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It is seldom that one finds a truly captivating photographic project where we can truly feel like the photos have transported us to the exact place and time in the photos; however Egyptian Streets has recently stumbled a little gem of a project which reminds us of Alexandria’s nostalgic beauty.
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In a series of online albums and volumes, photographer Ousama Qandeel has intriguingly named his first Alexandria-themed volume “Never forget where you came from” in a bid to pay homage to the historical city in which he was brought up.
“I tried to show the Alexandria that i was brought up in – no matter how much you travel, I think you should remember your country,” explains the 27-year old photographer.
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Although Qandeel specializes in portrait and music (concert and events) photography, he wanted to capture the ‘real’ Alexandria, perhaps one that evokes a pre-globalized sense of uniqueness and locality.
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According to Qandeel, he grew fond of “capturing sound and performance through visual means” after assisting a friend in need at concerts.
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He has been shooting musicians and artists in the underground music scene. Later on in December of 2016, after a long stint working behind a desk, he moved to Cairo. He then switched over to work as a freelance photographer and was hired as an assistant photographer which gave him the chance to have an access to a studio. He is recognized for his dramatic portraiture.
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“Seldom do you find people who fish nowadays and who are actually able to find a place to fish,” Qandeel explains.
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“Some places got demolished, really old houses and even some ancient sites – you won’t find them anymore,” he explains, lamenting the change in Alexandria’s urban landscape.
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“Now, at the beach, all you see is cafes – you feel like it got invaded by buildings and commercial estates. It’s not like before, where you could simply sit somewhere and feel the soul of the sea,” he muses.
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However, quick at it may be changing, Alexandria still retains an old charm that Qandeel has managed to illustrate recently.
He uses a variety of digital cameras and his iPhone to capture his striking shots.
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[…] only resistance is documentation. We photograph, draw, and film everything that hasn’t yet fallen into the hands of the construction mafia. […]