Open Society and Soros Foundation
about usinitiativesgrants and scholarshipsresource centernewsroom
Contact
Search

Stay informed with periodic news and announcements from the Documentary Photography Project.

Tanya Habjouqa: Artist Statement

While working in conflict zones for news and humanitarian agencies, I have encountered countless individuals who left me questioning if I was capable of telling their stories with the sensitivity and nuance they deserve.

While covering the Israel-Hezbollah war during the summer of 2006, I had the freedom to live alongside civilians and capture their story without the protection offered by a nongovernmental organization. Over the course of several weeks, I photographed the immediate impact of the war on Lebanese children and their families, the devastation of homes and entire villages, and recovery efforts.

Despite one of the ugliest aerial campaigns waged against a civilian population in years, many Lebanese refused to flee their homes. Alongside the courage of civilians, I witnessed the selflessness of some photographers who put down their cameras to aid survivors from the rubble.

Even as I question whether our work as journalists has brought sufficient attention to the gross injustice of the war, I am amazed by the perseverance of the Lebanese that continued throughout this period of loss.

share  print  print

About Us  |  Initiatives  |  Grants, Scholarships & Fellowships  |  Resource Center  |  Newsroom  |  Site Map  |  About this Site  |  Contact


Creative Commons License
Except where otherwise noted, content on this site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative License.
©2010 Open Society Institute. Some rights reserved.