Sinaweya – Greenpeace MENA

One Man Crew in the Mountains

I was approached by Greenpeace to document the Sinaweya project in St. Catherine and interview its founder, Dina Kafafy. While the official version serves Greenpeace’s focus on alternative economic models, this cut represents my own perspective, one that highlights the relationship between Sinaweya and the Bedouin community, emphasizing landscape, rhythm, and connection more than policy or economic frameworks.

The first thing that comes to mind when prepping for an outdoor shoot is always the same: how much gear can I realistically carry and operate solo? The answer is almost always "less than I’d like", but I push that limit every time. For this film, I packed my car with my core setup: a Sony A7S III, GM lenses, lighting gear, and sound equipment. Could it have been done with less? Probably. But I'm always chasing refinement and experimentation.

I spent three days in St. Catherine, living the story. I followed goat herders through hot, dry valleys and climbed mountain passes to reach the high-altitude Bedouin gardens where much of Sinaweya’s community work happens. The founder, Dina, opened doors into the community with honesty and care, and the Bedouin people responded in kind. That trust made this one-man shoot not just possible, but meaningful.