Pulitzer-Winning Photographer Michael Chávez on Cairo’s Photo Scene

“I’ve always had a soft spot for Cairo, so to be here and see what Cairene photographers are doing right now, it’s pretty exciting,” American photojournalist and educator Michael Robinson Chávez tells CairoScene during Cairo Photo Week.

Chávez is a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner and a veteran visual storyteller whose work has taken him to over 75 countries. He has covered a wide range of global events, from the aftermath of the Egyptian revolution to the collapse of Venezuela and the impacts of climate change across Siberia and the Bay of Bengal. His photography is known for its blend of journalistic depth and lyrical composition, earning him recognition for both his coverage and the emotional depth of his images.

Throughout the week, Chávez has wandered through the packed halls and side-street venues of Cairo Photo Week, taking in the rhythm of a city captured through hundreds of different lenses. He has spent time with young Egyptian photographers, listening to how they frame their stories and the challenges they face turning their craft into a career.

He notes a shift that feels significant. There is a growing support system that did not exist a decade ago. Resources like grants, workshops, and mentorships are beginning to reach photographers outside traditional gate-kept circles. For many, this is the first time they are seeing their work not only taken seriously, but exhibited publicly, discussed in critique sessions, and included in wider conversations about visual culture in the Arab world.

“There’s a paradox,” he says. “Photography is more visible than ever online, but how do these photographers sustain it financially? That’s still a big question.”

For Chávez, that question lingers. But so does the sense of momentum.