Photographer based in Beirut, Lebanon
Tanya Traboulsi
Tell us about yourself, what's your background?
I received my first camera at a very young age, and from then on, I always had one with me. Taking photographs became a natural part of my life; I thought it was simply normal to document my surroundings and everyday moments. It was only later that I realized photography could also be an art form, and even a profession.
From the series "Beirut, Recurring Dream", 2021 - ongoing
Photographed on medium format film
“Beirut, Recurring Dream, is a body of work inspired by the city itself - its beauty, its chaos, and my ever-shifting relationship with it. It draws on my personal history with Beirut, a place that continues to haunt, shape, and inspire me in equal measure."
From the series "Beirut, Recurring Dream", 2021 - ongoing
Photographed on medium format film
What are you currently working on and where did the inspiration for it come from?
I am currently working on my long-term project "Beirut, Recurring Dream", a body of work inspired by the city itself - its beauty, its chaos, and my ever-shifting relationship with it. It draws on my personal history with Beirut, a place that continues to haunt, shape, and inspire me in equal measure.
From the series "Beirut, Recurring Dream", 2021 - ongoing
Photographed on medium format film
Innovation does not only happen in the field of technology — it occurs everyday in a creative practice. What do you do for inspiration?
Inspiration often comes to me through stillness and observation. I spend a lot of time by the sea; it’s where ideas begin to drift and take shape. Reading, watching films, and listening to music all feed my imagination in different ways. I’m also deeply inspired by the work of other photographers and artists; seeing how they translate their inner worlds into visual form often reignites my own creative energy.
From the series "Beirut, Recurring Dream", 2021 - ongoing
Photographed on medium format film
Where do ideas start for you?
My practice is both intuitive and structured. On one hand, it’s very spontaneous: I often follow a feeling that appears while moving through the city. On the other hand, there’s a certain discipline to it: I go to the darkroom once a week to develop and print, and I try to take walks with my camera once or twice a week to photograph. The best Ideas often emerge during these walks.
From the series "Beirut, Recurring Dream", 2021 - ongoing
Photographed on medium format film
How do you make your work, does it start with a sketch?
I think it takes time to develop a gaze that truly belongs to you. Sometimes we reinvent ourselves and have to find new ways of looking. Life isn’t a steady constant, and neither is my practice. It’s alive, shifting, like archives, memories, and images themselves.
It took me years to recognize what I see, how I see, and how I wish to see. The more we look, the more we train our gaze. I’ve been looking at images since I was a child, and I still love to do so - photographs, films, people, everything unfolding around me. Observing is essential; it’s how I continue to refine my way of seeing.
Who are your biggest influences?
There are so many photographers who inspire me, it’s impossible to name them all. Mainly, I’m deeply inspired by the photographers emerging from Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, and across the region. Their work carries courage, honesty, and a renewed visual language that continues to move me profoundly.
Are there books or films that are an important source of inspiration?
To truly approach Beirut, I believe cinema is one of the most powerful entry points. Films by Maroun Baghdadi (Little Wars, Hors la Vie), Jocelyne Saab (The Beirut Trilogy), Borhane Alaouié (Beyrouth la rencontre), and Randa Chahal Sabbag (Our Heedless Wars) each reveal different facets of the city.
Books, too, are essential: Deniro’s Game by Rawi Hage, Beirut Fragments by Jean Said Makdisi, The Day Nina Simone Stopped Singing by Darina Al-Joundi, Water on Fire by Tarek El-Ariss, Survivre dans Beyrouth by Lina Tabbara, and Beyrouth sur Seine by Sabyl Ghoussoub. Together, these voices form a chorus that helps one approach Beirut beyond stereotypes - through tenderness, complexity, and lived experience.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
"Always think two steps ahead" - words my father once told me, and they’ve quietly guided me ever since.
Left: 𝘐𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘸𝘢𝘺, 2025 screen protector, brush, rubber tubing, exhaust flange, cricket legs
Right: Shroud, 2023, 24" x 24" x .5" bath towel, wood glue, plaster
What is the best advice you would give to other artists?
My advice is not to skip steps. Take your time and gather as much experience as possible. That’s the only way to truly learn, grow, and get somewhere meaningful. Self-discipline and consistency are essential. And always look at the work of others for inspiration, not competition.
From the series "Beirut, Recurring Dream", 2021 - ongoing
Photographed on medium format film
Stay up to date with Tanya Traboulsi
Instagram @tanya_traboulsi