Laura Boushnak is a Palestinian documentary photographer and visual storyteller. Her work mainly focuses on the Arab world, looking at issues stemming from her personal experience of gender, education, and the aftermath of war.
After receiving a degree in Sociology from the Lebanese University in Beirut in 1999, Boushnak infused her interest in social issues with her passion for the visual arts and began her career as a photographer for the Associated Press in Lebanon. She then went on to work with Agence France-Presse at its Middle East hub in Cyprus and its headquarters in Paris. During these nine years, Boushnak’s experience included covering hard news in conflict zones such as the war in Iraq and the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war.
Since 2008, she has been working as an independent photographer, commissioned for editorial assignments by The New York Times and other publications while also working on long-term personal projects in the Middle East.
Boushnak’s main focus has been on her ongoing projects, I Read I Write, revolving around Arab women’s education and literacy, and Survivor, highlighting the aftermath of war and its impact on individuals long after the fighting has ended. Both projects have received honorable awards and recognition including the first Getty Images/ lean-in editorial grant, The Terry O’Neill Photography Award in the United Kingdom, and two honorable mentions in the UNICEF Photo of the Year Award.
Her work has been part of public and private collections, including the British Museum, and has been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world, such as the Birmingham Museum in the UK, the Sharjah Art Museum in the UAE, and The Arp Museum Bahnhof Ralandseck in Germany.
Boushnak is a TED fellow and has been invited to give talks in different parts of the world, including two TED talks in 2014 and 2016, where she shared the stories behind her projects with a worldwide audience.
World Press Photo Involvement:
2024 Joop Swart Masterclass mentor
2024 Joop Swart Masterclass selection committee
2021 World Press Photo Contest jury member
2016 Joop Swart Masterclass mentor
Laura Boushnak on Social Media:
Instagram: @lauraboushnak
