The scarved woman reaches past both the cup and its reflection towards the other end of a dining table. A well-carved chair, made of shiny wood, is also doubled, one part phantom. That shadow, in a miracle of illusion, occupies a close-to-exact place as a solid object would, even a human. Seen from the side, the woman’s glance and fingers are united in appraisal: she casts attention at a gleaming glass and plates of medium-sized food. The absence of a companion makes the scene as lonely as the unsettled curve of her fingers.

— Emmanuel Iduma

I chose this photo from my project “Love, Loss, and Longing” which sheds light on the struggles of the wives of political detainees in Egypt following the January 2011 revolution.  

My motivation for working on this project was to document the pain these women endure. 

They face a different kind of imprisonment—trapped outside the prison walls. They bear the burden of loss and deprivation, constantly searching for a lifeline. Silent warriors, they shoulder the responsibility of their families, acting as wives, mothers, and breadwinners, while also supporting their detained husbands. 

I was honored to meet Sara Mourad, one of the main figures in this project. I spoke with her extensively to understand the feelings of loss she experiences. Sara shared that her simplest wish was to sit with her husband and share a meal, as cooking and eating together were moments of warmth and joy for them.  

I captured this moment to reflect Sara’s longing for the smallest details of life—sharing a meal with her loved one. However, the political reality of her country prevents her from realizing this simple dream.

For me, photography is an honest tool for storytelling and documentation, a way to delve into the contradictions of society and explore both ourselves and others. Its strength lies in its simplicity and sincerity; the simpler and more genuine it is, the more impactful and enduring it becomes. Photography serves as a permanent witness to who we are.

— Hadeer Mahmoud

Hadeer Mahmoud is a photojournalist and documentary photographer, who works with Reuters. Her work has been published in The New York Times, Vice Arabic, Unido and Svenska Dagbladet. She was listed by the New York Times as one of the “Emerging Photographers You Should Know.” See more of her work on her website and on Instagram.