Norah Al-Amri: Black is My Colour
Norah Al-Amri is a 28-year-old Saudi street and documentary photographer based in Riyadh. She likes art and fashion, as well as documenting the changes occurring in Saudi Arabia from her own perspective.
Norah uses photography to capture real moments that represent people’s life in Saudi Arabia. She believes this will help outsiders understand more about the country by giving them an insider's perspective on life in the Kingdom. Her photographs are inspired by the culture and human differences within her own country.
She loves exploring the streets and freezing moments behind windows. She has released two series, one entitled “Black is My Colour” referring to the black abaya that women throughout Saudi Arabia and the Arabian Gulf wear out in public, and another called “Reflections in Windows.”
For this interview, I wanted to five into Norah’s background and passions, especially as a millennial female photographer documenting Saudi Arabia.
Al Baidaa, Saudi Arabia. A family of Bedouin brothers waits in their car at a patrol station, fascinated by the photographer. Norah Al-Amri.
Where did you grow up and how has the changes in Saudi Arabia you’ve experienced throughout your life challenged you?
I grew up in Riyadh and, of course, I’ve experienced all the changes that happened in my country. For example, when the government announced that women were finally allowed to drive, this was a huge change and no one believed it was gonna ever happen. But it did.
For me, I have not faced any real challenges. I think we’re the only challenge that keeps us from what we wanna do or aspire to become.
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Bakery reflected in window. Norah Al-Amri.
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Barber reflected in window. Norah Al-Amri.
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Cafe reflected in window. Norah Al-Amri.
How did you first get into photography and where does your inspiration come from?
My interest in photography started back in 2010 when my dad gifted me with an Olympic camera for my high school graduation. I was so happy because he knew I wanted a camera so badly! After that, I started to take it with me wherever I went and I would take photos down busy streets, with store signs cluttered tightly next to each other, and of course people.
I get inspired by nature, human differences and of course the photographers of the 80s and 90s.
There’s beauty hidden everywhere in my country, starting from our traditional costumes (every city has its own style), cultural traditions, and also food! I love documenting everyday life in my country to let the world see the real life of people and places in Saudi Arabia and also to document our history!
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Two girls sit on a patio with their fast food. Norah Al-Amri.
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A woman in a niqab looks at the camera. Norah Al-Amri.
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Women sit in front of a snack and spice shop in the market. Norah Al-Amri.
Your work is creative and intimate; it transports me all over Saudi Arabia. What challenges and unique opportunities have you found as a female photographer working to show your country? What have you learnt as a result?
Thank you! To me, I guess being a female photographer in my country gave me the opportunity to get close and photograph people easily, especially women. So in this regard, as I mentioned before I have had no challenges as a female photographer in Saudi Arabia.
I feel I’m lucky to have been working on documenting life in Saudi Arabia in time that my country is changing quickly and that I’m able to share it with the world. So that’s what I like most about being a photographer in KSA.
My experiences with photography have helped me realize how diverse my country is in every aspect and how many beautiful stories around us there are that need to be photographed and shared! Photography opens my mind on how tiny and nothing I am in a world that is so big and with things I haven’t seen or known about yet!
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Kids wave from inside a bus. Norah Al-Amri.
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A woman in full abaya, niqab and black gloves sits on a couch on a residential street. Norah Al-Amri.
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Carpet sellers relax and show their wears. Norah Al-Amri.
What have been some of the most emotionally moving places and subjects you have photographed in Saudi Arabia?
For me, the Al-Baidaa region is one of the most interesting places I’ve been to in my country. Located between the mountains in Makkah Province, it’s hard to believe there are people who actually live there because there’s no electricity or any sings of life in this barren area. It’s like you travel back in time 100 years to see life in old houses with one supermarket and hospital.
You can only find people there when you drive inside the mountains, then you’ll start to see kids playing outside; camels and other animals are everywhere. The lives people live there are simple— guys usually get married after they graduate from high school and can have more than one wife.
They don’t go to college or work, they just live off the government’s help and of course dealing camels. It’s like they don’t know how the world is like outside their community. The government has plans to develop the quality of life there by building more schools, hospitals, and giving financial benefits to people to encourage them to go university.
I feel this way because it’s so strange and interesting how we live in the same country but we’re completely different from each other and no one ever heard about these guys before!
Al Baidaa, Saudi Arabia. A Bedouin man drives a car in the desert region of Al Baida. Norah Al-Amri.
Al Baidaa, Saudi Arabia. Kids play outside the family compound. Norah Al-Amri.
Al Baidaa, Saudi Arabia. A camel and children in the countryside. Norah Al-Amri.
What is your favourite photograph you’ve take in Saudi Arabia? What about capturing this moment do you remember?
My favourite is a photograph of Samiha, a child I met in Al Madinah. I like it because it’s adorable how she turned the streets of Al Madinah into her canvas to draw on it with chalk. When I was exploring Al Madinah I noticed beautiful drawings under my feet; I was surprised so I asked the little girls who were selling stuff on the street standing next to me about it.
I said, “I love this work! Who did it?”
They all mentioned one name: “It’s by Samiha!”
I asked, “where’s she?”
One of the girls volunteered to search for her. While I kept looking down at the beautiful doodles, the other girls started to draw on the street and brought me white chalk to draw with them, so I did. Samiha came to join us too. I went to take photos of the artist.
She told me she loves to draw in her free time and she has been stopped many times by the police but she’s still doing it secretly. When I told her to keep doing what she loves and she’s gonna be an artist one day, she hugged me and she was happy to hear that from a stranger.
Al Madinah, Saudi Arabia. Samiha draws with chalk on the street. Norah Al-Amri.
Al Madinah, Saudi Arabia. Samiha draws with chalk on the street. Norah Al-Amri.
What are some places in Saudi Arabia you are looking to explore? What about these places makes you want to visit?
I’d really like to explore northern Saudi Arabia because I have never been there and I heard it’s rich with traditions. I believe there are interesting stories to be photographed out there!
Madain Saleh, Saudi Arabia. A woman walks in front of the ruins of the ancient city of Hegra. Norah Al-Amri.
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. An old man feeds cats on the streets of Jeddah. Norah Al-Amri.
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A man reads a newspaper, reflected. Norah Al-Amri.
After visiting Saudi Arabia myself this year, I believe in showing people a different side to the country— a human side— that is not so often seen in Western media. How do you think your photographs can play a role in shifting outside perspectives of the Kingdom?
What you’ve said is so true! Indeed, it’s sad that foreigners don’t know anything about people and life in Saudi Arabia. While the media is sharing a different form of reality, I think it’s our bad that we don’t work on showing and presenting our country to the world.
I really want to capture every moment that represents people’s lives in my country with real moments to make you feel and imagine how life is in KSA.
