Barat Ali Batoor is a young Hazara professional freelancer photographer from Afghanistan born in 1983. He started his professional career in 2002.
Batoor started photographing in 2002 and launched his first solo exhibition in 2007. His photographs were exhibited in Denmark, Dubai, Australia, Pakistan, Italy, Japan and Afghanistan.
His works are published in magazines, newspapers and catalogues such as The Washington Post, Newsweek, Wall Street Journal, Stern, India Today, Outlook Afghanistan, Afghanistan Times, Afghan Scene, Risk Magazine, Kabul Weekly, Afghanistan Times and others. He participated in “Lahore Artist Residency” by VASL in Lahore, Pakistan and got the photography grant from New York’s Open Society Institute for the project “Child Trafficking in Afghanistan/The Dancing Boys of Afghanistan”.
At the Nikon-Walkley Awards in Australia in 2013, Batoor won Photo of the Year and was a winner in the Photo Essay category.
My Definition Of Success | Success for me is personal contentment for what I have done in my life and the everyday reward I get from becoming a voice for my community. My definition of success has always been around being content with what I do personally.
I Am Driven By | Being a photographer, natural soft lights and human stories drive my passion.
My Highlights | My family, their safety and future are my priority. I also take great pride in winning multiple awards for documenting my asylum-seeking journey. Speaking at TEDx Sydney about my community’s (Hazara from Afghanistan) persecution and systematic genocide was another personal highlight that I feel have enriched my experiences and given a platform for my community’s plight.
The Difference Between Good And Great | My commitment to my goals: when I decide to do something in life, I have to do it. This commitment comes from not fearing failure, although easy said, difficult to practice, the less I feared over the years, the more I have achieved in life.
A Key Talent | My commitment to my goals: when I decide to do something in life, I have to do it. This commitment comes from not fearing failure, although easy said, difficult to practice, the less I feared over the years, the more I have achieved in life.
Principles I Live By | Be kind, grateful and appreciate the people and things you have in life.
Lessons I Have Learnt | I believe that you don’t always have to be skilled to achieve a goal but you have to almost always be committed to achieve it. No matter how big your goals are, your commitment and determination help you achieve it.
Dealing With Doubt | For me failure is a sign of success and I do not fear failing. I also know that even if I fail, the experience will teach me something.
The Meaning Of Life | To live life to its fullest and let others live.
The Best Advice I’ve Received | My father once told me, “Fix your old for reuse because others’ new is costly”.
Therefore, I always try to appreciate things in life, no matter how small it may be.
I Am Inspired By | My late father is my inspiration. I dedicate my success to his commitment to my life.
