Manal Al-Dowayan

Manal Al-Dowayan was born and raised in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. She partook in a range of courses in differing art institutions in Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Bahrain and London. Al-Dowayan also takes photographs of women but tries to cover parts of their face by using a variety of objects such as video cameras, small slate boards or scarfs. Furthermore, her images are black and white to add more interest. I like the way she uses different composition and lighting to attract attention from the audience.

I like this photograph because it’s really vibrant and it inspired me as I would like to try this in my own photography. This photograph is posed and is trying to tell me that this woman is concealing her face because in Islam, women are allowed to choose whether their full face is shown or not. Therefore, to make this photograph interesting and to promote discussion she has used everyday objects such as cameras, picture frames, books etc, to cover parts of her face. Al-Dowayan uses black and white to make the image appear more powerful, influential and commanding. This image tells us a thousand words. The background is also black so the audience can focus on the person. It looks like it’s taken in the studio using flash. This again is being taken directly at the person. So how does this image relate to my theme? First of all it is important to analyse the image further. The woman has no expression on her face showing she is serious and with the image being black and white it comes across as quite dramatic. Also black and white photos make the image more prominent and important.  With the woman holding a video camera it shows equality of women in Islam and the right to work, which supports my theme of Islam being fun and peaceful. “I AM A TV PRODUCER”, 2007, Exhibition: Offset, Peripheral Vision, Strike Oppose”

First Response of Manal Al Dowayan

I find this composition very powerful. It could be seen as very controversial, as it shows a Muslim woman with her wrist tied like a prisoner.

For me I assume this woman uses the rope to show that she is tied to her faith. She loves her faith and is proud of her faith. However, I realise that to a non-Muslim it might appear that the woman is trapped. The photograph has a dramatic atmosphere, and unusual intensity.

I am unsure whether I like this photograph however it keeps drawing me back. An improvement could be to change the rope for something more creative.

This image is expressive full of energy and detail. The jewellery hides the woman’s face but it is big bold and full of personality, it is an extension of the woman’s character.  An improvement might be to use colour to enhance the jewellery.

I really like this image because it is very vibrant and controversial. I like the composition and concept of this image as the frame says "ya allah". Allah is the name of Muslim's God so when we say "ya Allah", it means "Oh Allah" or "Oh God". The model is wearing braclets which are big bold and full of detail. I'm trying to make this image balanced and effective. Her eyes are very bold and piercing. I have produced this image in black and white and also I use brightness and contrast to make it bold and interesting. That's what the photographer Manal AL-Dowayan have used in his work. 

This image is very bold and strong. The Muslim women tangled with the scarf which shows us that the image she is praying to Allah (the one and only God). She's praying that she wants the media to think that Muslims are peaceful, not terrorists. This image is very dramatic. I have produced a black and white image given it a movement and primaery quality.  

This image is very dramatic. This image shows us that the media wants that all the Muslims stay in prison because thousands of people thinks Muslims are terrorists. Don't blame her religion, blame her behavior. She looks very sad and upset. This image is very strong and powerful.

This image shows us that she is looking up to Allah (there is only one god Allah SWT) SWT is from arabic meaning "subhanu wa ta'ala" which translates as "Glorified and Exalted". This image is very fragile and full of depth. It is a emotional compostion. This shows us she praying to Allah swt that she wants peace and wants the media to see the muslims in a peaceful way. She is tangled with the rope around her wrists given a expressive energy to the photograph.

This image is modern and almost has a geometric feel partly because the whole image is black and white. This work is posed the same as Manal Al-Dowayan photography.

This image is powerful because her eyes are very bold and she has direct eye-contact with audience.

2nd Response of Manal Al-Dowayan

This photograph makes me thinks of happiness contentment and peace. This lady loves the Qur’an and is proud to show to the world. I like this photograph but I feel it could be improved by using colour rather than black and white. Colour I feel would balance the atmosphere of photograph by creating a dramatic composition emphasing the energy the woman is portraying through the Qur'an.

In this photograph, the two women portray emotion, culture and creative balance. It is a feel good image, fun, exciting and cheeky. This photograph is simple. The composition provides a light and flowing imagery which gives a balance to composition.  

The theme of using objects to cover the face has been continued within this image and the next. The woman is using a fancy frame with an Islamic prayer centred within the frame and although this image is black and white it still shows an element of intensity.

When she holding the picture frame, she is holding the frame at different angles so this makes the image more interesting.

I like this image but I could crop this image to make it square to emphases the depth.

I love this image because it's very passionate and interesting. Although the Qur'an is centre of the image it is actually woman's eyes which draw the audience in.