Egyptian photographers

Photography came to Egypt almost as soon as it was invented — the first photographs of the pyramids were made in 1839 — but for decades the camera belonged to European visitors photographing monuments. In the twentieth century Cairo and Alexandria developed their own studio culture. Armenian-Egyptian photographers such as Armand and Van Leo made glamorous studio portraits of the city's people and stars in the age of Egyptian cinema, and the press photographers of Cairo recorded a century of politics.

Today's Egyptian photographers include Youssef Nabil, who hand-colours his prints in the manner of old film posters, and artists such as Lara Baladi and Nermine Hammam, who use photography and archives to question history and power. These are Egypt's photographers, most looked-up first. For the wider story, read African photography our list of Egyptian artists and our guide to North Africa.