For some, it is a fleeting presence in their hurried lives. They get so carried away that they forget it even exists, but still enjoy the brief moments where they get to pass by, even if they do not have the privilege to stop.
It is a source of renewal. It fuels them with the energy, hope, and inspiration they need when the pressures of life have drained them out. Without it, they feel like a fish out of water.
The sea, you could say, has become a part of us—we’ve grown used to it.
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Some project their happiest memories on its tapestry. They come to the sea to reminisce and replay the days that have slipped away, and mourn the loved ones that are no longer there. It gives them solace, and a shoulder to cry on.
For others, the sea is a sacred window to the divine, an exquisite creation that feeds their spirit. It stills the storms within their minds, and provides them with guidance and clarity.
Sometimes it provides the mind and senses with a little escape, allowing its visitors to give their backs to the world, and tune out all its noise.
Sometimes it provides the mind and senses with a little escape, allowing its visitors to give their backs to the world, and tune out all its noise.
For some people, the sea is a mother, cradling them into her comforting embrace inviting them to pour out all there is in their hearts. They have such a strong bond to the sea that they cannot even refer to her as non-living. To them, she is alive. A being with life, character, and the ability to love, comfort, and support.
A loyal companion, one that has been there for them through all the ups and downs of life, a witness to their triumph and heartbreaks. It has outlasted any friend, love, trouble, or joy.
The sea, an endless expanse of memory, emotion, and imagination. If you gaze out far enough, beyond the blue tapestry beautifully woven by its waves, you might just forget about the present moment, even if it is for a fleeting second; floating, flowing, surrendering to its tide, and letting it carry away all that burdens your soul.
Living in Alexandria, the sea has always been an important part of my day. I’ve always felt a sense of longing whenever the fast pace of life pulls me away from its embrace. I look at it through the windows of my car on my way to university, or on my way home from running errands, and wish that I could just be sitting by the sea, breathing in its air and grounding myself in its presence.
As a person who always tries to be as productive as possible and who takes on more than I can handle, I often lose myself in the whirlwind. It’s easy to get carried away and forget to stop and smell the flowers, or in this case, the sea. This sense of longing would only increase the longer I spend away from the sea, and I find myself getting stressed, losing my focus, and gradually burning out. It feels as if I’m slowly drowning myself in this fast-paced world, and there is this beautiful grand view that I have the privilege of passing by every single day, but I rarely actually have, or take, the time to stop, slow down, and just marvel at its existence.
But when I eventually allow myself to pause and look at this vast expanse, everything else gradually fades out of my mind. I am present, grounded, and relaxed for the first time in a long time. The noise quiets down, and I become more aware of what is happening around me. My worries leave my body with every exhale, and as I inhale, energy, inspiration, and light make their way in. The sea recharges me, its waves overflow to fill my cup once again so that I can continue.
As I gradually started to notice this pattern, I wondered: Do other people feel the same towards the sea? Or is it just me? The sea gives me what I need: a break, a reminder to slow down, breathe and not take myself too seriously. Do they all go for the same reasons? Or does it whisper something entirely different to each soul?
I started this project hoping to find some answers to the many questions that stirred my mind. On Alexandria’s corniche, I talked to anyone and everyone who was just sitting there, looking into the blue abyss. I asked my questions, and they answered, and it amazed me how every single person saw something different, something special; each one was a revelation in itself. But why does it mean something different to everyone? The sea, it seemed, held a multitude of meanings - a reflection of each heart it touched. Other than the beautiful conversations I’ve had and the stories I’ve heard in the process, I rediscovered my own connection to this vast expanse. I got to spend hours by the sea, from sunrise to sunset, soaking in its presence, and letting it guide me on this journey of exploration. For the first time, I gave myself to it fully, no longer squeezing it into the edges of my life, but placing it at the centre, and making it my first priority.
Only by looking into the sea, can we truly gaze into the depths of ourselves, and find out what we need and want in life. The sea sees through it all - those parts we barely know ourselves, let alone share with the world. Whether it is solace for a weary heart, the warmth of an unspoken friendship, a spark of inspiration or the quiet embrace of acceptance, you can always find it by the sea. It offers without asking, answers without words, and listens without judgment.
Living in Alexandria, the sea has always been an important part of my day. I’ve always felt a sense of longing whenever the fast pace of life pulls me away from its embrace. I look at it through the windows of my car on my way to university, or on my way home from running errands, and wish that I could just be sitting by the sea, breathing in its air and grounding myself in its presence.
As a person who always tries to be as productive as possible and who takes on more than I can handle, I often lose myself in the whirlwind. It’s easy to get carried away and forget to stop and smell the flowers, or in this case, the sea. This sense of longing would only increase the longer I spend away from the sea, and I find myself getting stressed, losing my focus, and gradually burning out. It feels as if I’m slowly drowning myself in this fast-paced world, and there is this beautiful grand view that I have the privilege of passing by every single day, but I rarely actually have, or take, the time to stop, slow down, and just marvel at its existence.
But when I eventually allow myself to pause and look at this vast expanse, everything else gradually fades out of my mind. I am present, grounded, and relaxed for the first time in a long time. The noise quiets down, and I become more aware of what is happening around me. My worries leave my body with every exhale, and as I inhale, energy, inspiration, and light make their way in. The sea recharges me, its waves overflow to fill my cup once again so that I can continue.
As I gradually started to notice this pattern, I wondered: Do other people feel the same towards the sea? Or is it just me? The sea gives me what I need: a break, a reminder to slow down, breathe and not take myself too seriously. Do they all go for the same reasons? Or does it whisper something entirely different to each soul?
I started this project hoping to find some answers to the many questions that stirred my mind. On Alexandria’s corniche, I talked to anyone and everyone who was just sitting there, looking into the blue abyss. I asked my questions, and they answered, and it amazed me how every single person saw something different, something special; each one was a revelation in itself. But why does it mean something different to everyone? The sea, it seemed, held a multitude of meanings - a reflection of each heart it touched. Other than the beautiful conversations I’ve had and the stories I’ve heard in the process, I rediscovered my own connection to this vast expanse. I got to spend hours by the sea, from sunrise to sunset, soaking in its presence, and letting it guide me on this journey of exploration. For the first time, I gave myself to it fully, no longer squeezing it into the edges of my life, but placing it at the centre, and making it my first priority.
Only by looking into the sea, can we truly gaze into the depths of ourselves, and find out what we need and want in life. The sea sees through it all - those parts we barely know ourselves, let alone share with the world. Whether it is solace for a weary heart, the warmth of an unspoken friendship, a spark of inspiration or the quiet embrace of acceptance, you can always find it by the sea. It offers without asking, answers without words, and listens without judgment.
Zeina Eldanasoury
Bio
Zeina Eldanasoury is a photographer and writer based in Alexandria, Egypt. Her work explores the intricate stories of daily life, and the organic connections that form between people and places through visual and verbal storytelling.
Zeina recognizes that everything is in a constant state of change, specifically in Alexandria, and she has found that photography not only helps her preserve its essence, but also enjoy and appreciate it more.
Photography gives her a chance to interact and connect with people from all walks of life; instead of just passing a person on the street, she gets the chance to stop and hear their perspective, perhaps even their whole story.
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