İBTİSAM AXFİR
Benghazi- 27-year-old Armani al-Badri was a student at the Faculty of Information Technology but she had to drop out of the university due to the civil war in Libya. After dropping out of the university, she looked for a hobby in order to spend her days. After a two-year self-training in photography, she began to share the photographs she took. NuJINHA spoke to her about her journey in photography.
“I discover new things every day”
In 2018, Armani bought a professional camera after collecting money. “Over time, I discovered new things by improving myself in photography. I take photos at birthday parties, photos of products and nature. I love photography. I discover new things every day and this makes me happy,” she said.
Armani told us that she learned how to take professional photos with her own efforts. “I asked for support from some photographers in Benghazi; however, I did not receive any answer from them. And, there is no center of photography in Benghazi. So, I learned everything about photography by myself. There are very few women photographers in Libya. In 2015, I went to a village to take photos. All the villagers gathered around me as if I was doing something strange.”
“I am subjected to attacks for being a woman”
Armani works in the media office of the Child Development and Guidance Center and takes photos of all activities organized by the center.  “I have great confidence in myself and many people support me because they love my photos. I receive positive messages on social media. But I am always subjected to attacks because I am a woman. I used to work for a company. The company employees suspected that the photos I took were taken by a man because they believed that a woman cannot take good photos.”
I have great confidence in myself, and that there are people who love the way I photograph and support me, and I receive positive messages on social media. But I am always subjected to attacks because I am a woman. I used to work for a company. The company employees suspected that the photos I took were taken by a man because they believed that a woman cannot take good photos.”