Photo Negatives from the Arab Image Foundation (Lebanon) | AIF

In response to Lebanon's various crises, the Arab Image Foundation (AIF) is digitizing negatives from its collections. The materials represent a range of photography methods practiced in Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria in various settings. From commercial studios to personal outings, these images reveal not only diverse photographic practices, but also underrepresented cultural histories.

Project Abstract

In recent times, Lebanon has faced an economic crisis and sociopolitical conflict that has threatened the preservation of some of the country's cultural heritage. This includes historical visualization pieces such as photography. To combat this endangerment, the Arab Image Foundation (AIF) project will digitize a collection of photographic films that captures a wide array of photographic practices conducted in 20th century Lebanon. The collection includes cellulose acetate and cellulose nitrate films, which the AIF will re-house to more secure storage conditions and digitize to make accessible to users online.