Seventeen young photographers from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) displayed their work at the National Art Gallery
They discussed the unique perspectives and insights they learned in a special training program led by photographers from the prestigious National Geographic magazine. The program was funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
“The U.S. government is proud to support the work of these talented young people, who are cultural ambassadors for Pakistan and FATA,” said U.S. Embassy Minister Counselor for Public Affairs Peter Brennan. “They have given the American people a better understanding of what everyday life looks like in Pakistan,” he added.
The young photographers, mostly in their 20s, hail from mixed socio-economic backgrounds and represent various regions of FATA. The photo exhibit provided glimpses of everyday life in Pakistan, as well as beautiful shots of famous landmarks such as Faisal Mosque in Islamabad. Seventeen photographers were selected from more than 250 applicants to participate in the USAID funded training program, which included two sessions led by esteemed National Geographic photographers.
Muhammad Rizwan (25) resident of Jandola, Frontier Regions Tank, said, “Before the National Geographic Photo Camp I was using my mobile camera to take pictures and was unaware of different aspects of photography which I do now.”
Huma Gul, a 22-year-old BBA student from University of Peshawar, said, “National Geographic gave me the opportunity to learn from some of the most skilled photographers.”
The camp introduced photographic storytelling techniques to the aspiring participants encouraging them to explore their unique perspectives and styles
In addition to supporting young photographers, the U.S. government is funding the construction and rehabilitation of more than 650 kilometers of road in FATA and neighboring areas.
