SAMMAK SAMMAK!
سمك سمك
To all the seafood lovers and adventurous souls join me while I embark on this enriching journey and have a taste of culture through none other, but the infamous fishmarkets of Egypt. Documenting and observing everything I see has been such a worthwhile venture. As one of the main sources of income to many Egyptians, fishing resulted in the creation of different marketplaces, each depending on the culture and the traditions of every different city. I chose to make my way to 4 different cities namely Port- Said, El-Manzala, Damietta and Alexandria to observe and compare the differences. Not knowing what to expect and where to go, I researched about the intended destinations and decided to take my camera and directly head there. With a discreet eye and an open mind, I felt that my findings slowly manifested into a set of expressive imagery and an eloquent piece of narrative.
Alexandria
الاسكندرية
Port Said
بورسعيد
Damietta
دمياط
El Manzala
المنزلة
CAIRO
القاهرة
I am so grateful that I worked on this project, because firstly it gave me the chance to go to cities that I’ve never been to before like El-Manzala, Port Said, and Damietta. Seeing how friendly and helpful almost everyone was, gave me a boost of confidence and eliminated the fear I had inside my heart when it comes to documentary photography. I worried about causing any trouble or people treating me in a rude manner and refusing my requests, but thankfully the people’s openness and chivalry proved me wrong. The journey went by very smoothly. I did not meet any obstacles other than struggling to find the actual fish market locations in some cities, struggling to adjust proper transportation means, and the fact that I had to cancel my trip to Fayoum because of the Coronavirus pandemic. Yet, I still insist on going as soon as things go back to normal and continue with this project and end it the way I intended it to be.
I am so humbled that I had the chance to end my educational journey with an exceptional experience and a distinctive project that sheds light on the fish market in Egypt and particularly those unrepresented authentic individuals who work there. They go about their day-to-day lives with a warm and open reception of new experiences just like me when I dived into this project with a genuine interest to portray a fresh and candid outlook on the subject.
