gallery. bernard jenkins. jeddah
Jeddah. On Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast. The sights are bewidering. Mosques of brick and mud sit next to Banks of steel and glass with ultra modern shopping malls across from the downtown souk. For a photographer it could be a paradise of imagery, it could also be hell as photography is an illegal occupation in the Kingdom. Just point a Camera in the wrong direction and you're off to jail.
Carrying a Hassleblad as discreetly as possible (about as discreet as a house brick) I purposely avoid photographing people. I would be stealing their soul, a very serious offence. Ask first as I did of these Silversmiths, if it's OK then it's OK. Government buildings, Mosques, Women and big business like Oil are all taboo for the Camera. Lucky me I was commissioned for some of these shots allthough, I was detained under house arrest for some hours at the Petromin refinery, until the commissioning papers became clear.
Sneaking around the boatyard like a burglar one Friday afternoon certainly felt as if I was stealing something or was I becoming Paranoid. The World's biggest Bicycle was no problem. Who was it that said 'Mad Dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday Sun' well, it's true, no one was willing to leave their Air Con Cars to argue the toss with me in 100 degrees and appalling humidity. I could have downed a beer after that but that's taboo also.
In the 'Old City' which is right where you expect it, slap bang in the middle of the new one, I had an escort to smooth our progress so to speak. Minarets and motor cars, falafel and french fries, it's all a great contradiction and especially eye-opening to see Camera shops everywhere - strange that!
All originals om 6x6 Ektachrome. Copyright Text and Pictures Bernard Jenkins. 2007.
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