Acclaimed American photojournalist Ed Kashi celebrated the 30th anniversary of his "City of the Dead" project in Cairo

 

On this occasion, Kashi inaugurated a photo exhibition in Cairo.

 

Egypt Today chatted with Kashi about a number of issues related to his "City of the Dead" project as well as other projects, especially those related to current social and political issues.

 

 

Speaking about "City of the Dead” Kashi said "In 1992, I visited Egypt to perform work for National Geographic magazine pertaining to a story about water issues in the Middle East. During this visit my Egyptian producer took me to the City of the Dead.”

 

 

 

Kashi added that once he went to the City of the Dead he found that it is an amazing place.

 

 

“Then a year later, I decided to revisit the City of the Dead with my girlfriend, who is now my wife from almost 30 years. I said to her Julie, we have to go and do a story about the City of the Dead. In 1993, we went for three weeks and developed a story on our own."

 

The acclaimed American photojournalist further explained that their point of views were changed after one year, and they decided to discuss overpopulation and housing issues in the City of the Dead.

 

 

Kashi narrated a lot of memories about this visit including going down to one of the tombs there and watching the white shrouds.

 

“ It was like touching more approaches of life, and death” Kashi said.

 

 

Kashi spoke about his work in Egypt and how Egyptians are warm and welcoming and that Egypt has a vast history. 

 

“One of the great privileges of performing this kind work is that I get to see things that most people don't get to see. What I love about this work is that I get to meet people, learn new things and witness people living in not just a cemetery, but in a place of such great cultural heritage and history like Egypt.”

 

Kashi added that Egypt is so important to the evolution of humanity.

 

 

“Egypt is one of the very special places. I'm not just saying that because I'm here in Egypt, I mean that from the bottom of my heart. Egypt is one of those places that makes me feel the depth of history."

 

 

 

Kashi also spoke about the characteristics of a good story in photojournalism. 

 

“Well for me, I'm interested in people, because photojournalists can shoot animals, lots of things, but I'm a people photographer, in other words a human photographer. I look for stories that have either a geopolitical or social element because that's what I care about as a human being. So I try to translate my personal interests and concerns about the world into the stories that I tell” Kashi explained.

He added: "For me a great photojournalism story is the one that shines and shed the light on whatever the issue is. It doesn't always have to be a problem, but often it is. It's the nature of journalism I think especially in the Middle East because there are a lot of beautiful things here.”

Kashi adeed that he is always trying to have a fresh look or a different perspective on something that we may think we know and also to uncover things that are under-reported.

 

Pertaining to the value of photos and captions, Kashi elaborated: "Great photos don’t need words but this is photojournalism. The point is how to use images and words to communicate, especially when it comes to journalism. In the time moment we're living in; it is so critically important that I contextualize my work so that when you look at this picture you can rely on the facts in it. You know that this is where it happened, this is what's going on, the name of that person is correct, his age is correct, the circumstances around their situation are presented in an accurate way because I still believe in facts.”

 

Throughout his vast career Kashi received a number of international awards.

 

 " I have won three world press awards, I think to me the world press awards carry in some ways the most meaning because they were granted by a global group of judges. I've actually judged the world press many times. It's not just Americans or British, it's that people from all over the world who are judging so that if you win that award, it’s more than just winning a great award in America. I received an award from the American Society of Nephrology and from the United Nations. For the last 10 years, I've been working on a project around the world about chronic kidney disease. So in some ways, that award is almost more meaningful because that means a group of doctors and healthcare professionals who are dealing with a very specific medical issue have said that my photography has actually made a positive contribution to their work” Kashi said.

 

 

One of the exceptional experiences for Kashi was working in Syria, and visiting the camps of the refugees.

"I've been to Syria many times prior to the start of the war. I felt some connection. I also felt the connection and I cared because I'm not just a cold journalist. So, I decided that I want to approach that issue through the mental health of young Syrian refugees, so that was my premise. So then I knew that the International Medical Corps which is sort of America's medicine sans frontier, doctors without borders, they were working in that region dealing with that issue. So I went to them and I made a proposal. We were having Skype calls with their Syrian counterparts and their therapists who were in Jordan and in Northern Iraq” Kashi recounted.

 

 

Kashi discussed the journalists' stand on the Israeli strikes on Gaza.

 

 

He highlighted: "Journalists are paying the nation who need it. Photographers and journalists who did survive what's going on in Gaza right now are playing a major role in showing the world what is happening on the ground. They have to talk to the people about what's behind their rules. This is an exceptional work because this is an exceptional case. What is the situation, right now? How do you keep your head straight to do your work when you're also under attack? You're losing loved ones and friends and family, so it's an extraordinary situation." 

 

Kashi added that sometimes  there have been conflicts where journalists can't go in just because it's dangerous or you just can't get in because the Israelis control the perimeter.

 

“ Therefore, we're relying on journalists who have a huge stake in the story. The picture is the picture, I mean assuming they're not manipulating it using AI or photoshop. If what we're being presented visually is accurate, it is what it is” Kashi further explained. 
 

 

The acclaimed American photojournalist highlighted the difference between professional journalism, and citizen journalism.

 

 "Citizen journalism is about someone who just could be talented or could be motivated to cover something that is going on but he's not professional. So, it's an interesting territory we're getting into because of social media. As for professional journalism it is about those who are doing their own coverage, whether we can trust it or not, so it's a very different media landscape. But, what's still important is that they are trained journalists, they are professionals. So as long as you're ethical in your work, then I can rely on it."