You know a photograph is good when it stays with you.
Years before I ever thought about moving to Egypt, I came across a picture of a Cairo balcony on Instagram. Soft light, old architecture, a quiet atmosphere that felt both nostalgic and mysterious. It was 2022 and I remember thinking, “I wish I could live somewhere like this one day”.
That image was taken by Nour Elmassry. Today, I’m sitting with him, the very artist whose work played a role in my own Cairo story.
From Damietta to Cairo
There’s something poetic about Nour’s name. “Nour Elmassry” literally means “Egyptian light”. And light is at the centre of his work. From sunrise to sunset, even the night lights of Cairo have their own personality.
“Places are defined by their light,” Nour said. “Cairo’s light is dusty, but it gives a golden feeling.”
Nour isn’t originally from the capital. He grew up in Damietta, a port city in the north of Egypt, where the Nile meets the Mediterranean Sea. He later moved to Cairo to study at the Faculty of Fine Arts, specialising in set design.
Today, he works as a film production designer. Photography, however, remains his passion.
Like many creatives, he started experimenting with what he had: old phones, friends’ cameras, whatever was available. In 2016, he finally bought his first professional camera and began taking photography more seriously. Cairo quickly became his main subject.
“I love to shoot places, to see things through my lens,” he told me. “Cairo is a special place. It’s a big playground.”
And it really is. Layers of history, colours, textures, people, chaos, beauty. Cairo offers endless visual material if you have a good eye.
Influences: Cinema and Painting
Nour’s visual language comes from both film and fine art. One of his biggest inspirations is Shadi Abdel Salam, the legendary Egyptian director, set designer and costume designer behind The Mummy. Nour admires his versatility and his ability to tell powerful stories through images.
Another influence is Rembrandt.
“He taught me about lighting,” Nour explained. “How light can be an important element in the image.”
The Photo That Changed Everything
The image that first caught my attention was taken almost by accident. Nour was working in a nearby building, noticed a beautiful view, and took a quick photo on his phone. He posted it because he liked it and a few days later, it went viral.
“This photo was unexpected,” he said. “I took it with my phone, not even my camera.”
The image, later known as Tale of Cairo, was shared thousands of times. People all over the world connected with its dream-like atmosphere. For Nour, it was a turning point. He had stopped posting photography for a while, but this reaction pushed him to continue.
One of my personal favourites from his work is City in Blue, shot in Maadi just before sunset. The house feels lonely, calm, almost cinematic.
It reminds me of Magritte and Edward Hopper because of the silence, the light, and the sense of solitude.
Dream-Lit Windows of Egypt
One of Nour’s most original projects is Dream-lit Windows of Egypt, a series of collage-style images that blend reality with imagination. These scenes don’t exist in real life but come from Nour’s mind, and resonate with people’s imagination too.
“I decided to show people how I see Egypt,” he said.
Despite the cinematic mood of his work, Nour is calm, grounded and gentle. His favourite colour is green for the peace it brings him, probably also why he loves cats.
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What’s Next?
Alongside his full-time work in set design, Nour is preparing his first photography book. It’s a slow, thoughtful process. Choosing the right images, shaping the story, making sure it feels true to his vision. Good things take time, and his work is well worth the wait.
Some photographers show you what a place looks like, but Nour Elmassry makes you feel it. And sometimes, that’s enough to inspire you to start a new chapter in life.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
FIND OUT MORE
Instagram: @nour_elmassry
Podcast episode available on Spotify, Anghamy, Apple Podcasts.
All artist artworks © Nour Elmassry