Project Info:
Eve is an ongoing project looking at women living in traditionally male-dominated society. I have no intention of making a political statement about women living in such societies, perhaps because my roots are strongly planted in one. This project is guided by my heart and my vision, not my judgment. It is up to the viewers to deduce their own impressions.
The pictures included here are photographed in Egypt, India and Iran between 2006-2008.
Biography:
Laura El-Tantawy was born in Worcestershire, England and grew up between Cairo, Egypt and Dammam, Saudi Arabia. She graduated from the University of Georgia in Athens, GA (USA) with a dual degree in journalism and political science.
El-Tantawy started her photography career with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in Milwaukee, WI (USA) and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune in Sarasota, FL (USA). Since launching her freelance career in 2005, her personal projects have taken her to Egypt, Iran, India, Thailand, Senegal and the Gambia, France, Italy and the UK.
During her Career, El-Tantawy had the honor of being selected as one of 16 people from around the United States to attend the Poynter Institute’s Visual Journalism Fellowship in 2002. In 2007 she was selected as one of 55 internationally renowned photographers to take part in a photography book project titled, “Thailand: 9 Days in the Kingdom” which was presented to the Thai King on his 80th birthday. In 2008, she was selected as one of 10 emerging talents to be awarded a spot in Reflexions Masterclass, a two-year photography program led by Italian photographer, Giorgia Fiorio and in 2009, she was selected as one of 10 journalists from around the world to attend the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism’s research fellowship at the University of Oxford where she is currently writing a research about free speech in Egyptian media.
Her passion for visual storytelling is the driving force pushing her to be among the best in her class. “I don’t always succeed at what I do but knowing I gave it my best shot is my consolation,” El-Tantawy said. “I love photography because it is an artistic medium of expression with limitless boundaries.”
Her work has appeared in Saudi Aramco World magazine, Harpers magazine, National Geographic magazine, Thailand: 9 Days in the Kingdom photography book, Bangkok 101 magazine as well as several on-line outlets. Her most recent work was published on Burn Magazine, an on-line publication curated by Magnum photographer, David Alan Harvey.
El-Tantawy is a contributor with Corbis stock photography and Africa Pictures photo agency. She is based between London, UK and Cairo, Egypt.