'A Monday in Kabul' is a photo series that aims to portray a different view of Kabul, Afghanistan -- one that isn't dominated by images of war, conflict, death and destruction. Dutch photographer Marieke van der Velden, aware that most media coverage of Afghanistan supports this narrative, decided to portray Kabul in a new light through her captures.
A Monday in Kabul consists of portraits of Kabul citizens going about their daily lives. The photos are accompanied by captions written in the words of the photo subjects. The subjects themselves are diverse and include a young female boxer, a group of women policemen and a married couple who got together after the man pestered the woman's father for her hand in marriage for 7 years.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Positive Portrayal of Kabul
- The trend of showcasing a different side of Kabul that emphasizes daily life rather than conflict presents an opportunity for tourism and cultural exchange.
- Subject-centered Storytelling
- The trend of using captions written in the words of the photo subjects presents an opportunity for brands to leverage authentic storytelling in their marketing campaigns.
- Diverse Representation
- The trend of capturing a diverse range of Kabul citizens presents an opportunity for fashion and beauty industries to explore inclusivity and representation in their products and marketing strategies.
Where This Applies
- Tourism
- The tourism industry can benefit from showcasing the positive aspects of Kabul and promoting cultural exchange programs.
- Branding and Marketing
- The branding and marketing industry can leverage subject-centered storytelling to create authentic and engaging campaigns.
- Fashion and Beauty
- The fashion and beauty industries have an opportunity to embrace diversity and inclusivity by featuring people from Kabul in their products and campaigns.
