Omar Ashraf: Egyptian filmmaker and photographer finding new ways to see familiar places

Omar Ashraf is an Egyptian filmmaker, photographer, and engineer based in Giza. Moving between narrative, documentary, and experimental forms, his work looks at the connections between identity, place, memory, and belonging. Growing up in Greater Cairo, he developed a strong connection to the cultural history surrounding him.

With an interest in sustainability, culture, and the relationship between people and their environment, his images often focus on overlooked details, using abstraction to create space for personal interpretation and allowing each viewer to see and experience the image in their own way.

How did you get started in photography?

My love for photography began with my father’s camera. It was an old film camera that he used to photograph our family when I was a child. I think what first drew me to photography was the idea that a photograph could preserve a moment and allow us to return to it years later to remember the people, places, and feelings that might otherwise fade with time.

My father passed away when I was seven, and after that I became more attached to his camera. I experimented with it and tried to understand how it worked. Later, as digital photography became more accessible, I started photographing my family as a way of documenting everyday family life.

Over time, I began photographing my cats, my garden, and the pyramids right in front of my garden. I wanted to preserve the places I grew up seeing too.

Eventually, I started noticing details, angles, and moments that I felt others might overlook. The camera became a way for me to see these familiar surroundings differently. That is what photography continues to mean to me: a way of preserving memories and a way of seeing.

How would you describe yourself?

I would describe myself as someone curious, observant, and deeply drawn to details. I care a lot about order, cleanliness, and commitment, while also loving going out, loud music, and simply enjoying the moment.

I can enjoy a quiet morning surrounded by trees and nature just as much as I can enjoy the energy of a late-night out. I think I have these different sides within me, and I enjoy finding a balance between them.

I have always been drawn to challenges, especially when they involve creating something. I started making films at a very young age, with very simple ideas, and gradually kept experimenting and learning on my own.

Even when I was studying Civil Engineering, I continued making films alongside my studies, sometimes during exam periods. For me, the challenge itself has always been part of the excitement.

One of the things that probably describes me best is how much I can obsess over a small detail. I can listen to the same song or watch the same film dozens of times simply because there is one particular moment, sound, shot, or feeling that I love and want to understand more deeply. I enjoy noticing things that might seem insignificant to someone else and exploring why they affect me.

I have also always loved making things with my hands and exploring different kinds of crafts and creative activities. From DIY projects, drawing, and writing to woodworking, gardening, and experimenting with whatever I happen to have around me, I enjoy the process of turning an idea into something tangible. I think this curiosity to create and experiment is another part of what keeps me constantly looking for new ways to express myself.

What are the main themes that inspire your photography?

Memory, place, identity, nature, and the relationship between people and their surroundings are central to my photography. I am drawn to familiar places and everyday moments, and to the small details within them that can easily go unnoticed. I often find myself looking at a place I have known for years and discovering something in it that I had never noticed before.

My photography is also deeply connected to the idea of memory. I am interested in how photographs can preserve people and places, as well as feelings, atmospheres, and specific moments in time. I am drawn to photographing things that carry a sense of history or personal meaning, whether it is a person, an animal, a garden, or a landscape.

I connect with others through my images by offering them a different way of looking at something they may already know, focusing on a detail, angle, or relationship that they might not have noticed.

I like the idea that the same image can mean something different to every person who sees it. I believe that everyone has a different way of seeing and interpreting the world, shaped by their own memories and experiences.

I sometimes use abstraction and unusual perspectives to leave space for personal interpretation. In that sense, photography becomes a conversation between my way of seeing and the viewer’s own imagination and experience.

What moment in your career are you most proud of?

Graduating from the Faculty of Engineering. It was an important academic achievement and meant fulfilling a dream that my parents had always hoped to see me achieve.

What makes this milestone especially meaningful to me is that I continued developing the artistic side of myself throughout my studies. I kept creating films, experimenting with photography, and gradually building my own artistic path alongside my engineering education.

Looking back, I am proud of becoming an engineer while continuing to pursue the creative side of who I am. For me, the achievement is being able to move forward in both worlds and prove to myself that one passion can exist alongside another.

What is the biggest challenge you've faced as a photographer?

Photographing in public spaces in Egypt. Photography is restricted or discouraged in many places, and in some areas people are not used to being photographed. Some people become uncomfortable, shy, or even suspicious when they see a camera, which can make street photography particularly challenging.

At first, this made me hesitant to photograph freely in public. I gradually started challenging myself to go to different places with my phone at first. Then I began taking small steps, becoming more comfortable with the camera and with approaching different environments and situations.

This experience taught me that photography is also about confidence, patience, and learning how to connect with the environment around you. Over time, I became more comfortable navigating these situations, and I learned to be more respectful and aware of people's boundaries while still finding ways to capture the moments and details that attract me.

What type of photography do you specialise in?

I would describe my photography as a mix of documentary, environmental, and experimental photography. I am drawn to people, animals, nature, and familiar places, especially the small details and moments that are often overlooked.

My style has evolved from documenting the people and places around me into focusing more on how I personally see them. I enjoy experimenting with angles, composition, and abstraction to show familiar things from a different perspective and leave space for each viewer to interpret the image in their own way.

What is your primary commercial niche?

Visual storytelling, with a focus on environmental photography. I am interested in creating authentic images that combine strong visual composition with a sense of story and emotion.

What is your unique technical or visual approach?

My approach focuses on finding beauty in overlooked details and presenting familiar subjects from unexpected perspectives. I often experiment with composition, natural light, unusual angles, and abstraction, allowing the image to remain open to different interpretations.

What is one professional standard you never compromise on?

Attention to detail. I never compromise on the quality and intention behind an image. I believe that even the smallest detail can change the feeling and meaning of a photograph.

Which global brands, photographers, or industries do you feel your work aligns with most?

My work aligns most with brands and industries that value visual storytelling, culture, nature, and sustainability. I feel particularly inspired by photographers such as Myoung Ho Lee, Awoiska van der Molen, and Rinko Kawauchi, whose work combines strong visual storytelling with a deep sense of place and humanity.

I would also be interested in working with travel, lifestyle, cultural, environmental, and sustainable brands that use photography to tell meaningful stories and communicate a strong sense of place.

How is the photography and art space in Egypt?

Egypt has a rich and evolving photography and art scene, with a growing number of independent artists, exhibitions, festivals, galleries, and creative communities. In recent years, photography has become more accessible through digital platforms and social media, giving emerging photographers more opportunities to share their work and reach wider audiences.

At the same time, photographers still face challenges, particularly with photographing in public spaces and accessing certain locations. I believe the Egyptian art scene is becoming increasingly diverse, with younger artists experimenting across photography, film, visual arts, and other forms of creative expression.

What do you think of the 54Ruum platform?

I see 54Ruum as an inspiring platform that creates space for emerging artists to showcase their work, connect with a wider creative community, and discover different perspectives. I particularly appreciate its focus on giving artists visibility and creating opportunities for collaboration and creative exchange.