Tsawwar… Mustafa Tawfik
"I took this photo on an iPhone whilst on board a felucca crossing the Nile River in soft late light, capturing an Egyptian boatman standing upright as he pulled a rope to adjust the sail. From where I stood, he looked completely at ease, as if every movement was second nature from years on the water. His posture was steady and relaxed, showing quiet control and deep familiarity with both river and wind. The felucca glided forward as the sail responded to his touch, catching the breeze more cleanly. He moved without urgency, making small, precise adjustments that kept everything balanced. There was a quiet bond between him and the river, as if he understood its moods the way others understand a voice. The beauty of the Nile felt present in the way he worked with it, not against it, gentle, patient, and enduring."
Mustafa Tawfik is an Egyptian street photographer and visual storyteller whose practice is grounded in observation. Drawn to the quiet theatre of everyday life, he documents the moments in which people reveal themselves through gesture, rhythm, and presence. His work explores the unspoken narratives carried in movement and behaviour, and the ways personal stories surface in public space. Culture shapes his gaze, acting as a lens through which he interprets shifting urban life and translates fleeting moments into visual form.
Tsawwar is an ongoing visual series in Daftar which explores the stories behind a photograph, taken in the region or by an Arab photographer, written in their own words.
