Around the World in Analogue: Exploring Egypt
1Egypt is a country considered a cradle of ancient civilization and a leader in cultural influence. Its rich history and landmarks have stood strong through the sands of time, making it a dream destination for photographers and travelers alike. Past the pyramids, there are relaxing escapes, picturesque views, and sites dating even further than the civilization itself!
In this edition of Around the World in Analogue, we see Egypt through the eyes of Community member Mohammed Shamma (@popiris), capturing the country’s timeless beauty with a range of cameras and film stocks.
Name: Mohammed Shamma
LomoHome: @popiris
Social Media: @popiris_studios
Cameras used: Nikon L35AF, Fujifilm GW690 III (90mm f/3.5), Leica M6 (Summicron 50mm f/2), Nikon F100 (Nikkor 28–300mm f/3.5–5.6 VR), Hasselblad 500C/M (Zeiss Planar 80mm f/2.8C), Yashica D (Yashinon 80mm f/3.5)
Film: Lomography Redscale XR 120 ISO 50–200, Silberra Color 50, Cinestill 50D, 800T & BWXX 250, Fujifilm Acros II 100, Velvia 50 & Pro 400H, Kodak Ektar 100, Gold 200, Portra 160, 400, T-Max P3200 & Tri-X 400
Location: Cairo, Aswan, Valley of Whales, and Siwa Oasis in Egypt
This album is very special to me because it holds part of my heritage. Egypt is where my late father was born and it also happens to be my favorite country to visit. It’s filled with life and history. I’m always super excited to return there with a different camera and new kinds of film.
I have visited many parts of the country and all of those places are worth visiting. But Cairo is a favorite of mine because it’s a city that’s alive in the real sense. It never sleeps. You can feel the city pulse in your veins.
When I want to get away from the dust and noise, I visit Aswan in Upper Egypt. Aswan is absolutely precious for its wonderful people and natural beauty. When I visit Aswan, I find myself photographing nature and wildlife more than the ancient sites.
But my absolute favorite places in Egypt are not located in any city or even along the Nile! They are places that we never thought humans or animals would survive: the Valley of the Whales and Siwa Oasis.
I visited the Valley of the Whales in 2019 and it took my breath away. I never imagined I could walk right up to actual dinosaur remains in the desert. And not just animals but plants too! The prehistoric mangrove trees look like they came from a science fiction movie set. I felt like I was walking on Tatooine or Dune as I went from one dinosaur and crazy huge tree stump to the next. It was a really good decision that the park administrators along with paleontologists agreed that the dinosaur bones should remain in place so that visitors could see them untouched.
My second favorite place is Siwa Oasis. It’s Egypt’s version of Death Valley and its ecology is very beautiful and very fragile. You must take great care when visiting its many lakes, salt-water pools and hot springs. And if you stay overnight I highly recommend a reputable ecolodge constructed from local salt block masonry. It’s how the Siwi people build their own homes. It’s an amazing experience to stay overnight in one.
Unfortunately, Egypt’s many photo labs and film retail stores of the past did not stand the test of time like the Pyramids. Film photographers visiting Egypt should not expect to buy or process film in the country. Security is also very important in the country, but the average screener doesn’t know what film is. I’ve literally had moments where the screener thought someone was playing a joke on him when I handed him my bag of film and asked for a hand check. Reluctantly he inspected the bag and never opened a film cartridge. I would be prepared at the airport to open your camera if asked. Finally, I don’t recommend taking a lot of camera gear. Take the simplest camera that doesn’t get in your way.
The rest of the album can be viewed here.
We'd like to thank Mohammed for sharing his images and experiences with us! To view more of his work, visit his LomoHome and follow him on Instagram.
Want to take us Around the World in Analogue? Drop a line at magazine-submission@lomography.com with the subject Around the World in Analogue and share your unforgettable travels with the rest of the Community! Read the guidelines here.
written by maxinecruz on 2025-08-16 #culture #people #places #around-the-world #egypt-cairo-aswan-siwa
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