Since 1890, and until the present time, Souq El-Goma'a in Cairo, Egypt, has taken place every Friday for the legal and the illegal trading of animals and birds. This place was originally for trading different breeds of pigeons. By the time, this local market has started to attract animals dealers who catch illegal animals and birds, like snakes, small crocodiles, foxes, and eagles. These photos were taken in late 2017. One wanted to capture photos of this market in many different ways. Unlike journalism or documentary photography, one intended to figure out the sentimental side of birds, especially pigeons trade which has been the original trade in this market. Focusing on their eyes, movements, signs of fear and the way of behaving towards human, all of these are the core of this series of photos in order to give a new vision of photographing the trade of animals.
Market Life
Market preparations start on Friday morning. Both professional and amateur sellers move their birds and animals to their selling booths, the market gets crowded, people make deals others serve food and beverage, everything is dynamic and fast.
Market preparations start on Friday morning. Both professional and amateur sellers move their birds and animals to their selling booths, the market gets crowded, people make deals others serve food and beverage, everything is dynamic and fast.
A Little Hug
Standing behind this seller man as he picks this little pigeon holding it tightly waiting to make a good deal.
Standing behind this seller man as he picks this little pigeon holding it tightly waiting to make a good deal.
Who's in the cage?!
Walking by this cage, found a man right in front of it, gazing upon the birds and when he saw me, I felt that he has his own cage, and I took the photo
Walking by this cage, found a man right in front of it, gazing upon the birds and when he saw me, I felt that he has his own cage, and I took the photo
Lanner Falcons
Two hawks of an Egyptian breed called "Lanner Falcon", I've been told that the first thing the small falcons need is to see their keeper so they put a small hood over their heads, also to keep them quiet and not visually distracted.
Two hawks of an Egyptian breed called "Lanner Falcon", I've been told that the first thing the small falcons need is to see their keeper so they put a small hood over their heads, also to keep them quiet and not visually distracted.
Make a wish
Between market chaos, crowd, dust, and loud shouts, a pigeon found it's own way to be calm and peaceful.
Between market chaos, crowd, dust, and loud shouts, a pigeon found it's own way to be calm and peaceful.
Picking
Through a hole in the dealer's umbrella, I watched his hand picking one little baby duck to make a sale, as his hand reaches one they get scared and start to get scattered.
Through a hole in the dealer's umbrella, I watched his hand picking one little baby duck to make a sale, as his hand reaches one they get scared and start to get scattered.
White
I asked the man to hold one pigeon for a photo, so he picked this one gently and hold it's feather nicely, I felt that they don't just sell them for money like other animals, they love and care for them.
I asked the man to hold one pigeon for a photo, so he picked this one gently and hold it's feather nicely, I felt that they don't just sell them for money like other animals, they love and care for them.
The Project was published in Social Documentary Network, Check it here
https://socialdocumentary.net/exhibit/Moataz_Mohamed_El-Zeidy/4313
https://socialdocumentary.net/exhibit/Moataz_Mohamed_El-Zeidy/4313
These photos were taken in late 2017 as it's an ongoing project.
