Visually-impaired photographer captures images of Alexandria
Israa Ismail is a visually-impaired photographer
who relies on her senses of hearing and touch
LOCATION: Alexandria, Egypt
The 22 year-old snaps pictures of Alexandrian daily life
She hopes to pursue a career in journalism
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PHOTOGRAPHER, ISRAA ISMAIL, SAYING:"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 admitted, I would have to find a way to pass the photography assignment. So I remained in my college and took photography courses so I could learn and grow, until I found an initiative by a photographer Khaled Farid. We spoke and then I was surprised that instead of him teaching me how to take photographs with my smartphone first, he directly taught me using a camera."
Ismail uses touch to feel out the dimensions of her subjects
She also asks them to speak up to her
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) WOMAN WHOSE PICTURE WAS TAKEN, RAHMA ABDELRAHMAN, SAYING:"She's very talented, and she relies on touch to figure out where we are standing, and she also relies on our voices, so we continuously speak up to her while she's taking our picture so she is aware of where we are standing and snaps her photo. And once she took all the pictures she showed them to us and they were really great, so I wish her luck."
