Photo of the Week: Deemah Hassoubah

Saudi photographer and visual storyteller Deemah Hassoubah thrives on revealing the extraordinary within the everyday.

With a practice rooted in architecture, fine art and cultural heritage, Hassoubah views photography as an exploration of light, geometry and emotion, using black-and-white imagery to transform familiar spaces into striking visual studies. “I am always looking for the quiet details that most people pass by - that is where the real story lives,” Hassoubah says.

For this edition of 'Photo of the Week', Hassoubah selected an image captured in Historic Jeddah (Al Balad) during the evening, when directional light cast strong contrasts across the building's façade. Rather than documenting a landmark, the photograph isolates the interplay of shadow, texture and symmetry, drawing attention to the rhythm of the traditional wooden rawasheen against the solid stone structure. The monochrome treatment strips away distraction, allowing architecture to become almost sculptural. Reflecting on the moment, she notes, “Light in Al Balad is never just illumination, it shapes the entire mood of the place.”

For Hassoubah, the image reflects her fascination with finding extraordinary compositions in ordinary spaces. Drawn to minimalism and contrast, she sees architecture as capable of expressing emotion without the presence of people. By shifting perspective and reducing the scene to light and form, she invites viewers to rediscover the timeless beauty of Saudi heritage through a new lens. “When you remove everything unnecessary, what remains is feeling,” she says.