Famous+Photographer

Famous Photographer Assignment: Sherif Sonbol Nicole Liu Dec.2, 2011 **1. Give some historical background on their life. /20** Sherif Sonbol was a professional photographer in Egypt for over 30 years, especially in architecture, fine arts and photojournalism. He was born on December 6, 1956 in Giza, Cairo, Egypt. Sherif Sonbol acquired his interest in photography from his father who is a civill engineer. His father loved taking family photos, so Sherif Sonbol is one of few people who has an album of childhood. Sherif Sonbol's photographic career came about accidently. He wanted to become an atomic engineer, but his marks are not high enough. So he studied insurance in the Faculty of Commerce at Cairo University and went to the Chartered Insurance Institute in London. After several years working in the insurance industry, Sherif Sonbol's witness of a fight between the general manager and anouther excutive pushed him towards to the career of photography. He was told by the manager that his insurance career would be over if he testified. As a result, he decided to pursue his passion -- photography. Then he became a photographer at an Egypt's leading daily newspaper which named Al-Ahram. His boss, Antoun Albert, was his favorite photographer and his influential mentor. Although he achieved his goals and became popular at Al-Ahram, he left the newspaper in order to be recruited by the American Embassy's a official photographer. He worked in the computer department of the American Embassy as a graphic designer and computer trainer for a while, but he didn't like his job. When the Embassy was hiring a photographer by chance, he took that work too. Sherif Sonbol had been taking pictures in the New Cairo Opera House since it opened in 1988. Finally, Sherif Sonbol returned to Al-Ahram and soon became the head of the photography department; he was also the main photographer of another magazines, influencing the publications with his own style. As a celebrity photographer for Kalam-El-NEass, his first cover featuring actress Ghada Adel revolutioned the local magazine industry. It was the first cover portrait done outside a photo-studio in Egypt. Sherif Sonbol worked as main photographer of Kalam-El-Nass for six years, and then he was fully transferred to a new interior design magazine which was also belonged to the same group as Kalam-El-Nass. Recently, he manages his responsibilities as chief photographer in Al-Ahram Weekly and in the Cairo Opera House with other projects. Sherif Sonbol participates in photography campaigns, and he has also collaborated with important cultural centerss. His work has been displayed in various exhibits all around the world, and he also has been the subjects of doctorate thesis. Sherif Sonbol teaches photography at the Ahram Canadian University since 2008, and he has published some books such as, "Mulid! Carnivals of Faith", "40 Pyramids of Egypt and their neighbors". Sherif Sonbol tries to bring Western and Arabic cultures closer together in order to promote a better understanding and communication through one of his most recent project too.

**2. Describe their influences. /5** Sherif Sonbol is the first Egyptian photographer ever to have a picture book published ( "Mulid! Carnivals of Faith" ) and the only Egyptian photographer whose work has been subject of an exhibit at New York's Lincoln Center. His book " 40 Pyramids of Egypt and their Neighbors " is the first photography book which published about the Pyramids in Arabic language. Sherif Sonbol is also the first Egyptian photographer who has a picture book about Egyptian antiquities -- "40 Pyramids of Egypt and their Neighbors". Sherif Sonbol worked for many famous magazines in Egypt, influencing the publications by his owen style. When he worked as a celebrity photographer for Kalam-El-Nass, his first cover featuring photo of an actress Ghada Adel revolutioned the local magazine industry. In that time, arts were difficult to improve on certain traditional forms.

**3. Describe their style and major genre (Documentary, Fashion etc.) /5** One of the trademarks of Sherif Sonbol is his use of natural available light which is a technique he developed under the encouragement of favorite photographer Antoun Albert. The acute sense of timing is also characteristic of his photographs, it can be found in his ballet shorts. Sherif Sonbol is a self-taught photographer, but he has the ability to combine the classical photographic technical premises (for examples, by using leveled planes or direct clean angles.) and his innovative, unorthodox techniques. The major genres of Sherif Sonbol's work are architecture, scenic fine arts and photojournalism.

**4. Upload a minumum of 5 Photos that represent their work. /25**

//**Sherif Sonbol' s Photo 1:** //



**What design elements are aparent?** The design principles which appear in this photo are depth of field and rule of the third.

**Why are they a good representation of this photographers work?** The brightness of natural light coming from different position help presenting the height and the 3 dimensions of the wall. The use of natural light is a trademark of Sherif Sonbol's photograph.

**Describe the use of light.** The light comes from the top right and the center left in this picture. From right to left, the shining light turns to dim in the center, and another beam of light comes into the left side of the wall.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 17px;">//**Sherif Sonbol' s Photo 2:**//



<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 17px;">**What design elements are aparent?** <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">The design elements that used in this picture are unclutter, balance and color contrast.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 17px;">**Why are they a good representation of this photographers work?** <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Sherif Sonbol took a lot of photos about ballet dancers, this image presents a ballet dancer in a static states.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 17px;">**Describe the use of light.** <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">This photo was taken over the stage, and the light is coming down to the centre. It brings the dancer to the focus, and the white color has nice contrast with the background.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 17px;">//**Sherif Sonbol' s Photo 3:**//

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 17px;">**What design elements are aparent?** <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">The design element that presents in the photo is motion and contrast.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 17px;">**Why are they a good representation of this photographers work?** <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">This photo presents a characteristic of Sherif Sonbol' s images, which is the acute sense of timing. This photo was taken from a moving ballet dancer.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 17px;">**Describe the use of light.** <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">The light is coming from the right, and it's dim and soft. It identifies a play in the stage.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 17px;">//**Sherif Sonbol' s Photo 4:**// <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 17px;">**What design elements are aparent?** <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">The design elements used in this image are balance and planes and depth levels.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 17px;">**Why are they a good representation of this photographers work?** <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">This photo is a good example of Sherif Sonbol's style which is play with both more innovative techniques and classical photographic technical premises (using leveled planes or direct clean angles).

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 17px;">**Describe the use of light.** <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">The light is coming from both sides of the windows, and it help creates a sense of depth of field.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 17px;">//**Sherif Sonbol' s Photo 5:**//



<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 17px;">**What design elements are aparent?** <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">The design element appear in this photo is getting up close.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 17px;">**Why are they a good representation of this photographers work?** <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">This image is a good representation of Sherif Sonbol's work because it revolutioned the local industry in the time which arts is difficult to improve on certain traditional forms. This cover featuring photo was a brave shot celebrity photograph for Kalam-El-Nass Magazine, and it was the first cover portrait done outside a photo-studio in Egypt.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 17px;">**Describe the use of light.** <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">The light is coming in front of the actress. The spots of light on the dress bring out Ghada Adel and make her special and be focus. The light also added an effect on her snowy skin color.

Background 20/20 Influences 5/5 Style/Genre 5/5 5 Photos and Description 25/25 Total 55/55