Friday 23 July 2010: A top their heads

Mu'iz Street was once the centre of Cairo, during the Fatimid period, and it isn't hard to see why. And in some ways it is still a centre in its own right. It bustles with all sorts of people - tourists and hawkers, men going to the mosque to pray, Egyptian men and women rushing down the cobblestone street, or sauntering, stopping at the shops that don't sell tourist souvenirs. There is a sense of community here, there is a side of Cairo that you don't really see anywhere else, and I can't put my finger on what it is.

This morning was filled with experiences that fit perfectly into that description of Mu'iz Street, the best of which Scorpionkiss has detailed in his journal, of meeting this woman, balancing a large tray of bread on her head.

Looking through the photos from the past two days, I was struck by the amount of people who do just that - carry bread, food, trays of all sorts, boxes and sacks, on their heads. I created a set on flickr that I will continue to add to as I take more of these pictures. My favourite, although the darkest of all is the young man on the bicycle, simply for his amazing skill.

Today's photo in black and white

Tags

Cairo Egypt Street

Comments

1. a different angle of the same shot :) love the lights and the arch of the building. Love it

   ~ zahrashah

2. I like this too - and the treatment. Good work.

   ~ G

3. This works really well with Scorpionkiss's shot. I much prefer it in colour. The street scene is great!

   ~ milltownlass

4. As always, you're tones and processing are magnificent habibti, and the scene is so perfect, up the boulevard, the lady with her bread, the arch, the chair to the right, and the hustle and bustle of Mu'iz, all gorgeously shown...xxxxx

   ~ Scorpionkiss

5. it's a wonderfully busy scene. your eyes are drawn to this amazing lady and then beyond to the hustle and bustle in the distance.
   
   great capture :-)

   ~ tadpole

6. I just love this so much, and I do prefer it in colour - your tones are wonderful. The atmosphere you and Matt describe is perfectly captured. Truly a favourite.
   Blip gives us such another view on the world, it's fantastic!

   ~ clarabelfrance

7. Wonderful, when viewed in tandem with Scorpionkiss one can get a real taste of this place and its people.
   Thankyou.

   ~ Blob

8. Perfect!

   ~ pinarchen

9. How mystical and beautiful this street scene. I cannot help but compare and contrast since you and Scorpionkiss have photographed the same subject today. Speaking in general terms it comes across to me as if you are, over time, photographing a portrait of the world - all be it the world of Cairo - I find something all encompassing about your pictures. While Scorpionkiss is taking in Cairo, I almost feel a self portrait from his pix through the people on the streets and sometimes the places. Does that make any sense? The center of your pictures is defuse and all encompassing. Scorionkiss has a center point that radiates out into the rest of the photo/place. Hope I am describing the feeling well enough! Both are fascinating.
   
   Lovely street scene and you are making me fall in love with this mysterious, beautiful world of yours. Or maybe fall in love with mine by having a different perspective of the world.
   
   Sorry to ramble. I'm just excited by this beautiful art.

   ~ BethanneElion

10. wonderful street scene lovely captured and toned! well done!

    ~ IngunnInOslo

11. You've captured this perfectly. You get a feeling like you are right there in the middle of this busy area, you can almost smell the pitas! Wonderful processing, it works so well with this shot!

    ~ jacksmom726

12. Wonderful, being more a black and white person I do not know which I prefer both are excellent. The warm tones in the color really work well... lynn

    ~ Roylance

13. I like this photo, it's a beautiful street scene with lot's of movement and action and a stunning main subtle character: I can hear the noise and feel the heat reverberating from the walls, I can even imagine the scent of the freshly baked bread... that's how the photography i like is!

    ~ lukeit

14. So good. I love the set in B&W - the fellow on the bike is amazing. What a great idea. Well done.

    ~ Ethel

15. Great story, wonderful set on Flickr. You and Scorpionkiss are doing some beautiful team work here.

    ~ kendallishere

16. I love them both equally because it was equally hard to capture them both. Its the same guy by the way in both the pictures. First I was running after him and he went up the tree. I took a shot as soon he was making his move downwards. Then he ran up the door and when I was trying to capture him, he just went to the opposite side of the door. Its as if he knew he is being stalked by a crazy photographer and wanted to hide ... lol. But in the end I just kept track of him with a full zoom and clicked as soon as he was moving from one side to the other ... took two pictures, the one I have posted is the better version. Thanks for your comments. I simply love blipping and interacting with all of you :)

    ~ zahrashah

17. Amazing, reminds me of rhodesia, very common to see the women carrying water on their heads! nice capture.
    
    yes mine is as is from the camera.

    ~ bcaway

18. There is so much balancing going on in the shot -- how do those portruding porches stay put! Gorgeous colour and bustle!

    ~ besideherself

19. What a fine photograph, I have seen no better type, of such a woman, on this place.

    ~ veinednarcissus

20. like a delacroix painting.
    your composing skills are amazing. a street with all that chaos. and you create order.
    and art.
    
    - grete

    ~ meandmax

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