Lake Qarun
Project Details:
After the start of the industrial renaissance in Egypt during the19th century by Muhammad Ali Pasha, the industrial wastes, and municipal effluents have been largely dumped into the Lakes in the Delta area causing environmental degradation and health concerns. Lake Qarun is one of the vulnerable areas, although it was designated as a protected area back in 1989. Since the construction factories of the sugar and salt near Lake Qarun, it became more susceptible to, it has a high rate of pollution from various pollution types due to the industrial in addition to domestic waste, which leads to affect the fish life in the lake with the great dangerous impact on the human health. The increase of pollution in the lake exceeded the limit to the extent that it accumulated at the bottom of the lake and reached more than a meter. Many types of fish disappeared and “jellyfish” and “isopods” appeared in the lake. The number of boats operating in the lake decreased from 605 boats to 10 boats. The fishermen abandoned work in the lake and headed to Lake Nasser and Wadi El Rayan and other places. In this project, I attempt to explore the effects of pollution in the lake and wanted to bring the story of fishermen after many of them abandoned work in the lake and go to another place like Wadi El Rayan, at the last traces of life from one of the natural protectorates of Egypt. The targeted audience is wide; my project is not only for the Egyptian Community but also for the concerned international realm. I believe the pictures in my project shall universally explain the problem of Climate change and how to must start to make something on the lakes in Egypt before dying it.
About:
Fatma Fahmy (b. 1991, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) is a documentary photographer based in Cairo. Fahmy obtained a B. A degree in Chemical Engineering from Cairo University in 2013. She focuses on environmental and social issues. Through her lens, she wishes to amplify historical and environmental bonds. Fatma uses ethnographic photography practices to create visual narratives, creating an image that mimics the memory of the place and its people. She was the recipient of the Daniele Tamagni Grant at the Market Photo Workshop in 2020. She was nominated for the World Press Photo Joop Swart masterclass in 2018. Her work has been exhibited internationally including at the Cite International des Arts in Paris and the Photographic Angel Exhibition in the UK. Fatma is recently a new contributor, among other renowned photographers, to Everyday Africa & Everyday Egypt & Middleeast images.
Contact:
Instagram: @fatmah.fahmy
Location: Egypt