Michel Zoghzoghi: A Conversation on Photography, Business, and the Beauty of the Unseen
In a recent episode of the podcast with Nayla, Nayla Tueni interviewed Michel Zoghzoghi, a businessman and wildlife photographer. Zoghzoghi, a figure who blends the precision of the business world with the wonder of an artist, shared insights into his unique journey. He’s not just a successful name in the medical equipment sector; he’s also an adventurer with a camera, traveling across continents to capture fleeting moments, documenting the beauty and fragility of wildlife.
From Business to the Wild: A Journey of Passion
Zoghzoghi’s passion for photography began with a chance encounter at London’s airport two decades ago, when he impulsively bought his first camera. He quickly realized that this would become his new compass. Since then, he has continued working in his primary field while pursuing his passion with even greater enthusiasm, confident in what he wanted to capture from the start. As he puts it, the camera taught him patience and freed him from hastiness, because a real picture requires a long wait and a decisive, unrepeatable moment. Zoghzoghi founded his own company to maintain his freedom and independence, emphasizing that his success is built on his great trust in his team. Empowerment and trust are the foundation of success, he says, stressing that every achievement is a collective effort.
Facing Danger and Finding Inspiration
When asked about moments of danger, Zoghzoghi recalled two experiences that remain etched in his memory: the Beirut port explosion and the assassination of General François al-Hajj, who was close to him. In the field, the experience of photographing a tiger in India remains the most thrilling, as he stood face to face with the predator. However, he emphasizes that his greatest fear isn’t danger, but missing the perfect moment before taking a picture.
From childhood, animals were a fundamental part of his world, and over time, this passion turned into a humanitarian message, embodied in charitable and educational initiatives. He directs the proceeds from his exhibitions and artworks to support the Al-Jumhour school and cancer patient treatment projects. For him, giving is a pleasure, not an obligation, and a joy that gives him happiness that surpasses any professional success.
A Deep Connection to Lebanon and the Arts
His words about Lebanon are as sincere as his pictures; he says with clear emotion, “I don’t think about living anywhere else, and I don’t encourage anyone to leave.” For him, the homeland is not just a place to live, but a source of inspiration and an irreplaceable identity. In an age where technology is advancing over feeling, Zoghzoghi takes a decisive stance on artificial intelligence, considering that it can produce stunning-looking images but devoid of soul. With the confidence of the artist who knows the value of patience and effort, he says, “A real picture is the fruit of waiting, adventure, and human pulse, and this is what the machine cannot imitate.”
Zoghzoghi discusses his new exhibition in Paris, which will take place from October 30 to November 8 at Maison Molière on Rue de Richelieu, 40, and will feature 42 photographs from his travels around the world. However, he does not have a favorite picture, as he believes that each shot carries its own story, noting that he does not hang his pictures in his office, but rather pictures of other photographers who inspire him and remind him of artistic humility.
Advice for Aspiring Wildlife Photographers
In closing, Zoghzoghi offers his advice to anyone wishing to enter the world of wildlife photography: It takes a lot of effort, no money, but indescribable pleasure. It is an adventure of passion more than a profession. He pauses for a moment, touched as he talks about the disasters he sees in the medical field, before adding with a sincere smile, “My coffee is bitter, but life is very beautiful, and I am very lucky.” When Nayla asked him if he was satisfied with himself, he replied without hesitation, “I am not satisfied, I can always be better.”
With this sentence, Michel Zoghzoghi sums up his philosophy of life: continuous development, patience, and passion. A man who sees in every shot a new opportunity, in every adventure another lesson, and in every experience an invitation to continue walking… because beauty, as he says, needs someone to look for it with a patient eye and a grateful heart.
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