A Photographer Abroad: The Great Pyramids

Pollution left the air heavy with haze, so instead of the rich, golden sunset of my imagination, this sky was getting darker and less colorful by the minute. As the quality of light diminished, my anxiety grew. It was clear that I wasn’t going to get my shot. My disappointment must’ve been visible because Adbel made an exaggerated “I’m so sad” face. I pointed my camera towards him and clicked the shutter.

Oh, he loved that! He started hamming it up for me. One minute looking like the stern Bedouin that he was, the next a big goofy grin on his face. With his head wrap, and without. I was having my own wacky, quasi fashion shoot in the middle of the Sahara Desert! I even took a few shots of my donkey. It wasn’t as elegant as an Arabian racehorse, but it had character. When the last of the ambient lighted had disappeared, Abdel said, “Okay, we go now.”

It wasn’t the Great Pyramids experience I was expecting, but it sure was memorable. I sent this photo to Abdel when I got back to the States. Perhaps I should’ve sent copies for his wives and girlfriends?


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A Photographer Abroad: Cairo


Photo courtesy of the author