Targeted News Service
August 15, 2008 Friday 9:41 AM EST

Windows of the Soul: My Journeys in the Muslim World

WASHINGTON

National Geographic issued the following news release:

In a riveting personal memoir illustrated with stunning images that
she risked her life to capture, renowned photojournalist Alexandra
Avakian shares the challenges, insights and rewards of nearly two
decades of photographing the lives of Muslims around the world in a
new book from National Geographic, WINDOWS OF THE SOUL: My Journeys in
the Muslim World (National Geographic Focal Point; ISBN
978-1-4262-0320-6;

Sept. 30, 2008; $40).

The book is the first title in National Geographic Books’ new Focal
Point imprint, which draws on National Geographic’s legendary
photographic archive of more than 10 million images and the work of
distinguished photographers around the world. The imprint will present
the finest in documentary photography past and present, and monographs
will celebrate individual photographers’ unique style, vision and
skill.

Avakian’s work has taken her to countries torn apart by poverty,
repression and conflict, and she has captured some of the most
important stories of our time. Brought up by a show business family
in Manhattan, N.Y., and Malibu, Calif., she lived for two years in
Gaza, often in Islamic dress, shot at by Israeli soldiers and beaten
by Hamas. She faced down murderous militias with loaded guns in
Somalia, where death can come at any time, over nothing at all. She
traveled extensively with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who
called her "troublemaker" and "dictator," yet gave her unprecedented
access. She spent eight weeks gaining entry to the inner circles of
Hezbollah, the highly secretive organization that maintains one of
the world’s most disciplined guerrilla armies. She pursued her
Armenian roots in Iran and documented Muslim culture in the United
States, discovering vibrant cultures where Middle Eastern and Middle
American qualities blend. She admits feeling fear in some situations,
but that paled against her desire to record the human struggle for
freedom and the willingness of people to risk their lives to gain it.

Related in gripping words and astonishing, emotive photographs,
Avakian’s remarkable experiences draw readers into the Muslim world to
meet families and radicals, farmers and artisans, leaders and
refugees, and many who lost their lives from street violence or
starvation. Her style is probing, yet sensitive and compassionate. She
introduces us to unfamiliar societies, opening a window into the lives
of people struggling to survive conflict, civil war, famine and
prejudice. She has captured the cold, crazed stare of a gun-toting
child, the anguish of families bereaved by terrorism, the beauties of
festivities and everyday happiness.

In his foreword, National Geographic Society President and CEO John
Fahey remarks, "Our mission at National Geographic is to show our
readership the life behind the news — and to do this with
objectivity, texture, depth, and intimacy. Alexandra Avakian has made
and continues to make a unique contribution to this aspiration of
ours. … Her pictures are straightforward in their portrayal of
reality, yet as layered and subtle as life itself. At times her style
is cinematic, at other times still. These pictures have the power of
intimacy that allows the viewer in and up close. ,,, Her photographs
are driven by great passion and great heart. Her inspired photography
in terribly fraught circumstances bears witness not only to pain but
also to beauty and joy. She shows us oppression and also freedom,
poverty and also power."

In her introduction, Avakian explains what drove her to spend nearly
two decades covering revolution and conflict and how moved she was by
the help and acceptance she received from so many ordinary and
extraordinary people with whom she formed enduring friendships. She
writes, "For nearly 20 years I have photographed Muslims around the
world. I have witnessed life, death, weddings, prayer, famine and
uprisings. … Here I hope to share a wider view of that journey. I am
neither an authority on Islam, nor the Middle East. The book is not a
statement about Islam or the people of the Muslim world. It is simply
a memoir of what I saw and experienced in these lands."

Each of the book’s six chapters — The Palestinians, Iran, Central
Asia & the Caucasus, Somalia & the Sudan, America, and Hezbollah —
begins with an introductory essay by Avakian, and her captions to the
photographs include personal anecdotes and recollections.

Going beyond the brief news reports that most of us see, Avakian
shares a richer, wider view of the Muslim world through her
extraordinary storytelling and photographs, which will captivate,
educate and linger with her readers. While writing and editing the
book, Avakian survived a battle with breast cancer.

A member of the prestigious Contact Press Images photo agency in New
York, Avakian has been a top photojournalist since 1984. Her work has
been published in National Geographic, Time, The New York Times
Magazine and many other publications. She lives near Washington, D.C.

TNS gv51gv-080815-1762670 18MASHGema