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We implemented this project through the Center for Documentation of Cultural and Natural Heritage
It started three years ago And I personally began collecting material for it about two years ago
We are generally interested in photography
There are different types you know like photojournalism, documentary or studio photography
And even in studio photography, you have for instance wedding portraits Those we did not really focus on in the exhibition
We only included one or two portraits
Our main focus was on studio photography
So it was natural that we look at the work of major studios in Cairo and Alexandria
We did not include the work of some really big names in the show though
because we wanted to contact photographers' heirs or family members rather than rely on collectors
Many people sold the photographs
Other works went into archives
Many of the studios we visited had sold the photo negatives by the kilo
What we found in the end was very little
Still we did manage to show the work of very distinguished names like Alban, one of Cairo's most famous photographers
And this large-sized photograph of the smiling girl was probably the most recognizable image in Cairo for many years
because it was displayed in the window of the shop on Qasr al-Nil Street
The most recent works shown in the exhibition are these photos of couples by Momento Studio in Alexandria
This is what is done today using Photoshop
From this came the idea to also focus on portrait photographers who work on the street
They functioned basically like a mobile studio, especially with the Field Camera
The Field Camera is a photo laboratory
Some of the photographers also brought along backgrounds for the shoot
Like you see in one photo, a man is pulling a curtain So it is a complete studio
Through the videos I tried to tell stories Every video tells a particular story
I decided that the stories should be short, entertaining and humorous
You will find that each one talks about a slightly different aspect
We did not really want to make the exhibition function like a museum
The idea was proposed from the beginning But I preferred not to have cameras in display cases like artifacts
The few things that are displayed are there because they add something to visitors' experience
There is the Field Camera displayed in the gallery that shows photos shot and developed using it
It seemed important to remind people what it looked like
We also have an photo enlarger in the gallery at the center
The idea was to make visitors feel that they are entering the flat-studio of a photographer
And that is why you find at the entrance that photographs are exhibited all the way up to the ceiling
We added the Live Studio as well to create this atmosphere
And to have new works produced during the exhibition although some of the photographers use old and unconventional techniques
Ready, steady... ok, we are adjusting the light and..
No, this should be a serious photograph
3, 2, 1
Thank you