Through touch and sound, visually impaired photographer captures images of Alexandria

Record ID: 1650905

  • Title: Through touch and sound, visually impaired photographer captures images of Alexandria
  • Date: 13th December 2021
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF YOUSEF SHOWING MOTHER THE PICTURES SHE TOOK
  • Embargoed: 27th December 2021 10:11
  • Keywords: Alexandria Egypt Photography Visually Impaired Photographer
  • Location: ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT
  • City: ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: Human-Led Feature,Human-Led Stories,Middle East
  • Reuters ID: LVA004F7VEIJ9
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: "I am here, can you hear me," is what visually impaired photographer Israa Ismail Yousef's subjects call out while she holds her camera and snaps pictures of Alexandrian daily life.
    The 22-year-old who has a passion for photography uses the lively corniche in Egypt's second-largest city to take photos of commuters, lovers, and business owners - to teach herself the art.
    Born visually impaired, Yousef approaches her subjects, then uses her hands to feel out their dimensions and location, and asks them to speak up to her when she backs away to snap her photo.
    "I chose photography because I always wanted to study mass media and I tried every way possible to enter, but I found out that in order for me to be allowed admission, I would have to find a way to pass the photography assignment. So I remained in my college and took photography courses so I can learn and develop," she explained.
    A graduate of Arabic literature, Yousef hopes her strolls across the city will give her enough experience to enroll in the school of media, to pursue a career as a journalist.
    "It is of course very hard, but there isn't a profession that's easy... I feel that I'm doing something worthwhile, something I love."
    (Production: Sayed Sheasha, Seham Eloraby)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2021. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: Footage contains photographs or artwork. User is responsible for obtaining additional clearances before publishing this clip.
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