Syrian photographer aims to capture peace, beauty

Photographer Zaki Farah of Queensbury is a Christian Syrian who TRAINED at London Film School, coming to the United States 25 years ago. Paul Post — ppost@digitalfirstmedia.com

By Paul Post, The Saratogian

POSTED: 08/24/14, 5:37 PM EDT |

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Shown is an example of area resident Zaki Farah’s photography.Photo Provided by Zaki Farah

QUEENSBURY >> A man who grew up surrounded by hatred, violence and war brings peace and beauty to the world through the lens of his camera.

Zaki Farah, a Christian Syrian who TRAINED at London Film School, came to the United States 25 years ago.

The Digital Age has revolutionized photography, from film to electronic equipment, bringing his skills into even sharper focus as he strives to capture the artistic nature of every subject matter.

“It’s not simply clicking the camera,” Farah said. “Exposure, framing and composition are all very important.”

Sometimes, the viewfinder is the only place he can escape the images from his youth, which drove him to leave his homeland in search of a better life. Farah’s two sisters still live in Syria, but he hasn’t gone back, as fighting rages between opposition groups and forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad.

“It’s very dangerous to cross that border,” Farah said. “There is no mercy. They’re ruthless.”

A Queensbury resident, he settled in upstate New York with help from a relative, a former mayor of Ithaca.

Photography has been a lifelong love that he practices in many forms.

From 1992 to 2007, Farah owned Elegance Portrait Studio in Queensbury, which also did a great deal of film processing.

“I was doing 50 to 70 rolls per day,” he said. “It was the only professional lab in this immediate area that did poster-size prints. When digital came in, the dynamic of the BUSINESS changed totally. Now I have my own in-home studio called FotoFarah with state-of-the-art cameras, lenses and printing. I do classic photography with a twist of contemporary style.”

Much of his work is done in-house, but he uses settings and backdrops throughout the region, such as Congress Park in Saratoga Springs, to give subjects their desired look and feel.

Recently, Farah has also branched out with occasional commercial shoots in Houston for high-class auto and real estate firms. His ability to present intricate details, from a Mercedes 350’s dashboard to its shiny exterior, does a great deal to generate sales.

“It’s hard work, from 7 in the morning to 8 at night, but I really enjoy it,” Farah said. “I’m not ready to retire. I love my work.”

More important, he’s thankful that his profession, despite its many challenges, has allowed he and his wife, Raiza, to RAISE a young family in a land much different from the one he grew up in.

“It’s the best,” Farah said.