My #7SuperShots with Hostelbookers

Here I am, excited to be back and because I was nominated by the über cool Erica @ Overyonderlust.com for the Hostelbookers 7 super shots game (click here for the rules).

I will post 7 photos as requested by the game, and I tell you… it’s sooo hard to chose only one for each category!

Thanks Erica for nominating me! And here are my 5 nominations to take part in this awesome project:

Jason @ anoutofthewayplace.com 

Jaime @ breakawaybackpacker.com

Amer at tendtotravel.com 

Ryan at pausethemoment.com 

Samuel at nomadicsamuel.com

So here we go.

1 – A photo that takes my breath away

The Red Pyramid of Dahshur, Egypt

This photo takes my breath away for many reasons. I love the way it looks, but also the subject: the Red Pyramid of Dahshur.

There are 3 pyramids in Dahshur, just about 1 hour south of Cairo, and even if they are less famous than the Giza ones, I like them more: the site is always less crowded, there are no hassling vendors, and no constructions all around them. They are (still) in the middle of nowhere, and it’s (still) possible to enter the Red Pyramid. 

The first time I saw this pyramid, for some reason I started to cry and I couldn’t stop for hours. Don’t ask me why, and no drama is intended here. But I can’t hide that it’s my favorite pyramid, and I definitely have unforgettable memories about it. 

I am very proud of this photo because it just gives me a great vibe!

2 – A photo that makes me laugh or smile

Me and a beduin who just proposed to me

During the Characters of Egypt Festival in 2010, I camped with beduins for 3 nights. I got to know some of them, and we somehow managed to communicate even if back then my Arabic skills were even worse than now: I was just arrived to Egypt.

A friend took this photo of me and a beduin just seconds after he proposed to me. I’m smiling even now that I write about it!

3 – A photo that makes me dream

The stars as seen from my tiny tent, camping on Basata beach, Egypt

“You may say I’m a dreamer…” – Yes I am. I will never stop dreaming and this photo always puts me back in the mood. 

I took it at night, while camping on the beach of Basata, Egypt, on a sleepless night in my tiny tent. That night I was thinking about so many things, and I was violently happy (cit. Bjork). 

I pointed my camera upwards, opened the zipper of the tent, released the shutter, and waited for a couple of seconds while lighting the inside of the tent with my mobile (pro photography gear!). I didn’t expect this to turn out this nicely, and I love it. I believe when you love the subject, the photo will have something more. 

4 – A photo that makes me think 

I believe this is one of the most powerful photos I have ever taken. I believe so both because of the story behind it (a little girl with cancer, enough said) and because of how it turned out. I can’t look at the girl’s facial expression for more than a couple of seconds before feeling like crying. Her eyes are definitely saying “what the fuck, why am I here, and why does life suck this much?”. Life is unfair, that’s it. And I won’t say any more “mister obvious-style” things here. This picture is worth much more than a thousand words.

If you’re interested in reading more about my visit at the Cairo Children Cancer Hospital, here is the post I wrote about it. I kinda hate it because I wasn’t able to write anything interesting. I just felt helpless.

5 – A photo that makes my mouth water

Prosecco with strawberry

I know that probably I was supposed to post some Italian food porn photo here, but that strawberry. I like Prosecco alone, but when in Verona a couple of months ago, I found out they serve Prosecco with a strawberry in it, and that just made it irresistible. That strawberry! Those bubbles! Oh and a glass of Prosecco was 2€, if this wasn’t good enough. I can’t remember exactly how many I had. 

6 – A photo that tells a story

Egyptian first democratic vote after the Revolution – the Referendum

Little after the Egyptian Revolution, Egyptians had their first democratic vote: a Referendum about some amendments in the constitution. The outcome was a complete fail, but at least the elections were not controlled, for the first time. 

I took this photo when my Egyptian flatmate came back from the polls – people who voted were marked with ink on their fingers, and everyone was so proud of showing that red ink! 

7 – A photo that I’m most proud of AKA my Nat Geo photo

Beduins – father and son at dusk

Even if this is definitely not a perfect shot, I like it a lot because it conveys the chilled out mood of that moment.

At dusk, father and son sit in the golden desert of Wadi el Gamal, relaxing, and taking a moment to rest after a burning hot day. The father smokes a cigarette, maybe waves to some friend, while his lovely kid looks like he’s immersed in his childish dreams. 

Okay, I am not sure this is my best photo ever, but I couldn’t keep going through my photos over and over again and I had to choose. Now, please, National Geographic, do the same with me: choose me, no need for too much research :)

How did you like these shots? I hope you enjoyed them and I can’t wait to see your picks!