Abdul Lateef is a young photographer and ESL instructor based in Istanbul.
With an unwavering passion for photography that began at the age of 14, Abdul Lateef doesn’t just capture moments, he lives in them.
“I’ve a thing for connecting with people and this strange desire towards learning through the experience of others, wondering how we’re all so different in so many ways and yet the same,” says Abdul Lateef.
Abdul Lateef has participated in workshops conducted by Fujifilm in Istanbul in 2019. He has organized and hosted graduation events such as #wentparanoid, worked with brag, an award-winning experiential and event management agency based in Dubai. Abdul Lateef also worked with the Dubai International Film Festival from 2014 to 2017, receiving the festival’s Excellency Award in 2017. His work has been featured on Foto UAE among other platforms.
Abdul Lateef started his own project, Behind Each Window, A Different Story by Alt (#BEWADSbyALT), finding inspiration from photographer Hussain AlMoosawi and Humans of New York, with the aim of shedding light on obstacles people have faced and overcome. Follow him on Instagram and visit ALT Photography to view his amazing work.
Abdul Lateef recently joined an initiative with a mission to empower 15 young Uyghur refugees in Istanbul to become changemakers with the skills and resources to realize their vision for a better future for themselves and their community. With the Atlas Media & Design team, Abdul Lateef will help train students in photography as part of a comprehensive creative media & design training project that also includes graphic design, videography, postproduction, branding, and writing across media platforms.
Abdul Lateef says the following about the Atlas Media & Design initiative:
Raised in a land with a diverse population, but not diverse with Uyghurs, a sense of unfamiliarity grew between me and my people. But ever since I got to Turkey and got to befriend Uyghurs across the globe, a new world opened up for me. I hope to learn as I teach, give more than I can take, and rid the unfamiliarity I’d had for my own people.
The Atlas Media & Design initiative aims to break the cycle of charity dependence and foster a self-sufficient and responsible generation of Uyghur refugees that will contribute to the sustainable development of the Uyghur community and host communities. To support the initiative, donate at launchgood.com/uyghuryouth.