The Somali Digital Media Academy (SODMA) continues to invest in the next generation of visual storytellers with a special one-day course titled “The Secrets of Photography Techniques,” held at the academy’s campus. The intensive training benefited 22 young participants, each eager to sharpen their skills and discover the professional techniques that separate ordinary snapshots from powerful, memorable images. In a world where visual content dominates digital media, mastering the art of photography has become an essential skill — and SODMA is making sure Somali youth are not left behind.
What made this course truly exceptional was its instructor: Omar Abdisalam, widely known as Omar Faruk, a multimedia journalist and former Reuters award-winning photographer. Drawing on years of experience capturing stories for one of the world’s leading news agencies, Omar Faruk shared invaluable insights on composition, lighting, timing, and the storytelling power of a single frame. Participants had the rare opportunity to learn directly from a professional whose work has reached international audiences, gaining practical knowledge that textbooks alone can never provide.
By the end of the day, the 22 participants left with far more than technical skills — they left with inspiration, confidence, and a deeper understanding of photography as a profession and a craft. This course reflects SODMA’s ongoing commitment to practical, industry-led training that opens real career pathways for young Somalis in media and digital content creation. As the academy continues to bring accomplished professionals like Omar Faruk into the classroom, it is steadily building a generation of skilled photographers ready to tell Somalia’s story to the world — one powerful image at a time.