These dreamy photos of historical Cairo will transport you to another time

In 2019, Egyptian photographer Nour El Massry captured an image of a historical building's terrace in Cairo's Garden City neighborhood. The photograph, featuring a spotless tiled balcony adorned with wicker chairs and worn kilim rugs amidst old and dusty facades, unexpectedly went viral on Instagram. Despite its popularity, El Massry felt he could better express his artistic vision. This experience motivated him to regularly share his photographs and photo collages of Egyptian interiors, cityscapes, and architecture on his Instagram account, @nour_elmassry. His work frequently evokes a sense of timelessness, reflecting Cairo's rich and diverse history, which includes Islamic, Coptic, Italian, British, and French influences. El Massry views Cairo, a megacity of approximately 22 million people, as a living museum. Rather than focusing on its 'chaos and overpopulation,' he aims to portray scenes that feel 'just like a dream,' capturing the serene beauty of the city. El Massry's aesthetic is deeply influenced by master painters such as Rembrandt, Michelangelo, and the Egyptian Cubist artist Hussein Bicar. He strives to make each photograph resemble a painting. To achieve this, he sometimes digitally enhances elements like moonlight, adds birds in flight, or frames images within other architectural elements, such as a window from an Islamic-style building. His collection includes diverse scenes like a tranquil felucca sailing on the Nile, potted plants sunning on a balcony, and the grand Art Deco entrance of an apartment building. One notable photograph, a view of the Great Pyramids of Giza taken from a hotel in 2022, was digitally enhanced with birds to convey a desired dream-like atmosphere. Another image showcases French-style architecture in downtown Cairo, a reflection of his studies in scenography and production design at Helwan University, where he specialized in Egyptian architecture. Among his works is a photo taken during a sunset visit to a friend's studio in Cairo in 2021, which he cherishes for its warmth and its depiction of Cairo's blend of old and modern structures. He also presents a nighttime view of ancient Islamic landmarks, including the Al-Azhar Mosque (established in 972) and the Qalawun complex (built in 1285). For this image, he enhanced the moonlight and the glow of the minarets, and added birds, intending to create a scene reminiscent of 'Arabian Nights.' Another photograph captures a felucca on the Nile, digitally framed by a window from an antique shop and featuring his characteristic addition of birds. An interior shot reveals the dining room of an old Egyptian house in Cairo's Haram district, a space he found perfectly preserved and requiring no alterations after gaining access from an elderly resident. El Massry’s work also features a flower shop in Zamalek, near his alma mater, photographed during a rain shower, which he describes as a 'romantic shot' filled with beautiful memories. Having moved to Cairo from Damietta 12 years prior for college, he developed a profound love for the city. He also captured a classic Mercedes-Benz in front of an old Zamalek building, a scene evoking old Egyptian cinema, drawing inspiration from filmmaker Shadi Abdel Salam's realistic yet positive portrayals of Egypt. Finally, an interior photograph of Bayt al-Kritliyya, an Islamic house built in 1632, is presented as a portal to another world. El Massry sees photography as a form of healing, especially during challenging times in Egypt, with its struggling economy, poverty, and regional conflicts. Through his art, he aims to provide inspiration and a sense of wonder. #NourElMassry #EgyptianPhotography #Cairo #HistoricalArchitecture #ArtisticVision #InstagramPhotography #CulturalHeritage #DreamyAesthetics #PhotoCollage #NourElMassry #EgyptianPhotography #Cairo #HistoricalArchitecture #ArtisticVision #InstagramPhotography #CulturalHeritage #DreamyAesthetics #PhotoCollage

19 months ago

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