Street photography that captures people’s daily lives is far from easy in Egypt. Years of state control, starting from the Nasser era and all the way through the political turmoil Egypt’s streets have bore witness to over the past few years have instilled in people a sense of fear and hostility towards a photographer and his camera. Capturing a particular scene in the streets can be an intricate matter, but I’ve found that a smile can go a long way in relieving the tension between me and the people in my surroundings. It’s also easier to obey when I’m told not to take pictures, and it’s best to say that I am a student who is interested in photography as a hobby, rather than identifying myself as a photojournalist. Daily life in Egypt by day Patience is the essence of street photography; when coming across an eye-catching scene worthy of being captured, the photographer has to be patient and wait for the different elements and characters to get into the composition, or until the people in the frame become comfortable enough with the presence of the camera to act naturally and…
