Rada Akbar aus Kabul, Afghanistan

I was born in 1988 in Afghanistan. I have always expressed myself through art. Originally I started out as a painter and participated in a wide variety of exhibitions. But step by step I gained interest in documenting everyday life of the Afghan people with my camera, and photography became my profession. I have made two documentary films describing the life and hardship of Afghan women. One of my documentaries "Shattered Hopes" was selected for The Panorama Hindukusch-Film Festival in Köln, Germany 2009. Currently, I am working with GIZ-BEPA (Basic Education Program for Afghanistan), and I hope my success can inspire other Afghan women. I don't photograph subjects. I photograph the way they make me feel. Admittedly, it's a bit of a strange concept. But it's honest - and it's the best way to describe my approach to the craft. I wrestle with every image I shoot. I assume perfection is possible and I want to wring it out of every picture. As a female Afghan artist I am responsible for serving my people and convince our society that Afghan women are in the position to work in this field and gain achievements. I work with many different ways of expression, and my paintings and photographic work have been internationally exhibited.