Farzana Wahidy

Farzana Wahidy, born in 1984, is a pioneering Afghan documentary photographer and photojournalist renowned for her compelling imagery of women and girls in Afghanistan. As the first female photographer in the country to collaborate with international media agencies such as the Associated Press and Agence France-Presse, she has broken barriers in a male-dominated field.

Wahidy's journey into photojournalism began at the AINA Photojournalism Institute in Kabul, where she was one of only fifteen students selected from over five hundred applicants in two thousand two. Under the mentorship of the esteemed Iranian-French photojournalist Manoocher Deghati, she honed her skills and developed a passion for capturing the untold stories of her community.

Driven by a desire to express her emotions as an Afghan woman, Wahidy uses her photography to amplify the voices of others who share her experiences. Her work goes beyond merely highlighting the challenges faced by Afghan women; she aims to portray their everyday lives, showcasing their resilience and strength.