This year’s winner of World Press Photo, the world’s most prestigious photo contest, is Jodie Bieber from the South African Republic. Her best-known work features an 18-year-old Afghan girl Bibi Aisha, whose story moved the world.
The girl tried to find shelter at her parents’ home, fleeing from her abusive husband. Yet in a short while a group of Talibans came there and demanded that Bibi be given out so that “justice” be restored. After the verdict was passed by a Taliban elder, Bibi’s husband cut off her nose and ears, and left her for dead. The girl was rescued by relief workers and the American military. After a period of rehabilitation at a women’s shelter in Kabul, she was transported to the US, where surgeons reconstructed her nose and ears. Now, this Afghan girl lives in the US.
Her portrait appeared on the cover of Time.
Of course, Bibi Aisha’s story is not just a chronicle of cruelty, violence, and inhumane abuse of women. It is also a story of civilizational challenges facing mankind.
The Day’s journalist was able to contact the author of the photograph, Jodie Bieber from South Africa, and speak with her. Jodie was really surprised to get a call from the other end of the world, but she kindly answered our questions.
Jodie, what is the story behind this picture?
“I went to Afghanistan on a mission from Time magazine. They wanted to get a series of photo portraits of various Afghan women. I had to photograph women politicians, TV anchors, documentary film directors — women active in various spheres of Afghan life. This is how I came across Aisha, in a shelter for Afghan women in Kabul. I met her through a lady writer living both in Afghanistan and Pakistan who was my interpreter.”
What did you want to show through this photograph?
“When I saw Aisha and grabbed my camera, I realized that the girl was beautiful. I thought that I didn’t want to portray her as a victim. I wanted a picture that would show this woman’s beauty.
“Everyone reacts differently to this photo. It depends on the person’s country of origin, it even depends on gender. I got a lot of feedback. And I was really amazed and happy to have won in the World Press Photo contest. First of all, it is a portrait, and then, it is quite controversial. This photo is symbolic, in the sense that it shows what violence is committed against women around the world.”
How do you see the role of the photographer in the present world?
“In my view, it is different for different photographers. I see mine in getting people to think, in awakening their thoughts and feelings, and getting across my own view of the world.”
