#somewhereincairo

When Birds Sang Again. I am not sure if it is because there were less people on the streets or that we started paying more attention from our windows. It was a collective feeling. My brother who lives in Germany messaged me in a rush. He asked me to listen to the unusual sounds of birds at early hours of day. He said it is a sign. Neither of us fathomed what it meant.

غية حمام فوق عين شمس. “The higher you build your pigeons house, the more free your birds will be” Abdelrahman tells me. He is proud of having the highest pigeon house in his area in Ain Shams district. It was quite a ride going up and seeing the sunset from there. “It’s a good break from Cairo to get up here” This is from my first developed black and white 35mm film. I’ve been using film for few months now, always a good extra when shooting stories to give depth and a sensation of what is around you.

City of hundred fallen guards, thousand minarets and million dishes. Seeing different rooftops of Cairo is like seeing someone from different angles. This was a foggy morning over Cairo’s necropolis; where people live side by side with tombs of elders. From “Somewhere in Cairo" series

Today and for one week, I will take over The Everyday Project’s @everydayeverywhere instagram feed, featuring photographs from around the world with hashtag #everydayeverywhere 🌍🌎🌏 Keep a look!

Last few days of good weather for Cairo. It is funny to stop and shoot before red lights in downtown but with hopes of catching it quick. I met Ahmed “Mando” 17 years today. I noticed him earlier skating the other way and I just had to stop and ask for a photograph. A nice kid.

موسيقى زار هي في الأصل تعني ضرب الطبول بشدة لطرد الشياطين من الجسد كما يهرب الحيوان من صوتها Zar music originally meant beating the drums so hard that evil souls will escape your body the same way a wild animal does. Zar has been an ancient tradition in Egypt and many African countries. Now it is disappearing along with many of forms of Egyptian folk music. Zar music is done these days mostly for performing purposes.

اليوم هو الذكرى السادسة لثورة الخامس والعشرين من يناير، الربيع العربي Today marks the sixth anniversary of the January 25th revolution in Egypt. A revolution that changed a lot of people’s lives. It certainly changed mine. I had decided then to grab my point-and-shoot camera and join the marches to document them. I didn’t know a lot about photography, but the one thing that inspired me was getting our voices heard. Our signs seen. Egypt has come a long way since then. Tyrannies come and go, but the people’s will to change their country for the better will always be there. Follow on instagram stories tonight for more on the January 25th revolution. Photograph taken on January 28th 2011.