The Visual Student

Andrew Henderson is a staff photographer at The National in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.  Henderson previously worked as an intern at The Virginian-Pilot, Concord Monitor, The New York Times, and National Geographic Magazine.  Henderson has a photography degree from Rochester Institute of Technology, a history degree from Western Kentucky University, and studied multimedia in the graduate program at Syracuse University.

This is the fourth segment in a series on international photography. To view the first profile on Michael Rubenstein, go here. To view the second profile on Kevin German, go here. To view the third on Dominic Nahr, go here. To view the fifth profile on M. Scott Brauer, go here.

Jubair and Jabair Kuyimannil, born 10 minutes apart on July 31, 2004.  (left to right – left is always older) (Andrew Henderson)


VS: How did you end up working in the UAE?  Talk about your current situation.

Henderson: “I have been living and working in Abu Dhabi since March 2009.  I spent December 2008 and January 2009 traveling around India and visited my mentor and friend, Rich Joseph Facun, also a staff photographer at The National, in the United Arab Emirates for a few days.  During that time I went into the office to meet the DOP of The National and I was given an offer I couldn’t refuse.  2 months later I was in Abu Dhabi working.

Beyond the benefits of the job, one of the biggest reasons I took the job was it’s proximity to India, a country I have been working on personal projects in for the past few years.  I have traveled a half a dozen times to India since arriving in Abu Dhabi 9 months ago expanding old projects and beginning many new ones.  The job has given me opportunities that would be nonexistent in the United States.”

VS: What are your job responsibilities and where do you see the job going for you?

Henderson: “I am a general assignment photographer for The National.  My responsibilities are to make the best photographs that convey the stories the paper is working on, no matter what that is.  Some days it is fun, other days it isn’t.  It is tough to have a niche here.  Right now I am covering the FIFA Club World Cup for 10 days.  Last week I covered an adventure challenge race in the desert and National Day in Abu Dhabi.  So it tends to range from longer term assignments to quick 10 minute ones.  Motivation can be tough at times, and it is easy to get frustrated because although it now home, it is different from the US.  When that happens I take time off and fly to India to do my own work, which I think is important for any photographer.  It is a delicate balance.  I got into documentary photography because of the personal work, but I also realize that I need a steady stream of income to do that.  I respect freelance photographers that can make ends meet because it is so hard to do, while continuing to push their personal work.  I get the best of both worlds.”

Lubana and Lubaba Kv, born 10 minutes apart on May 11, 2002.  (left to right – left is always older) (Andrew Henderson)

VS: How do you work freelance out with your full-time job?

Freelancing with my full time job can be tricky.  For editorial work I pick and choose carefully depending on  if there would be a conflict of interest with my job, if the assignment is interesting, and what the day rate / contract are.  My boss is very understanding.  I am just forthright if an assignment comes up and it conflicts with my work schedule.  Redux Pictures distributes my archive, and Arabian Eye gets me assignments in the Middle East.”

VS: What are some do’s and don’ts for working in the UAE?  In other countries you’ve worked in?

Henderson: “United Arab Emirates is an Islamic country.  As a photographer it is very hard to get access to certain events, peoples, etc. because I am not Muslim.  I also am not suppose to photograph women wearing burqas. If a person, police, etc. ask you not to photograph, you listen.  You are not allowed to photograph government buildings, royal palaces, oil fields, or anywhere else there is a sign that says no photography allowed.  Otherwise it is just like anywhere else.  The UAE is very Western, Abu Dhabi is the richest city in the world, and very developed which might be surprising to many people.”

VS: How did you find the twins project in India?

Henderson: “I found the twins project through reading newspapers, a fixer, and a reporter.  I was fascinated by it I did research on it for a month then took time off work to go for a few weeks.  I have been twice for a total of 18 days.  It is a project I will continue to work on for the next year or two.  It offers a release from the day to day work I do at the paper, and is a quick 3 hour flight away, so I can go whenever I want.  Every time I go I wish I spent another week researching, making contacts, etc. because it can be frustrating with access and translation at times.  But it is all part of learning and planning.”

Shamjidd and Jaisal Palari, born 4 minutes apart on January 2, 1994. (left to right – left is always older) (Andrew Henderson)

VS: What advice would you have for other students/young professionals wanting to work abroad?

Henderson: “I think students and young professionals need to just continue to push their photography and storytelling.  Our generation will be the leaders in this industry in a few years so what will define that is what we do now.   My advice is to what you love, whether it is domestic or foreign.  Figure out if something is possible or impossible on your own.  Don’t let other peoples advice stop you from doing things in life you believe in.  But on the same token listen and think through the advice people give you along the way.  Don’t let the old model of the industry rule your life, but let your aspirations and goals do that.  If a student/young professional wants to work abroad as a freelance photographer I would find somewhere that you are interested in both to live and photograph that isn’t saturated with a lot of photographers, but also has enough work to support expenses and bills.  Keep your debts in your home country low (i.e. student loans).  And don’t forget your purpose when you arrive.  Before you go have money saved.  Spend a few months doing research into the country’s history, story ideas, and creating a business model.  Also look into grants and fellowships.  I feel that students need to look beyond the borders of the country they attend school.  There are not many opportunities for graduating journalists and the world continues to get easier to access.  Before you had to just cross the country for a job, but now it may be the world.  For a staff job outside the US, again I would find a country you would be interested in living, find the English newspapers, and contact them, the same as you would do for a newspaper in the US.”

VS: Any other advice?

Henderson: “Find a group of photographers that can push you and you can push back.  Once you are out of school it gets tough to continue to grow without this.  For me it is my collective, Aevum.  The work that is produced consistently helps me through funks I may be having with my own work, and helps me to view things in ways I did not see earlier.  Find projects you can continue to go back to and expand.”

VS: What are your future plans?

Henderson: “My plan is to continue to push both the work I do at the newspaper and my personal work for years to come.  I don’t have a set date for anything, just a lot of longterm goals for my photography as well as finances and that is as much as I think into the future.”