Photograph by Nouf Why
The Constellation · Of this place
Sami Al Tokhais
Photographer. The Kingdom, documented.
CultureClears the way for Arrival
Reach Sami through Manara
The light
Sami photographs Saudi Arabia as a place people live rather than a destination. He grew up between the Kingdom and the United States, which is a useful double vision for the work: he can see what a newcomer notices and what a local would never bother to point out.
He is a Fujifilm X-Photographer and brand ambassador in Saudi Arabia. His work has run in The Guardian and the Saudi Gazette, he has spoken at Gulf Photo Plus, and he was among ten award-winning Saudi photographers exhibited at Alserkal Avenue in Dubai in 2018. He has appeared on Thmanyah's Fnjan and on Dhaw.
For somebody who has just arrived and is still deciding whether this is a place or a posting, the pictures do more than a briefing would.
What Sami clears
Where in the Kingdom is actually worth the drive, and whenHow to photograph here respectfully, which newcomers ask about constantlyA view of Saudi Arabia that is neither brochure nor correspondent
Conversations
Coming soon on the Manara podcast
OrganisationIndependent
RoleTravel and documentary photographer
CityRiyadh
LanguagesArabic, English
Elsewheresamitphotography.com
Also in the constellation
Manara · Riyadh since 2009This profile is written from public sources and reviewed by Manara.