MUSTAPHA EL BASRI

MEDIUM

Photography

ARTIST STATEMENT

“The marvels of daily life are exciting; no movie director can arrange the unexpected that you find in the street.” – Robert Doisneau

ARTIST BIO

Mustapha El Basri is a Street/Portrait photographer from Orange County California who is passionate about capturing moments and interactions that make up the vibrant tapestry of life in urban environments. With a keen eye for the layering of complexity in his imagery, El Basri’s photography is a window into the world around him, revealing the hidden stories and emotions that lie beneath the surface.

El Basri was initially drawn to the art of photography during his years as a student living in Lille, France in the mid 90’s. In later years, he moved to the US with his family due to a work opportunity where he flourished as an executive officer in the automotive industry for almost two decades. Although he had always been drawn to photography, it wasn’t until 2015 that El Basri decided to take his passion to the next level by enrolling in the Photography Still Program at Orange Coast College. This decision proved to be a transformative experience, providing him with the tools and techniques he needed to experiment with new approaches such as multiple exposure to using shutter drag with flash. He found that each approach opened up new possibilities  for capturing the energy and vitality  of the street.

Today, El Basri continues  to pursue his passion  for photography, capturing the everyday moments and interactions that make each city unique. With his camera in hand, he explores the hidden corners and alleyways of the urban landscape, always on the lookout for new ways of seeing the realities of daily life. Whether capturing the joy of a child playing in the street or the melancholy of a lone figure walking down an empty sidewalk, El Basri’s photography reminds us of the beauty and complexity of the world around us.