Emotion and Self-Discovery through Photography (2 part series)

“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly.
What is essential is invisible to the eye”
- from The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

We're delighted to introduce new VAWAA artist and award-winning photographer, Tariq, who will be leading this exciting 2-part series on Saturday April 9th and April 16th. Join us to gain new inspiration and insight, as well as practical methods to further your personal artistic development through photography. 

Tariq recognizes the need for quality and technical excellence, but above all he strives for emotional content to enrich his art work with depth and meaning.

In this session we will explore ideas and practices to help us connect with our authentic, inner voice. By examining different artistic approaches, and re-examining our own, we'll learn how to be more effective in transmitting feeling and emotion through our work.

This series focuses on photography, however the methods and ideas we will be exploring can be translated to any form of expressive art - visual, performing, or written.

What to expect

  • Choosing a photographic equipment
  • Examples of well-known photographers in photojournalism, reportage and art.
  • Mindfulness ideas to focus on the "here and now"
  • Identifying the emotion and message
  • Pre-visualization techniques
  • Considerations for the final photographic image
  • Developing a sense of self and artistic growth

All levels are welcome and smartphones are totally acceptable cameras. There will be plenty of time to share, get feedback and meet other participants from around the world.

If you are not in EST time zone, be sure to convert the time.


What you'll need

  • Pen, paper, or digital pad to take notes.
  • Smartphone or digital camera.


How to join

We'll be hosting this VAWAA Online on Zoom. We'll send the link and details to join via email 1 day and again 1 hour before it begins.


About Tariq

Tariq is a photographer–printmaker, based in Galicia, Spain. Born to Palestinian-English parents, he grew up in various countries in Europe and the Middle East which shaped his cultural and ethnically diverse outlook on life. An early creative interest in music and art later led him to photography and printmaking. Over the years, he learned his craft working both as an artist and as a commercial photographer for advertising and design agencies, based in London, Stockholm and Dubai.

He combines modern digital approaches, both image capture, processing and printing, with some traditional ones, such as photogravure (photo-etching) printmaking, a large part of which is a fully manual process. He is most interested in communicating feeling and meaning through his creative photographic work, rather than just focussing on technical skill. Recurring themes in his work relate to identity, belonging, and his Arab heritage.

Prints of his strikingly emotive work are owned by art lovers and collectors worldwide, and are included in several public and private collections.

A freethinker, dreamer and picture-maker, Dajani now spends most of his time working on art projects and tutoring in photography and photogravure printmaking in his ancient farmhouse studio in Spain. He combines creative interests with a healthy lifestyle connecting to nature, working on his organic farm, and being with his wife and their family of Saluki dogs and Arabian horses.

Visit his artist page to learn more about his in-person VAWAA.

Browse other VAWAA Online Sessions

Learn more about VAWAA in-person mini apprenticeships

Subscribe to latest news and updates from around the world here