Travel: Photographing Egyptian life

An Egyptian Odyssey

There is no shortage of photo opportunities in Egypt. Its people are relatively poor and there is a heavy reliance upon tourism. With the centuries of tourism, there has developed a savvy among its people based solely upon survival. They will happily allow themselves to be photographed, but many will ask for tips. They call it “baksheesh”. It is simply a case of using what you have to survive, even if it is your weathered face smiling through worn teeth and wise old eyes.

Expect to pay an Egyptian pound for the privilege. As you enter temple sites and other popular tourist places, the locals who are employed to care for them make the most of their opportunities, beckoning to you as they smile and point to themselves. Dressed elegantly in galibayas and turbans, they position themselves in front of carved reliefs and ancient columns. The photographic opportunities are irresistible, but you will rarely escape without paying.

While a pound or two here or there is not a concern, it is the posed nature of the photographs that can soon become tiring. It is for this reason that my 80-200 f2.8 was invaluable for the more candid photographs of the faces of Egypt. Being autofocus, it was quick to capture such moments sharply, relying on the aperture priority mode to allow me to set at f2.8 for minimal depth of field. In this manner, I was able to photograph people being themselves, going about their daily lives without interruption or contrivance.