I think photography chooses you at some point in your life, and you are never the same again.
Hana Gamal (@hanaperlas) is an Egyptian photographer and visual artist whose work bridges the intimate realms of psychology and anthropology. With a dual bachelor's degree in Mass Communication & Media Arts and Psychology from the American University in Cairo, Hana's creative journey began in 2011, and since then, photography has become her voice, her lens into both the inner and outer worlds.
Her work captures the fluid connection between memory, change, and loss, exploring the chaotic yet poetic interplay between the human soul and the world that shapes it. This unique pluralist approach has taken her art to renowned biennales and exhibitions worldwide, garnering attention in both local and international publications.
She took a bit of time to chat with me.
FFU: Thanks so much Hana for finding the time to catch up before the end of our exhibition! Let's get to it. So, why photography? How did you get your start?
HG: My passion for art in general started when I was in I high school. I loved doodling and painting, still do - it's like my own private little world. I never show them to anyone. However, I think photography chooses you at some point in your life and you are never the same again - it's a beautiful and complex feeling.
For me, It was the January 25 Egyptian revolution that sparked my passion for photography. At that time, I was still studying at university. I felt something beautiful and strange happening, it was an indescribable feeling that only the ones who were there could comprehend and sense. I felt that I was witnessing history being made in front of my eyes and I wanted to keep this memory with me forever. So I spontaneously took out my phone and started taking pictures; and I have never stopped since.
Photography quickly became my biggest passion in life, it saved my heart and gave me a voice. It has helped me understand and rediscover myself and my achingly beautiful city Cairo, and most importantly, it has helped me heal so many parts of my soul.
Also, at that time all my plans had changed - going from wanting to pursue a career in psychology and art therapy to wanting to be a photographer. I remember how I was so lost in the world after graduation and unsure if I took the right decision. I had phases of frustrations, failures, and losses. So many people around me were telling to leave photography or keep it as a hobby on the side and find a stable 9-5 job, but the voices in my head were much louder, something inside me was telling to continue. Keep going. Don't give up.
I listened to my heart and continued to shoot, learn, evolve - not knowing where I was going, but deep down inside me, I knew that was the path for me. That is why I always say, the best plan is no plan it all.
Life never works as planned, anyway.
© Hana Gamal
FFU: that is such a true statement for a lot of us, that photography chooses us at some point. It was definitely something I had loved since being a kid, but it wasn't my original plan as well:! You are one of 14 winning photographers in our exhibition Photography: the Universal Language. What made you apply?
HG: I truly loved the concept of it, in supporting women artists. It's a very male dominant field and it makes me happy to see more opportunities provided for women.
FFU: Tell us about your winning image.
HG: Neither here nor there. The photograph is a portrait of Laila watching the sunset from her bedroom window. That day, I wanted to explore rural Cairo and find new inspiration away from the crowded city and my crowded mind. I went to a place on the outskirts of Cairo - where life is simple, calm, and beautiful.
The warmth and generosity of the people there were enough to inspire any soul. Laila's family invited me in to have lunch with them and this is where I met Laila. We sat together in her bedroom chatting and laughing for hours. She started asking me about how it is like living in the city and wished that someday she could come with me to see "Cairo" as if it's a faraway land; and then a moment of silence passed between us. I was speechless. I couldn't think of anything, but how this world is a beautiful tragedy. For a brief second, she longed to live in my world, and I longed to live in hers. We were both neither here nor there.
FFU: How do you communicate via your imagery? What stories do you tell through your photography? Can you discuss the role that photography plays in storytelling, whether it's personal narratives or broader social issues?
HG: Photography gives me the space to see beyond the surface layer of things. I believe everything is personal and connected. The decision to work on any project usually comes from a place within that relates to it somehow.
FFU: How do you stay inspired and continue to evolve as a photographer? Are there any resources or practices that you find especially helpful?
HG: Inspiration to me can come from anywhere. Sometimes a personal experience is enough to get me going and start creating. However, I love all kinds of arts, my biggest inspirations come from the worlds of music, cinema, and poetry. My heart belongs to music. It has always been part of my life; it's my inspiration and consolation. The best lover and constant companion through all my ups and downs.
Also, those who know me well, know my obsession with the Canadian poet and singer, Leonard Cohen. I admire his poetry and see my life in his music... he inspires me in so many ways, which makes me grateful that such art exists.
Painting gives me the space, peace, and quiet I need to reflect and understand my feelings when photography becomes too intense for me. I find this a healthy balance to stay inspired.
Cinema is reassurance; that I'm not alone and my irrational poetic side is safe. I really find it beautiful how one art can inspire the other.
FFU: What equipment do you typically use, and why do you prefer it for your work?
HG: My early work was in digital; but now and for the past few years, I've been working exclusively with analog, and I don't think I will ever go back to digital. I feel like analog photography truly represents my soul and how I see the world. It soothes my constant longing to see the unedited beauty of life. For me, it is poetry and music combined together. I love the intimate and slow pleasure of the whole process. It's a really humbling experience, it teaches you to let go of the idea of being in control and of perfectionism. You learn to embrace and love whatever the outcome is. Sometimes too much control, thinking or planning ruin the most beautiful stories in life.
© Hana Gamal
FFU: How would you describe your photographic style or approach? Are there any particular influences that have shaped your style?
HG: All my early work was relatd to street photography - I think it was a very important phase in my life which I cherish so much, because it had taught me a lot about myself and the world around me. For me, street photography is poetry - it depicts life in its most honest form. Nothing is staged, everything is real and raw. I think this was one of the most important aspects that drew me to street photography.
However, I believe that over the years my visual style and approach have changed and evolved - it's become more intimate and personal - and I think this is the beauty of the journey. Everything is connected and every phase is crucial and teaches you something.
All the topics or issues I work on come from a very honest and vulnerable place inside me. Which is very therapeutic to me and allows me to pour all the emotions inside into what I'm creating. The decision to work on a certain project depends on my internal emotional state. I think all photography is an act of projection - you project how you feel on what you see. I think this has a major impact on my aesthetic.
Know that you will always be a work in progress.
FFU: No matter where you are at in your career, what advice would you give to aspiring photographers who are looking to improve their skills or break into the industry?
HG: Know that you will always be a work in progress. Stay true. Create art that speaks to you and don't worry too much about what other people think of it. The most important thing is to create from a real and genuine place. Be patient with yourself and the right opportunity will come eventually and open new doors for you. Just do the work and the rest will follow.
FFU: That's beautiful, thank you. What projects or goals do you have on the horizon? What can we expect to see from you in the future?
HG: I am currently working on a very personal and important project to me that explores the different layers of grief, as part of the AFAC documentary photography program. I am also hoping to finish my book, I'm not rushing into it though - letting things fall into place slowly. This book means so much to me that is why I'm taking my time to finish it; because I feel that the most beautiful closure to any project is a book.
