Photopia has made it its mission to become a centre for all the photography enthusiasts out there. You do not have to be an experienced photographer to be part of Photopia, as shown by the new Photopia 101 – a basics of photography course – starting on July 25.
“This is our fourth Photopia 101 course in two months,” Rehab Eldalil said to The Daily News Egypt. The course teaches the basics of photography as well as the first level of Photoshop. “We want to raise the standards of photography in Egypt,” Eldalil said, explaining Photopia’s enthusiasm for running the course. “It is an art; it is hard and it needs a lot of training.”
Photopia 101 is only the first of the three stages of photography courses that Photopia offers. The second course will start after Ramadan together with another beginners course.
Located in Korba, Heliopolis, Photopia is a photography hub that aims to create a space where anyone interested in or related to photography can find what he or she needs. “We want it to be a sanctuary for photographers to take photos, work on them and even buy equipment,” Eldalil described this unique place. “Our ambition is to be a harbour for a family of photographers and people who appreciate photography.”
The main space of Photopia is taken up with a café where wireless internet, food, drinks and used books are available. “Photo enthusiasts can come over to relax and edit their photos,” Eladil explained. The café doubles as a gallery where photographers can display their work and enthusiasts can buy photographs.
Besides the café, Photopia has a professional studio that can be rented for portrait and product photography. The service of Photopia goes further: “Photopia can provide the photographers using the studio with assistance, and training is available for those who want to learn.”
Photopia boasts a merchandise area where photographers can buy photography equipment, or order them from abroad. Products ordered from abroad are delivered within a week to 10 days. “We noticed that most photographers have to go through a lot of hassle and trips to downtown, fishing around for their camera equipment. Often they cannot find what they want and they have to wait for someone they know who is travelling abroad to buy them whatever they need. As a photo-hub we realised we had to provide that service.”
In celebration of Ramadan Photopia is hosting a 10-day Ramadan event: ‘Travel Nights’. The event involves an exhibition of travel photos provided by Sahara Safari – a group of travelers who go on eco-tourism trips across Egypt – in celebration of their 10th anniversary. For ten days, starting 30 July, Photopia will be hosting evening talks by prominent travel experts in Egypt. The hub is also arranging a D&D initiative, where all visitors can “drink and donate” in the spirit of the holy month.
Photopia opened its doors only two months ago and with its full schedule of activities, events and services it has the possibility to become exactly what they have set out to be – a central hub for photography in Cairo.
