In early 1960, Stafford’s husband’s work as a foreign correspondent took them to Lebanon, which, at the time, was experiencing a period of peace. A Lebanese publisher invited her to make a book of photographs, which would be used to publicise the country. She travelled extensively over a year, journeying to remote mountain villages while also recording scenes of everyday life in the cities of Beirut, Tripoli and Sidon. Lebanon had an intricate blend of East and West; tradition and modernity. In the 1960s she witnessed some women leading traditional lives, under the gaze or guardianship of men. But she also met and photographed women who were liberated in outlook, studying at the University of Beirut or confidently forging their own paths and careers. Unfortunately, the publisher did not approve of her photographs, because they did not show Lebanon in a Western enough light. She thought she had captured a raw and authentic Lebanon, and evidently that was the issue. The photographs were eventually published in 1988 by Saqi Books, entitled Silent Stories: A Photographic Journey through Lebanon in the Sixties.
PEACETIME LEBANON 1960s
Narghile smokers, traditional café, with Marilyn in mirror, Tripoli, 1960.
Narghile smokers, traditional café, with Marilyn in mirror, Tripoli, 1960.
Baalbek village, Bekka Valley, 1960.
Baalbek village, Bekka Valley, 1960.
Tinsmith and fruit stall, Tripoli market, 1960.
Tinsmith and fruit stall, Tripoli market, 1960.
Market street seller, Beirut, 1960.
Market street seller, Beirut, 1960.
Market fountain, Tripoli, 1960.
Market fountain, Tripoli, 1960.
Street photographers, Tripoli, 1960.
Street photographers, Tripoli, 1960.
Miss Lebanon Beauty Pageant, Beirut, 1960.
Miss Lebanon Beauty Pageant, Beirut, 1960.
Miss Lebanon Beauty Pageant with judges, Beirut, 1960.
Miss Lebanon Beauty Pageant with judges, Beirut, 1960.
Weightlifter, Sidon, 1960.
‘On seeing this man flexing his muscles, my thoughts were that he represented all of Lebanon’s politicians flexing their political muscles.’
Weightlifter, Sidon, 1960.
‘On seeing this man flexing his muscles, my thoughts were that he represented all of Lebanon’s politicians flexing their political muscles.’
Rivoli cinema, Place des Canons, Beirut, 1960.
Rivoli cinema, Place des Canons, Beirut, 1960.
Sporting Club, Beirut, 1960.
Sporting Club, Beirut, 1960.
‘Land of Contrasts’, Beirut, 1960.
‘Land of Contrasts’, Beirut, 1960.
Traditional swing, end of Ramadan celebrations, South Lebanon, 1960.
Traditional swing, end of Ramadan celebrations, South Lebanon, 1960.
Bride on her throne, Bekka Valley, 1960.
By tradition, the bride sits on a raised platform all day at her mother’s house, waiting for the groom to collect her and her trousseau. She is weeping because she is leaving her family home. Village women dance and sing to cheer her up.
Bride on her throne, Bekka Valley, 1960.
By tradition, the bride sits on a raised platform all day at her mother’s house, waiting for the groom to collect her and her trousseau. She is weeping because she is leaving her family home. Village women dance and sing to cheer her up.
Bride’s wedding guest, Bekka Valley, 1960.
Bride’s wedding guest, Bekka Valley, 1960.
Bedouin dancer, wedding at Bekka Valley, 1960.
Bedouin dancer, wedding at Bekka Valley, 1960.
Wedding guests dancing, Bekka Valley, 1960.
Wedding guests dancing, Bekka Valley, 1960.
Mountain children with baby goat, Ghazir, 1960.
Mountain children with baby goat, Ghazir, 1960.
Mountain hospitality, Moukhtara, 1960.
Mountain hospitality, Moukhtara, 1960.
Horse Races, Akkar, 1960.
Horse Races, Akkar, 1960.
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In early 1960, Stafford’s husband’s work as a foreign correspondent took them to Lebanon, which, at the time, was experiencing a period of peace. A Lebanese publisher invited her to make a book of photographs, which would be used to publicise the country. She travelled extensively over a year, journeying to remote mountain villages while also recording scenes of everyday life in the cities of Beirut, Tripoli and Sidon. Lebanon had an intricate blend of East and West; tradition and modernity. In the 1960s she witnessed some women leading traditional lives, under the gaze or guardianship of men. But she also met and photographed women who were liberated in outlook, studying at the University of Beirut or confidently forging their own paths and careers. Unfortunately, the publisher did not approve of her photographs, because they did not show Lebanon in a Western enough light. She thought she had captured a raw and authentic Lebanon, and evidently that was the issue. The photographs were eventually published in 1988 by Saqi Books, entitled Silent Stories: A Photographic Journey through Lebanon in the Sixties.
Narghile smokers, traditional café, with Marilyn in mirror, Tripoli, 1960.
Narghile smokers, traditional café, with Marilyn in mirror, Tripoli, 1960.
Baalbek village, Bekka Valley, 1960.
Baalbek village, Bekka Valley, 1960.
Tinsmith and fruit stall, Tripoli market, 1960.
Tinsmith and fruit stall, Tripoli market, 1960.
Market street seller, Beirut, 1960.
Market street seller, Beirut, 1960.
Market fountain, Tripoli, 1960.
Market fountain, Tripoli, 1960.
Street photographers, Tripoli, 1960.
Street photographers, Tripoli, 1960.
Miss Lebanon Beauty Pageant, Beirut, 1960.
Miss Lebanon Beauty Pageant, Beirut, 1960.
Miss Lebanon Beauty Pageant with judges, Beirut, 1960.
Miss Lebanon Beauty Pageant with judges, Beirut, 1960.
Weightlifter, Sidon, 1960.
‘On seeing this man flexing his muscles, my thoughts were that he represented all of Lebanon’s politicians flexing their political muscles.’
Weightlifter, Sidon, 1960.
‘On seeing this man flexing his muscles, my thoughts were that he represented all of Lebanon’s politicians flexing their political muscles.’
Rivoli cinema, Place des Canons, Beirut, 1960.
Rivoli cinema, Place des Canons, Beirut, 1960.
Sporting Club, Beirut, 1960.
Sporting Club, Beirut, 1960.
‘Land of Contrasts’, Beirut, 1960.
‘Land of Contrasts’, Beirut, 1960.
Traditional swing, end of Ramadan celebrations, South Lebanon, 1960.
Traditional swing, end of Ramadan celebrations, South Lebanon, 1960.
Bride on her throne, Bekka Valley, 1960.
By tradition, the bride sits on a raised platform all day at her mother’s house, waiting for the groom to collect her and her trousseau. She is weeping because she is leaving her family home. Village women dance and sing to cheer her up.
Bride on her throne, Bekka Valley, 1960.
By tradition, the bride sits on a raised platform all day at her mother’s house, waiting for the groom to collect her and her trousseau. She is weeping because she is leaving her family home. Village women dance and sing to cheer her up.
Bride’s wedding guest, Bekka Valley, 1960.
Bride’s wedding guest, Bekka Valley, 1960.
Bedouin dancer, wedding at Bekka Valley, 1960.
Bedouin dancer, wedding at Bekka Valley, 1960.
Wedding guests dancing, Bekka Valley, 1960.
Wedding guests dancing, Bekka Valley, 1960.
Mountain children with baby goat, Ghazir, 1960.
Mountain children with baby goat, Ghazir, 1960.
Mountain hospitality, Moukhtara, 1960.
Mountain hospitality, Moukhtara, 1960.
Horse Races, Akkar, 1960.
Horse Races, Akkar, 1960.
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