Minute 22 is out!

The Oct/Nov 2008 Special Edition of Sowar Magazine (Minute 22) is out. Flip through the sample below for a sneak peek.

Don't know what Minute 22 is about? Check out this post for more info.

South African Radio Station Interview with Hassan Osman

A 10-minute live interview by "The Voice of the Cape" radio station based in Cape Town, South Africa, with Editorial Director of Sowar Magazine Hassan Osman.

Minute 22 on Zaven's Talk Show

Zaven Kouyoumdjian talking about Sowar Magazine's Minute 22 Project on his "Sire Wenfatahit" Future TV show.

Reportage about Sowar Magazine (Future TV)

Minute 22: A project by Sowar Magazine

This project is about taking a single photo at the exact same time in the Arab world.

The objective is to document, through pictures, what everyone else is doing during Minute 22.

On Friday 22 August 2008 at exactly 2:22 pm Lebanon local time, Sowar Magazine wants you to take a single photo.

22 is the number of countries in the League of Arab States. If you live in any of those countries, you can be a part of this project at the following local times:

Egypt - 2:22pm
Iraq - 2:22pm
Jordan - 2:22pm
Lebanon - 2:22pm
Saudi Arabia - 2:22pm
Syria - 2:22pm
Yemen - 2:22pm
Libya - 1:22pm
Sudan - 2:22pm
Morocco - 12:22pm
Tunisia - 1:22pm
Kuwait - 2:22pm
Algeria - 12:22pm
UAE - 3:22pm
Bahrain - 2:22pm
Qatar - 2:22pm
Oman - 3:22pm
Mauritania - 11:22am
Somalia - 2:22pm
Palestine - 2:22pm
Djibouti - 2:22pm
Comoros - 2:22pm

The pictures will be published in a special edition of Sowar Magazine. The pictures will also be posted online.

Anyone can join, and any camera can be used (cell phone, compact, point & shoot, DSLR, etc.)

To learn more about the project, and to receive the latest updates and instructions, join the Minute 22 Facebook Group

You can also check out details on the Sowar Magazine page

International Festival of Photojournalism 2008

Every year, Visa Pour l'Image hosts one of the most powerful festivals covering international photojournalism in Perpignan, France. Between September 1 and 7, 2008, they will be celebrating their 20th year anniversary. The festival features riveting exhibitions, evening shows, and six major awards which cannot be missed. You can learn more about the festival on www.2e-bureau.com

Sample Image from the festival:

© Alexandra Boulat / VII

The Baghdad Fall: U.S. Marines use their vehicle to help topple a statue of Saddam Hussein in Baghdad, April 9, 2003. This picture made the 2003 poster of Visa pour l’Image.

Hassan Osman named "pioneer" on Menassat.com

Sowar Magazine and the Lebanese Civil War special edition just made it to the front page of Menassat.com – a highly-regarded news website about the Middle East and North Africa. You can read their interview with editorial director Hassan Osman about the magazine’s concept here: http://www.menassat.com/?q=news-articles/4042-portrait-pioneer

A couple of other well-known blogs, www.bloggingbeirut.com and www.beirutspring.com have mentioned the magazine as well.

Issue 003 (June/ July 2008) is out!

The June/ July 2008 Special Edition of Sowar Magazine (Snapshots from the Lebanese Civil War 1975-1990) is out. You can flip through the sample below for a glimpse.

As part of a “Let us not Forget” campaign, the magazine asked nine highly renowned photographers who lived during that period to send in some of their best shots. Those photographers include:

• Maher Attar (website)
  
• Bill Foley (website)
  
• Jean Guichard (website)
  
• Harry Koundakjian (email)
  
• Roger Moukarzel (website)
  
• Saleh Rifai (email)
  
• Pierre Sabbagh (email)
  
• Claude Salhani (website)
  
• Souheil Semaan (website)
  

The intent of the initiative was to present images that serve as a reminder of the horrors of war so that they are not repeated, particularly as Lebanon passes through a politically-charged period. The edition is dedicated to those who lost, and still are losing, their lives in an unfair and unjust cause.

Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990) Special Edition

A left-wing Mourabitoun fighter fires his bazooka from the Place des Canons in Central Beirut towards the Eastern Beirut positions of the rightwing Kataeb. Photo: Harry Koundakjian

Given the recent terrible events that Lebanon has passed through, Sowar Magazine will be publishing a special edition that will focus on images from the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990) as a reminder of the terrible consequences of civil unrest.

Sowar Magazine Publishing Benefits (Presentation)

Editorial Director Hassan Osman at the Gulf Photo Plus 2008 event in Dubai, discussing Sowar Magazine's concept and publishing benefits.

Winner Announced!

Dave Cox won the top photoessay of Jack Picone's photojournalism workshop at the Gulf Photo Plus 2008 event in Dubai. His photoessay, which focused on The Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi (the 3rd largest mosque in the world), will be featured in an upcoming issue of Sowar Magazine.

Gulf Photo Plus 2008

Sowar Magazine will be publishing the top photoessay from the photojournalism workshop taught by Jack Picone at the Gulf Photo Plus 2008 event.

Gulf Photo Plus 2008 is THE place to be for photographers and photojournalists. It is a 6-day event (April 29-May4, 2008) based in Dubai that will bring 14 great international photographers to the Middle East to teach everything from Digital Photography, to Lighting, to Photoshop, to establishing a Successful Photography Business. There are over 50 workshops and lectures for all levels to choose from. Check out the event schedule here. Make sure you attend!

Sowar Magazine in most Lebanese Bookstores

Sowar Magazine is now available in all major Lebanese bookstores including: Virgin Megastores, Malik's, Antoine and Halim. You can also find it in large supermarket chains such as Spinney's, ABC and Geant (it's usually right next to National Geographic magazine)

Issue 002 (Apr/ May 2008) is out!

The Apr/ May 2008 issue of Sowar Magazine is out. You can flip through the sample below for a glimpse. Subscriptions will start soon!

Sowar Magazine blog launched

Welcome to Sowar Magazine's blog! The blog will focus on journalistic and documentary photography topics related to Lebanon, the Middle East and the Gulf. We look forward to keeping you updated about news, events and happenings in those areas, along with updates about the magazine's content!