Abdullah Khalili photography journey

We asked Algerian photographer Abdullah Khalili, our Contributor of the Month, to tell us about his artistic journey in photography. He said:

Early Beginnings and Recognition

My name is Abdullah Khalili, a fine art photographer from Adrar, Algeria. I began my journey in 1998 and have since received numerous awards. I am a member of the International Federation of Photographic Art and the Qatar Photography Center, in addition to my passion for design and web development. Throughout my career, I have taken part in international salons, including the one organized by the American International Academy for Higher Education and Training in 2020, where I won second place. I also received the silver medal in the second Festival of Arts for Photography and participated in several artistic salons in Algeria.

International Recognition and Current Work

Today, I am proud to be shortlisted for the finals with a photographic work that portrays an innovative solution to combat drought. This work will be exhibited at the headquarters of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Bonn, Germany, as part of an international exhibition highlighting the power of photography in driving change and inspiring hope.

Abdullah Khalili's photography on combating drought.

Memories of Family and Heritage

This image, which I find myself revisiting time and again, holds a deep personal meaning. It reminds me of my grandfather and father’s struggle against the winds. It recalls the sweat of years mingled with desert sands, and the strength of hands that never gave in. My grandfather built defenses out of palm fronds and reed walls to shield against the fierce winds—as though he were resisting the entire world. Each knot he tied carried a story, and every wall he raised was a prayer for safety and blessing. For me, this image is a mirror of memory—one filled with patience, resilience, and dignity—where the simplest tools of the earth became symbols of survival and peace.

Abdullah Khalili's photo showing his grandfather's struggle against the wind

The Foggara: A Legacy of Survival

The photo also stands as living testimony to how my ancestors managed to endure life in the vast Sahara for generations, thanks to the foggara—a network of interlinked underground wells that carried water from deep beneath the earth to nourish palm groves and keep life alive in the heart of the desert. For them, the foggara was the secret of survival and a way of defying nature’s harshness, bearing within its channels a story of endurance and determination. For me, in this modern age, I was able to immortalize this legacy in a single photograph—a testament for future generations and for all who seek authentic culture, where the bond between human and land remains unbroken. It is this very image that represents an innovative solution to the global challenge of drought.

A Striking Scene Abroad

I also captured another photograph in an Arab country, a scene that struck me deeply—a moment that sent shivers through me, like a slap awakening the conscience. A woman, burdened with a weight far heavier than her frail body, walked with labored steps along the pavement, while cars and motorcycles rushed past her without notice. It was a silent struggle between life’s cruelty and human resilience—between poverty that bends the shoulders and dignity that compels one to move forward. It is an image that distills the pain of reality and reveals the hidden face of bustling cities.