Farah Nosh facts for kids

Farah Nosh is a talented Iraqi Canadian photojournalist. She takes pictures that tell important stories. Her work often focuses on Iraq and its conflicts. Her photos have been shown in art galleries in the United States and the United Kingdom. She was even featured on CNN's "Inside The Middle East" show, which highlights people making a difference in the region.

About Farah Nosh

Farah Nosh was born and grew up in Canada. She went to the University of British Columbia in 1998. There, she studied geography. Later, in 2002, she earned a special diploma in photojournalism. This was at the Western Academy of Photography in Victoria.

In 2003, when the U.S.–Iraq war began, Farah was working as a freelance photographer in Iraq. Instead of staying with other journalists, she lived in a small house in western Baghdad with her family. This meant she experienced the war from a very personal perspective. She has photographed both Iraqi civilians and American military members.

Her Photography Work

Farah Nosh wants her photographs to show how war affects people. In 2002, she moved to Iraq to work as a freelance photographer. This was when Saddam Hussein was still in power. She was one of the few Western journalists there. Her photos appeared in many famous magazines and newspapers. These included Life, The New York Times, The Guardian, The Independent, The Times, Marie Claire, The Globe and Mail, The National Post, and The Toronto Star.

Since the Iraq war started in 2003, she has often returned to Iraq. She works with both the U.S. military and Iraqi citizens. In 2005, Farah started a special photography project in Canada and Alaska. She documented the last people who could speak the Haida language fluently. This project became an exhibition and a book in 2011. It was launched at the Haida Gwaii Museum.

Documenting Life in Baghdad

By 2006, it became very dangerous in Baghdad. It was hard for Farah to get support for her projects. So, she secretly traveled around Baghdad. She wanted to record the lives of Iraqis affected by the war. This brave work earned her the Overseas Press Club Award for Feature Photography. She also reported on the many Iraqi refugees who fled to Damascus. Besides Iraq, she has also taken photos in Afghanistan, Israel, Palestine, Pakistan, Syria, Lebanon, and Egypt.

One of her most famous pictures is of an Iraqi boy. This photo was so powerful that it made the cover of Time magazine.

Exhibitions of Her Work

Farah Nosh's photographs have been shown in many places. Here are some of her exhibitions:

• Witness: Casualties of War, 2008, Stephen Cohen Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
• War and Medicine, 2008/9, Wellcome Collection, London
• Blow Out, 2009, The Empty Quarter Fine Art Photography Gallery, DIFC, Dubai
• That Which Makes Us Haida – The Haida Language, 2011, Haida Gwaii Museum, Haida Heritage Centre, Haida Gwaii
• Stanley Park After the Storm of 2006, 2011/12, Teck Gallery, SFU, Vancouver
• That Which Makes Us Haida – The Haida Language, 2012, Bill Reid Gallery, Vancouver

Awards and Recognition

Farah Nosh has received many awards for her amazing photography:

• 2005: "PDN's 30 2005: Our Choice of Emerging Photographers to Watch", Photo District News
• 2006: National Geographic Magazine Development Grant
• 2007: Nominated for ICP Infinity Award for Photojournalism
• 2007: Photo District News Nikon Storyteller Award
• 2007: National Press Photographers Association – 1st Place Single Portrait, Time magazine
• 2007: National Press Photographers Association – 1st Place Serial Portrait, The New York Times
• 2007: Pictures of the Year International – 1st Place Magazine Portrait, Time magazine
• 2007: Pictures of the Year International – 2nd Place Magazine Photographer of the Year
• 2007: Overseas Press Club of America – 1st Place Feature Photography, Time magazine

See also

• Iraqi art
• List of Iraqi artists