and Studiodxb in the UAE in 2004. Although he states he has “no claim to fame” his most well-known clients include the Associated Press and Gallo or Getty Images. “In the UAE, I have worked with HSBC, Audi, Go Sport, Goethe-Institut and Promoseven,” Steenkamp says.
Hilary O’Leary
35, Zimbabwean
Every spare minute Hilary O’Leary has she shoots wildlife — with a camera. For 14 years she has been working on a horse programme for tourists in a spectacular game reserve in south- eastern Zimbabwe.
She says, “I had to get a camera, there were too many beautiful opportunities to miss out there in the bush.” She took a Canon photography diploma and later entered competitions, becoming a semi-finalist in the Veolia Environment Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition and in the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2011.
“I love taking photographs — it’s a passion I feel very strongly about. It’s like jet fuel for me — a great shot holds so many emotions.” She hopes to exhibit in Dubai and London in October.
Rutger Geerling
42, Dutch
Based in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Rutger Geerling’s hobby turned into a profession while at university.
He says, “What started out as taking pictures for fun, during a very boring Public Administration master’s study, turned into scuba diving with sharks, having snowboarders miss me by inches (sometimes not), standing between 30,000 raving people or climbing active volcanoes while seeing the furthermost corners of the earth. The choice of doing what I loved instead of what I learned was the best decision I ever made! This is living life to the fullest.”
He formed Fotograferen.net in 1996. “I’m also known for my work as an electronic dance music (EDM) photographer,” he says.
