Everyday Middle East aims to challenge stereotypes often associated with the region. In this picture Palestinian girls play billiards inside a women's cafe in Gaza City.
Everyday Middle East aims to challenge stereotypes often associated with the region. In this picture Palestinian girls play billiards inside a women's cafe in Gaza City.
Wissam Nassar/ Everyday Middle East
Founded by photojournalist Lindsay Mackenzie, the project seeks to show the the beauty of everyday life in the Middle East. Here, a family plays the Minion game at an amusement center in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.
Founded by photojournalist Lindsay Mackenzie, the project seeks to show the the beauty of everyday life in the Middle East. Here, a family plays the Minion game at an amusement center in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.
Natalie Naccache
Everyday Middle East has over 156,000 Instagram followers and features work from 23 photographers in the region.
Everyday Middle East has over 156,000 Instagram followers and features work from 23 photographers in the region.
Shaima al-Tamimi/ Everyday Middle East
Mackenzie's endeavor takes inspiration from the Everyday Projects movement, which uses photography to alter negative perceptions in various regions of the world.
Mackenzie's endeavor takes inspiration from the Everyday Projects movement, which uses photography to alter negative perceptions in various regions of the world.
Shaima al-Tamimi/Everyday Middle East
Breakdancers from Bahrain show off their skills on a rooftop. Mackenzie says that people in the Middle East are often "depicted as either victims or proponents of violence."
Breakdancers from Bahrain show off their skills on a rooftop. Mackenzie says that people in the Middle East are often "depicted as either victims or proponents of violence."
Yoriyas Yassine Alaoui/ Everday Middle East
She adds that the region is often "defined visually by its extremes" in the international media. In this image, trendy teenagers get ready for a night out in Casablanca, Morocco.
She adds that the region is often "defined visually by its extremes" in the international media. In this image, trendy teenagers get ready for a night out in Casablanca, Morocco.
Yassine Alaoui Ismaili/ Everyday Middle East
While violence is a harsh reality many encounter, Mackenzie wanted to show this was far from the whole story.
While violence is a harsh reality many encounter, Mackenzie wanted to show this was far from the whole story.
Yassine Alaoui Ismaili
Everyday Middle East also provides a platform for the work of talented photographers across the region. Wissam Nassar captured this striking image of two children in a bath tub in what remains of their home in Gaza City.
Everyday Middle East also provides a platform for the work of talented photographers across the region. Wissam Nassar captured this striking image of two children in a bath tub in what remains of their home in Gaza City.
Wissam Nassar/ Everyday Middle East
In this picture a florist in Erbil, Iraq, gets a bouquet ready for a client.
In this picture a florist in Erbil, Iraq, gets a bouquet ready for a client.
Lindsay Mackenzie/Everyday Middle East
Simple, peaceful moments such as this scene of a group of men playing chess in Shariati park in Tehran, Iran, are rarely depicted in the international press, Mackenzie says.
Simple, peaceful moments such as this scene of a group of men playing chess in Shariati park in Tehran, Iran, are rarely depicted in the international press, Mackenzie says.
Hanif Shoaei/ Everyday Middle East
Reflecting on the importance of the Everyday Projects, Mackenzie recalls a quote from Peter DiCampo from Everyday Africa: "At times like these, it seems the only sane action left is to elevate the everyday, to use our social media presence as our own barrage of imagery, tearing down the imaginary barriers that separate us."
Reflecting on the importance of the Everyday Projects, Mackenzie recalls a quote from Peter DiCampo from Everyday Africa: "At times like these, it seems the only sane action left is to elevate the everyday, to use our social media presence as our own barrage of imagery, tearing down the imaginary barriers that separate us."
Yassine Alaoui Ismaili/ Everyday Middle East
Mackenzie took this photograph at Tikrit University in Iraq, which was largely destroyed in the fight to liberate the city from ISIS in 2015. Now, on a warm spring day, it feels like any other university, with that end of the year excitement in the air, she says.
Mackenzie took this photograph at Tikrit University in Iraq, which was largely destroyed in the fight to liberate the city from ISIS in 2015. Now, on a warm spring day, it feels like any other university, with that end of the year excitement in the air, she says.
Lindsay Mackenzie/ Everyday Middle East