Steadfastness
A Photograph by Alaa Eldin Safi
A few men, three by the count of their feet, either attend to or consider an outstretched hand. The flashlight reveals some poverty in the grim circumference: weathered concrete, an empty water bottle, plastic cups, worn shoes. Also noticeable is the quiet of the scene. Each foot or hand stays taut. Given the profound symmetry of this photograph, the enfolding darkness reveals why the men might have opted for makeshift care. The centre of action has been measured out perfectly, as if to allow none else into this orb of light.
— Emmanuel Iduma
“This photograph shows the suffering of a citizen, who has no guilt and nothing to do with the war.”
This photograph was taken in Khartoum during the last war. It shows our neighbor who was injured in the recent shelling on Khartoum, and how we are trying to treat his hand without electricity and some simple medical equipment in the house because we had no means of transportation to transfer him to the hospital, as well as the deteriorating security situation given the presence of the Rapid Support Militia.
I like this photograph because it shows the suffering of a citizen, who has no guilt and nothing to do with the war, as well as his steadfastness despite the difficulties and challenges of war.
Although I have no formal educational background in photography, my passion and strong desire to develop my technical and technical skills prompted me to get started in the field. I learn various methods and techniques, and always seek to gain knowledge from experts and available resources.
— Alaa Eldin Safi
About Alaa Eldin Safi
Born and raised in Khartoum, Alaa Eldin Safi began to take photographs during the last war in his country Sudan. More of his work can be found on Instagram.
LAST WEEK — “Draa River” by Yassine El Attar
It represents South Morocco's beautiful but endangered landscape due to climate change; it also gives a sense of isolation which is an embodiment of the reality of this overlooked region. This image is part of my ongoing long term project Fading Dunes, and it shows the meeting points between river, ocean and dunes, making this place in the world unique.
This is the 129th edition of this publication. The newsletter also read on web (best for viewing images), and via the Substack iOS/Android apps.
TENDER PHOTO is a collaborative digital archive and publishing platform of contemporary African photography, edited by Emmanuel Iduma. Our aim is to use photography to engage with life on the African continent. We publish narratives about the people, places, and events pictured in photographs, contributing to nuanced and layered perceptions.
Every Wednesday we feature a photograph, a short caption about it, and a statement from the photographer. Last year, we published commentaries or photo-essays in response to photographs previously featured on the newsletter, including CORRESPONDENCES, CONCORDANCE, KINDRED, INDEX, and AFFINITIES. Our ongoing Friday series is dedicated to the 5 photographers featured in Process Projected, Amsterdam. See last week’s feature on the work of Thero Makepe here.
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Tender photo. Made more poignant, even urgent, by the words that surround it.
Such an expression of humanity, aiding another as best can be done (that medical help is not available is a shame of this world). An indictment of war, of indifference to human suffering.