STORY 04 - " Bride " by a Stranger in the market

Stranger: (examining Taha's photographs) What's the story behind these images?

Taha: This is " Bride" - my exploration of Albalad, Jeddah's historic downtown.

Stranger: What makes this collection special?

Taha: It's a celebration of real people and authentic social life. Albalad is where tradition and modernity stay together - a living testament to Jeddah's cultural heart.

Stranger: And what do you want with it ?

Taha: The warmth of the community. The delicate balance between preserving unique character and embracing progress. Each image tells a story of connection, of moments that reveal the soul of this place.

Stranger: (pointing to a photograph) This feels like more than documentation.

Taha: Exactly.

Ali Hussein Sweid: The desert has its own rhythm. My father was a shepherd here, as was his father before him. But now, these ancient paths are changing.

Taha: How do you see this change?

Ali Hussein Sweid: Tourism brings new life, but we must remember the old ways. Look how the camels move, how they've always moved, against these timeless sandstone formations.

Taha: (preparing his camera) So this is more than just a landscape?

Ali Hussein Sweid: It's a story of generations. Of caravans that have crossed these sands for millennia. We're standing at the threshold where our ancient traditions meet the modern world.

Taha: (capturing the scene) "Caravan"... that's what I'll call this photograph.

Ali Hussein Sweid: (nodding) A bridge between what was and what is becoming. AlUla is opening its gates, but our connection to this desert - that remains unchanged.

Mr. Yousif:  Al Wajh is more than just a city. It's a crossroads of history and culture.

Taha: Tell me more.

Mr. Yousif : In the past, this was a crucial religious stopover for North African pilgrims traveling for Hajj and Umrah. Our location on the Red Sea transformed us into a major trading port, creating a unique cultural and architectural tapestry.

Taha: And the people?

Mr. Yousif Abdulraheem: Our local men spent 8-10 months at sea. Their boats were more than vessels - they were homes. They'd leave with local goods and return with international products to sell in Al Souq.

Taha: (taking out his camera) I want to capture that spirit.

Mr. Yousif Abdulraheem: (smiling) Then you must look beyond what you see. 

Taha: Imran, tell me about Madinah. What makes this city so special to you?

Imran Shah: You must witness Madinah as I did. I've never seen anything quite like it. The palm trees here - they're not just trees, they're the city's anchors, standing tall through generations of change

.

Taha: (listening intently) How did these palm trees speak to you?

Imran Shah: They paint the city green - rising like nature's skyscrapers alongside modern buildings. They tell a story of resilience, of a city evolving yet holding onto its roots.

Taha: (raising his camera) And that's what you wanted me to capture?

Imran Shah: Yes. Madinah is losing its farming identity as the Palm Tree City. Your photograph, needs to reveal how the city is transforming, how its spirit of preservation exists even amidst urban planning.

Taha: I'll try.