Flair Magazine A photographer turned conceptual artist; Menna Hossam has carved her own niche with her seductively powerful images. Inspired by Greek mythology, fairytales, myths and everything in between, we speak to the artist about her artistic journey.
When did you realize you wanted to become a photographer?
At the very beginning I was into taking portraits of my friends, as there is something interesting about capturing people’s faces. After a couple of years I decided to take things to the next level, so I started combining my passion for taking portraits and watching/reading fantasy stories altogether to form multiple series of images…
Alice and the mad tea party
What inspires you?
Disney movies, theatrical music and Greek mythology.
What is the best/worst thing about being a photographer? The best thing is that it changes the way you see things. You notice light, shapes, colors, textures, people, buildings…everything around you looks different when you start to see the world as a photographer. It’s a gift that you can create art with every single day. The worst thing about being a photographer, especially in Egypt is that choices are too limited, whether we’re talking about locations or models. The resources limited so it’s always a struggle for me to find new and exceptional locations for each project that I shoot. And of course don’t get me started with safety if you’re shooting outdoors!
Bloodred Riding hood
Share with us a memorable shoot…
A couple of months ago I was shooting a project that had two twin sisters who wore similar white dresses and the shoot was taking place in El Montazah in Alexandria. We were getting all sorts of comments from people such as “are they ghosts?” “Are they dead?” “Omg redheads!!” We heard all sorts of jokes but we still managed to create a wonderful output! It was certainly one of the most stressful shoots in my life.
Dystopia
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
A couple of years ago, my artwork was displayed in Times Square in New York City. Unfortunately I couldn’t travel to see it but it was truly one of the most valuable moments in my life. Also a couple of pictures that I shot were featured in a Canadian novel. The author later sent me a copy and I couldn’t be happier!
Cinderella
What challenges do you face as a photographer?
Being a photographer in Egypt certainly a struggle, and being a female makes it even worse. It’s always difficult finding a location that is secluded so that nobody would bother you or your model. I like shooting outdoors and the worst part of the shoot for me is locations scouting. Also the currency inflation made it almost impossible for us to buy any new equipment. Another major challenge is creative blocks. They can be our worst enemy because creativity demands focus, and you can’t just focus when you’re stressed and preoccupied with work most of the time. The pace of life is getting faster by the minute and in my opinion, it’s one of the toughest challenges for an artist to create a barrier between his/her personal problems and their artistic career path.
What do you want to accomplish in the future?
I want to travel the world and create stories everywhere I go. I want to give workshops abroad because I find cultural exchange very useful and inspiring.
Maleficent
Nightfall
The tempest of Eloes
