Member Spotlight: Julie Mostafa

How did you first come across CMC, and what drew you to become a part of this collective so far? 

I was looking to connect with photographers and began attending galleries and events around NJ and NY. I went to two events where CMC members were present and they shared who they were and what the group was about. I thought the way they spoke about themselves collectively was motivating so I attended their next meeting. It just so happened to be a Christmas party with a photo-print swap so I had the opportunity to see a piece of work from each member present. I thought the group to be varied, talented, and welcoming and saw CMC as a place I could invest and grow in. 

Is there a technique or skill you've been working on lately?

I like method-acting and have recently been trying to mimic some black and white photographers. It is a bit of a struggle because I am so used to relying on color to help capture the essence of my subjects. I have had to rethink my composition and lighting and even the way I tell stories. 

What's one thing you want someone to know about your photography, your approach to photography or your journey as a photographer?

My interest in photography comes from my love for anthropology and a background in architecture. I try to capture what I understand as a human and as a professional in a way that is visually interesting, celebratory, and respectful of the truth. I hope to use my images to help connect people by raising their interest in each others’ infrastructure, history, and design, even if only subconsciously. 

Could you share 3-5 images from your most recent project or photo series? We'd love to hear the story behind these works and what inspired the project.

These images are from Fes, Morocco. A few years ago I noticed elements of Islamic architecture in Latin America and it sent me down a bit of a rabbit hole trying to understand how that migration came about. I began studying where and when certain elements emerged, tracing them from Asia to Africa, to Iberia, and (eventually) to America. I became fascinated with the portion of history in Morocco and decided to make that my first trip in what I hope to be a project that I fulfill in the years to come. These images capture some of the elements I traced.