Photo of the Week: Karim Magdy

For this edition of CairoScene’s Photo of the Week, the photographer’s gaze is the story.

Alexandria-based photographer Karim Magdy shares the image that pushed him to be more courageous on the streets, as he observes and chases the mundane across Alexandria. Amid a growing wave of visual storytellers capturing movement in vertical form and adapting to the demands of contemporary digital imagery, Magdy stands out for his ability to reveal another layer of everyday life in the city.

His work has been exhibited as part of Cairo Photo Week’s Sard, and his photographs offer a glimpse into contemporary Alexandria, finding something worth looking at in the city’s most ordinary moments.

What’s the story behind this image?

A group of men stood by the Mediterranean, completely absorbed in the moment. Watching them made me wonder if they were visiting Alexandria for the first time or simply enjoying a day by the sea. I never found the answer, but those questions were enough to make me raise my camera.

Where and when was it taken?

This photograph was taken in Alexandria in February 2020.

Why did you choose this particular photo?

At the time, I was still finding my confidence in street photography and wasn't comfortable getting close to people. Taking this photograph meant stepping beyond that hesitation. As I pressed the shutter, two of the men briefly looked in my direction while the others remained focused on the sea.

That brief exchange became an important part of the image, capturing two moments at once: a group immersed in their own experience, and two people suddenly aware of the person observing them. I chose this photograph because it changed the way I approached street photography, giving me the confidence to get closer to people and trust real moments.