Info on photography in Egypt

[Bruce Butterfield]

I’m heading to Cairo/Luxor/Alexandria for a couple of weeks in February and I’d like any advice on shooting there. I’m aware the government has recently liberalized the laws on what can be photographed there but it is pretty unclear on what that actually means; it would be great to not have my cameras confiscated or end up in jail for breaching the local customs. Am I being overly paranoid?

Probably not relevant but I plan on bringing both a lightweight 35mm outfit and a Rolleiflex tlr.

Thanks for any experience folks can share on this.

 

[koraks]

Hordes of tourists travel to the places you've mentioned. I'm sure that unless you're going to ask people to undress in the streets for a photo, you'll be fine shooting whatever touristy stuff people shoot there. Have fun (try to dial out the incessant droning of hawkers)!

 

[AERO]

Dont photo anything that can be construed as military including civil airport enviroments....these Middle East countries are a bit touchy on this.....

 

[jeffreyg]

Although it was many years ago I had no problem photographing in Egypt. We had a personal guide so that along with my wife speaking Arabic and French helped. People were very friendly and several soldiers even wanted to pose and at one spot a traffic cop stopped traffic for me to be able to take a shot.
Times are different now so if in doubt ask first especially if you’re on your own and not where tourists are.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Hordes of tourists travel to the places you've mentioned. I'm sure that unless you're going to ask people to undress in the streets for a photo, you'll be fine shooting whatever touristy stuff people shoot there. Have fun (try to dial out the incessant droning of hawkers)!

interesting idea; like it!

 

[cowanw]

Two things
1. when we were last there, no cameras were allowed in the Valley of the Kings at all. Do not try to circumvent whatever they tell you to do!
2. if you can do stop in at the entrance of the Winter Palace Hotel in Luxor at the store of the photographer family "Gaddis", an interesting little display of ephemerae.

 

[Bruce Butterfield]

Good info, thanks all!

 

[Bruce Butterfield]

Just to follow up on this, there were absolutely no issues with shooting film anywhere; as long as you don’t point your camera at anything remotely security related and ask permission when photographing the locals everything is fine. The real problem is trying to avoid the X-ray scanner security stations which are everywhere and don’t really permit hand inspections. I’m about to start processing my film (FP4 & HP5) so we’ll see how much damage that caused.

 

[koraks]

Great! With regular x-ray inspection, I don't expect much of a problem, really. Please post some photos when you're done with them!

 

[halfaman]

There are regular X-Ray inspection machines eveywhere in Egypt. Just on airports all your luggage will be scanned at the entrance in addition to the standard hand baggage inspection before boarding gates. Every tourist site has also X-Ray inspection attended by officials with no English knowledge. My film was scanned about 12 times without any fogging detected.

The only problem I had with my camera was on Giza piramids. Somehow the entrance official didn't like my Pentax 67, after some discussion with our guide he allowed me to enter the camera but without changing the lens (???).

 

[BobUK]

Two things
1. when we were last there, no cameras were allowed in the Valley of the Kings at all. Do not try to circumvent whatever they tell you to do!
2. if you can do stop in at the entrance of the Winter Palace Hotel in Luxor at the store of the photographer family "Gaddis", an interesting little display of ephemerae.

Someone told me cameras were not allowed inside The Great Pyramid.
The problem then would be what to do with your camera if you want to go in there.

They also told me they had one of those spy pens with the hidden digital camera inside, and managed to get a few poor quality snaps whilst inside. A bit naughty if caught either using or even in possession of it.

 

[Bruce Butterfield]

Great! With regular x-ray inspection, I don't expect much of a problem, really. Please post some photos when you're done with them!

All photos Minolta CLE, 28mm Voigtlander f/2.8, HP5+ in HC-110 1:32

Step Pyramid

Sphynx & Friends

Crossing the Cultural Divide

 

[Ben 4]

…so is that you in the last photo?

 

[Bruce Butterfield]

No, he's a friend and potential ZZ Top band member.

 

[Ben 4]

Touché

 

[filsogh]

All photos Minolta CLE, 28mm Voigtlander f/2.8, HP5+ in HC-110 1:32


View attachment 394070
Crossing the Cultural Divide

I just joined photrio so I don't seem to be able to DM you but...

Imagine my surprise today browsing this thread and seeing an old friend of mine!

 

[koraks]

I just joined photrio so I don't seem to be able to DM

Welcome aboard! I fixed that DM issue for you. Feel free to reach out to @Bruce Butterfield and perhaps reconnect through him with your old friend.

 

[Sergey Ko]

I was in Egypt 20 (already!!!) ago, and never knew, that it was forbidden to take photos in the Pharaon Valley. I always follow the rule "not disturb" & not use professionally looking technics. And of cause, no photos of army, police, customs etc. Used an excellent MF point-n-shoot Fuji GA645zi