It was an honor to speak about my brother Kamaran Najm, not only as family, but as a mentor and a visionary photojournalist, during a panel at Pordenonelegge alongside artist Claudio Calia.
Claudio has created a moving graphic novel about Kamaran, first published in Italian, and soon to be available in Kurdish and English.
#Photojournalism #KamaranNajm #Pordenonelegge #WhereIsTheBeauty
I’m honored to be speaking at Pordenonelegge Festival in Italy, together with artist Claudio Calia, about Where Is the Beauty? the graphic novel that tells the story of my brother, Kamaran Najm.
The discussion, moderated by Luca Raffaelli, will explore journalism, memory, and the power of visual storytelling.
#GraphicNovel #Photojournalism #KamaranNajm #WhereIsTheBeauty #KamaranMuseum #MetrographyAgency
Thirty #PKK fighters ceremonially destroyed their weapons in Jasana valley, southeast of #Sulaymaniyah, marking a shift from armed conflict to politics. A symbolic step toward peace.
📸 More photos on Metrography:
https://t.co/jZMaNjQyh0
Photo credit: @Ahmed_Najm2
Thanks to Bremen University and especially to its students and faculty, for the kind invitation and warm reception.
I gave a lecture on my journey through journalism, reflecting on the ethical responsibility of documenting conflict and the cost of telling the truth.
I also spoke about my brother Kamaran, whose vision and sacrifice continue to guide everything I do.
#Photojournalism #MetrographyAgency #KamaranNajm #Bremen #Germany #BremenUniversity
On May 16, I will be giving a lecture at Bremen University about my journey as a journalist in Iraq, Kurdistan region and Syria, the responsibility of telling true stories from war zones, and the personal cost of that mission, including the disappearance of my brother Kamaran.
With this aim, he established the @Metrography, the first photo agency in Iraq. And we will not forget the efforts of Sebastian Meyer and his other friends who contributed from the early days of the agency to its success.
For Kamaran Najm..on the anniversary of his disappearance
We remember a photographer who pursued the truth throughout his career, striving to be the true eye of his people and society. He began by documenting the cruelty of war and its victims, seeking to show the facts.
We remember Kamaran, a photographer with many dreams, who envisioned uniting the beautiful and different perspectives of his country under one umbrella so that everyone could showcase the big picture together.
Turning his camera to Sulaymaniyah bazaar, @wrodgers2 captured the city’s dynamic heart, reflecting the complex interactions of humanity, labor, and commerce.
“The more time I spent in the bazaar, the closer I felt to Kurdistan and to Kurds.”
📸Winthrop Rodgers/Metrography
The bazaar became deserted during the COVID-19 lockdown, a stark contrast to its usual bustle. Months later, Rodgers documented its return to normalcy.
“The more time I spent in the bazaar, the closer I felt to Kurdistan and to Kurds.”
Winthrop Rodgers (@wrodgers2)/Metrography
Journalist and photographer @wrodgers2 planned for a brief stay when he arrived in Kurdistan in March 2018, but became deeply interested in the land and its people, living in Sulaymaniyah until December 2023.
Turning his camera to the bazaar, he captured the city’s dynamic heart, reflecting the complex interactions of humanity, labor, and commerce. Initially challenged by the maze-like alleys, he gradually mastered them.
📸Winthrop Rodgers (@wrodgers2) /Metrography
In Agouni, the looming winter rain sparks both fear and hope, as one resident expresses, "We'll suffer, but the rain will bring us hope and a way to live”. Amidst uncertainties, their faith in God sustains, fostering hope for aid.
📸Sebastian Hälg/Metrography
Months after Morocco's 6.8 magnitude earthquake, many still reside in tents, with relief efforts prolonged by the challenging mountainous terrain. communities united in self-help, each village adopting unique strategies.
📸Sebastian Hälg/Metrography
The remains of 172 victims of the Anfal genocide were finally laid to rest at the Anfal Monument cemetery in Sulayamniyah’s Chamchamal district on February 21, 2024.
These remains had been held at a forensic medicine facility in Baghdad for more than four years. Anfal denotes a series of genocidal attacks perpetrated by Saddam Hussein’s Baathist regime against the Kurdish people in the late 1980s.
📸Mohammed Omer/Metrography