TITLE: White Abyss - Life in the Limestone Quarries of Minya

"Before the sun rises, before the world awakens, the quarry is already alive."

Nestled along the Nile in central Egypt, Minya’s limestone quarries supply bricks for construction. Workers cut and shape limestone on-site, using exposed machinery in harsh conditions. Dangerous saws slice the stone into uniform bricks, which are then loaded onto trucks and transported across the country. Dust fills the air, coating everything in white, making the environment as hazardous as it is visually striking.

I discovered the limestone quarries through a post by my friend Kareem, whose photo series captivated me with its cinematic beauty. The contrast, the dust-filled air, the ghostly silhouettes—it all felt surreal. Curious to learn more, I reached out to him. Months later, I was here, arriving in the pitch-black morning, where flood lamps pierced through the dust, revealing shadowy figures already at work.

AUTHOR: Tomas Derner (Germany)