Chobi Mela brings the eyes of the world to Dhaka every two years, and the seventh edition of the photography festival is reaching out further and deeper this year. A fascinating slideshow on Middle Eastern photography at the festival showed how the medium is vibrant in that region of the world. Curator Hester Keijser, in her presentation at the Goethe-Institut, Dhaka on January 30, focused on various facets of life in the Arabian Gulf. The presentation was not about the typical war-tom and politically violent depictions of the Mid-East, rather it upheld some previously unfocused layers — ranging from social and cultural aspects to the gradually changing sentiments of people of the region.

The slideshow opened with photographer Tanya Habjouqa's “Bedouin Resolution” and "Occupied Pleasure" -- collections of photographs that focused on the lifestyle and culture of the Bedouins, living in parts of Jordan and Palestine, under constant threats of demolition of their shelters.

All and Ramyar's project, "Iran: We live in a paradoxical society”, looked into a dually politicised atmosphere of the Iran that led Iranians to choose a self-censorship path, in consistence with the governmental point of view that led to the split of lives and thoughts.

Fredric Lezmi's project, “Arabian Prospects II and III”, looked deep into a level of reality in the Mid-East that lies beyond war and political insecurity.

The work of artist Isak Berbic, meanwhile, dealt with history, tragedy, exile and the limits of representation.

Rania Matar's project highlighted young women at a transitional time of their lives, while Wasma Mansour depicted Saudi women's suppressed efforts in reconciling with their identities and asserting their sense of individualism.

Photographer Selim Sume's photo diary read the feelings of alienation and missing life, and his sentiments towards the army.

Society, culture, identity and individualism were recurring themes of the photos, as well as the psychological consequences of political instability and revolution. However, it is the ambitious efforts and challenging ways photographers have responded to those subjects that have made Middle-Eastern photography so exciting, complex and multi-layered.

Following the slideshow, noted Norwegian portrait photographer Morten Krogvold made an enlightening presentation of his works. Krogvold's slides featured some striking portraits of people from different strata of life — ranging from Nelson Mandela to anonymous people and often the portraits of the dead, taken from museums. Krogvold also displayed some of his 'long exposure' works, which were taken with up to six hours of exposure time.

Krogvold is among those photographers who prefer using a film in their cameras, and said he has not yet been seduced by the convenience of digital photography. He said people often lose originality and start following other photographers' works, and insisted on originality rather than just cloning.