Zohra Bensemra was chosen by Britain's Guardian newspaper as the best photographer of 2017. Zohra is from Algeria, but her work has captured the conflict in Iraq, the fight against so-called Islamic State in Syria, and the drought in Somalia. However, it turns out that she hadn't planned to be a war photographer, or even a photographer, until Algeria was plunged into civil war.



Image: Displaced Iraqi women who have just fled their home

Credit: REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra

Zohra Bensemra was chosen by Britain's Guardian newspaper as the best photographer of 2017. Zohra is from Algeria, but her work has captured the conflict in Iraq, the fight against so-called Islamic State in Syria, and the drought in Somalia. However, it turns out that she hadn't planned to be a war photographer, or even a photographer, until Algeria was plunged into civil war. Image: Displaced Iraqi women who have just fled their home Credit: REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra

Algeria's Accidental War Photographer

<p>Lives Less Ordinary is a podcast from the BBC World Service that brings you the most incredible true stories from around the world. Step into someone else’s life and expect the unexpected. 
 
Each episode a guest shares their most dramatic, moving, personal story. Listen for unbelievable twists, mysteries uncovered, and inspiring journeys - spanning the entire human experience. 
 
Our guests come from every corner of the globe: from Burundi to Beverly Hills, New Zealand to North Korea, Rajasthan to Rio. And their stories can be about anything: tales of survival, humour, resilience and intrigue. From the mind-blowing account of the Japanese man trapped in his own reality TV show, to the Swedish women rescued from lions by a tin of spam. It’s life’s wild side, in stereo. </p><p>Lives Less Ordinary is brought to you by the team behind Outlook, the home of true life storytelling on BBC World Service radio for nearly 60 years.
 
Got a story to tell? Send an email to liveslessordinary@bbc.co.uk or message us via WhatsApp: 0044 330 678 2784
 
You can read our privacy notice here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5YD3hBqmw26B8WMHt6GkQxG/lives-less-ordinary-privacy-notice</p>

Society & Culture

Documentary

Personal Journals

Lives Less Ordinary is a podcast from the BBC World Service that brings you the most incredible true stories from around the world. Step into someone else’s life and expect the unexpected. Each episode a guest shares their most dramatic, moving, personal story. Listen for unbelievable twists, mysteries uncovered, and inspiring journeys - spanning the entire human experience. Our guests come from every corner of the globe: from Burundi to Beverly Hills, New Zealand to North Korea, Rajasthan to Rio. And their stories can be about anything: tales of survival, humour, resilience and intrigue. From the mind-blowing account of the Japanese man trapped in his own reality TV show, to the Swedish women rescued from lions by a tin of spam. It’s life’s wild side, in stereo. Lives Less Ordinary is brought to you by the team behind Outlook, the home of true life storytelling on BBC World Service radio for nearly 60 years. Got a story to tell? Send an email to liveslessordinary@bbc.co.uk or message us via WhatsApp: 0044 330 678 2784 You can read our privacy notice here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5YD3hBqmw26B8WMHt6GkQxG/lives-less-ordinary-privacy-notice

Share Algeria's Accidental War Photographer

Sign up to save your podcasts

Algeria's Accidental War Photographer

Algeria's Accidental War Photographer

More shows like Lives Less Ordinary

Global News Podcast

From Our Own Correspondent

Newshour

In Our Time

The Documentary Podcast

Witness History

The History Hour

6 Minute English

Learning English Conversations

Discovery

Science Weekly

The Inquiry

The Audio Long Read

Unexpected Elements

CrowdScience

You're Dead to Me

The Missing Cryptoqueen

The Slow Newscast

Americast

The Bomb

Life Changing

History's Heroes

The Birth Keepers | The Guardian Investigates

The History Podcast