She had just graduated in graphic design from the University of Beirut last year when she got her break entering a competition organized by Ayyam Gallery. Her entry was a series of photographs of an abandoned school building.
"Photography is a means, not an end," said Atallah. "The ideas I like to get across do not get much attention from artists and people in general."
Other subjects she has tackled include the destruction of Beirut's architectural heritage, and street vendors and their makeshift shelters.
"There's no such thing as the right time to start out as an artist, it takes a lot of determination," said Atallah. "But since I've started I've discovered a lot of different artists from this region. There's a very rich art scene."
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