A Week in Pictures - Middle East & Africa, February 16, 2018

A last minute update to the week's selection from Middle East and Africa of Luc Gnago's wonderfully composed picture using classic thirds and complementary colours of orange and blue. The picture of the tree against the blue sky on the orange earth would have been nice enough but three girls walking from left to right, all equally spaced in line, one, two, three or A, B C to fill the space perfectly make this image just a little bit special.

Girls carry water on their bicycles at a dispensary in Nedago village near Ouagadougou, Burkina faso, February 16, 2018.   REUTERS/Luc Gnago

A series of air raids by the Israeli Air force and anti-aircraft counter attacks by Syrian forces prompted a quick response by Ammar Awad, who headed to the Golan Heights. The main questions at this time were: ‘Whose move and what happens next?’Ammar’s picture of the signpost, the waiting woman and the cut-out figure of a gunman sum up the moment of watching and waiting. 

A woman sits near a sign at Mount Bental, an observation post in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that overlooks the Syrian side of the Quneitra crossing, Israel February 10, 2018. REUTERS/ Ammar Awad

If the cut-out of the gunman in Ammar's picture above is classic in its shape, I think Baz Ratner's running boy is another classic. The boy's legs are almost at full stretch, his arms are clearly defined, and water is splashing up behind. It is an irresistible pick for the week.  

A boy runs across the Turkwel River running through Lodwar, in Turkana County, Kenya February 6, 2018.  REUTERS/Baz Ratner

Satish Kumar’s picture is a wonderful combination of busy line and shape through shadow and structure. There are too many triangles to count as your eye races to the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, in the middle distance to the tiny shape formed between the hands of the woman taking a picture of her friend.

A visitor takes photos at the 71st floor of the Gevora Hotel, the world's tallest hotel, in Dubai, UAE February 12, 2018. REUTERS/Satish Kumar

The eerie cold blue light from a mobile device highlights the face of the fighter in a room bathed in the warm glow of firelight, creating an almost theatrical scene in Khalil Ashawi’s terrific picture. Shadows flickering in the light on the wall soften the unmistakable shape of his weapon in the background. At the same time the fighter’s covered features are frozen like ice in the harsh blue light.  

Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army fighter holds a cell phone in the town of Tadef in Aleppo Governorate, Syria February 12, 2018. Picture taken February 12, 2018. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi

Faded glory has got to be the understatement of the week to describe Amr Abdullah Dalsh’s picture. The colours are muted, every poster is torn or faded and the piles of rubbish look as if they have been there for years and will be there for years to come. I can’t imagine for a minute what these men are talking about, but I sense they are in no hurry to finish their conversation. I think this is a wonderful and timeless picture.

An Egyptian man waits in front of Pepsi products shop for customers at the shanty area Zabaleen or "Garbage City", the poorest part of Cairo, where thousands of Copts make a living by recycling everything from plastic bottles, food remains, carton and metal on the Mokattam Hills in eastern Cairo, Egypt February 12, 2018. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

On the day police recommended that Netanyahu should be indicted for bribery, Nir Elias had a lucky break with the light as the prime minister walked into the spotlight. An inch lower and his eyes would be in shadow and the essence of the picture would have been lost. What also makes this picture for me is the fact that the sliver of light ends in black shadow on both sides of the frame, suggesting a momentary glimpse of something going on. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) arrives ahead of a planned address at the Muni World 2018 conference in Tel Aviv, Israel February 14, 2018. REUTERS/Nir Elias

In Bassam Khabieh’s picture, the boy’s arm and his cheek echo the shape of the Red Crescent logo. The circles of the emblem are also echoed in the wheels of the bike and the truck, all combining to make a very complicated composition. There is there is no telling if this boy is holding his head in relief because supplies have reached Douma, or in concern that it’s not enough. But either way, I think the tension in his locked fingers tells a story of concern. 

A boy gestures near a Syrian Arab Red Crescent truck in the besieged town of Douma, eastern Ghouta, in Damascus, Syria February 14, 2018. REUTERS/Bassam Khabieh 

A sea of faces stretching to the furthest horizon, with people’s arms crossed in unison, makes Tiksa Negri’s picture quite striking. The only break in the flow to the rear of the picture is a single flag being waved. I can almost taste the dust being thrown up by these thousands of people.

Supporters of Bekele Gerba, secretary general of the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC), chant slogans to celebrate Gerba's release from prison, in Adama, Oromia Region, Ethiopia February 14, 2018. REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri

A surprise press conference late in the evening by South African President Zuma gave Siphiwe Sibeko access to a historical moment. On the face of it, a simple assignment -- man speaks at podium to announce his resignation – but it’s much harder to make it something special. Throw in strong light and a long shadow and you have a special moment well captured by Siphiwe. I have added a second picture that was well used and which demonstrates that ‘bread and butter’ pictures are as important as thoughtful, creative images. Think too about the caption as we edit this live. Zuma arrives as president, all smiles, and we don’t know what he is going to say. At the end of his address he announces his resignation and leaves press conference as a former president. 

South Africa's President Jacob Zuma arrives to speak at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, South Africa, February 14, 2018. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

South Africa's President Jacob Zuma looks down as he speaks at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, South Africa, February 14, 2018. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko 

A Week in Pictures Middle East & Africa December 22, 2017

A few days before Christmas and protesters are wearing Santa Claus outfits to hurl stones at the Israeli military. Mohammad Torokman’s surreal, balletic image catches not only the stone in mid flight but the weird sheen of the red costume as the light catches the synthetic material. The soldiers in the background don’t look too worried. See more here

A Palestinian demonstrator dressed as Santa Claus hurls stones towards Israeli troops during clashes at a protest against U.S President Donald Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, near the West bank city of Ramallah December 19, 2107.   REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman

As a follow on to Mohammad’s picture it’s worth mentioning that at all security advice training courses one is taught to ‘blend in, don’t stand out’ and be the ‘grey man’. It seems that this advice should have been better heeded or maybe it’s being ignored to make a point. Looking at pictures from previous years here it seems the latter is true.

A wounded Palestinian demonstrator dressed as Santa Claus is evacuated during clashes with Israeli troops, at a protest as Palestinians called for a ‘A Day of Rage’ in response to U.S President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, near the border with Israel in the southern Gaza Strip December 22, 2017.   REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

As a nod to my love of commodity stories Ange Aboa’s picture really caught my eye. The strong left to right flow of the picture as the worker pulls the heavy sack of beans off the ground aided by the low angle of the bare footed man walking away, his toes echoing the tone, colour and shape of the scattered beans on the ground. I also like the warm sepia feel of this picture, which is wonderful as it’s about the raw materials that go to make up chocolate.

Workers transport sacks of cocoa beans in Ntui village, Cameroon, December 17, 2017.   REUTERS/Ange Aboa

A moment perfectly captured by Ibraheem Abu Mustafa as each militant figure forms the unmistakable shape of a combatant. What I really like about this picture is that each figure is clearly isolated in their own space, no part of any of them invading the space of another. Bizarrely, I am put in mind of classic images of soldiers used in illustrations or even action figures. 

Palestinian militants of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) demonstrate their skills during a military exercise in front of the media, on a beach in the southern Gaza Strip December 22, 2017.    REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

Silhouettes and sunsets are easy, low hanging fruit for nice pictures but rarely do they catch my eye or make me pause for thought. Ahmed Jadallah’s picture in Dubai is an exception to this and for many of the same reasons that I selected Ibraheem’s picture above. Just about every silhouetted figure is isolated in their own space. What is different is that a railing joins them all, but for me this only adds to the layered feel of the image. Distinct bands of shadow and highlight lead you to the background of the picture where the setting sun is sufficiently obscured that we see a yellow glow and not an over exposed white.

People watch the sunset in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 21, 2017.  REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

This picture by Muhammad Hamed selects itself, not only is it a picture of a VW Beetle (why is it that everyone seems to love this car?) but it is shot as an ‘environmental portrait’ with wonderful details that makes you want to look and look. First is the advert for ‘the smallest hotel’ which I think is a dreadful painting of the castle in the background, a promise of a wonderful view from the ‘hotel’. Then you quickly notice the car is balanced on rocks that hold it off the ground. Next you see the footwear of the occupants left outside, no doubt to ensure the interior is not made dirty and then finally the decoration to disguise the fact that this is, in reality, a broken down car. You might even be able to see the small Santa Claus figure on the roof, I assume an attempt to drum up seasonal trade. Having slept in cars on many occasions I will not be booking this up but I am sure many others will.

A Volkswagen Beetle, the ‘World’s smallest hotel’ as its owner Mohammed Al-Malahim claims, is seen in Shoubak, Jordan December 20, 2017.  REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed

In very much the same way people like VWs, I can’t help being drawn to the long suffering beast of burden, the donkey. Not quite sure why, as animals come a far second to people, but I’m adding these pictures by Alaa Al-Marjani (although shot in November it was only published this week) as personal favourites. First it really struck me just how primitive the nature of the brick works are, but it also slightly gladdened my heart that now we are getting images of construction and not destruction from Iraq.  I really like the mirror image feel of Alaa’s picture as the donkeys face each other. Very powerful visually for me too is the smoke from the chimneys drifting into the blue skies, the blackened stack almost the focal point of the image. I can’t help feeling a sense of hope as the industry of rebuilding starts to take shape. 

Iraqi labourers work at a brick factory in Najaf, Iraq November 28, 2017.  REUTERS/Alaa Al-Marjani

Iraqi labourers carry brick on a cart pulled by a donkey at a brick factory in Najaf, Iraq November 28, 2017.  REUTERS/Alaa Al-Marjani

Never far from my mind is the conflict in Yemen, maybe it’s because I am often looking at images that rarely make their way into publication. Abduljabbar Zeyad’s distressing picture of tiny Nadia cries out to me in all senses. The obvious fear and feeble cries of the child is captured with the open mouth and wide-open eyes, a spot catches light in the centre of the dark eye. This frightening scene frozen in a harsh direct light is framed by a riot of clashing cheerful colours, pinks, reds blues and greens, a medical tube snaking across the whole scene, maybe offering a glimmer of hope for survival.

Sixty-day-old Nadia Ahmad Sabri, who suffers from severe malnutrition, lies in bed at a malnutrition treatment centre in the Red Sea port city of Hodeida, Yemen December 20, 2017.   REUTERS/Abduljabber Zeyad

Finally for 2017 I am very proud that Zohra Bensemra, staff photographer for Reuters who is based in Algeria and has travelled throughout the Middle East and Africa in 2017, has won the Guardian award for Agency Photographer of the Year. You can see some of her work here.